Free-yaw, free-pitch wind-driven electric generator apparatus

Free-yaw wind-driven electric generator apparatus of the downwind type, comprising a generator head supported on a tower for wind-driven free-yaw movement about a substantially vertical yaw axis, said generator head including a rotor rotatable about a rotor axis transverse to said yaw axis, and control means responsive to the rate of yaw movement of said generator head for limiting the rate of yaw movement of said generator head to prevent an excessive yaw rate.

Wind-driven apparatus of the downwind type, comprising a head supported for wind-driven yaw movement about a substantially vertical yaw axis without restriction as to the extent of yaw movement and for wind-driven pitch movement about a substantially horizontal pitch axis between predetermined upward and downward limits, said head including a wind-driven rotor rotatable about a rotor axis substantially perpendicular to said pitch axis, first frontal means for damping the yaw movement of said head, and second control means for damping the pitch movement of said head, wherein said second control means comprises a hydraulic cylinder with a piston movable therein in response to pitch movement of the head.

Wind-driven apparatus of the downwind type, comprising a head including a wind-driven rotor, said head being supported for wind-driven pitch movement about a substantially horizontal pitch axis between predetermined upward and downward limits, said rotor being rotatable about a rotor axis substantially perpendicular to said pitch axis, and control means for controlling the rate of pitch movement of said head and for damping the pitch movement of said head, wherein said control means comprises a hydraulic cylinder with a piston movable therein in response to pitch movement of the head.

Wind-driven apparatus of the downwind type, comprising a head including a wind-driven rotor, said head being supported for wind-driven pitch movement about a substantially horizontal pitch axis between predetermined upward and downward limits, said rotor being rotatable about a rotor axis substantially perpendicular to said pitch axis, and control means for controlling the rate of pitch movement of said head, said control means providing a predetermined pitch angle range of substantially unrestrained pitch movement of said head and providing damped pitch movement of said head when the pitch movement exceeds said predetermined pitch angle range, wherein said control means comprises a hydraulic cylinder with a piston movable therein in response to pitch movement of the head.

Wind-driven apparatus of the downwind type, comprising a head including a wind-driven rotor, said head being supported for wind-driven yaw movement about a substantially vertical yaw axis without restriction as to the extend of yaw movement, said rotor being rotatable about a rotor axis transverse to said yaw axis, and control means for damping the yaw movement of said head, said control means providing a predetermined yaw angle range of substantially unrestrained yaw movement of said head and providing damped yaw movement of said head when the yaw movement exceeds said predetermined yaw angle range wherein said control means further comprises brake means responsive to the rate of yaw movement of said head for limiting the rate of yaw movement of said head to prevent an excessive yaw rate.

Wind-driven apparatus of the downwind type, comprising a head including a wind-driven rotor, said head being supported for wind-driven yaw movement about a substantially vertical yaw axis without restriction as to the extend of yaw movement, said rotor being rotatable about a rotor axis transverse to said yaw axis, and control means for damping the yaw movement of said head, said control means comprising a hydraulic pump unit that drives a hydraulic motor unit in response to wind-driven yaw movement of said head, said control means further comprising brake means responsive to the rate of yaw movement of said head for limiting the rate of yaw movement of said head to prevent an excessive yaw rate.