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US 10,662,921 B2Granted
System and method for harnessing wind energy
AssigneeBIGFIELD Tmi
InventorMarkku Isoaho
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention utilizes a ski lift for wind power generation outside of the ski season. The carriers on the ski lift are replaced by wind catching structures that pull the haul rope either uphill or downhill, depending on the prevailing wind. The haul rope rotates the electrical drive motor of the ski lift, causing it to generate electrical energy.
Claims10
A system for harnessing wind power comprising,
- a ski lift having a haul rope and carriers, wherein the ski lift is arranged to be modified by replacing the carriers at least partly by wind-catching structures that are arranged to move the haul rope when wind affects at least some of the wind catching structures,
- wherein the haul rope is connected to a generator such that moving the haul rope is arranged to transfer mechanical energy to the generator which is arranged to produce electrical energy, and
- wherein the generator is an electric motor of the ski lift.
A method for harnessing wind power comprising:
- modifying a ski lift having a haul rope and carriers by replacing at least some of said carriers with wind-catching structures,
- allowing at least some of the wind-catching structures to be moved by wind and to in turn move the haul rope, and
- producing electricity through rotation of a generator by moving haul rope.
A system for harnessing wind power comprising,
- a ski lift having a haul rope and a plurality of wind-catching structures attached thereto,
- a bull wheel type structure at a top of the ski lift and another bull wheel type structure at the bottom of the ski lift, wherein the haul rope is configured to pass around both bull wheel type structures, and wherein movement of the haul rope is capable of turning both of the bull wheel type structures,
- a generator, which includes an electric motor component of the ski lift, connected to one of the bull wheel type structure,
- wherein the wind-catching structures are capable of moving the bull wheel type structures by moving the haul rope in response to a wind force, and
- wherein the generator is capable of producing electric power based on the movement of the bull wheel type structures moved by the haul rope in response to the wind force.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.