FR2745040A1 - Windmill with vertical shaft and self=adjusting vanes - Google Patents

Abstract

The windmill has a vertical shaft (1) with four pairs of radial arms (4) which have self-adjusting vanes (6) pivoted to their ends. The shaft and vanes form a rotor which is mounted on top of a structure acting both as a support and a shelter for machinery which converts the recuperated energy into electricity. The vertical shaft is set in two bearings, and the four pairs of arms are fitted to it at 90 degrees to one another. The vanes are self-regulating, opening by centrifugal force as the wind speed increases so that they offer less resistance to the air flow.

Description

 The present invention relates to a wind turbine with vertical axis of large catchment area without rudder and self-regulation without special device.

 The best known and operating wind turbines have a horizontal axis and low capacity.

 They consist of blades of limited length and surface, linked to this concept.

 The blades catch the wind by presenting an inclined plane relative to the movement of the air which is deviated from its direction producing a certain energy.

 These wind turbines are coupled to an electricity generator, they are fitted with a rudder and regulation system, all at the top of a mast, which poses maintenance and repair problems in the event of parmes.

 Due to their low capacity, their number must be multiplied to obtain a valid recru operation of energy.

 The design according to the invention is out 9 made different in many ways, making it possible to capture the diffuse energy of the wind more efficiently.

 It is composed of a vertical axis taken in an upper bearing supporting radial spring and an Inferior bearing for the radial and axial force, the axis transmits the movement downwards for a greater ease of use of energy as well captured.

 Around this axis are fixed four pairs of arms fixed at 90, on each pair of arms a movable flap which pivots at the end of these arms (side opposite to the axis).

 Each shutter is made up of a rigid frame on which is fixed a canvas covering the space thus delimited, this one representing the largest part of the wind turbine on the surface can be chosen in the color most in harmony with the environment .

 The shutters, under the effect of centrifugal force, regulate themselves when the wind blows too badly by braking the other side preventing the runaway wind.

 In periods of light wind, the wind turbine can have a better output if it is mounted on a construction perpendicular to the prevailing wind, creating a momentary acceleration of the wind to pass over the obstacle thus constituted.

 One can also extend the gables of the building by two wings which limit the exhaust of air from the sides.

 The said building can house the machinery intended to transform the energy thus recovered directly into electricity or compressed air which can be stored for periods without wind.

 The shutters are closed when the wind is zero is provided by a device provided for this purpose, so that the wind turbine starts up again in the best conditions when the wind comes from any direction.

 The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

 Figwe 1 a plan view flaps B and D parallel to the wind, flap C open, flap A in the wind.

 Figure 2 a plan view of the wind turbine having made 1/8 of a turn relative to Figure t.

 Figure 3 a plan view of the construction.

 Figure 4 showing acceleration of the wind passing over the building (wind turbine not shown).

 Figure 5 is a section showing the wind turbine and the machinery in elevation.

 Figwe 6 shutter closing device by zero wind and shutter closing dampers when the wind turbine is in action.

 Figure 7 cuts on an upper pivot.

With reference to these drawings, according to an embodiment for small and medium-sized wind turbines, the shaft (1) must be of sufficient diameter to resist bending and to support the motor force and to exceed the upper arms (2) to fix the shrouds ( 3)
The axis (1) is taken in an upper bearing (19) supporting the radial force and a lower bearing (20) for the radial and axial force.

 Around this axis (1) are fixed four pairs of arms (4) one upper and one lower per pair set at 90, connected together by spacers (5) distributing the motor force on all the arms.

 Each pair of arms (4) supported by a stay (3).

 For more important wind turbines it is possible to add a wheel (7) on a tire under each lower arm (4) to compensate for the bending force on the axis (1), a raceway (8) being provided for this purpose.

 On each pair of arms (4) a movable flap (6) which pivots () at the end of the arm.

 Each flap (6) consists of a rigid frame (10) on which is fixed a canvas (1 1) covering the space delimited by the frame (1 (10).

 All this mobile device can be mounted on any support. For a better result the support being a construction perpendicular (12) to the prevailing wind creating a momentary acceleration of the wind (18) by the obstacle thus cons.

 The extension of the pinions forming two wings (13) limiting the escape of air by the dimensions.

 Each flap (6) equipped with a closure system composed of a spring (14), a pulley (15) and a cable (16) bringing the flaps (6) in the closed position on rubber dampers (17) when the wind is zero. When the wind picks up, the wind turbine starts up again in the best conditions.

 This embodiment is not limiting, variants can be made without departing from the operating principle.

 For the understanding of the operation each component in Figures 1 and 2 have a different letter from A to D.

 Referring to FIG. I when the shutter A is perpendicular to the wind and closed by pressing on the rubber stops <i 7) the shutters B and D are parallel to the wind, the shutter C open allowing the air to pass freely through the arms. So on the thrust side of the rib is opposite.

 Referring to FIG. 2, the wind turbine under the thrust of the wind on shutter A has made 118 turns. The flap D catching the wind on the other side opens. Now the wind pushes on the shutters A and B while the shutters C and D are open and let the air pass freely.

 The wind turbine according to this device does not need any rudder. When the wind is too strong, the wind turbine picks up speed, the flaps under the effect of centrifugal force regulate without special device, opposing an opposing force by the non-driving side of the flap.

 The advantage of such a device is that one can have large catchment areas with frontal wind intake during part of the rotation on each flap.

 When the wind stops, the shutters close with a device in figure 6. When the wind picks up, the wind turbine is ready to restart in the best conditions.

 The device according to the invention is mainly suitable for the production of electric current or compressed air, and more generally wherever a motive force is necessary.

Claims (7)

1) Wind turbine characterized by a mobile assembly consisting of a vertical axis () autow of which are fixed four pairs of arms (4) at the end of which pivot (9) self-regulating flaps (6) and without rudder, with closure system ( 14) (15) (16) in zero wind. This mobile assembly is mounted on a construction (12) which supports the wind turbine but also houses the machinery converting the recovered energy and being a static element of the assembly.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized by a vertical axis (1), mounted on two bearings, which transmits the movement at the bottom of the constructIon (12) where the machinery is located converting the energy captured into electricity or compressed air.  3) Device according to claim 1 characterized by four pairs of arms (4) fixed around the axis (1) and set at 90.  4) Device according to claims 1,2,3, characterized by a pivoting flap (6) (9) at the end of each pair of arms (4). The said flaps (6) being the large area sensors.  5) Device according to claims 1, 4, characterized in that the flaps (6) make themselves regulators in strong wind, under the effect of centrifugal force: when they open, they oppose a antagonistic force by the non-driving side of the flap (6).  6) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the flaps (6) close in zero wind (14) (15) (16) so that the wind turbine restarts when the wind picks up in the best conditions.  7) Device according to claims 1,2, characterized by a construction (12), perpendicular to the prevailing wind, which serves as a support for the wind turbine, but also houses the machinery converting the captured energy.  S) Device according to claims 1,7, characterized in that the construction (12) is a static element of the wind turbine, causing a momentary acceleration of the wind to pass over the obstacle thus formed, helped by the extension of two gears forming two wings (13), limiting the escape of air from the sides.  9) Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the wind turbine does not require a rudder, the latter always being in engagement with the wind from any direction it comes.