# US 12,180,934 B2 · Flat-packable kit for a turbine

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,180,934 B2
- Document ID: US12180934B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/429,577
- Filed: 2024-02-01
- Published: 2024-08-01
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2023-01-15
- Assignees: Flower Turbines, Inc.
- Applicants: Flower Turbines, Inc.
- Inventors: Mark Daniel Farb; Irakli Baitish
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180934B2

## CPC

- F03D 7/00: Controlling wind motors (supplying or distributing electrical power H02J, e.g. arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks H02J3/18; controlling electric generators H02P, e.g. arrangements for controlling electric generators for the purpose of obtaining a desired output H02P9/00)
- F03B 15/00: Controlling (controlling in general G05 {; regulation of plants characterised by the use of siphons F03B13/086})
- F03D 3/00: Wind motors with rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the air flow entering the rotor (controlling thereof F03D7/06)
- F03D 3/009: {of the drag type, e.g. Savonius}
- F03D 7/0276: {controlling rotor speed, e.g. variable speed}
- F03D 7/049: {in relation to the wake effect}
- F03D 7/06: the wind motors having rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the air flow entering the rotor
- F03D 9/32: on moving objects, e.g. vehicles
- F03D 13/401: {for transporting or storing blades}
- F05B 2230/60: Assembly methods
- F05B 2240/93: on a structure floating on a liquid surface
- F05B 2240/94: on a movable wheeled structure
- F05B 2240/941: which is a land vehicle
- F05B 2260/02: Transport, e.g. specific adaptations or devices for conveyance
- F05B 2270/101: to control rotational speed (n)
- F05B 2270/204: taking into account the wake effect
- F03D: WIND MOTORS
- F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00)
- 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

## Abstract

A flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit, includes a flat-packed bendable airfoil having an upper edge and a lower edge. The flat-packed bendable airfoil is capable of assuming a predefined curvature upon assembly. The flat-packed bendable airfoil includes upper connecting elements distributed along the upper edge and lower connecting elements distributed along the lower edge of the flat-packed bendable airfoil. The flat-packed bendable airfoil also includes a flat-packed upper plate including an upper mating orifices distributed in a contour corresponding to the predefined curvature. Further, the flat-packed bendable airfoil includes a flat-packed lower plate including lower mating orifices distributed in the contour corresponding to the predefined curvature. Thus, upon assembly when the upper connecting elements are connected to the upper mating orifices and when the lower connecting elements are connected to the lower mating orifices, the flat-packed bendable airfoil assumes the predefined curvature.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit, comprising:
at least one flat-packed bendable airfoil having an upper edge and a lower edge, and being configured to assume a predefined curvature upon assembly;
a plurality of upper connecting elements distributed along the upper edge of the at least one flat packed bendable airfoil;
a plurality of lower connecting elements distributed along the lower edge of the at least one flat-packed bendable airfoil;
a flat-packed upper plate including an upper plurality of mating orifices distributed in a contour corresponding to the predefined curvature; and
a flat-packed lower plate including a lower plurality of mating orifices distributed in the contour corresponding to the predefined curvature, such that upon assembly when the plurality of upper connecting elements are connected to the upper plurality of mating orifices and when the plurality of lower connecting elements are connected to the lower plurality of mating orifices, the at least one flat-packed bendable airfoil assumes the predefined curvature,
wherein the upper connecting elements and the lower connecting elements include integrally formed bendable tabs respectively extending from the upper edge and the lower edge, and wherein the upper plurality of mating orifices and the lower plurality of mating orifices include slots for receiving the bendable tabs.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 1, wherein the flat-packed bendable airfoil, the flat-packed upper plate, and the flat-packed lower plate are flat-packed together.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of support beams configured to extend between the upper plate and the lower plate for providing rigidity to the assembled wind turbine.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 3, wherein the plurality of support beams are rods.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper plate and the lower plate are formed of two plies configured to be fastened together.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 5, wherein the two plies include rigidity-enhancing bends.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 1, wherein the upper connecting elements and the lower connecting elements include apertures respectively located along the upper edge and the lower edge, and wherein locations of the apertures correspond to location of the upper orifices and the lower orifices for enabling interconnection via a plurality of brackets.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 7, wherein the plurality of brackets include L-brackets.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 1, wherein the at least one flat-packed airfoil includes a single airfoil configured to assume an S-shape contour.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 1, wherein the at least one flat-packed airfoil includes two airfoils, each configured to assume a C-shape contour.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 1, wherein the upper plate and the lower plate are circular.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 1, wherein the upper plate and the lower plate are oval-shaped.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 1, wherein the upper plate includes a second-story lower plurality of mating orifices distributed in a second-story contour corresponding to a second-story predefined curvature.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 13, further comprising:
a second-story flat-packed bendable airfoil having a second-story upper edge and a second-story lower edge, and being configured to assume the second-story predefined curvature upon assembly;
a second-story flat-packed plate including a second-story upper plurality of mating orifices distributed in the second-story contour corresponding to the second-story predefined curvature;
a plurality of second-story upper connecting elements distributed along the upper edge of the second-story flat-packed bendable airfoil;
a plurality of second-story lower connecting elements distributed along the lower edge of the second-story flat-packed bendable airfoil, such that upon assembly when the plurality of second-story upper connecting elements are connected to the second-story upper plurality of mating orifices and when the second-story lower plurality of connecting elements are connected to the second-story lower mating orifices, the flat-packed bendable airfoil assumes the second-story predefined curvature.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 14, further comprising additional stories of airfoils atop the second story.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 14, wherein the relative orientations of the upper plurality of mating orifices, the lower plurality of mating orifices, the second-story upper plurality of mating orifices and the second-story lower plurality of mating orifices are arranged such that differing associated airfoils face in differing directions upon assembly.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 16, wherein the directions differ by 90 degrees.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The flat-packable wind turbine assembly kit of claim 1, wherein the at least one airfoil and the at least one second-story airfoil are configurable to turn a common generator.