Wind driven electric power generating system

A wind power system comprising:

• generator means operative alternately in a generator mode or a motor mode and having a rotor shaft,
• switch control means and a circuit including a switch controlled by said control means to selectively connect and disconnect said generator means to and from, respectfully, an electric power system,
• a wind driven propeller and a propeller shaft supporting said propeller for rotation,
• speed changer means having first and second shafts, the ratio of said means being such that the second shaft revolves several times for every one revolution of the first shaft, said second shaft being coupled to said rotor shaft,
• said switch control means responding to said propeller being rotated by the wind at below a first predetermined speed by maintaining said switch open and responding to said propeller being rotated up to said first predetermined speed by closing said switch to thereby connect said generator means to said electric power system for drawing power from said system to operate said generator means in said motor mode for driving said speed changing means up to a speed corresponding to motor speed,
• over-running clutch means responsive to said propeller shaft reaching a speed higher than said predetermined speed by coupling said propeller shaft to said first shaft of the speed changer means while said generator means is operating in said motor mode so that said generator converts to operating in said generator mode to deliver power to said electric power system,
• slowing of said propeller shaft speed below said higher speed due to a drop in wind velocity causing said generator to convert to operating in the motor mode and said clutch responding to said rotor shaft turning at a higher speed than said shaft is being driven with the slowing propeller by uncoupling said propeller shaft from the first shaft of said speed changer means.