Vertical axis wind turbine
OwnerJohn Lubbersinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wind turbine is described which includes a vertical axle mounted for rotation to drive an output utilization device. Around the axle is arranged a circumferential array of wind vanes, each wind vane comprising a generally rectangular panel of flexible material supported in a frame and having a pocket opened along a vertical side which is able to flare out and catch the wind in one direction but collapse upon rotation around to the opposite direction, allowing a net output power to be generated by the wind being received in the wind vane pockets. A successive opening of the pockets insures a rapid opening action. A releasable hinging of the wind vane frame allows spilling of winds at excessive wind speeds.
Claims6
A vertical axis wind turbine comprising:
- a vertically extending axle supported for rotation about a vertical axis;
- a series of wind vanes arranged around said axle;
- support means supporting each of said wind vanes on said axle, each of said wind vanes comprising a substantially flat main panel section of flexible material draped vertically by said support means to extend in a circumferential direction;
- each of said wind vanes including at least on pocket comprised of a substantially flat overlayer panel of flexible material overlying the outside of said wind vane flexible material panel section and attached thereto along a vertical side by a seam and also attached thereto along the top and bottom, but unattached along the other side to form a normally closed pocket which is able to flare open when wind is blowing from the unattached side thereof and thereby catch said wind, said pocket collapsing when wind blows from the attached side of said overlayer by said overlayer panel again overlaying said main panel section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.