WO2009003285A1

WO2009003285A1 - Wind turbine with vertical axis with blades fitted with a return means

Info

Publication number: WO2009003285A1
Application number: PCT/CA2008/001229
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacques Olivier
Original assignee: Jacques Olivier
Priority date: 2007-07-04
Filing date: 2008-07-03
Publication date: 2009-01-08
Also published as: CA2593459A1

Abstract

A wind turbine comprising a base, a structure freely rotatable on the base and at least three blade assemblies. The blade assemblies each comprise a shaft, a blade secured to the shaft, which is freely rotatable horizontally on the structure. Each blade has at least one portion comprising a wind-engaging surface, a return means for returning the surface to a balance position in which the surface is at an angle of 45 degrees to the vertical, and an end stop to restrict swinging of the surface about its axis to 45 degrees either side of its balance position, wherein the axes are equally angled.

Description

WIND TURBINE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wind turbine. More specifically, a wind turbine whose blades are arranged in a horizontal plane.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

From the prior art, there is known Canadian patent number 2,188,960 describing a wind turbine comprising two horizontal spokes which project outwardly from a central vertical shaft. A blade is attached to the end of each spoke and as it passes a given point during a complete revolution around the vertical shaft, it pivots from a horizontal position to a vertical position. A wind vane detects the direction of the wind and adjusts the blades so that when the wind makes them turn, they are vertical if they move in the direction of the wind and horizontal if they move against it. The blades allow rotation of the shaft, which can be used to drive a generator or for other useful tasks.

This wind turbine of the prior art has the disadvantage that it requires a wind vane to detect the wind direction and to adjust the position of the blades.

It is also known from the prior art that conventional wind turbines whose blades are in a vertical plane unnecessarily offer great wind resistance. Because of this wind resistance, the blades of these wind turbines should preferably be tapered and the structure holding the blades should preferably be aerodynamic. Because of these requirements, these turbines necessarily have a small rotor and small diameter gears to overdrive the rotational speed of the rotor relative to that of the blades. This makes these wind turbines generally incapable to move alone and should preferably be started using an engine even when a wind blows continuously and continuously. In addition, these wind turbines must be continuously aligned with the wind by an auxiliary system to maximize their efficiency.

These turbines have the disadvantage that they require a solid anchor, a wind alignment mechanism and a starter.

There is therefore a need for a wind turbine whose mechanism for adjusting the position of the blades is simpler. There is also a need for a wind turbine more versatile and more efficient than existing wind turbines on the market.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a wind turbine to meet the needs listed above.

This object is achieved with a wind turbine, comprising: - a base;

a structure able to be mounted in free rotation on the base when the wind turbine is in the operating position; and

at least three sets of blades, each comprising:

- an axe; a blade integral with the axis, the axis being able to be mounted horizontally in free rotation on itself on the said structure when the wind turbine is in the operating position, each blade having at least one part comprising a surface capable of receiving a wind; - A return means adapted to bring back, when the wind turbine is in the operating position and there is no wind, said surface in a position of equilibrium where said surface forms an angle of 45 degrees with the vertical; and a stop for limiting a sway of said surface about its axis, at 45 degrees on either side of its equilibrium position, the axes forming equal angles to each other.

The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the nonlimiting description which follows of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the wind turbine according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the wind turbine of Figure 1, without the cover.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the wind turbine of FIG. 2.

Figure 4 is a side view of the wind turbine of Figure 2.

FIG. 5 is a view from above of the wind turbine of FIG. 2.

Figure 6 is an enlarged top view of the wind turbine of Figure 2.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view in perspective and enlarged of the wind turbine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the wind turbine of FIG. Figure 9 is a perspective and enlarged view of the wind turbine of Figure 2, showing the attachment system sets of blades by pin.

Figure 10 is a perspective and enlarged view of the wind turbine of Figure 2, showing the fastening system sets of blades by bolts.

Figure 11 is a side view of the blade assembly of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a top view of the blade assembly of Figure 9.

Figure 13 is a side view of the blade assembly of Figure 9.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view of the wind turbine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 15 is a view from above of the base of the wind turbine of FIG. 5.

Figure 16 is a top view of a gear of an embodiment of the wind turbine according to the invention.

