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US 9,309,864 B2Granted
Transverse axis turbine with controllable display
AssigneeRonald Chun Yu Lam
InventorsRonald Chun Yu Lam, Chi Hung Louis Lam
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AssigneeRonald Chun Yu Lam
InventorsRonald Chun Yu Lam, Chi Hung Louis Lam
Estimating the term…
A transverse axis fluid turbine with controllable display components thereof is disclosed. The turbine has a base structure, rotor rotatably attached to the base structure and at least three blades rotatably attached to the rotor. A matrix array of light reflective or emitting elements is mounted on the flat blade surface. The light reflective or emitting elements are controlled by a control unit in such a way that the light reflecting or emitting provides stable still or moving image(s) to its viewer(s) while the turbine is in operation.
A transverse axis fluid turbine with a controllable display, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Cyclic movements: mechanically controlled by the rotor structure
Wind motors with rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the air flow entering the rotor: having a plurality of rotors
Adaptations of wind motors for special use
Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus: the apparatus being an electrical generator
About 6 years 9 months of term left · ends 13 Jul 2033 (estimated)
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The present invention may be best understood and will become apparent from the following description with referencing to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a side plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a blade display unit having the light emitting diode elements on the blade being arranged in a columns and rows array;
An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. A vertical transverse axis turbine 100 with at least three blades 106 radially attached to a center rotor 108 is caused to rotate by fluid flow (for example wind) forces acting on the blades 106. Each blade 106 rotates at its own axis, such that the blade 106 rotates to its standing position (or vertical position) to maximize the blade area against the fluid flow to receive the maximum power from the flow when the blade 106 moving along the direction of fluid flow (not shown), and rotates to its resting position (or horizontal) to minimize the blade area against the fluid flow such that it minimizes the disturbance against the flow when the blade 106 rotates against the fluid flow direction. Such blade rotational movement is controlled by actuating means (not shown) and in accordance with predetermined flow direction or detection of the flow direction detected by the direction vane 102.
The rotating rotor 108 then drives an electric generator 110 to produce electrical power and the power is transmitted to a power control or management unit 122 via electric power cable 114. Alternatively, power unit 122 may receive power from external power source. The power unit 122 provides power to the control unit 124. The control unit 124, with information on the angle and position of each turbine blade 106, control each display element 118 on the blade 106 in a way as designed.
Power to the power management unit 122 can also be supplied by other sources (or external sources) such as from supplementary PV panels 120 mounted on the top of the turbine supporting frame 112 and below the direction vane 102. Power management unit 122 may also provide energy storage functions.