GB2317422A - Kite energy turbine device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a plurality of kites or foils 6 which are angled to the wind to cause the device to rotate. The device operates in tension and power is taken off at 11. the kites may be provided with means to adjust flight angles 10 and to feather, allowing the rotor to weathercock. Any number of kites or rotors may be fitted to a single powerhead 16, and more than one kite may be fitted to each spoke 7 (figs 3,4).

Description

Kite Energy Nape Rotor and Power Extraction Systems This invention is related to a universal fluid turbine rotor for extraction of energy from any natural or manmade fluid force flow.

Windmills, watermills and traction mills have existed for years. The basic problems with these systems is that they have to support enormous bending and loading stresses and suffer from a number of problems such as huge centrifugal stress forces and imbalances as the blade or foils pass the supporting structures. These systems tend to be expensive to build once they become large enough to produce commercial amounts of energy.

According to the present invention this uses the dynamic lift produced by the fluid flow over the kites or foils and with centrifugal force created by its own weight and some of the other unknown dynamic forces. The resultant dynamic force is tangential to its flight path giving a resultant traction force. These forces then put the supporting tether in tension, this becomes a lever which is balanced by the opposite spoke, kite or foil. The foils/kites using the resultant of their flight angles to their tether gives this resultant tangential force causing the device to rotate. The tethering spoke has articulated joints at each end to allow the kite to fly freely within the limits of articulation giving the most efficient flight path possible. The energy collected in this tangential force is then transmitted through the tether spoke to the power take-off via the hub and axle. The centrifugal and drag friction forces are absorbed by the bearing surfaces on the axle. The power take-off is anchored at the opposite end from the turbine rotor to its supporting structure, which also transfers the tension to the anchor. Torqe forces created by the transfer of energy from the turbine rotor to the power take-off giving usable power. There are slight other stresses due to the inherent weight of the device and drag factors etc.

Example :- Kite Unison The kites start to fly. The kites pull the string tight, the string pulls the axle tight, the power take-off pulls the anchorage tight therefore the whole device stresses itself in tension as soon as there is enough force flow, round it goes, i.e. think of a Maypole with stiff cords instead of tapes which support their own inherent weight and keep their spacing equal and as soon as one person starts to move round the pole the rest do the same.

Example :- Traction Moment An animal postmill with the donkey and carrot uses a tetherspoke lever fixed to the hub. The donkey is then allowed to wander along his traction path avoiding stones and imperfections of a surface.

This is the limit of his freedom. The spoke then flexes to find its own most efficient position and the articulating fixings allow these movements, transferring the power from the donkey to the axle.

The Kenape structures and anchorage would be situated to allow a free uninterrupted clear flow of the fluid force mass and rotation of the turbine to clear any obstructions. Allowing the device or devices to stream out in the flow. Like a train winding along a mountain track. The spokes on large rotors could have a dynamic profile to give more torqe. (i.e. like a conventional propeller turbine blade. The kenape -Kite Energy Nape Rotor- nape to distinguish that the rotor is nearly always behind the power head opposing the fluid flow). The rotor could be stopped by adjusting the inclination angles on the opposing kites to the opposite angle from their neutral axis line. The kites could have devices to adjust flight angles and to feather allowing the rotor to weathercock and also to be used for controlling the speed of flight and power extraction. The number of kites/foils/spokes is unlimited and any number of kites/foils can be fitted to the spokes, and any number of rotors can be fitted to the powerhead. The same rotors could also rotate in opposing directions giving a balance to the train within mechanical feasibility. Also many Kenape power units can be anchored to the same communal anchorage [18] and [19].

Referring to the Drawings of the Kenape Power System Fig. 1 The axle [1] supports the hub [8] to which the spokes [7] are fixed to by an articulating joint allowing radial movement on the opposite plane to the rotation of the axle. At the extreme outer end or at positions along the spoke the kites/foils [6] are attached with articulated devices allowing the angles of flight to be obtained. On movement of the fluid mass the dynamic lift [5] and the centrifugal force [3] together with the drag force [2] creates the resultant force [4].

Fig. 2 Fig. 2 describes rotation when force [4] is balanced by the opposing spoke and kites. The frictional forces on the axle and the power take-off on the hub bearing on the axle and power take-off [11] are balanced and overcome allowing the Kenape to combine all tangential forces [4] to create rotary force [13]. [12] supporting anchorage system.

Fig. 3 This demonstrates the mechanical feasibility of combining more than one rotor or any number of spokes on the same powerhead [16]. [15] demonstrates more than one foil/kite can be placed on the spoke angle of inclination [9] to allow rotation. Angle of attack [10].

Tethered flight path [14]. Centre of torqe power [17]. The powerhead could have multiple take-offs converting the torqe into electric, hydraulic, pneumatic and direct drive etc in any combination [19].

Claims (1)

1. Claims

   1) Size for size, several times more powerful than conventional negative rotors, at wind or water power extraction.

   2) Less turbulance (less noise).

   3) Stronger, all main parts in tension.

   4) Can be made in decorative forms (new art form).

   5) Can be ganged together.(Saving towers and space) 6) More efficient on moving surface (water or transport applications).

   7) More cost effective.

   Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1) The discovery of the new principle in the application of the dynamic effects of a aerodyne or hydrodyne.

   2) The conversion of passing kinetic energy using this new areo/hydrodyne principle to obtain a resultant tangental dynamic force acting on the said device to give a rotary force (torque). For useful work.

   3) Auto alignment of the rotor to the fluid flow force using its own drag factor with the minimum of support and interference to the fluid flow.

   4) Less turbulence than other rotors (less noise) owing to its ever changing form and self adjustment to the quality of the passing fluid mass.

   5) Stronger than other rotors in use today owing to all main parts are in tension.

   6) More efficient on a moving surface i. e. water and land transport applications can use elastomeric and suspended mountings to align and affix the device.

   7) Can be ganged together saving supports and space.

   8) Can be made in decorative art and used for publicity in a number of ways 9) May be made incorporating aerostat/hydrostat to give areo/hydrodyne effects.

   10) More safe than normal turbine blades that can fly off. All kites have a number of fixing to hold them together to the capstan.

   11) Lighter weight and more cost effective.

   12) Discovery of feminine device to collect passing kinetic renewable energy to transmitted direct masculine kinetic energy torque.