Figure 17 is an enlarged perspective view of the lid of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8, the wind turbine 1 comprises a base 10, a structure able to be mounted in free rotation on the base 10 when the wind turbine 1 is in the operating position and at least three sets of blades. 50. Each of the sets of blades 50 comprises an axis 60, a blade 70 integral with the axis 60, the axis being able to be mounted horizontally in free rotation on itself on the structure when the wind turbine 1 is in the operating position, each blade 70 having at least a portion having a surface 72 capable of receiving a wind. The blades of the wind turbine can have a surface 72 of different sizes to receive the wind. This surface 72 can be small if one wants to draw a small amount of energy from the wind turbine 1 or can be large if one wants to draw a larger amount of energy from the wind turbine 1, which too can take different dimensions or configurations. In addition, the surface 72 of the blade 70, able to receive the wind, can have different shapes, be manufactured in different ways and can be composed of different materials such as cloth, a metal such as aluminum, a composite material light or any other equivalent material. Each set of blades 50 also comprises a return means 80 able to bring back, when the wind turbine 1 is in the operating position and there is no wind, the set of blades 50 in an equilibrium position where the surface 72 forms an angle of 45 degrees with the vertical. Each set of blades also has a stop 90 to limit the swing of the sets of blades 50 to 45 degrees on either side of their equilibrium position, the axes 60 forming equal angles to each other in plan view. The structure preferably comprises a shaft 30 and a plate 32 integral with each other. The abutment 90 is preferably a component acting elastically and made of air cylinders, hydraulic, or springs, but could also be made mechanically without acting elastically that is to say that a mechanical part could come s press another part to limit the rotational movement of the axis 60. The use of cylinder stops 90 also makes it possible to adjust the speed of oscillation of the blades 70 about the axis 60 and their course around this axis. this. As a result of this arrangement, the blades 70 swing between a vertical position when they are moving in the direction of the wind and a horizontal position when they are moving against the wind. The swinging movement of the blades 50 is preferably limited between a horizontal position and a vertical position, that is to say that they have a freedom of rotation of plus or minus 45 degrees about the axis 60. Preferably, the blade assemblies 50 comprise an even number of sets of blades which are grouped in pairs on the same axis 60. For each pair of sets, the return means 80 is made by the gravity which acts on the two blades 70 of the pair in question which form between them an angle of 90 degrees from a common vertex 74 located on the corresponding axis 60. The two sets of each pair are arranged on either side of the shaft 30.

Also preferably, the even number of blade assemblies 50 comprises at least four sets of blades.

Also preferably, the plurality of sets of blades comprises at least five sets of blades 50 if the number of sets is odd.

The minimum number of blades 70 on a wind turbine is at least three, on the other hand, the ideal number of blades is four if the counterweight of the sets of blades 50 is a second blade 70. If the counterweight of the set of blades is not a second blade, but a weight fixed to the same axis, then the optimum number of blades 70 is five. When the number of blades 70 is increased to 6 or more, there is loss of power, because no blade 70 can receive wind over its entire surface 72, the latter being partially hidden by the surface 72 of a Another blade 70. If three blades are used, the turbine 1 will be able to turn, but the power generated will also be reduced.

More preferably, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 13, the blade assemblies 50 each comprise a fastening system by means of pins 52 or by bolts 54, to assemble the blades 70 on the axis 60. The sets of blades 50 or at least the part comprising the axis 60 and the blade 70 are preferably separable so that the wind turbine can easily be moved or transported. More preferably, a plate 32 is integrally mounted to the shaft 30, and bearings 34 are fixed on said plate to mount the axes 60 of the sets of blades 50. The bearings 34 are mounted on either side of the plate 32, but could also be superimposed on the same side of the plate 32. The bearings include ball bearings 36 or roller or bearings, to minimize friction. The plate 32 is preferably round and is attached to the upper end of the shaft; it acts as a turntable.

Preferably, and as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the wind turbine also comprises a stator 12 integral with the base 10 and a rotor 14 integral with the plate

32, the stator 12 and the rotor 14 cooperating to produce electrical energy when the blades 70 rotate around the shaft 30. Preferably, the stator 12 is integrated in the base 10 and is wound or consists of a series of permanent magnets, arranged in the shape of a crown. The rotor 14 is preferably wound or consists of an arrangement of permanent magnets which can be connected in a ring and fixed firmly to the plate 32.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the wind turbine may also comprise a gear 16 of the planetary or other type, integral with the plate 32, for transmitting a gyration movement when the blades 70 rotate around the shaft 30.

