EP1417410A1

EP1417410A1 - Improved windmill and method to use same to generate electricity, pumped air or rotational shaft energy

Info

Publication number: EP1417410A1
Application number: EP01923045A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ivan Looker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-04-02
Filing date: 2001-04-02
Publication date: 2004-05-12
Also published as: EP1417410A4

Abstract

A horizontal axis windmill for generating electricity is supported on a mast and has a builtin generator. The rotor (11) of the generator attached to multiblade (5) mill rotated by the wind. The stator (12) is attached to a horizontally pivoting support which in turn is attached to the mast.

Description

IMPROVED WINDMILL AND METHOD TO USE SAME TO

GENERATE ELECTRICITY, PUMPED AIR OR

ROTATIONAL SHAFT ENERGY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is a lower cost more efficient windmill which operates over ^' a wider spectrum of wind speeds than existing windmills, thereby placing energy production within the reach of individuals.

2. Description of the Related Art

Horizontal axis windmills have not basically changed for about a thousand years. Such windmills still consist of a group of sails (now called blades) affixed radially to a rotating shaft. No economically feasible structure has been implemented to dramatically increase efficiency. Present windmills are not economically feasible unless placed in the few mountain passes or ridge locations where high winds blow much of the time. Even in those few high wind locations the windmills must be of very large diameter, therefore expensive, heavy and high maintenance, and must be stopped to avoid damage in winds above approximately 35 mph. The above shortcomings of prior art windmills have kept wind power from furnishing a, substantial portion of energy needs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The windmill according to this invention includes a support arm horizontally pivoting from one of its ends upon a vertical axis bearing atop a mounting mast, the other end of the support arm fixedly supporting a stator providing both windmill stator functions and generating mechanism stator functions. The stator also supports airflow straightening fins extending radially from the stator close in front of the windmill blades, the outer end of the fins supporting a shroud band encircling the fan just outside the tips of the rotating blades. The stator mounts a coaxial horizontal axis dual function rotor which furnishes windmill blade rotor function as well as energy generating rotor functions, whether for electricity, air pumping or rotating shaft energy.

The objects of this invention follow:

Eliminate efficiency loss from vortex generation at each blade tip. Eliminate efficiency loss due to induced spiral flow in front of the blade disk.

Eliminate weight, cost and efficiency penalties by providing a single simple low cost support arm which performs the five functions of supporting the windmill, aligning it into the wind, elevating it downwind above mounting mast turbulence, contribute to the elimination of induced spiral air circulation in front of the blade disk, and provide a conduit for transmitting the energy produced to the mounting mast.

Eliminate weight and cost penalties by providing a single dual function stator which provides both windmill stator functions and energy producing mechanism stator functions.

Eliminate weight and cost penalties by providing a single dual function rotor which provides both windmill rotor functions and energy generation rotor functions.

Eliminate energy loss by not using a separate transmission device such as shafts , bearings and gears , between the windmill rotor and the energy generating device.

Eliminate weight and cost penalties, by not needing any device to stop the windmill from operating in any high wind.

Gain efficiency by being able to harvest more low velocity winds as well as all high velocity winds.

Eliminate energy loss by having the windmill less sensitive to the effects of wind gusts.

All or most of the above-named inefficiencies and penalties are inherent in present state-of-the-art windmills now being manufactured and used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of this invention with part of shroud band cut away to show changeable angle of attack of blades .

