GB2410064A

GB2410064A - A vertical axis wind powered generator

Info

Publication number: GB2410064A
Application number: GB0401149A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ivan Mendez; Mendez Incorporated Ivan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-01-19
Filing date: 2004-01-19
Publication date: 2005-07-20
Also published as: GB0401149D0

Abstract

A vertical axis wind powered generator comprises a rotor assembly of concentric copper cylinders 22 which are interleaved with a series of concentric magnetic cylinders 21 which form the stator assembly. Wind engaging rotor blades 8 are fixed directly to the rotor assembly which rotates about a vertically arranged shaft 11. The generated electrical output is picked up from the commutator 19 by brushes. The generator may be fitted to, and used to power, recreational electrical vehicles.

Description

24 1 0064 PAGE 1

DESCRIPTION.

A VERTICAL AXIS WIND GENERATOR.

The present invention relates to vertical axis wind generators. More specifically, it relates to a particular and specifically designed vertical axis wind powered generator, "THE IMGEN". This generator utilises the mechanical energy from the wind stream to rotate the rotor in order to generate electrical power. The importance and significance of the Imgen is that it has only one moving part, the rotor. The Imgen is a novel and innovative type of wind generator, which is a mechanism for converting the energy of natural wind into useful mechanical power which in turn is transformed into electric power. The Imgen is an electricity generating machine which can provide unlimited electrical power through the use of air power.

The Imgen can be used in a wide selection of applications to provide electricity for a multiplicity of purposes. The Imgen can be used to provide electricity for homes in both urban and rural areas and for installation in recreational vehicles, the Imca, to supply the national grid and for industrial purposes, etc. The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a new type of wind turbine generator, the Imgen, which is not anticipated, is obvious, suggested or even implied by any of the prior art relating to horizontal or vertical axis wind generators, either alone or in combination thereof.

In the embodiment of this present invention all the mechanical power derived from the air stream which interfaces with the rotor blades of the Imgen is utilised directly in electricity production. The Imgen is a variable speed generator. The Imgen is a radically new and innovative type of electricity generating machine which produces electricity directly from wind power over a wide range of wind velocities. The mechanical power of the wind acting on the rotor blades can be increased significantly through the use of wind compressors to concentrate the wind on the rotor blades.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART.

Historically wind powered generators are unique only in the sense that they are powered by the wind. The mechanical power of the wind is encouraged to act on a set of rotor blades, generally three, which rotate on a low-speed rotating shaft attached to gears, in a gear box, which step up the rotation of a high-speed rotating shaft to which the armature of the generator is attached. The generators employed in these wind turbines are 'off-the-shelf' generators which generally produce sixty cycle AC electricity. The turbine sits atop the tower.

All of the important parts in these turbines; the gear box, low and high speed shafts, generator, controller and brake, the yaw drive and yaw motor, are housed in a nacelle which sits atop the tower.

Examples exist in the prior art where wind turbines have been placed on roof tops with a wind concentrator, US4398096, in which the 'off-theshelf' generators are situated outside the wind collector. In US4074951, the turbine is situated on a rotable turn table with two turbines, side by side, with each spinning in the opposite direction to the other. This is a very complex design. The vertical axis wind turbines in DE19719114 are aligned side by side with a wind director focusing the wind onto the blades. In US5038049 the vertical axis turbine has a cylindrical rotor with a plurality of wind-driven veins. It has wheels. The vertical axis turbines in US200312 have generators suspended below the box housing them. An example of turbines with twin concentric counter rotating rotors can be found in FR2811720. The vertical axis wind turbine described in US6309172 has fins attached to the base plate. The example in GB2313160 the wind turbine is mounted in the throat of a wind collector and is acted upon as the wind is forced through the collector. In US4764683 the generator uses helical rotors with parts of the blades extending forward and rear of the nacelle. An example of a vertical axis wind turbine with airfoil shaped vanes is given in US4609827. While in US 4350900 discloses one with a squirrel cage rotor which is also airfoil shaped.