Preferably, the gear 16 comprises a first toothed wheel 18 integral with the plate 32, at least one second gear wheel 20, mounted in free rotation on the base 10 inside the first gear 18 and able to cooperate with the first wheel and a third gear wheel 22 mounted in free rotation on the base 10 and adapted to cooperate with the second wheel 20 so as to multiply the speed of rotation of the third wheel 22 relative to the speed of rotation of the first wheel 18. Preferably, there are three second gears 20 arranged in a triangle inside the first toothed wheel 18.

Since the wind turbine 1 of the present invention has blades 70 disposed in a horizontal plane, there is thus no impediment as to the size of the stator assembly 12 and rotor 14 or the size of the gear 16, with respect to the limitations of wind turbines having blades disposed in a vertical plane of the prior art, to overdrive the rotational movement of the blades 70. It is therefore possible to use a stator assembly 12 and rotor 14 or a gear 16 large size or a multiplication system having a large wheel in connection with the blades and a small wheel in connection with the stator assembly 12 and rotor 14, for which starting the rotation requires much less force than for a stator assembly 12 and rotor 14 or a gear 16 of small size. The wind turbine of the present invention therefore does not need a motor to start and can operate under conditions where there is little wind.

Preferably, as shown in Figures 1 to 8 and 15, the base 10 comprises at least three lugs 24, mounted on the base, for positioning the wind turbine 1 on a surface. Each of the tabs 24 comprises at its free end a flat portion 26 of orbital or other shape and an anchor 28 for anchoring the wind turbine 1 on said surface.

In the same way as for the blades, the tabs 24 can be dismountable and be provided with a fastening system by pins or bolts. They can also be telescopic and adjustable so that the wind turbine can be installed on a sloped or uneven surface. The fastening system of the tabs 24 may take the form of any known anchoring system being quite solid. Like the existing wind turbines, the wind turbine of the present invention can also be installed on a single pole, a tower or pedestal. Also, since the wind turbine 1 of the present invention has blades 70 arranged in a horizontal plane, its structure opposes less resistance to wind than a wind turbine having blades disposed in a vertical plane and its anchoring means has not to be so solid. For this reason, the wind turbine 1 according to the invention can also be installed on a floating base or on any structure such as a building, a fixed frame, mobile, flying or other.

Preferably, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 17, the wind turbine also comprises a cover 100 removably mounted on the wind turbine 1. Preferably, the cover has a hemispherical dome shape and is fixed to the plate 32 or to the shaft 30, sheltering and protecting the moving components but excluding the blades, but could also have other forms such as an umbrella or other equivalent. Openings 102 are provided in the cover so as to disengage the axes 60 and the blades 70 and not to hinder their swinging. The cover 100 protects the axes, bearings, shaft, stops and other components of the central portion of the wind turbine while providing a minimum of wind resistance for maximum efficiency.

The wind turbine of the present invention has been designed to be manufactured in variable dimensions according to the energy requirements. It has also been designed to be removable in a short time and to be transportable. A storage box can be supplied with the unit for transportation. In addition, the electrical or mechanical energy produced by the wind turbine can be used to activate other devices or devices as would be apparent to one skilled in the art.

The wind turbine 1, according to the present invention, has the purpose of transforming wind energy into mechanical and / or electrical energy. Some of the aspects that distinguish this invention from existing devices are not only the manner in which the blades 70 are arranged around the shaft 30 but also, the way in which they act in the presence of the wind.

First of all, preferably, the wind turbine 1 consists of a vertical shaft 30, or pivot, which constitutes the heart of the system and from which the transformed wind energy is drawn. A plate 32, firmly fixed to the upper end of the pivot, serves as a rotary table on which axes 60, mounted transversely to the horizontal and having, as for their movement, no physical contact between them are assembled in superposition, relative to each other, and arranged so as to obtain equal angles between them.

Preferably, a blade 70, or wing, is firmly attached to each end of these axes 60. This means that a wind turbine consisting of 2 axes is preferably provided with 4 blades. The two blades being mounted on the same axis 60 are aligned so that their surface 72 forms an angle of 90 degrees between them so that looking at the end of an axis 60, the blades appear to form a tip 74 which the top, directed upwards, is the axis 60 itself.

