Wind turbine having a plurality of airfoil rings and counter rotating generators

A wind turbine comprising:

• a housing coupled to a support structure, wherein the housing is divided into sections including a first hub, a second hub, and a nacelle interdisposed between the first hub and the second hub;
• a plurality of rotating rings mounted to the housing and configured to provide uniform load distribution on the support structure, wherein:
• at least one of a first pair of rotating rings rotatably mounted along the first hub and at least one of a second pair of rotating rings rotatably mounted along the second hub, wherein each of the at least one of the first pair rotating rings and the second pair of rotating rings includes a first rotating ring and a second rotating ring;
• a first plurality of airfoils pivotally secured to the first rotating rings and disposed at a first angle of attack;
• a second plurality of airfoils pivotally secured to the second rotating rings and disposed at a second angle of attack;
• and
• a pair of generators mounted to the housing and configured to provide uniform load distribution on the support structure, wherein:
• a first generator is mounted to the first hub between the at least one first pair of rotating rings and generates electricity in response to the first plurality of airfoils of the at least one first pair of rotating rings capturing the wind with the first angle of attack such that the first rotating ring of the at least one first pair of rotating rings rotate in a first direction and the second plurality of airfoils of the at least one first pair of the rotating rings capturing the wind with the second angle of attack such that the second rotating ring of the at least one first pair of the rotating rings rotate in an opposite direction from the first rotating ring of the first pair of rotating ring;
• a second generator is mounted to the second hub between the at least one second pair or rotating rings and generates electricity in response to the first plurality of airfoils of the at least one second pair of rotating rings capturing the wind with the first angle of attack such that the first rotating ring of the at least one second pair of rotating rings rotate in the first direction and the second plurality of airfoils of the at least one second pair of the rotating rings capturing the wind with the second angle of attack such that the second rotating ring of the at least one second pair of the rotating rings rotate in the opposite direction from the first rotating ring of the second pair of rotating ring;
• a plurality of first rotatable shafts rotatably supported for rotation about a plurality of first shaft axes;
• a plurality of second rotatable shafts rotatably supported for rotation about a plurality of second shaft axes;
• each of the first plurality of airfoils secured, respectively, to the plurality of first rotatable shafts;
• each of the second plurality of airfoils secured, respectively, to the plurality of second rotatable shafts;
• a first spring having one end connected to a first airfoil of the first plurality of airfoils and having another end connected to the first exterior rim for rotating the first airfoil about a first shaft axis of the plurality of shaft axes from a first position of the first airfoil to a second position of the first airfoil:
• the first position of the first airfoil at first wind speeds is configured such that:
• the first airfoil assumes a first initial rest or starting position having an initial angle of the first airfoil of approximately 30 degrees relative to the first shaft axis;
• and
• the first spring is in an initial rest or starting spring position in first wind conditions;
• the second position of the first airfoil at second wind speeds is configured such that:
• the first airfoil assumes a first fully open position having a final angle of the first airfoil of approximately 90 degrees substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the first exterior rim and the first interior rim to permit the wind to completely pass without interruption through both the first plurality of airfoils and a first plurality of spokes connected to the first rotating ring and, respectively, to the first plurality of airfoils;
• and
• the first spring is in a fully extended position responsive to second wind conditions;
• a second spring having one end connected to a second airfoil of the second plurality of airfoils and having another end connected to the second exterior rim for rotating the second airfoil about a second shaft axis of the plurality of second shaft axes from the first position of the second airfoil to a second position of the second airfoil:
• the first position of the second airfoil at first wind speeds is configured such that:
• the second airfoil assumes a second initial rest or starting position having an initial angle of the second airfoil of approximately 150 degrees relative to the second shaft axis;
• and
• the second spring is in the initial rest or starting spring position in the first wind conditions;
• the second position of the second airfoil at second wind speeds is configured such that:
• the second airfoil assumes the fully open position having a final angle of the second airfoil of approximately 90 degrees substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the second exterior rim and the second interior rim to permit the wind to completely pass without interruption through both the second plurality of airfoils and a second plurality of spokes connected to the second rotating ring and, respectively, to the second plurality of airfoils;
• and
• the second spring is in the fully extended position responsive to the second wind conditions.

A method of generating electricity with a wind turbine comprising:

• rotating a first rotating ring having a first interior rim and a first exterior rim, wherein a first plurality of airfoils is pivotally secured between the first interior rim and the first exterior rim and disposed at a first angle of attack;
• rotating a second rotating ring having a second interior rim and a second exterior rim, wherein a second plurality of airfoils is pivotally secured between the second interior rim and the second exterior rim and disposed at a second angle of attack;
• and
• generating electricity, using a generator mounted between the first rotating ring and the second rotating ring, in response to the first plurality of airfoils capturing the wind with the first angle of attack such that the first rotating ring rotates in a first direction and the second plurality of airfoils capturing the wind with the second angle of attack such that the second rotating rings rotate in an opposite direction from the first rotating ring;
• providing a plurality of first rotatable shafts rotatably that is supported for rotation about a plurality of first shaft axes;
• providing a plurality of second rotatable shafts rotatably that is supported for rotation about a plurality of second shaft axes;
• wherein each of the first plurality of airfoils is secured, respectively, to the plurality of first rotatable shafts;
• wherein each of the second plurality of airfoils is secured, respectively, to the plurality of second rotatable shafts;
• providing a first spring having one end connected to a first airfoil of the first plurality of airfoils and having another end connected to the first exterior rim for rotating the first airfoil about a first shaft axis of the plurality of shaft axes from a first position of the first airfoil to a second position of the first airfoil:
• wherein the first position of the first airfoil at first wind speeds is configured such that:
• the first airfoil assumes a first initial rest or starting position having an initial angle of the first airfoil of approximately 30 degrees relative to the first shaft axis;
• and
• the first spring is in an initial rest or starting spring position in first wind conditions;
• wherein the second position of the first airfoil at second wind speeds is configured such that:
• the first airfoil assumes a first fully open position having a final angle of the first airfoil of approximately 90 degrees substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the first exterior rim and the first interior rim to permit the wind to completely pass without interruption through both the first plurality of airfoils and a first plurality of spokes connected to the first rotating ring and, respectively, to the first plurality of airfoils;
• and
• the first spring is in a fully extended position responsive to second wind conditions;
• providing a second spring having one end connected to a second airfoil of the second plurality of airfoils and having another end connected to the second exterior rim for rotating the second airfoil about a second shaft axis of the plurality of second shaft axes from the first position of the second airfoil to a second position of the second airfoil:
• wherein the first position of the second airfoil at first wind speeds is configured such that:
• the second airfoil assumes a second initial rest or starting position having an initial angle of the second airfoil of approximately 150 degrees relative to the second shaft axis;
• and
• the second spring is in the initial rest or starting spring position in the first wind conditions;
• wherein the second position of the second airfoil at second wind speeds is configured such that:
• the second airfoil assumes the fully open position having a final angle of the second airfoil of approximately 90 degrees substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the second exterior rim and the second interior rim to permit the wind to completely pass without interruption through both the second plurality of airfoils and a second plurality of spokes connected to the second rotating ring and, respectively, to the second plurality of airfoils;
• and
• the second spring is in the fully extended position responsive to the second wind conditions.