Back to results
US 8,113,777 B2Granted
Ultralight airfoils for wind energy conversion
AssigneeSequoia IT S.R.L.
InventorGianni Vergnano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device is described for generating energy. The device includes at least two ultralight airfoils rotating along their own axis, which functionally reproduce the characteristics of a propeller. The ultralight airfoils which characterize such aerodynamic configuration use pulling members (such as cables or tie-rods) to keep their shape when operating. An important weight reduction of the structure is thus obtained, which allows different applications in the aeolian generation field.
Claims24
A device for generating energy, the device comprising:
- at least two ultralight rotating airfoils;
- and
- pulling means connected to the airfoils for keeping an aerodynamic shape of the airfoils when using the airfoils, the airfoils being mutually connected and adapted to be rotated around their common axis through a force applied by wind, so as to emulate a propeller performance,
- wherein the device is adapted, during rotation, to modify each of the airfoils independently by controlling a shape of each of the airfoils depending on its angular position when rotating, so as to obtain a resultant of lift forces not aligned with a wind axis, the device being adapted to be used both as traction system, and as aeolian generating system at a height, and
- the device is adapted to generate energy by rotation and to include rigid ribs adapted to transmit its movement to a generator placed at a center of the device, the device further including weights adapted to counteract a rotation torque linked to energy production, the weights being rigidly spaced from a rotation center of the generator to create a resisting torque that counteracts the rotation torque.
2 more elements
A device for generating energy, the device comprising:
- at least two sets of airfoils, each of the sets of airfoils comprising:
- at least two ultralight rotating airfoils, the airfoils being connected to pulling means for keeping an aerodynamic shape of the airfoils when using the airfoils, the airfoils being mutually connected and adapted to be rotated around their common axis through a force applied by wind, so as to emulate a propeller performance,
- wherein the sets of airfoils are operatively connected together and counter-rotate on a same axis with an interposed generator.
A device comprising:
- at least one generator;
- weights;
- a first set of at least two ultralight rotating airfoils;
- and
- first pulling means connected to the first set of airfoils for keeping an aerodynamic shape of these airfoils when using these airfoils, these airfoils being mutually connected and adapted to be rotated around their common axis through a force applied by wind,
- wherein the device is adapted to generate energy by rotation and to include rigid ribs adapted to transmit its movement to the generator, and
- the weights are adapted to counteract a rotation torque linked to energy production, the weights being rigidly spaced from a rotation center of the generator to create a resisting torque that counteracts the rotation torque.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.