US 8,137,052 B1Granted

Wind turbine generator

OwnerDean J. Schlegelinventor

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Abstract

A wind turbine generator assembly comprising a support tower and a turbine assembly mounted in a downwind position with respect to the support tower. The turbine assembly comprises a cowling assembly and a spoked wheel having a plurality of relatively short blades mounted radially outward with respect to and downwind the cowling assembly. Each blade has an airfoil cross-sectional configuration of a predetermined structure to provide lift. The bladed wheel is coupled to a generator to produce electricity. The support tower has an upper tower portion having a biased hinge assembly with respect to the lower tower position to permit the turbine to pivot in high wind conditions. The support tower further has a rotating mechanism above the lower tower portion and below the biased hinge assembly to allow the turbine to rotate with respect to wind direction and a pivot assembly is provided to permit the turbine assembly to be brought to ground level for erecting and maintenance purposes.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A wind driven turbine to generate electricity comprising:

a) a tower assembly having a lower support structure and an upper support structure with a top portion;
b) a turbine generator assembly mounted to said top portion of said upper support structure of said tower assembly, said turbine generator assembly having a cowling assembly with a central axis, said cowling assembly having a generally circular face and a curved periphery for directing wind;
c) a rotatable generally circular wheel structure positioned behind said curved periphery of said cowling assembly, said wheel structure having a plurality of blades mounted thereto, said blades extending outwardly with respect to said curved periphery of said cowling assembly;
d) a drive assembly in communication with said wheel structure;
e) a stator/rotor assembly driven by said drive assembly, said stator/rotor assembly having means to transmit electrical current therefrom;
and
f) said lower support structure having a plurality of angled support members and a pin member structure to said angled support members whereby said upper support structure is pivotable with respect to said lower support structure, said upper support structure having a lower support cylinder with means to fix and release said upper structure for pivoting about said pin member, whereby said turbine generator assembly may be pivoted downward with respect to said lower support structure when said lower support cylinder of said upper structure is released.

4 more elements

A wind driven turbine assembly comprising:

a) a support tower structure having a lower tower structure and an upper tower structure, said upper tower structure being pivotable with respect to said lower tower structure, said upper tower structure having a first cylinder and a second cylinder with an upper end;
b) a pivoting assembly joining said first cylinder and said second cylinder, said pivoting assembly including biasing means;
c) a support cylinder mounted to said upper end of said second cylinder, said support cylinder having a rotatable shaft extending therethrough;
d) a generally circular cowling structure mounted to one end of said support cylinder, said cowling structure having a face, a curved periphery and a specified diameter;
e) a generally circular wheel structure having spokes and a hub mounted to one end of said rotatable shaft, said wheel structure having a plurality of blades mounted thereto, said blades extending outwardly with respect to said curved periphery of said cowling structure, each said blade having a specified length, said specified blade length being less than said specified diameter of said cowling structure;
f) a stator/rotor assembly mounted behind said cowling structure, said stator/rotor assembly having drive means in communication with said rotatable shaft;
and
g) said biasing means including a hinged assembly joining said first cylinder and said second cylinder of said upper tower structure to thereby permit the pivoting of said cowling structure and said rotatable wheel mounted to said support cylinder in high wind conditions.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.