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US 4,021,135 AGranted
Wind turbine
AssigneeNone recorded
InventorsNicholas F. Pedersen, Gaylord O. Ellis
Life of this patent
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AssigneeNone recorded
InventorsNicholas F. Pedersen, Gaylord O. Ellis
Estimating the term…
A wind turbine including a reaction type turbine wheel instead of an impulse type turbine which is normally used for receiving the wind and more efficiently deriving power therefrom and an augmenter means for producing a vortex downstream of the turbine at the exit of the turbine to increase the pressure differential across the turbine thereby increasing the power that may be extracted from the wind.
In a wind turbine, a reaction turbine comprising blades for receiving the wind and deriving power therefrom and augmenter means for producing a vortex downstream of the turbine at the exit of the turbine,
In a wind turbine, a reaction type turbine having blades for receiving the wind and deriving power therefrom and augmenting means for receiving wind for producing a vortex downstream of the reaction turbine at the exit of the reaction turbine, concentric with the reaction turbine and rotating in the same direction as the air emanating from the reaction turbine,
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor: having stationary wind-guiding means, e.g. with shrouds…
Stators: to collect or cause flow towards or away from turbines
To collect or cause flow towards or away from turbines: with a convergent-divergent guiding structure, e.g. a Venturi conduit
Inlet: augmenting, i.e. with intercepting fluid flow cross sectional area greater than the rest of the machine behind the inlet
Term ended 3 May 1994 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
This invention relates to wind turbines.
In view of the energy problems that have arisen, there has been considerable interest in wind power to produce a useful energy. The greatest activity has been directed toward improvement of the aerodynamics of propellor-type turbines which were formerly known as windmills and are now known as wind turbines.
Among the objects of the invention are to provide an improved wind turbine of novel design which produces output power that is significantly greater than the output power from a conventional inpulse wind turbine of the same general size; which wind turbine can be readily manufactured; and which wind turbine will require minimal maintenance and service.
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary part sectional view of a wind turbine embodying the invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2--2 in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 1, the wind turbine 10 embodying the invention is adapted to be supported on a suitable vertical mast or similar structure 11 and is rotatably mounted thereon by bearings so that it will be rotated by the wind.
Basically the wind turbine 10 includes a reaction type turbine 12 and a vortex augmenter 13.
More specifically, the reaction turbine 12 includes a rotor 14 having a plurality of reaction-type blades 15 extending radially therefrom and rotatably mounted by suitable bearings on a housing 16. Housing 16 includes a first fixed part 16a upstream of the turbine rotor 14 and a second part 16b downstream of the turbine rotor 14. The housing part 16a, turbine rotor 14, and housing part 16b define an aerodynamically shaped bullet or torpedo. A first double wall cowling 17 is provided and incorporates a converging portion 18, a central portion 19 and a diverging portion 20. The housing 16b is supported within the cowling 17 by tensioned wires 21. A second double wall cowling 22, which is internally generally converging, is supported concentrically with the converging portion 18 of first cowling 17 by circumferentially spaced fixed blades 23 fixed to and extending between the interior of the converging portion 18 and the exterior of the second cowling 22. Housing part 16a is supported on cowling 22 by radial blades 16c which also function as air straighteners to inhibit pre-swirling of the air passing to turbine rotor 14.