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US 11,739,733 B2Granted
Down-wind horizontal axis turbine apparatus and methods for making and using same
AssigneeWCH Engineering
InventorWilliam C. Huff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
New down-wind horizontal axis turbine (DWHAT) systems or apparatus and methods for making and using same, wherein the DWHAT systems or apparatus include a base structure, a tower assembly or a derrick assembly anchored to the base structure, a drive assembly, a sail assembly, and a generator assembly, wherein the sails of the sail assembly are configured to catch wind downwind of the apparatuses or systems and wherein the drive assembly converts horizontal rotation of the horizontal shaft into vertical rotation of the vertical shaft that turns the generator generating electrical power that is transmitted to a power grid.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a base assembly comprising:
- one or more base structures or slabs;
- a tower assembly comprising:
- a vertical assembly including:
- a single vertical member, or
- an inner vertical member and an outer vertical member,
- a top platform member, and
- a bottom mounting member mounted to one of the base structures or slabs;
- a drive assembly comprising:
- a gear box,
- a vertical drive shaft, rotationally centered therein by a plurality of bearings within either the single vertical member or the inner vertical member, including:
- a proximal end rotationally coupled to the gear box, and
- a distal end, and
- a horizontal drive shaft, which passes through the gear box, including:
- an upwind end including a counterbalance weight attached thereto, affixed thereto, or integral therewith, and
- an downwind end;
- a downwind sail assembly comprising:
- a sail hub assembly including:
- a sail hub, attached to, affixed to, or integral with the downwind end of the horizontal drive shaft, having:
- a plurality of sail hub connectors,
- a support ring including:
- a plurality of support members extending from the sail hub to the support ring, wherein the support members are attached to, affixed to, or integral with the sail hub and/or the support ring;
- a plurality of sails comprising:
- a mast including:
- a sail mast connector adapted to rotationally engage one of the sail hub connectors,
- a boom,
- a leeward member,
- a plurality of sail battens,
- a head member,
- a foot member, and
- a sail;
- a plurality of sail sheeting/trim assemblies, each of the sail sheeting/trim assemblies including:
- a sail support member,
- a sail sheeting/trim drive having:
- a motor, and
- a reciprocating unit adapted to sheet one of the plurality of sails in and out;
- a generator assembly comprising:
- one or more generators including:
- a power outlet, and
- a power cable for connecting the apparatus to a power grid;
- and
- an apparatus control system comprising:
- an apparatus control unit, and
- a sensor unit,
- wherein the apparatus control system is in bilateral communication with the plurality of sail sheeting/trim assemblies and the generator assembly.
42 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a base assembly comprising:
- one or more base structures or slabs;
- a tower assembly comprising:
- a vertical assembly including:
- a single vertical member, or
- an inner vertical member and an outer vertical member,
- a top platform member, and
- a bottom mounting member mounted to one of the base structures or slabs;
- a drive assembly comprising:
- a gear box,
- a vertical drive shaft, rotationally centered therein by a plurality of bearings within either the single vertical member or the inner vertical member, including:
- a proximal end rotationally coupled to the gear box, and
- a distal end, and
- a horizontal drive shaft, which passes through the gear box, including:
- an upwind end including a small upwind fixed blade fan attached thereto, affixed thereto, or integral therewith, and
- an downwind end;
- a downwind sail assembly comprising:
- a sail hub assembly including:
- a sail hub, attached to, affixed to, or integral with the downwind end of the horizontal drive shaft, having:
- a plurality of sail hub connectors,
- a support ring including:
- a plurality of support members extending from the sail hub to the support ring, wherein the support members are attached to, affixed to, or integral with the sail hub and/or the support ring;
- a plurality of sails comprising:
- a mast including:
- a sail mast connector adapted to rotationally engage one of the sail hub connectors,
- a boom,
- a leeward member,
- a plurality of sail battens,
- a head member,
- a foot member, and
- a sail;
- a plurality of sail sheeting/trim assembly, each of the sail sheeting/trim assemblies including:
- a sail support member,
- a sail sheeting/trim drive having:
- a motor, and
- a reciprocating unit adapted to sheet of the plurality of sails in and out;
- a generator assembly comprising:
- one or more generators including:
- a power outlet, and
- a power cable for connecting the apparatus to a power grid;
- and
- an apparatus control system comprising:
- an apparatus control unit, and
- a sensor unit,
- wherein the apparatus control system is in bilateral communication with the plurality of sail sheeting/trim assemblies and the generator assembly.
42 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.