US 4,764,090 AGranted

Vertical wind turbine

AssigneeWind Feather, United Science ASC

InventorDavid P. Danson

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Abstract

A cross wind axis type wind turbine includes four wind driven airfoil blades pivotally connected between upper and lower sets of support spokes supported on a rotating vertical column so that the blades are upwardly inclined towards the column axis to produce an accelerated downwardly swirling air flow in the turbine interior. The lower spokes are airfoil shaped to draw wind into the turbine to further accelerate the air flow in the turbine for improved blade efficiency. A feedback control arrangement responsive to changes in wind speed or direction adjusts the blade angles to the wind for optimum efficiency by virtue of a rack and pinion assembly connecting each blade to a center plate through connecting rods extending radially through each upper spoke. The center plate is mounted within the column on a control shaft that includes an offset portion that pivots during blade rotation about the column, or when rotated by a wind vane, to vary the radial positions of the plate and thereby the blades through the rack connections. Alternatively, a pair of weights radially movable within the lower spokes by centrific force in response to variations in wind velocity can be connected to pivot the control shaft to adjust the blade angles. Each blade includes a series of troughs formed equispaced to each other along the blade length that are respectively tapered towards the leading edge to cause wind entering the troughs to diverge and decelerate for maximum wind energy transfer to the blades.

A wind driven turbine of the vertical axis type comprising:

(a) a support base;
(b) a generally vertical column rotatably mounted to the support base;
(c) upper and lower support means respectively mounted on said column for rotation therewith;
(d) a plurality of wind driven blades connected between the upper and lower support means for rotation about said column and each blade being individually rotatable about a blade axis extending longitudinally through the blade to vary a blade angle of attack thereof relative to wind velocity during rotation about the column;
and
(e) control means for variably adjusting angles of attack of each blade to incident wind, said control means including a connecting rod means having drive means for rotating each blade about the associated blade axis in response to radial movement of the connecting rod means and control shaft pivotally mounted within said column and having a first shaft portion connected to the connecting rod means and a second shaft portion radially offset from the first shaft portion and pivotally connected to radially displace the first portion and thereby the connecting rod means to vary the blade angles of attack during rotation about said column, wherein said upper support means includes four substantially identical spokes extending substantially horizontally radially from said column said connecting rod means including a connecting rod extending through each upper spoke for connection of said drive means to a driven means mounted on a portion of a shaft passing through each blade, wherein said control means further includes a plate to which three of said connecting rods are pivotally affixed by sperical bearing means respectively spaced 90.degree. from each other and a center spherical bearing mounted in said plate to receive the first shaft portion therein the fourth connecting rod being nonrotatably affixed to the plate periphery enabling radial displacement of said plate and connecting rods in a generally horizontal plane, wherein said control means further includes a cylindrical bearing member rotatably mounted within said column on races with said offset second shaft portion being pivotally mounted within said cylindrical bearing by means of a pivot pin affixed to an inner surface of the bearing mounted cylinder.

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Abstract

Claims14