Guided flow wind power machine with tubular fans
OwnerRichard E. Diggsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A guided flow wind power machine having inter-meshing tubular fan blades is disclosed. The device includes a main frame which is rotatively mounted to permit it to continuously face the wind directly. The main frame carries three separate power cells each having a plurality of tubular fans, all of which are inter-connected to drive a non-linear alternating current generator. An energy storage system is also disclosed and includes a plurality of massive weights that are raised hydraulically to store excess power generated by the fans. Power is withdrawn from the storage apparatus by permitting the weights to act against the hydraulic system to drive a reversible pump-motor.
Claims11
An apparatus for converting wind energy to electric power and for selectively storing excess electric power comprising:
- a rotatable main frame assembly;
- a plurality of power cells secured to said main frame assembly, each said power cell including a plurality of pairs of intermeshing fan wheels;
- power train means connected to said pairs of fan wheels;
- electrical generator means coupled to said power train means for generating electrical power;
- a power storage system coupled to said electrical generator means for selectively storing excess power generated thereby;
- wherein said power storage system comprises a plurality of massive weights, an hydraulic system for elevating said weights and reversible pump-motor means coupled to said hydraulic system and to said electrical generator means for raising said weights to store energy and for driving said electrical generator means to utilize stored energy;
- and
- wherein said hydraulic systrm further comprises an hydraulic cylinder, connected to each of said weights, surrounding each of a plurality of pistons and hydraulic circuit means coupling said hydraulic cylinders with said reversible pump-motor including a buffer reservoir and a plurality of solenoid valve means for selectively coupling said buffer reservoir with each of said hydraulic cylinders.
An apparatus for converting wind energy to electric power and for selectively storing excess electric power comprising:
- a rotatable main frame assembly;
- a plurality of power cells secured to said main frame assembly, each said power cell including a plurality of pairs of intermeshing fan wheels;
- power train means connected to said pairs of fan wheels;
- electrical generator means coupled to said power train means for generating electrical power;
- a power storage system coupled to said electrical generator means for selectively storing excess power generated thereby;
- wherein said power storage system comprises a plurality of massive weights, an hydraulic system for elevating said weights and reversible pump-motor means coupled to said hydraulic system and to said electrical generator means for raising said weights to store energy and for driving said electrical generator means to utilize stored energy;
- and
- a control system coupled to said electrical generator means and to said power storage system for regulating the supply of power delievered to said power storage system which includes
- load power sensing means for sensing the power drawn by a load coupled to said electrical generator means;
- and
- motor relay means coupled to said load power sensing means for energizing said reversible pump-motor in response to a control signal from said load power sensing means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.