Structure with rigid winglet adapted to traverse a fluid environment
AssigneeBiomerenewables Inc.
InventorRyan Church
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment includes an elongate body having a root, a wingtip, a leading edge and a trailing edge; and a rigid winglet associated with the wingtip and having a winglet body extending substantially normal to one of a suction side and a pressure side of the elongate body to a termination point that is rearward of the trailing edge. In an embodiment, the structure is a rotor blade that may be incorporated into a wind turbine.
Claims20
A structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment, the structure comprising:
- an elongate body having a root, a wingtip, a leading edge and a trailing edge;
- and
- a rigid winglet associated with the wingtip and having a winglet body extending normal to one of a suction side and a pressure side of the elongate body to a termination point that is rearward of the trailing edge;
- wherein the winglet body is arced and conforms to an arc of circumference of a circle traversed by the winglet during movement of the elongate body about a rotational axis;
- and
- wherein the winglet body is integral with the wingtip and extends from the wingtip by twisting such that the winglet curves upwards while sweeping backwards with respect to a direction of rotation;
- wherein the twist of the winglet is 180 degrees.
A structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment, the structure comprising:
- an elongate body having a root, a wingtip, a leading edge and a trailing edge;
- and
- a rigid winglet associated with the wingtip and having a winglet body extending normal to one of a suction side and a pressure side of the elongate body to a termination point that is rearward of the trailing edge;
- wherein the winglet body is arced and conforms to an arc of circumference of a circle traversed by the winglet during movement of the elongate body about a rotational axis;
- and
- wherein the winglet body is integral with the wingtip and extends from the wingtip by twisting such that the winglet curves upwards while sweeping backwards with respect to a direction of rotation;
- wherein the rigid winglet further comprises:
- a transition region intermediate the wingtip and the winglet body;
- and
- a connection mechanism linking the transition region to the wingtip;
- and wherein the connection mechanism comprises:
- a hinge permitting the rigid winglet to rotate freely with respect to the wingtip in response to fluid flow incident on the elongate body.
A structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment, the structure comprising:
- an elongate body having a root, a wingtip, a leading edge and a trailing edge;
- and
- a rigid winglet associated with the wingtip and having a winglet body extending normal to one of a suction side and a pressure side of the elongate body to a termination point that is rearward of the trailing edge;
- wherein the winglet body is arced and conforms to an arc of circumference of a circle traversed by the winglet during movement of the elongate body about a rotational axis;
- and
- wherein the winglet body is integral with the wingtip and extends from the wingtip by twisting such that the winglet curves upwards while sweeping backwards with respect to a direction of rotation;
- wherein the rigid winglet further comprises:
- a transition region intermediate the wingtip and the winglet body;
- and
- a connection mechanism linking the transition region to the wingtip;
- and wherein the connection mechanism comprises:
- the pneumatic pump or the hydraulic pump permitting the rigid winglet to rotate with respect to the wingtip in response to control signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.