In the prior art, the use of wind turbines for the purpose of generating electricity to supply the national grid is very well established. Wind turbines have been used also to provide electricity to outlying homes, caravans, etc. far from the grid.

These wind turbines are basically of two types, the Horizontal Axis and the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine. The majority of the world's wind turbines are of the horizontal axis model. They need to be aligned periodically as the wind changes direction, an operation known as 'yawing'. This demands a control system, although some machines yaw passively, free yaw. Vertical axis wind turbines do not need to be rotated to towards the wind and a number of designs have emerged over the years. There are two basic types of vertical axis rotors, the Darius type have curved blades and is designed so that there are no bending forces in the blades due to centrifugal forces. However, this means that it is more difficult to provide control surfaces for power limitations. The second type of vertical axis wind turbine is the straight-bladed model. They can overcome the problem of 3.

control by pivoting the rotor blades so that they can be inclined at an angle to their normal vertical attitude in high winds. The more favoured type of wind turbine used primarily in the generation of electricity for the national grid of every country that utilises wind power is of the Horizontal Axis type.

All major industrial and developing countries have established huge resources towards researching wind turbines. Most of these research efforts have been directed towards producing better and stronger rotor blades, improved towers, increased gear ratios, better and improved designs of nacelles, brakes, yaw control mechanisms, and controller, etc. Significant effort has been expanded in the sighting of wind farms as the number of turbines in such farms have proven unpopular with the general public. For example, the general public are loathe to sight wind turbines in parks, whether national or local, in streets, near cities, villages or close to homes.

Wind power is an inexhaustible energy resource which is environmental friendly.

The most significant disadvantage of both the Horizontal and the Vertical Axis types of wind turbine; apart from their size, shape and length of rotor blades, is that they have to transmit the energy derived from the air stream on the rotor blades along a low-speed rotor shaft then to a gear system, in a gear box, where it is then transmitted along a highspeed shaft which supplies the mechanical energy to rotate the generator armature to produce the electricity.

The gear box which is essential to stepping-up the rotation to that required in order to generate electricity is very heavy and costly and is another disadvantage.

A significant percentage the mechanical power of the wind stream and the electricity is expended to control all the other parts of the wind turbine, such as the yaw mechanism, the brakes to prevent the rotor blades from being damaged in very high winds.

Another drawback is that the turbines have to be shut down in high wind winds, above sixty-five miles per hour, because of the potential of the generators overheating at above those speeds. The controller is the mechanism which starts up the turbines at wind speeds between eight and sixteen miles per hour and shuts them down when the wind speed is over sixty-five miles per hour. In all of these examples the 'generators' are highly sensitive to the variations in the wind speed.

Most, if not all, of these wind powered generators utilise variations on Horizontal and Vertical Axis Wind Turbines which are connected to generators which feed the resultant power output from the generators to batteries. These are 'off-the- shelf generators. Both Horizontal and Vertical type wind turbines are linked via rotor shafts and gears to generators.

In the prior art these turbines are known as constant speed generators. They are noisy and have a high percentage of wear and tear on the moving parts, the rotor has to be kept at a constant speed and cannot increase once the turbine is producing maximum power.

In the prior art controls have to be incorporated in the designs of the turbines in order to solve particular problems such as the need to slow or stop the rotor, to prevent wind gusts from suddenly producing too much power, to prevent the turbine for vibrating during operation, to reduce damage from turbulent winds, etc. In the prior art in most of these examples of wind turbines, the energy derived from the wind acting on the 'wind turbine' is not fully utilised as a significant percent-age of that energy is used to power the rotor blades, the low-speed and high-speed shafts, gears, yaw mechanism and motor, controller and the armature of the generator. A significant percentage of the wind energy is lost through spillage around the turbine blades. In wind turbine farms turbines have to be sighted away from the shadow of each other. This accounts for a large land area in sighting these farms. For these reasons the efficiency of these of these turbines are not as high as is the want.

