# US 10,871,147 B2 · Wind turbine apparatuses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,147 B2 - Document ID: US10871147B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/061,255 - Filed: 2016-11-30 - Published: 2020-06-04 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-12 - Assignees: Spinetic Energy Limited - Applicants: Spinetic Energy Limited - Inventors: Giles Rodway; Kurt Joachim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871147B2 ## CPC - F03D 3/062: {characterised by their construction elements} - F03D 9/25: the apparatus being an electrical generator (F03D9/22 takes precedence) - F03D 3/00: Wind motors with rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the air flow entering the rotor (controlling thereof F03D7/06) - F03D 3/02: having a plurality of rotors - F03D 3/064: {Fixing wind engaging parts to rest of rotor} - F03D 15/00: Transmission of mechanical power - H02K 7/183: {wherein the turbine is a wind turbine (adaptation of a wind turbine to an electric generator F03D9/25)} - F05B 2220/7066: via a direct connection, i.e. a gearless transmission - F05B 2220/7068: equipped with permanent magnets - F05B 2260/30: Retaining components in desired mutual position - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - Y02E 10/74: Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction - F03D: WIND MOTORS - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A wind turbine apparatus including: a blade portion; a generator having a stator having a plurality of coils and a rotor having a plurality of magnets, the rotor being connected to the blade portion such that rotation of the blade portion and rotor generates a current within the coils. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wind turbine apparatus, comprising: a blade portion; a generator including a stator having a plurality of coils and a rotor having a plurality of magnets, wherein the rotor is connected to the blade portion such that rotation of the blade portion and rotor generates a current within the coils; wherein the blade portion is connected to the rotor by a yoke which extends around the generator and is connected to a base of the rotor such that the magnets of the rotor and the coils of the stator are disposed between the blade portion and the connection between the yoke and the rotor, wherein the stator includes a shaft which is received by an elongate supporting rail, wherein the connection between the yoke and the rotor is disposed between the elongate supporting rail and the magnets and coils, and wherein the yoke is connected to the blade portion and/or the generator by way of a quick-release mechanism. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A wind turbine apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotor is rotatably mounted on the stator by a bearing, wherein the connection between the yoke and the rotor is formed around the bearing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A wind turbine apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the yoke is compliant so as to allow the rotation axes of the blade portion and the rotor to be offset from one another. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A wind turbine apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the yoke is connected to the blade portion and/or the rotor via a compliant coupling so as to allow the rotation axes of the blade portion and the rotor to be offset from one another. ### Claim 5 A wind turbine apparatus, comprising: a blade portion; a generator including a stator having a plurality of coils and a rotor having a plurality of magnets, the rotor being connected to the blade portion such that rotation of the blade portion and the rotor generates a current within the coils; wherein the stator includes a shaft, the shaft having a first terminal portion and a second terminal portion separated from one another by an insulator, the first and second terminal portions being electrically connected to the coils; wherein the shaft is received by openings provided in first and second conductive rails so as to support the generator and blade portion and such that the first and second terminal portions are electrically coupled to the first and second conductive rails respectively to carry the current from the coils. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A wind turbine apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the openings in the first and second conductive rails have complementary cross-sections to the first and second terminal portions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A wind turbine apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first terminal portion is formed by a pin and the second terminal portion is formed by a sleeve which surrounds the pin; wherein the pin projects from the sleeve such that the pin is received by the second conductive rail when the sleeve is received by the first conductive rail. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A wind turbine apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pin and sleeve are concentric. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A wind turbine apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sleeve has a first diameter and the pin has a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter; wherein the openings of the first and second rails are sized to receive the first and second diameters respectively. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) A wind turbine apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first and/or second rail is provided with a retention member having or defining a hole sized to receive the first or second terminal portion, wherein the retention member is configured to be aligned with the rail so that the terminal portion is received by the hole of the retention member and the opening in the rail and wherein the retention member is translatable relative to the rail so as to draw the terminal portion against the rail, thereby mechanically connecting the stator to the rail. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A wind turbine apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and/or second rails are tubular defining a cavity which extends therethrough and wherein the retention member is received within the cavity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A wind turbine apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein an exterior profile of the retention member is sized and/or shaped to ensure alignment of the hole of the retention member and the opening in the rail. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A wind turbine apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the exterior profile of the retention member substantially corresponds to an interior profile of the cavity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A wind turbine apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the retention member is secured to the rail by a threaded fastener which translates the retention member relative to the rail as it is rotated. ### Claim 15 (depends on 5) A wind turbine apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the blade portion and the generator form a turbine module and wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of said modules.