Vertical axis wind turbine for generating usable energy
A wind turbine for converting wind forces into usable energy has a main shaft rotatably mounted in the axis of rotation for the wind turbine, and a pair of coacting complementary longitudinally extending vane members are connected to each other by a plurality of support and transmission assemblies in the form of articulated members and to the main or driven shaft for driving engagement thereof. The coacting vane members may either have straight side edges or preferably have spiralled or helically shaped side edges which in the closed position are aligned and in abutment with each other to define and form a right circular cylinder in side elevation. The vanes are movable between a normally open starting position and a closed position to vary the total vane surface available for contact by the wind forces acting at any given time when the wind turbine is in operation. Articulated members of the support and transmission assemblies are pivoted to permit translational or side wise movement to and fro of the complementary vanes transverse relative to each other and the vertical axis through the main shaft, and pivotal cross members on each of the articulated support and transmission assemblies are vertically linked together to simultaneously alter the articulated members during such movement. The respective complementary and cooperating vanes have their weight so distributed that centrifugal forces will act to move the complementary vanes towards the closed or right circular cylindrical form automatically as high rotational speeds result from excessive wind. Additionally the wind turbine as above described with resilient means to move the coacting cooperating vanes to the normally open starting position.
- Assignee:
- EDB-83-084200
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4293274
- OSTI ID:
- 6320559
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 24 Sep 1979; Other Information: PAT-APPL-078643
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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