Although, theoretically, it is possible to extract a maximum of over 59. 3% of the power in the wind in practice, however, power extraction has not been much greater than 40% and maybe as low as 10%.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a new and innovative type of vertical axis wind turbine and it relates specifically to an electricity generating vertical axis wind turbine, the Imgen, which is not anticipated, is obvious, suggested or even implied by any of the prior art electric wind powered generators, either alone or in combination thereof. This vertical axis wind turbine consists of two main parts, the magnetic stator and the copper rotor assembly.

The other parts of the Imgen are stationary and are designed to provide stability 5l for the moving part, the rotor assembly, and the stationary part, the stator.

Therefore, the Imgen is the generator and is not attached to an external generator.

A second aspect of this present invention is to provide a radically new type of wind powered generator, the Imgen, which can effectively maximise the use of wind power for generating electricity as all the mechanical power from the air stream is utilised directly in electricity generation.

A third aspect of the present invention is to overcome the need for the turbine to have a gear box, shafts, a nacelle, tower, yaw drive, yaw motor, yaw controller to start up the generator and shut it down at speeds in excess of sixty-five miles per hour and an 'off-the-shelf' generator. In the present invention it is envisaged that the Imgen can be designed in such a manner that it can be used in urban areas, as the Imgen can be installed on roofs of existing buildings.

In the embodiment of this invention the Imgen starts to provide electricity supply at very low rotational speeds and is an advance on the traditional constant-speed turbines. Although these constant speed, 'offthe-shelf', generators are readily available and easily affordable they require costly transmissions and gears to operate. The gears increase the speed of the normal rotor, which is sixty revolutions per minute or less, to one thousand eight hundred revolutions, which is the rotational speed to operate a typical 'off-the shelf' generator.

The Imgen is a variable speed generator which can respond to wide variations in the speed of the air stream. The Imgen can keep operating and maintain maximum efficiency irrespective of air stream speed as the rotor assembly is free to spin as fast as the air stream.

In this present invention of a vertical axis wind powered generator, the Imgen, it can be applied in a number of uses including recreational vehicles, for example as the power generator of the wind powered vehicle, the Imca, industrial uses, homes, schools, business premises, urban and rural areas, and so on, etc. Another aspect of this present invention is to provide a highest level of aesthetic quality in the design of the Imgen so that it can be installed in the centre of urban areas; for example, on roof tops and in parks, where the demand for electricity is in high demand and, where appropriate, each home or group of homes, a village street, can be provided with its own Imgen.

In this present invention, the Imgen, the rotor assembly means the windengaging parts of the wind generator, the rotor blades, the rotor blades support cylinder, the copper rotor cylinders, the rotor shaft and commutator, the rotor base plate and the rotor base plate insulator.

In the present invention it is not necessary for the Imgen to be provided with a wind compressor as the Imgen is activated by the air stream impacting on the rotor blades from any direction. However, where a wind compressor is used; for example, in the Imca, it collects the wind, compresses it and channels it through the wind compressor throat in the form of a high power jet stream to act directly on the rotor blades.

The circumference of the Imgen rotor blades support cylinder determines the number of rotor blades, the rotor blades 'outlet', the distance between blades, the working depth and length of the blades which should be arranged on the rotor the blades support cylinder. The walls of the rotor blades support cylinder have to be of sufficient thickness and strength to provide adequate support to the rotor blades and to prevent wobble or oscillation when the rotor assembly is spinning. The rotor blades are aligned with a variable pitch to the axis of the rotor blades support cylinder in order to maximise the rotor blade face area exposed to the air jet stream flowing through the lips of air compressor throat after being compressed in the air compressor throat.

The construction of the rotor blades, preferably epoxy resin or Kevlar, is such that it is both light weight and durable so as to withstand the force of the air stream, minimises oscillation, and enables the rotor to start spinning at the minimum speed required for generating electricity. The rotor blades are angled, variable pitch, on the rotor blades support cylinder so as to maximise the rotor blade face area to the air stream.

In the present invention, the air acting upon the 'rotor blades' should be clean and free from any foreign matter which can impede the smooth rotation of the rotor assembly and thus the efficiency of the generator. To scrub the air stream clean from foreign matter, for example; debris, insects, heavy dust particles, snow, rain, grit, it is filtered through an air filter before it becomes in contact with the rotor blades. The air filter could be made from a very Me wire or nylon type mesh, is removable and washable. When it is installed on buildings, etc., the air filter is stretched across the support frame around the generator house.

