Wind-driven prime mover
OwnerDouglas P. Sarchetinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sail-type wind-driven prime mover is provided in which the area of the sails facing into the wind is adjustable. The prime mover comprises a drive shaft from which depend radially extending front and rear masts which support flexible sails. The area of the sails facing into the wind can be varied by moving the rear masts along and about the drive shaft while keeping the front masts fixed relative to the drive shaft. In a preferred embodiment in which the prime mover drives an electric generator, means are provided to automatically adjust the sails as a function of the output voltage of the generator.
Claims12
An adjustable wind-driven prime mover comprising a rotatably mounted drive shaft, a plurality of radially extending front masts connected to said drive shaft, a corresponding plurality of rear masts movably mounted on the drive shaft and extending radially outward therefrom, a corresponding plurality of boom members, each boom member being pivotally connected to a front mast and movably connected to a rear mast with the rear mast free to move longitudinally along and to rotate about its associated boom, each associated set of a front mast, rear mast and boom member forming a sail member supporting assembly, a corresponding plurality of sail members each being mounted on one of said sail member support assemblies, means for moving said rear masts relative to said front masts to adjust the area of the sail members facing into the wind, and means for controlling the operation of said moving means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.