Wind power converter

Abstract

A high torque windmill is provided for use in converting wind power to usable energy, having a vertical axis about which a plurality of flexible vanes are journaled for rotation and spaced radially therefrom. The vanes are circumferentially spaced and mounted on a rigid circular, multi-sided support member which comprises the rotor journaled for rotation about the vertical mounting axis. Each vane comprises a conical member made of a dacron material and open at opposed ends thereof. A plurality of rods are held in pockets located about the conical surface for maintaining the desired conical configuration. These rods extend beyond each pocket at the smaller end of the cone, for fitting into tubular members fastened to the rotor to hold the vanes in place. Adjacent vanes are offset from the plane of rotation by 15 degrees in opposite directions (that is, up and down) in order to maximize the amount of captured wind power. The foregoing design provides a low speed high torque multi-directional windmill unit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.