In the Imca, the air filter forms a removable part of the air compressor. In applications where an air compressor is used, the air is forced through an air filter before it becomes concentrated through the air compressor throat, which acts as a nozzle, into a high power air jet. The air filter is removable and washable.

In the present invention, unlike turbines in the prior art where the turbine blades are exposed to the elements, all the components of the Imgen including the rotor blades are protected from the elements by a cover.

In this present invention the vertical axis wind generator, the Imgen, is an "upwind" generator with the rotor blades always facing into the wind stream due to the variable pitch alignment of the rotor blades on the rotor blades support cylinder.

In this present invention the stator is the magnetic cylinders linked together by the stator cylinders linking arms. The stabilising bolts screw the stator stabilising arms to the generator housing thus making the stator stationary and unable to move when the copper rotor cylinders spin between them. The magnetic stator cylinders 21 do not come into contact with either the copper rotor cylinders 22 or the rotor base plate 24 because the clearance between these two parts has been calibrated to allow unimpeded movement of the copper rotor cylinders between the magnetic stator cylinders and for the maximization of electricity production.

In order for the Imgen generator rotor assembly to rotate and to commence producing electricity, the 'minimum mechanical power' required from the prime mover, air, has to be equivalent to the 'rotor mass' plus that required to provide the minimum 'rotor cylinder speed' at which the rotor cylinders, revolving between the fixed magnetic stator cylinders, begin to produce electricity. RM = rotor mass' and RCS = 'rotor cylinders speed'. The weight of the rotor assembly is dependent upon the design and size of the Imgen. Before the Imgen is positioned in any given site research should be conducted over a given period at the intended site to ascertain the minimum wind speed for that site and its suitability in providing the minimum wind power required to rotate the rotor assembly in order to generate electricity.

Because the stress is the same in all tangential directions in a spherical shell all the cylinders in the rotor assembly, including both the copper rotor cylinders and the rotor blades support cylinder, have to be able to withstand stress uniformly and to minimise oscillation and wobbling.

In the embodiment of this invention the Imgen starts to provide full energy supply at very low speeds. This characteristic gives the Imgen excellent 'off the line' acceleration, good drive control as there is no need for a controller to start the Imgen and to shut it down at high speeds, and fault tolerance, low noise and high efficiency, acceptable mass production costs and high aesthetic value.

According to the present invention, the wind turbine Imgen substantially departs from all conventional concepts and designs of the prior art. Thus the present invention provides a machine developed primarily for the purpose of exploiting the air flow which acts as the external mechanical force to be converted into electrical energy. Imgens can be manufactured in various sizes to suit the design

specification of the customer.

The cost, therefore, of producing an Imgen is considerably lower than that for other wind turbines of comparable size.

The embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.

FIG.1. View of 'Imgen' FIG.2. Top view of Imgen with stator cylinders supported by the generator housing.

FIG.3. Cross-section of Imgen showing relationship between stator and rotor cylinders and the clearance between them.

FIG.4. Cross-section of Imgen showing stator and rotor cylinders in generator housing.

FIG.5. View of Imgen with air cooling ducts.

FIG.6. View of relationship between magnetic stator and copper rotor cylinder.

FIG.7. Exploded view of Imgen.

FIG.8. View of rotor blades and rotor blades support cylinder.

FIG.9. View of rotor assembly.

FIG. 10. View of stator assembly.

FIG. l 1. View of rotor and stator cylinders.

FIG. 12. Schematic view of Imgen.

FIG. 13. Schematic view of stator.

FIG. l 4. Schematic view of rotor.

FIG. 15. View of Imgen on a building.

FIG. 16. View of Imgen in electric vehicle, the Imca.

FIG. 17. Top view of electric vehicle with Imgens in series.

FIG. l 8. View of first Imgen in a vehicle.

FIG. 19. Top view of air stream flow.

