Horizontal axis wind energy conversion system with aerodynamic blade pitch control
OwnerWendell E. Rossmaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The horizontal axis wind turbine converts wind into electrical energy and includes a pitch control vane with a flyweight mechanism on each rotor blade to provide aerodynamic efficiency at operating wind velocities, near constant speed and zero lift pitch of the rotor blades when speeds exceed the design speed of the system. A gravity neutralization means composed of a bevel gear and pinions couples the blades together while a flyweight arrangement connected to the bevel gear acts to neutralize centrifugal torque on the blades.
Claims34
A wind energy conversion system comprising
- a rotor assembly disposed on a horizontal axis, said rotor assembly including at least one pivotally mounted turbine blade disposed in a radiating manner for rotation about an aerodynamic axis perpendicular to said horizontal axis, and a pitch control vane mounted on said turbine blade for moving said turbine blade into a deliberate angle of attack in relation to a relative wind passing over said blade.
A wind energy conversion system comprising
- a mast mounted for rotation about a vertical axis;
- a rotor assembly mounted on said mast at an upper end thereof, said rotor assembly including a shaft rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis, a hub plate mounted on said shaft, a plurality of turbine blades mounted on said hub plate, each said blade being rotatable about an aerodynamic axis perpendicular to said horizontal axis, and a plurality of pitch control vanes, each said vane being mounted on a respective blade for moving said blade into a deliberate angle of attack in relation to a relative wind passing over said respective blade;
- and
- a generator about said shaft for generating an electrical current during rotation of said shaft.
A wind energy conversion system comprising
- a rotatably mounted hub plate disposed for rotation about a horizontal axis;
- a plurality of turbine blades mounted on said hub plate in a radiating pattern, each said blade being rotatable about an aerodynamic axis perpendicular to said horizontal axis;
- and
- a plurality of pitch control vanes, each said vane being mounted on a respective blade for moving said blade into a predetermined angle of attack.
In combination,
- a pitch control vane for a rotatably mounted blade, said vane having a shaft secured thereto about a pivot axis;
- and
- a flyweight assembly connected to said shaft for pivoting said shaft about said pivot axis, said assembly including a flyweight pivotally mounted on an axis angularly disposed to said pivot axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.