Flexible tethered wind turbine
OwnerFrank L. Carrolinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to a flexible tethered wind turbine useful, among other things, for generating electricity. A flexible shaft supported by guy wires is provided at its upper end with a flexible rotor and an airfoil assembly. Rotation of the airfoils in response to wind creates centrifugal force and tension which causes the rotor to become rigid during use. The light flexible shaft easily follows the rotating sails, which permits the entire turbine to automatically track the wind as it changes direction. As the rotor spins, its rotational energy is transferred to the shaft, which rotates along its entire flexible length.
Claims20
A flexible tethered wind turbine comprising:
- a flexible and resilient load-bearing drive shaft having upper and lower ends, said shaft being tapered toward the upper end along at least a portion of its length, and being straight in a non-rotational rest mode and actively bendable in response to changing wind conditions through a curve in a rotational operating mode;
- a flexible and non-resilient rotor having a hub and a rim, said hub being affixed to the upper end of said shaft and having at least one flexible sail affixed to said hub and rim, said rim being flaccid in the non-rotational rest mode and firm in the rotational operating mode;
- a first support means having a lower bearing in axial cooperation with said shaft, proximate to the lower end thereof, said lower bearing permitting free rotation and restrained vertical and horizontal movement of the shaft;
- and
- a second support means comprising an upper bearing disposed on the shaft between said lower bearing and said upper and, and guy wires affixed to said upper bearing via restraining means in a manner which tethers said shaft without interfering with the rotation and movement thereof.
A flexible tethered wind turbine comprising:
- a flexible and resilient load-bearing drive shaft having upper and lower ends, said shaft being made from a material selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, aluminum and a carbonffilament material, being rounded at its lower end and tapered toward the upper end along at least a portion of its length, and being straight in a non-rotational rest mode and actively bendable in response to a changing wind conditions through a curve ranging approximately between zero and ninety degrees in a rotational operating mode;
- a flexible and non-resilient rotor having a hub and a rim, said hub being affixed to the upper end of said shaft and having at least one entirely flexible airfoil-shaped sail comprising a foam-like material covered by a textile material, said sail being affixed to said hub and rim, said rim being flaccid in the non-rotational rest mode and firm in the rotational operating mode;
- a first support means having a base, a thrust plate, a lower bearing in axial cooperation with said shaft and proximate to the lower end thereof, said lower bearing permitting free rotation and restrained vertical and horizontal movement of the shaft within a section of a cone, and means for securing said base and thrust plate to said lower bearing;
- and
- a second support means comprising an upper bearing disposed on the shaft between said lower bearing and said upper end, and guy wires affixed to said upper bearing via restraining means comprising a collar affixed to said shaft below and proximate to said upper bearing, a ring affixed to said guy wires via straps, said straps in turn being affixed to said upper bearing, in a manner which tethers said shaft without interfering with the rotation and movement thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.