FIG.20. View of air compressor, air filter, air throat, rotor blades and support cylinder, and air heating chamber.

FIG.2 l. Operational circuit of Imgen installed in electric vehicle, the Imca.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.

In the embodiment of the invention, a vertical axis wind powered generator 52, the Imgen, is illustrated in FIG l.

In the present invention, the vertical axis air powered generator, the Imgen, has two principal parts, the rotor and stator assemblies FIGS. 9 & 10. They are located in the generator chamber 36 which is contained in the generator housing.

The generator housing has two semi-circular sides 7A, a lid 7B and a base 7C, FIG.1. When the generator is located on a building 48 or in open spaces it is protected from the elements in an open sided house 47 with a roof 50, FIG.15.

When installed in a vehicle 1, the Imca, it is covered by a generator bonnet 6, FIG.16, to protect it from the elements. To gain access to the generator for servicing and maintenance purposes, the bonnet 6, in case of the vehicle, can be opened by the operator and panels 49 at the sides of the generator house 47 FIG.15, can be removed for cleaning and to give access to the generator of servicing. The Imgen is designed with a very high aesthetic value so as not to offend the sensibilities of the general populace.

In the present invention, the rotor assembly means the wind-engaging parts of the wind generator; the rotor blades 8, rotor blades support cylinder 18, copper rotor cylinders 22, rotor shaft 11 and commutator 19, rotor blades base plate 24 and the rotor base plate insulator 25. The rotor base plate 24 is bonded to the rotor base plate insulator 25. FIGS. 1 & 9. The rotor blades 8 are connected to the rotor blades support cylinder 18, the rotor cylinders 22 and the rotor shaft 11 and commutator l 9 by the rotor base plate 24 which is bonded to the rotor base plate insulator 25. These parts form the 'rotor assembly' which is one complete unit FIG. 9.

In the embodiment of the present invention the stator comprises a series of magnetic cylinders 21 radiating concentrically from the rotor shaft 11, FIG 10.

The first magnetic stator cylinder immediately surrounds the rotor shaft 11, FIGS. 1, 2 & 6. These stator cylinders are joined at the top by the stator linking arms 40, FIGS. 1, 2 & 10. The type of magnetic material used in forming the stator would be dependent upon its cost. In this example rear earth magnets, neodymium, are considered to be the best suited for this purpose. The thickness of both the magnetic stator 21 and the copper rotor 22 cylinders is such that it minimises the weight of these parts and provides the maximum generated electrical output.

In the present invention the clearance 37 between the rotor blades 8 and the sides of the generator housing 7A is such so as to negate air spillage around the rotor blades 8, FIG.2. When installed in the Imca this is illustrated in the position of the first Imgen in relation to the air jet stream emanating from the air compressor throat 5 in FIGS. 15 & 18.

The rotor assembly unit rotates on its axis, the rotor shaft l l, as the air stream impacts on the rotor blades 8, FIGS. 17 & 18.

When the air stream 17 directly interfaces as a jet stream with the rotor blades 8 the rotor assembly FIG.9, comprising the rotor blades 8, rotor blades support cylinder 18, rotor cylinders 22, rotor base plate 24, rotor base plate insulator 25 the rotor shaft 11 and commutator l 9, rotates. When installed in a vehicle the jet stream emanates from the compressor throat 5, FIG. 18.

The rotor assembly including the rotor shaft 11 are supported and held in a fixed position relative to the stator, which is formed from the stator cylinders 21, FlG.10, by the upper rotor shaft support bearing 29 and the lower rotor shaft support bearing 28, FIGS. 1 & 4. The rotor shaft base plate 24 is bonded to an insulator, the rotor base plate insulator 25, FIG.9. The rotor thus spins on its vertical axis, the rotor shaft 11. The two ends of the rotor shaft 11 are situated in wells 45 in the upper 29 and the lower 28 rotor shaft support bearings where they are free to rotate, FIGS.4 & 6. 11.

