GB2410771A

GB2410771A - Vertical axis turbine

Info

Publication number: GB2410771A
Application number: GB0402563A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leonard Haworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-05
Filing date: 2004-02-05
Publication date: 2005-08-10
Also published as: GB0402563D0

Abstract

A vertical axis wind or water turbine comprises two horizontal shafts (4 and 5 fig. 1), each shaft comprises a wing 2a-3b mounted at opposite ends and at 90 deg to each other. Each shaft is free to pivot trough 90 deg. As the turbine turns, the wind or water forces the vane to either be facing the wind or to be in a position of least resistance.

Description

Wing Engine This invention relates to a wing engine of the wind machine

type, though here equally suited to activation by the flow of water as much as the movement of air.

Wind machine principles are well known; however, such devices can be subject to the disadvantage of their vanes needing to be constantly redirected, through accurate adjustment, onto the ever varying source of impetus. Furthermore, they derive motive power by deflecting air currents off angled vanes, a process which does not achieve the greater power potential that full face resisting vanes would produce Equally, a process which creates structural stress, such that these machines must be shut down, using elaborate pitch-control mechanisms, thus rendering themselves incapable of utilising winds in excess of 70 kilometres per hour.

Moreover, elevated structures are a necessity to ensure ground clearance for such vertically sited, rotational devices.

An object of this invention is to provide a wing engine which optimises the raw energy of received motive power (wind or water - from whatever origin path, without need of directional adjustment) as a result of the paired vanes (wings) being constantly, on an alternating basis, postured in full face resistance to that motive power. Also to convert all motive power, irrespective of its velocity, into powershaft torque rather than structural stress Also, this wing engine (unlike a conventional wind machine) operates on the horizontal plane for this reason, ground clearance towers are unnecessary.

Accordingly, this invention provides a wing engine comprising of two pairs of aerofoils (wings) which are attached by flange plates onto two horizontal shafts, each wing being diametrically apart and set 90 /270 axially to the other. Both horizontal shafts are bearing mounted and secured in cruciform onto a centrally sited rotor base, they are free to pivot through a 90 arc, governed by a cam. Each vane is also supported by suspension stays to the apex of a central suspension tower, itself fixed at its lower end to the rotor base. A vertical axis powershaft proceeds from the rotor base.

The wing engine can be made from a range of metals and plastics or other suitable materials, with particular consideration being afforded the potential for component corrosion or degradation under differing applications and/or deployments.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in isometric projection the rotor base assembly, comprising the two horizontal shafts and flange plates, bearings, cams and end stops Figure 2 shows the suspension tower.

Figure 3 illustrates the assembled wing engine, the suspension tower bolted to the rotor base, the wings bolted by their flange plates to the flange plates of the horizontal shafts And the suspension stays connected from the wings to the apex of the suspension tower.

Referring to the drawings, the arrival I of motive power (wind or water) compels by that powers influence on the wings 2 & 3, as it increases on one a and reduces on the other b - each wing in its turn to readily adopt a full counter - facing posture to the flow 1 (as shown here by 2b & 3b) as the horizontal shafts 4 & 5 are forced into propeller - like revolution.

This is practicable because the bearing 6 mounted horizontal shafts 4 & 5 and fixed flange plates 7 are free to pivot within its 90 axial span, as governed by the cams 8 being arrested on the fixed end stops 9, thereby achieving prescribed posture adoptions as each wing 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b comes into play.

With the horizontal shafts 4 & 5 being centrally mounted atop a rotor base 10 in cruciform and one slightly above the other, then such causation results in the powershaft 11 being turned through its supportive bearings 1 2a & 1 2b The centrally located suspension tower 13 provides support to each wing 2 & 3 by connected steel stays 14 positioned on their pivotal axis The invention, linked through the power shaft 11 may provide the drive for powering the likes of a compressor (air), pump (water) or generator (electricity) or any similar device. Exampled in figure 3 is a base 15 (here shown as a conical shape at random) which could represent anything from a boat to a building, depending on the requirement of this wing engine as a power source

Claims

1 A wing engine which optimises the raw energy of received motive power ( wind or water - from whatever origin path, without need of directional adjustment) as a result of the paired vanes (wings) being constantly, on an alternating basis, postured in full face resistance to that motive power. Also to convert all motive power, irrespective of its velocity, into powershaft torque rather than structural stress.

I A wing engine as claimed in claim I where - in gravitational support to the individual wings is possible, exampled by central tower and steel stays.

3 A wing engine substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.