GB2264754A

GB2264754A - A wind turbine.

Info

Publication number: GB2264754A
Application number: GB9204641A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zoysa Garumuni Newton De
Original assignee: ZOYSA GARUMUNI NEWTON DE
Current assignee: ZOYSA GARUMUNI NEWTON DE
Priority date: 1992-03-04
Filing date: 1992-03-04
Publication date: 1993-09-08
Also published as: GB9204641D0

Abstract

A wind turbine is described comprising a horizontal axis 1 mounted on a stand 2. Rotatably mounted around the axle 1 is a core 3 carrying sixteen flat blades 4 staggered along and radially about the core 3. The axle 1 projects at one end and is connected to an electric generator 5; the other end of the axle is connected to a bladed fly wheel. A curved deflector plate 7 extends downwards from a horizontal plane passing through the axle 1 downwards underneath the turbine blades to a vertical plane passing through the axle 1. Running horizontally along the upper edge of the deflector 6 is a deflector strip 8 which deflects wind flow upwards against the turbine blades. <IMAGE>

Description

AN IMPROVED WINDMILL This invention relates to an improved windmill.

Windmills have been known for many years and were originally used to grind corn or drive machinery using the force of the wind blowing against the oblique blades or sails of the windmill exposed to the atmosphere.

To capture the maximum wind force the blades of the sail were turned through an angle to enable the wind to strike one of the blades of the windmill sail. However this had the disadvantage of reducing the maximum area of the propeller blade by approximately fifty percent with a reduced wind power.

An aim of the present invention is to overcome or mitigate the above mentioned disadvantage.

According to the present invention there is provided a windmill comprising an axle, mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, a plurality of blades staggered along and around the axle, wherein a curved deflector extends downwards from a horizontal plane passing through the axle to a vertical plane passing downwards from the axle, to deflect wind flowing against the deflector.

Preferably there are sixteen blades staggered along a core rotatably mounted on an axle, the blades being radially arranged at equal spacing around the axle.

Conveniently, the blades are made of a rigid lightweight metal such as aluminium.

In a preferred construction a deflector strip is located at the upper edge of the curved deflector, at an angle to deflect wind flow upwards against the windmill blades.

The windmill according to the invention is adapted to drive an ancillary machine such as an electric generator or a pump.

An embodiment of a windmill, according to the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation of the improved windmill; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic end elevation of the windmill shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the windmill blades and deflector.

The improved windmill comprises a horizontal axle 1 mounted on a stand 2. Rotatably mounted around the axle 1 is a core 3 carrying sixteen flat blades 4. The blades 4 are staggered along and radially about the core 3. The axle 1 projects at one end and is connected to an electric generator diagrammatically shown at 5. The other end of the axle is connected to a bladed fly wheel 6.

A curved deflector plate 7 extends downwards from a horizontal plane passing through the axle 1 downwards underneath the windmill blades, to a vertical plane passing through the axle 1. Running horizontally along the upper edge of the deflector 6 is a deflector strip 8 which deflects wind flow upwards against the windmill blades.

In operation, wind flow shown by the arrows 'A', impinges on the blades 4 at the upper part of the windmill, while the wind flow below the axle, indicated by arrows 'B', is deflected around the lower blades 4.

The wind flow is thus utilised to its maximum effect by striking one row of blades and moving these clockwise until the next staggered row of blades appears above the deflector and is struck by the wind flow.

As shown in Fig. 3, it will be appreciated that the staggered arrangement of the full width of each blade 4 coupled with the wind deflector 7 utilises the wind flow to its maximum effect.

The blades may be made of any suitable light-weight frigid material, e.g. aluminium, to present a resistance to the wind force.

The improved windmill has a variety of uses one such use being to drive an electric generator 5, as shown in Fig. 1. However, it is particularly suitable for use in emergency areas, e.g. in third world countries, where it can be used to operate a water pump or to irrigate land.

Although the windmill has been described with sixteen blades it will be obvious that it may include a lesser number or a greater number extending along a longer axis.

Claims

1. A wind turbine comprising an axle mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, a plurality of blades staggered along and around the axle, wherein a curved deflector extends downwards from a horizontal plane passing through the axle to a vertical plane passing downwards from the axle, to deflect wind flowing against the deflector.

2. A wind turbine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein there are sixteen blades staggered along a core rotatably mounted on an axle, the blades being radially arranged at equal spacing around the axle.

3. A wind turbine as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the blades are made of a rigid lightweight metal.

4. A wind turbine as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the metal is aluminium.

5. A wind turbine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a deflector strip is located at the upper edge of the curved deflector, at an angle to deflect wind flow upwards against the blades.

6. A wind turbine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the length and width of the blades are variable.

7. A wind turbine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein it is adapted to drive an anciliary machine.

8. A wind turbine as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the machine is an electric generator.

9. A wind turbine as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the machine is a pump.

10. A wind turbine as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the machine is a water irrigation system for agricultural purposes.

11. A wind turbine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. Each and every novel feature or novel combination of features herein disclosed.