As the speed of rotation of the rotor shaft 11 is concomitant with that of the rotor it is expected that the ends of the rotor shaft 11 would need to be friction free and cooled. A friction less lubricating oil is contained in both wells 45 in the rotor shaft support bearings 28 & 29, FIGS.6 & 12. This lubricating oil is air cooled through the lubricating oil cooling ring 34 which is shown for the lower rotor shaft support bearing 28 FIG.1 & 3.

The rotor assembly spins on top of and is also supported by the rotor turn table 26 which acts as a supporting base for the rotor. The rotor assembly does not rest directly on the rotor turn table 26, as there is a clearance between the rotor base plate 24 and the rotor turn table 26, and is thus free to rotate, FIG.1.

The thin copper rotor cylinders 22 are of similar thickness, radiate outwards concentrically from the rotor shaft 11 equidistant from each other towards the rotor blades support cylinder 18, FIGS.1 & 9. The thickness of the copper rotor cylinders is such that they can rotate freely between the stator cylinders 21, FIG. 10. The clearance 27, FIGS.1 & 14, between the copper rotor cylinders and the magnetic stator cylinders separate these two principal parts of the Imgen in order for the copper rotor cylinders to rotate freely between the magnetic stator cylinders FIGS.1 & 3. The thickness of the copper rotor cylinders is influenced by the need to maximise the electromagnetic force and, therefore, the current induced in the copper rotor cylinders as a result of their rotation within two magnetic stator cylinders. The type of material forming the rotor cylinders would be copper. Both the rotor blades 8 and the rotor blades support cylinder 18 could be formed from the same epoxy or Kevlar type material.

All the necessary wiring for the rotor cylinders 22 is conducted within conduits in the rotor base plate 24, which is of a strong honeycombed material to minimise weight, then up the hollow core of the rotor shaft 11 to the commutator 19. The rotor shaft 11 has a hollow core extending from where it is joined to the base plate 24 to the commutator 19 in order to carry the wiring from the copper rotor cylinders 22 which pass through the base plate 24 to the commutator 19, FIG.9.

The generated output is picked up from the commutator 19 via the brushes 20, FIGS. 4, 6 & 11 and then conducted to the various loads. When installed in the Imca the electrical energy is stored in various battery banks 12 and the drive motor, FIGS.17,19 & 21.The electrical power flows from the Imgen generators through-out the operational circuit of the Imca are best diagrammatically illustrated in FIG.21.

The fixing of the rotor shaft 11 in position by the upper rotor shaft support bearing 29 and the lower rotor shaft support bearing 28 prevents lateral movement of the rotor and minimises oscillation of the rotor cylinders 22 as they spin FIGS. 4 & 6. The oscillation tolerance of the rotor cylinders 22 is calibrated so as not to exceed the clearance 27 between the copper rotor cylinders 22 and the magnetic stator cylinders 21, FIGS.1 & 3. Thus the rotor cylinders 22 are fixed in such a manner so as to retain them in position against centrifugal force and locking the rotor cylinders 22 against radial movement while allowing slight relative axial movement.

In order to maintain the temperature necessary for optimising the efficiency of the Imgen generator, air cooling ducts 23 are located on the rotor blades support cylinder and both the copper rotor 22 and the magnetic stator 21 cylinders, FIGS. & 6. The air ducts 23 contribute also to decreasing the weight of the rotor assembly so that less air power is required to rotate it.

The first magnetic stator cylinder immediately surrounds the rotor shaft 1 l, FIGS. 5, 10, 11. These stator cylinders are joined at the top by the stator linking arms 40, FIGS. 10, 12 & 13. Thus the rotor shaft rotates freely within the first magnetised stator cylinder of the stator assemblyFIGS. 2 & 5. The type of magnetic material used in forming the stator would be dependent upon its cost. In this example rear earth magnets, neodymium, are considered to be the best suited for this purpose. The thickness of both the stator 21 and the rotor 22 cylinders is such that it minimises the weight of these parts and provides the maximum generated output.

