Dual-mode wind machine

A method of manufacturing a wind machine, the method comprising:

• engaging a first shaft, to drive a fan of a wind machine, to an electrical motor-generator so as to allow the electrical motor-generator to drive the first shaft when the wind machine is operating in a wind generation mode, and so as to allow the first shaft to drive the electrical motor-generator as an electrical generator when the wind machine is operating in a power generation mode, and
• configuring a fan blade head of the wind machine to be movable between a first position in which the blades of the wind machine are inclined at a controllable angle, and a second position in which the blades of the wind machine are substantially vertical;
• and
• providing the wind machine with
• a mode selector for placing the machine in the power generation mode or a wind generation mode in response to a detection of ambient wind conditions;
• a horizontal axis rotation mechanism that adjusts the tilt or inclination of the blades of the fan according to the selected mode of operation;
• and
• a vertical axis rotation mechanism including an automatic control system for rotating the fan blade head at a selectively controllable speed, and at a selectively controllable periodic interval, about a vertical axis independently of the fan speed when the machine is in the wind generation mode.

A method of manufacturing a hybrid wind machine, the method comprising:

• providing a first shaft of a wind machine to drive a fan of the wind machine;
• providing a second shaft to be driven by an engine;
• providing a third shaft to drive an electrical generator;
• engaging a drive transmission between the first, second and third shafts so as to allow the second shaft to drive the first shaft when the hybrid wind machine is operating in a wind generation mode, and so as to allow the first shaft to drive the third shaft when the hybrid wind machine is operating in a power generation mode, and
• configuring a fan blade head of the hybrid wind machine to be movable between a first position in which the blades of the hybrid wind machine are inclined at a controllable angle, and a second position in which the blades of the hybrid wind machine are substantially vertical;
• and
• providing the hybrid wind machine with
• a mode selector for placing the wind machine in the power generation mode or the wind generation mode in response to a detection of ambient wind conditions;
• a horizontal axis rotation mechanism that adjusts the tilt or inclination of the blades of the fan according to the selected mode of operation;
• and
• a vertical axis rotation mechanism including an automatic control system for rotating the fan blade head at a selectively controllable speed, and at a selectively controllable periodic interval, about a vertical axis independently of the fan speed when the machine is in the wind generator mode.