Preferably, different types of blades 70 may be used depending on the span of the wind turbine 1. For small wind turbines 1, a metal tubular, plastic or other frame may be formed or folded to which a sail, for example, can be attached using a rope or rings. For medium-sized wind turbines 1, the blades 70 may be formed of a composite material frame such as fiberglass, polycarbonate, polypropylene or other circumscribing a rigid but light panel such as polystyrene or other. Finally, large wind turbines 1 can use blades 70 whose structure can be profiled aluminum to mimic that of an aircraft wing.

Preferably, all the components constituting the moving part of the wind turbine 1 are mounted on a base 10 of reduced profile. In the case of a wind turbine 1 used for mechanical purposes, a multitude of fasteners or devices such as pulleys, gears, crankshafts, cams, speed multipliers, etc. can be connected directly or indirectly to the vertical shaft 30 of the wind turbine. In the case of a wind turbine 1 intended to produce electricity, a generator or alternator may be connected directly or indirectly to the vertical shaft 30 or integrated directly into the base 10. A ring of electromagnets or Permanent magnets 15 fixed perpendicular to the periphery of the turntable constitutes the rotor 14 while power coils, arranged in notches 17 from the inside all around the base, constitute the stator 12 of which the electrical energy is produced. A voltage and / or frequency regulator then provides the desired power supply by the user.

Another innovative feature of the wind turbine is that it can be installed at low altitude, so at ground level, unlike other wind turbines that require a mast or a tower several tens of meters high. The large wind surface used by conventional vertical wind turbines is brought horizontally with the wind turbine according to the present invention. This offers not only a marked advantage in anchoring the ground but also the advantage of being able to be used in flotation. The fact of being able to develop wind turbines at sea makes it possible to reduce considerably, or even completely, the visual and noise pollution that generate and / or cause the conventional wind turbines.

What further distinguishes the wind turbine of the present invention from a large conventional wind turbine is the fact that it can easily move itself, without the need, in any way, of a booster start system. This way of doing so is a major technological advancement since no gear particularly, as a speed multiplier, is necessary, although such gearing may be useful in some circumstances.

Another interesting feature of the wind turbine according to the invention is that it does not take into account the direction of the winds, that is to say that it does not need to be aligned with the wind to provide maximum power. Its operating principle makes it adapt perfectly to winds even if they are swirling.

Principle of operation

Preferably, at rest, all the blades 70 of the wind turbine are maintained in equilibrium, two by two on their respective axes 60, each of them forming an angle of 45 ° with the vertical. In the case where the blades 70 of the same axis

60 were independent of one another or in the case where the wind turbine consisted of an odd number of blades 70, a static or elastic counterweight 80 could be added to each blade 70, in order to respect the same position balance, ie 45 ° with the vertical.

Preferably, as the wind rises, and whatever its source, the surface 72 of a single blade 70 of the wind turbine is facing the wind. Since the blades 70 are ideally all mounted two by two, another blade, so that which is diametrically opposed, since mounted on the same axis 60, is found, therefore, back to the wind. When the blade facing the wind receives pressure, it naturally tends to lower while that which is upwind naturally tends to rise. As they are mounted on the same axis, that which is lowered helps the one that raises and vice-versa so that the one facing the wind and lower is found, more or less, in the vertical and the one that is back to the wind and lifts itself up, more or less, horizontally. In the case where the blades 70 are independent, they can not help each other, which reduces and / or decreases the energy efficiency.

Preferably, the increase in wind resistance of the blade 40 which is in front of the wind added to the wind resistance decrease of the blade which is back to the wind drives the vertical shaft 30 via the turntable 32 in a movement of gyration. As the wind turbine sets in motion, the only blade 70 that was facing the wind is already beginning to relegate its position to the next blade which, in turn, becomes the new single blade 70 facing the wind.

Preferably, as the wind turbine 1 began to rotate, the first blade 70 having initiated the gyration and its counterweight 80 are therefore parallel to the wind. At this moment, as neither one is constrained to lower nor help to rise from the wind, they naturally resume their equilibrium position at 45 degrees from the vertical. As the wind intensifies, the blades 70 react more rapidly, since the force that causes them to lower and lift, respectively, is increased, resulting in a proportional speed or gyration force. Tensors spring, pneumatic, hydraulic or other act as limit stops 90 or limiters, so that the blade that lowers can not exceed its perpendicularity to the wind and the blade that lifts can not exceed its parallelism in the wind. In the event that the wind suddenly changes direction, the blade in the wind would simply stay longer in the wind if the wind turned in the same direction as the wind turbine, and less if the wind turned in the opposite direction. Neither the force nor the speed of the wind turbine would be affected since the blades adjust naturally according to the wind parameters, even if they change often.

