US 6,717,285 B2 · Multiple collector wind driven power generating device

Abstract

A wind powered generating device comprises a tube cluster, a collector assembly, and a turbine assembly. The collector assemblies utilize sails that can be rotated to direct wind down through an inlet tube to a central outlet tube. The central outlet tube is narrowed at a portion, and a turbine is mounted at this narrowed portion to take advantage of the Venturi effect that accelerates the air as it passes the turbine. This permits reliable and efficient operation in areas that were not formerly considered windy enough to be economically feasible for the deployment of wind powered generating devices. Alternative embodiments of the invention include mechanisms for dealing with violent weather conditions, a first of which allows excess wind to bleed off beneath and between the sails, and a second which collapses and covers the sail with a protective sheath/sock.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A wind driven power generating device comprising:

a tube cluster comprising a central outlet tube having a narrowed center for channeling an airflow;
a plurality of inlet tubes;
each inlet tube being defined by a cylindrical wall;
each inlet tube further having a collector end located at a distance from said central outlet tube, the inlet tube communicating with said central outlet tube for delivering airflow from said inlet tube collector end to said central outlet tube;
and
the generator device further including a turbine in said narrowed center to be driven by the airflow,
a collector assembly being attached to the collector end of each inlet tube, whereby an air flow is collected and redirected into said inlet tubes,
each collector assembly comprising
a vertical mast
a curved boom, and
a flexible sail connected at its top end to the mast and at its bottom end to the boom,
a steering sail for orienting said collector assembly with respect to an ambient air flow, and
a mechanism for reducing the area of the sail presented to the ambient air flow in response to a predetermined load on the sail.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiple collector wind driven power generating device

Life of this patent

Multiple collector wind driven power generating device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11