Vertical axis wind turbine with rotating vanes

A vertical axis windmill turbine, comprising:

• a support structure for supporting the vertical axis windmill turbine above ground level;
• at least one rotor for rotating upon the support structure, the at least one rotor comprising a horizontal structure having a rotational axis perpendicular to the ground level;
• a plurality of blades positioned within each of the at least one rotor for causing the at least one rotor to rotate on the support structure responsive to wind force;
• a plurality of vanes located on each of the plurality of blades, the plurality of vanes rotating between an open position to limit drag on the at least one rotor and a closed position that provides a rotational force to the at least one rotor, the plurality of vanes rotating between the open position and the closed position responsive to a wind force;
• a plurality of vane stops each associated with a vane of the plurality of vanes for stopping the rotation of the vane when the vane reaches the closed position, the plurality of vane stops having a first mode for stopping the rotation of the vane when the vane reaches the closed position and a second mode for enabling the vane to rotate past a vane stop when the vane reaches the closed position;
• a max force limit mechanism for maintaining the vane stop in the first mode until a predetermined force is applied by the vane in the closed position to the vane stop and for enabling the second mode of the vane stop responsive to the predetermined force being applied by the vane in the closed position to the vane stop;
• and
• a feathering mechanism for disabling the max force limit mechanism to enable the vane to freely rotate past the vane stop.

A blade structure for use with a vertical axis windmill turbine, comprising:

• a blade support structure;
• a plurality of vanes located on the blade support structure, the plurality of vanes rotating between an open position and a closed position, the plurality of vanes rotating between the open position and the closed position responsive to a wind force;
• a plurality of vane stops each associated with a vane of the plurality of vanes for stopping the rotation of the vane when the vane reaches the closed position;
• and
• a vane control mechanism associated with each vane/vane stop to lessen a force with which the vane impacts a vane stop when moving to the closed position.