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section of stator and rotor along the axis of rotor rotation, showing one preferred installation of electrical generator parts within the dual function stator and dual function rotor.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section of stator and rotor along the axis of rotor rotation, showing one preferred installation of air pumping parts within the dual function stator and dual function rotor.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross section of stator and rotor along the axis of rotor rotation, showing one preferred installation of rotating shaft energy parts within the dual function stator and dual function rotor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG- 1, the windmill according to this invention swivels with the wind direction horizontally around vertical support mast 1 by being affixed to rotatable mounting 2. Support arm 3 extends outward and upward to support stator 4 above wind turbulence from mast 1. In this embodiment, support arm 3 is widened vertically as it extends away from its rotatable mounting 2 so that the lower downwind portion of support arm 3 also serves as a support for shroud band 6. Shroud band 6 is also supported in this embodiment by the three fins 5 which get their support from stator 4. Shroud band 6 encircles a disk defined by the tips of the rotating blades 8. Rotor 7 coaxially mounts to the downwind side of stator 4. Rotor 7 mounts fairing 7a in order to facilitate air flow through the windmill. Shroud band 6 is partially cut away to show more fully one of the windmill blades 8 along with a change of angle of attack under high wind pressure as shown by phantom dotted outline. Such change of angle of attack may obviously be accomplished by various known conventional spring and pivot mechanisms not shown.

FIG. 2 shows a vertical cross section of the stator 4, and rotor 7 and fairing 7a assembled by means of bearing 9. A lower fragmentary portion of vertical fin 5 is shown where it attaches to stator 4.

A fragmentary portion of the downwind portion of support arm 3 is shown where it supports stator 4. The conduit 10 is a cylindrical bore passing through support arm 3 and stator 4 in order to carry cable 13 with wires 13a to conduct electricity to and through rotatable mounting 2 by way of conventional slip rings not shown, and thence down vertical mast 1 to ground usage. A plurality of windings 11 are shown supported by stator 4. A plurality of magnets 12 are shown supported by rotor 7. The electricity generated within the windings 11 is conducted away from the generator by cable 13, having in this embodiment two wire conductors 13a.

Since there is no vertically oriented blade 8 in FIG. 1, no blade is shown in FIG. 2 which is a vertical cross section of the windmill as shown in FIG. 1. However, various conventional means, of blade attachment are available, are not a subject of this invention and are not shown.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 except instead of electrical generation parts, FIG. 3 shows an air pump 14 mounted upon stator 4 and driven by rotor 7, with air or vacuum delivery tube 14a traversing through conduit 10.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 except instead of showing electrical generating or air pumping parts, FIG. 4 shows rotating shaft power transmitting parts, namely flexible coupling 15 driven by rotor 7, thence driving shaft 15a supported in conduit 10 by bearing 15b.

Claims

Claim 1. A horizontal axis multi-bladed windmill for generating electricity, pumped air or rotational shaft energy, comprising; a substantially horizontal support arm having one end rotatably mounted upon a vertical mast and another end rigidly mounted to a horizontal-axis dual function stator, said stator integrally combining a support for both; windmill non-rotary elements including one of shroud, fins and flow straighteners , and non-rotary elements of an energy generating mechanism, a dual function rotor rotatably mounted horizontally and co- axially upon a side of said stator opposite said support arm, said rotor integrally combining both; a windmill rotary support for multiple radially mounted blades and rotary elements of said energy generating mechanism.

Claim 2. The windmill of Claim 1 comprising; said shroud being a band shaped shroud supported from said support arm or said stator or both, said shroud encircling an outside circumference . of a disk defined by the rotating windmill blades .

Claim 3. The windmill of Claim 1 wherein; said windmill blades are mounted to said rotor with means to allow said blades to change an angle of attack with an increasing wind pressure.

Claim 4. The windmill of Claim 1 wherein; said non-rotary elements of said energy generating mechanism comprising permanent magnets and, said rotary elements of said energy generating mechanism comprising windings for generating electricity.

Claim 5. The windmill of Claim 1 wherein; said non-rotary elements of said energy generating mechanism comprising windings for generating electricity and, said rotary elements of said energy generating mechanism comprising permanent magnets.

Claim 6. The windmill of Claim 1 wherein; said non-rotary elements of said energy generating mechanism comprising piping, valves and chambers for pumping air, and;

^"said rotary elements of said energy generating mechanism comprising air pump pistons or rotors.

Claim 7. The windmill of Claim 1 wherein; said non-rotary elements of said energy generating mechanism comprising a reaction member for rotational shaft energy, and; said rotary elements of said energy generating mechanism comprising a drive shaft and coupling.