Wind powered generator with cyclic airfoil latching

A wind powered generator, comprising:

• horizontal support means;
• a vertical central shaft journaled in said horizontal support means for free rotation thereof about a vertical central axis;
• a framework supported by said central shaft and rotatable with said central shaft about said vertical axis, said framework including spaced support members;
• a plurality of vertical airfoil shafts journaled in said framework for free rotation thereof about a vertical airfoil axis, said airfoil shafts revolving about said central shaft through a leeward sector wherein said airfoil shafts move in generally the same direction as the windflow direction and through a windward sector wherein said airfoil shafts move in a direction generally opposite of the windflow direction;
• an airfoil associated with each airfoil shaft and having a surface symmetrically disposed about its associated airfoil shaft, each of said airfoils freely rotating with its associated airfoil shaft about said airfoil axis and revolving with its airfoil shaft about said central shaft, each of said airfoil surfaces having a generally S-shaped horizontal cross-sectional configuration adapted to produce wind-generated torque about said central shaft when latched nonparallel to said windflow direction and to permit said airfoil to rotate freely into a position generally parallel to said windflow direction when unlatched;
• a wind vane rotatable about said central shaft in response to said windflow direction;
• shaft encoder means associated with said wind vane for producing a signal indicative of said windflow direction;
• shaft encoder means associated with said central shaft for producing a signal indicative of the relative position of said framework with respect to said horizontal support means;
• an airfoil shaft encoder associated with each airfoil shaft for producing a signal indicative of the relative orientation of its associated airfoil with respect to same framework;
• solenoid means associated with each of said airfoils and actuable for selectively latching its associated airfoil in said leeward sector in a fixed torqueproducing position wherein said airfoil surface is nonparallel to said windflow direction, and for selectively unlatching its associated airfoil in said windward sector;
• computer means for receiving signals from said wind vane shaft encoder means, from said central shaft shaft encoder means and from said airfoil shaft encoder means for determining the location of said windward sector and said leeward sector and for actuating and deactuating each of said solenoid means;
• and
• electric power generating means driven by means connected to said central shaft.

A wind powered generator comprising:

• support means;
• a framework rotatable with respect to said support means about a central axis;
• a plurality of airfoil shafts, each of said airfoil shafts being adapted to revolve about said central axis through a leeward sector wherein said airfoil shaft moves in generally the same direction as a windflow direction and through a windward sector wherein said airfoil shaft moves in a direction generally opposite of said windflow direction;
• an airfoil associated with each airfoil shaft and having a surface symmetrically disposed about its associated airfoil shaft, each of said airfoils being rotatable about its associated airfoil shaft and being adapted to revolve with its associated airfoil shaft about said central axis, each of said airfoil surfaces being configured to rotate into a position generally parallel to said windflow direction when permitted to rotate freely about its associated airfoil shaft;
• means for selectively latching each of said airfoils in said leeward sector in a fixed torque-producing position wherein said airfoil surface is nonparallel to said windflow direction to generate wind-produced torque about said central axis, and for selectively unlatching each of said airfoils in said windward sector to permit the unlatched airfoil to rotate freely into a position generally parallel to said windflow direction;
• windflow direction detection means;
• means associated with said windflow direction detection means for producing a signal indicative of said windflow direction;
• means associated with each of said airfoil shafts for producing a signal indicative of the orientation of its associated airfoil surface with respect to said framework;
• means associated with said framework for producing a signal indicative of the position of said framework with respect to said support means;
• and
• computer means for receiving signals from said signal producing means associated with said windflow direction detection means, said signal producing means associated with each of said airfoil shafts and said signal producing means associated with said framework for determining the location of said leeward sector and said windward sector and for controlling said latching and unlatching means.

A wind powered generator comprising:

• support means;
• a framework rotatable with respect to said support means about a central axis;
• a plurality of airfoil shafts, each of said airfoil shafts each being adapted to revolve about said central axis through a leeward sector wherein said airfoil shaft moves in generally the same direction as a windflow direction and through a windward sector wherein said airfoil shafts move in a direction generally opposite of said windflow direction;
• an airfoil associated with each airfoil shaft and having a surface symmetrically disposed about its associated airfoil shaft, each of said airfoils being rotatable about its associated airfoil shaft and being adapted to revolve with its associated airfoil shaft about said central axis, each of said airfoil surfaces being configured to rotate into a position generally parallel to said windflow direction when permitted to rotate freely about its associated airfoil shaft;
• means for selectively latching each of said airfoils in said leeward sector in a fixed torque-producing position wherein said airfoil surface is nonparallel to said windflow direction to generate wind-produced torque about said central axis and for selectively unlatching each of said airfoils in said windward sector to permit the unlatched airfoil to rotate freely into a position generally parallel to said windflow direction;
• track means disposed in fixed relation to said support means, said track means forming a circle whose center coincides with said central axis;
• wheel means journaled in said framework and adapted to ride on said track means as said framework rotates about said central axis;
• wind vane means rotatable in response to changes in said windflow direction for providing an indication of said windflow direction;
• first electrooptical means associated with said framework for providing a signal indicative of the position of said framework with respect to said support means;
• second electrooptical means associated with said wind vane means for providing a signal indicative of said windflow direction;
• a plurality of third electrooptical means, each of said third electrooptical means being associated with one of said airfoil shafts for providing a signal indicative of the orientation of its associated airfoil surface with respect to said framework;
• and
• computer means for receiving signals from said first electrooptical means, said second electrooptical means and each of said third electrooptical means and for determining the location of said leeward sector and said windward sector and for controlling said latching and unlatching means.

A wind powered generator comprising:

• support means;
• a framework rotatable with respect to said support means about a central axis;
• a plurality of airfoil shafts, each of said airfoil shafts being adapted to revolve about said central axis through a leeward sector wherein said airfoil shaft moves in generally the same direction as a windflow direction and through a windward sector wherein said airfoil shaft moves in a direction generally opposite of said windflow direction;
• an airfoil associated with each airfoil shaft and having a surface symmetrically disposed about its associated airfoil shaft, each of said airfoils being rotatable about its associated airfoil shaft and being adapted to revolve with its associated airfoil shaft about said central axis, each of said airfoil surfaces being configured to rotate into a position generally parallel to said windflow direction when permitted to rotate freely about its associated airfoil shaft, each of said airfoils comprising:
• a plurality of elongated arms disposed parallel to said airfoil shaft;
• an upper frame interconnecting upper ends of each of said arms;
• a lower frame interconnecting lower ends of each of said arms;
• and
• a flexible material tightly stretched between each of said arms and said airfoil shaft;
• a cross-sectional configuration of each of said airfoils being variable by altering the shape of said upper frame and said lower frame for adaptation to specific wind conditions;
• and
• means for selectively latching each of said airfoils in said leeward sector in a fixed torque-producing position wherein said airfoil surface is nonparallel to said windflow direction to generate wind-produced torque about said central axis and for selectively unlatching each of said airfoils in said windward sector to permit the unlatched airfoil to rotate freely into a position generally parallel to said windflow direction.