US 4,291,233 A · Wind turbine-generator

Abstract

A wind-turbine generator system which transforms the rotational energy of a wind driven turbine blade into rotation in opposite directions of a rotor and a stator of a dynamoelectric machine to generate electrical power. A bevel gear rotating with the turbine blade drives two pinion gears and associated concentric shafts in opposite directions. The two shafts combine with a planetary gear set to provide the desired oppositely directed rotation. One of the shafts is associated with a ring carrier and drives a ring gear in one rotational direction. The other shaft drives a planet carrier in the opposite rotational direction. The planetary gear set is arranged such that a sun gear is driven in the direction opposite to that of the ring gear. A rotor is affixed to the sun gear by a spider support structure, and a stator, affixed to rotate with the ring gear, surrounds the rotor. The rotor and stator are thus rotated in opposite, mechanically and electrically additive, directions.

Claims2

Dependent claims

A wind turbine generator system comprising:

(a) a turbine and affixed shaft rotatable by a wind;
(b) gearing for transposing the rotational energy of said turbine and affixed shaft into rotational energy of a first shaft rotating in one direction and a second concentric shaft rotating in the opposite direction;
(c) a generator rotor;
(d) a stator disposed concentrically about said rotor;
and
(e) planetary gearing cooperatively relating said shafts and said rotor and stator such that said rotor rotates in one direction and said stator rotates about said rotor in the opposite direction, said stator being rigidly connected to the outer one of said concentric shafts so as to rotate at the same velocity as said outer shaft, said rotor being driven by said planetary gearing to rotate at a velocity different than the rotational velocity of the inner one of said concentric shafts.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wind turbine-generator

Life of this patent

Wind turbine-generator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims2