Portable wind machine

A method of providing artificial wind using a wind machine which includes a vehicle movable along the ground, a support carried by the vehicle and extending upwardly substantially above the vehicle, a transverse member coupled to the support at a location substantially above the vehicle and extending transversely of the support on both sides of the support, said transverse member being pivotable between a travel position in which the transverse member extends generally along the vehicle in generally a direction from fore to aft of the vehicle and an operational position in which the transverse member extends laterally of the vehicle, first and second propellers mounted on the transverse member on opposite sides of the support for rotation about first and second rotational axes, respectively, a tilt angle between each of said rotational axes and a horizontal plane being adjustable, and at least one power source for rotating the propellers, said method comprising:

• moving the portable wind machine to an area where artificial wind is desired with the transverse member being in the travel position;
• moving the transverse member to the operational position and adjusting the tilt angles;
• rotating the propellers;
• and
• moving the wind machine in the area where artificial wind is desired with the transverse member in the operational position and the propellers rotating.

A portable wind machine comprising:

• at least one support tower;
• a readily transportable platform;
• means for mounting the support tower on the platform with the tower extending upwardly whereby the platform can be used to transport the tower;
• at least one propeller;
• means for mounting the propeller for rotation on the support tower adjacent an upper end of the tower;
• at least one power generating means, said at least one power generating means being drivingly coupled to the propeller to rotate the propeller;
• said at least one support tower including a plurality of sections, said plurality of sections being telescopically connected to one another such that the height of said at least one propeller above said platform varies substantially by extending and retracing said telescoping sections;
• said power generating means including an engine mounted on the support tower adjacent the upper end of the support tower;
• an upper fuel tank mounted near said engine;
• a lower fuel tank adapted to be mounted near a base end of said at least one support tower;
• a fuel pump;
• a fuel line extending upwardly from said lower fuel tank to said upper fuel tank, said fuel pump being adapted to pump fuel through said fuel line from said lower fuel tank to said upper fuel tank;
• said upwardly extending fuel line further comprising a first rigid conduit portion, said first conduit portion extending upwardly along a lowermost of said plurality of support tower sections and a second flexible hose portion, said second flexible hose portion extending upwardly from the top of said first rigid conduit portion to said upper fuel tank, and having sufficient extra length to compensate for the difference in tower height when said telescoping tower sections are retracted and when they are extended;
• and
• a hose collector means, said hose collector means being mounted to said at least one support tower and being adapted to store the excess length of said second flexible hose portion when said telescoping tower sections are retracted.