Preferably also small and medium scale wind turbines 1 can be disassembled to allow a chance installation, anywhere, in just a few minutes. A simple way is to introduce the blades 70 by sliding on the axes 60, which are, in free rotation and integrally with the turntable 32, while aligning holes to insert a pin 52 or, by bolting them with perforated crowns 54. In the same way, the stator 12 can be attached to the base

10 which is anchored to the ground or to any structure. This new technology benefits all outdoor enthusiasts, campers and sport hunters since it allows them a mechanical or electrical autonomy, no matter where they are, for example, at the edge of a lake or a river , near a cottage or camp, or just in a deserted place.

Preferably, as mentioned previously, the wind turbine 1 is installed at low altitude, therefore at ground level, but can also be installed, temporarily, seasonally or permanently on the roof of a house, a building office, mall or other. Installed on the surface of a floating tank, equipped with counterweight in the form of flanks, the wind turbine can also be installed in floating, anywhere. The costs of developing a wind turbine tower on the ground and those relating to an offshore installation are known. The construction of a chain or grid of wind turbines according to the invention, in sea, represents a technological advancement, knowing that no complex infrastructure is needed.

It goes without saying that many modifications could be made to the preferred embodiment which has just been described without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is understood that not all components and configurations are essential to the invention and should not be construed in a restrictive sense to limit the scope of the present invention. As it would be apparent to a person of art, others components, other types of cooperation between the components as well as other hardware configurations could be used to implement the wind turbine according to the invention.

Claims

1. A wind turbine comprising:

- a base;

at least three sets of blades, each comprising:

- an axe;

a blade integral with the axis, the axis being able to be mounted horizontally in free rotation on itself on the said structure when the wind turbine is in the operating position, each blade having at least one part comprising a surface capable of receiving a wind;

- A return means adapted to bring back, when the wind turbine is in the operating position and there is no wind, said surface in a position of equilibrium where said surface forms an angle of

45 degrees with the vertical; and

- An abutment to limit a sway of said surface about its axis, 45 degrees on either side of its equilibrium position, the axes forming equal angles to each other.

The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said structure comprises a shaft and a plate integral with the shaft.

The wind turbine according to claim 2, wherein said at least three sets of blades comprise an even number of sets of blades which are grouped in pairs on the same axis, and for each of the pairs of sets of blades, the return means is achieved by the gravity acting on the two blades of the pair in question which form between them a 90-degree angle from a common vertex located on the corresponding axis, the two sets of each pair being arranged on either side of the shaft.

The wind turbine according to claim 3, wherein said even number of blade assemblies comprises at least four sets of blades.

The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of blade assemblies comprise at least five sets of blades.

6. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the blade assemblies each comprise a fastening system by pins or bolts, to assemble the sets of blades on the structure.

7. The wind turbine according to claim 2, wherein the structure comprises bearings fixed on the plate for mounting the axes of the sets of blades.

8. The wind turbine according to claim 7, wherein the bearings are mounted on either side of the plate.

9. The wind turbine according to claim 7, wherein the bearings comprise ball bearings or bearings.

10. The wind turbine according to claim 2, further comprising: a stator integral with the base; and - A rotor integral with the plate, the stator and the rotor cooperating to produce electrical energy when the blades rotate around the shaft.

11. The wind turbine according to claim 2, further comprising a gear integral with the plate, for transmitting a rotational movement of the structure when the blades rotate around the shaft.

The wind turbine according to claim 11, wherein the gear comprises:

a first toothed wheel secured to the plate;

at least one second toothed wheel, mounted in free rotation on the base inside the first toothed wheel and able to cooperate with said first wheel; and

- A third gear wheel mounted for free rotation on the base and adapted to cooperate with said at least one second wheel so as to multiply the speed of rotation of the third wheel relative to the speed of rotation of the first wheel.

13. The wind turbine according to claim 12, wherein said at least one second gear comprises three second gears arranged in a triangle inside the first gear.

The wind turbine according to claim 1, further comprising at least three legs, mounted on the base, for positioning the wind turbine on a surface.

15. The wind turbine according to claim 14, wherein each of the tabs comprises at its free end a flat portion and an anchor for anchoring the wind turbine on said surface.

16. The wind turbine according to claim 1, further comprising a cover removably mounted on the wind turbine.