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US 7,581,926 B1Granted
Servo-controlled extender mechanism for extendable rotor blades for power generating wind and ocean current turbines
AssigneeClipper Windpower Technology, Inc.
InventorsJames G. P. Dehlsen, Amir S. Mikhail
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power generating system wherein a turbine is mounted on top of a tower or tethered underwater. The turbine includes a rotor having a main blade connected to a rotor hub and an extender section. An adjusting device positions the extender blade between a retracted position within the main blade and to an extended position to expose more or less of the rotor to the fluid flow. The adjusting device includes a servo-controlled rack and pinion mechanism that converts rotation of the pinion by a servomotor into linear motion of the extender blade. A generator is connected to the turbine for generating electrical energy.
Claims14
A fluid-flow power generating system comprising:
- a turbine mounted on a structure that is held stationary with reference to a fluid flow;
- said turbine having a rotor comprised of a rotor hub and a number of blades, said rotor being positioned on said structure such that said rotor is in alignment with fluid flow direction;
- each of said blades having a root blade with a hub end attached to said rotor hub and an extender blade that is variable in length to provide a variable diameter rotor;
- said extender blade capable of extension and retraction of a radius of sweep of said rotor blade to increase and decrease a cross-sectional area of fluid flow swept by said rotor blade;
- an adjusting device for said rotor blade including a servomotor-controlled rack gear and pinion gear actuation mechanism, said rack gear being attached to said extender blade;
- said servomotor-controlled rack gear and pinion gear actuation mechanism including a first servomotor and first pinion engaging gear on one side of said rack gear and a second servomotor and pinion engaging gear on a side opposite to said one side of said rack gear;
- said first and second servomotors being anchored at said hub end of said root blade;
- said root blade has spaced apart ribs defining an airfoil contour of said root blade and a lengthwise front spar and rear spar to which said ribs are attached;
- and
- said extender blade is housed within said root blade with bearings, which allow said extender blade to move within a space between said front and rear spars.
7 more elements
A blade for a fluid-power generating system, characterized by:
- a root blade having a hub end;
- an extender blade;
- a rack gear having teeth on one side and teeth on a side opposite to said one side;
- a first servomotor and first pinion located on said one side of said rack gear;
- and
- a second servomotor and second pinion located on said side opposite to said one side of said rack gear;
- said rack gear engaging said first and second pinions on a hub end of said root blade, said rack gear being connected on an opposite end to said extender blade;
- said first servomotor capable of driving said first pinion such that as said first pinion rotates about a fixed axis, said rack gear and extender blade move in a straight path in one direction;
- said second servomotor capable of driving said second pinion such that as said second pinion rotates about a fixed axis, said rack gear and extender blade move in a straight path in a direction opposite to said one direction, wherein said extender blade is housed within said root blade with rolling bearings, which allow said extender blade to move within a space defined in said root blade, wherein said rolling bearings are mounted via respective axles on said extender blade.
6 more elements
A rotor for a fluid-power generating system, comprising:
- a rotor hub;
- a main blade connected to said rotor hub;
- an extender blade movable in relation to said main blade between a first end position at least partially retracted in relation to said main blade and a second end position in which it is extended in relation to said main blade,
- wherein said extender blade is housed within said main blade with a plurality of bearings, which allow said extender blade to move within a space defined between front and rear spars of said main blade,
- an adjusting device for said extender blade, said adjusting device comprising:
- a rack gear having a first end connected to said extender blade and a second end, said rack gear including a first side comprising teeth and a second, opposite side comprising teeth,
- a first servomotor and a first pinion, said first pinion engaging teeth on said rack gear first side,
- a second servomotor and a second pinion, said second pinion engaging teeth on said rack gear second side.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.