Wind energy conversion system

A wind powered device comprising:

• a support structure,
• power output means,
• a drive shaft mounted for rotation about its axis with respect to the support structure, and means for coupling said drive shaft to the power output means,
• a rotor assembly mounted on said support structure for rotation with respect to said support structure, said rotor assembly comprising at least one rotor blade, and means supporting said rotor assembly for rotational movement relative to said drive shaft about the axis of said shaft, and
• torque control means including a drive shaft bevel gear mounted on the drive shaft in mesh with a blade bevel gear operably connected to the rotor blade for changing the pitch of the blade as the blade bevel gear is rotated, such that when the rotor torque and shaft torque are out of balance the rotor blade moves with respect to the drive shaft about the axis of said drive shaft, and said bevel gears automatically change the pitch of said blade.

A wind powered device comprising:

• a support structure,
• a drive shaft mounted for rotation about its axis with respect to the support structure, and means for coupling said drive shaft to power output means,
• a rotor assembly mounted on said support structure for rotation with respect to said support structure, said rotor assembly comprising at least one rotor blade for movement radially with respect to the shaft as the rotor assembly rotates with respect to the shaft, a compression spring urging said blade radially outwardly relative to said drive shaft axis, and means supporting said rotor assembly for rotational movement relative to said drive shaft about the axis of said shaft, and
• torque control means including a torsion spring having one end fixed relative to said rotor assembly and the other end fixed relative to said drive shaft for driving said drive shaft in response to rotation of said rotor assembly and for automatically changing the pitch of the blade as said rotor assembly rotates relative to said drive shaft about the axis of said drive shaft.

A wind powered device comprising:

• a support structure,
• power output means,
• a drive shaft mounted for rotation about its axis with respect to the support structure,
• means for coupling the drive shaft to power output means,
• means for generating a preselected torque which remains substantially constant under running conditions of the device, said means including a rotor assembly mounted for rotation with respect to the support structure, the rotor assembly comprising at least one rotor blade mounted on a rotor hub, and means supporting the rotor assembly for rotational movement relative to the drive shaft about the axis of the shaft, and
• torque control means coupling the drive shaft and the rotor assembly for balancing the torques produced by the means for generating a preselected torque, and the torque on the shaft;
• the torque control means driving the drive shaft in response to rotation of the rotor assembly and automatically changing the pitch of the blade as the rotor assembly rotates relative to the drive shaft about the axis of the drive shaft.

A wind powered device comprising:

• a support structure,
• a drive shaft mounted for rotation about its axis with respect to the support structure;
• speed regulating means operatively connected to the drive shaft to regulate the speed at which the drive shaft may rotate;
• a rotor assembly comprising at least one rotor blade, and means supporting the rotor assembly for rotational movement relative to the drive shaft about the axis of the shaft, the blade being mounted to move radially with respect to the shaft as the rotor assembly rotates relative to the drive shaft, and
• torque control means coupling the drive shaft and the rotor assembly for driving the drive shaft in response to rotation of the rotor assembly and for automatically changing the pitch of the blade as the blade moves radially with respect to the shaft.

A wind powered device comprising:

• a synchronously operated generator,
• a drive shaft coupled to the generator,
• a rotor hub mounted for rotation relative to the drive shaft,
• a rotor blade mounted on the rotor hub for radial movement with respect to the drive shaft,
• means for changing the pitch of the rotor blade as the blade is moved radially with respect to the drive shaft,
• a rotatable member fixed on the drive shaft, and
• a connecting member interconnecting the rotatable member and the blade such that as the torque generated by the blade exceeds the torque on the shaft, the blade is moved radially inward toward the drive shaft, and as the torque on the drive shaft exceeds the torque generated by the blade, the blade is moved radially outward from the drive shaft.