Rimmed turbine
AssigneeNatural Power Concepts, Inc.
InventorJohn Pitre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wind power extraction device has a rotor with a hub and a rim coupled to the hub through a plurality of blades. The blades rotate the rotor about an axis of rotation passing through the hub in response to a wind moving generally parallel to the axis of rotation. A mount coupled to the rotor extends and retracts the rotor between a first configuration aligning the rotor axis of rotation substantially horizontally, and a second configuration aligning the rotor axis of rotation substantially vertically. The device may have components of an electric generator mounted in or near the rim.
Claims16
A wind power extraction device comprising:
- (A) a rotor having,
- (i) a hub, and
- (ii) a rim coupled to the hub through a plurality of blades adapted to rotate the rotor about an axis of rotation passing through the hub in response to a wind moving generally parallel to the axis of rotation;
- and
- (B) a mount coupled to the rotor and having at least,
- (i) a first configuration aligning the rotor axis of rotation substantially horizontally, and
- (ii) a second configuration aligning the rotor axis of rotation substantially vertically.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.