In order to stabilise the stator 21 so that it cannot move in any direction and does not touch the rotor cylinders 22 or the rotor base plate 24 and maintains it's rated clearance 27 from the rotor cylinders, the stator 21 assembly is bolted to the generator housing sides 7A by the stator stabilising bolts 33 FIG. 1, 2 & 4. The stator stabilising bolts 33 screw the generator housing 7A to the stator stabilising rods 32. The stator stabilising rods 32 are insulated from the stator cylinders 21 by the stator stabilising rod insulator 31, FIG. 1, 2 & 4.

In the embodiment of the present invention, all the parts of the vertical axis wind powered generator 52, the Imgen, including the rotor and stator assemblies are contained within the generator housing 7, which comprises the sides 7A, the lid 7B and the base 7C. In order to reduce vibration both at the top and base of the Imgen there are vibration absorbers 16 FIGS.1 & 4. Fixing bolts 38 stabilises the lid 7A, base 7C, both rotor shaft bearings 28 & 29, and the rotor assembly turn table26,FIGS.1,4& 12.

The basic principle of the Imgen it that it generates electricity through the copper rotor cylinders 21 rotating through the magnetic field of the magnetic stator cylinders 22 thus cutting through the electromagnetic field established by the magnetic stator cylinders. The electrical energy, the electromagnetic force, thus produced in the copper cylinders 22 and, therefore, the current which flows through them is transmitted through the wiring in the rotor base plate 24 up the hollow core of the rotor shaft 11 to the commutator, 19 where it is picked up by the brushes 20 for distribution to where the electrical power is required, FIGS.4 & 12.

The present invention of the vertical wind generator, the Imgen, when installed in the wind powered vehicle, the Imca 1, FIG.16, the air compressor 3 is located at the front and top of the vehicle. Its length conforms to the width of the vehicle, its height is dependent on that of the rotor blades 8 and its depth on the vehicles' design. The vehicle air compressor 3 is concave in shape and has in its centre an air filter 4 and an air compressor throat 5 which acts as a nozzle. The compressor throat has a lip 39 through which the air stream exits to act on the rotor blades.

The compressor throat 5 tapers towards the rotor blades 8 and its height corresponds to that of the rotor blades 8. The air compressor lip 39 interfaces directly with the rotor blades 8, FIGS.16 & 17. Occupying the full width of the vehicle the air compressor 3 compresses the air stream 17 channelled to it via the air guide 2, FIG. 16. The front of the vehicle is designed with a smooth surface with a flat clear fetch rising from the front bumper to the air compressor. The compressed air stream 17 is scrubbed clean from all foreign matter by the air filter 4 and is compressed further in the air compressor throat 5 where it emerges into the Imgen generator chamber 36 as a high powered jet stream from the air com- pressor throat lip 39 to interface directly with the rotor blades 8, FIGS. 19 & 20.

In the present invention, the rotation of the first Imgen 52 transports the body of air contained within the rotor blades outlet towards the interconnecting heating chamber 14, where it combines with the spent air from the air cooling ducts 23 to undergo further compression and expansion before it emerges as a re-energised air stream to be applied as the motive power for the second lmgen generator, FIGS.16 & 19.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the Imgen, 52 when installed in the electric vehicle, the Imca 1, the air stream 17 having been applied to the rotor in the second generator chamber 36 is then expelled through the air exhaust 9, FIGS. 16 & 20, at the rear of the vehicle into the outside atmosphere where it expands creating a low negative pressure area which acts as an 'air suction'. The air pressure differential between the outside rear of the vehicle at the air exhaust 9 and the internal Imgen generator chambers 36 results in a force similar to aerodynamic lift' Since the rotor blades of the Imgens are constrained to move in a horizontal plane with the rotor shaft 11 at its centre, the lift force causes rotation about the rotor shaft. Thus this negative low pressure area at the rear of the vehicle acts as an air suction and contributes further to the speed of the air stream flowing through the Imgen generator chambers and improves the rotor blades performance.

In the present invention the Imgen generator, can be scaled up or down. Various electrical conducting materials can be used and that the design of the vehicle, which can influence the product, altered to customer choice. The example of this present invention is, therefore, subject to variations, modifications and alterations in detail.

The Imgen is designed to be easily manufactured having only one moving part, the rotor assembly, and at an economical cost. It is easily assembled, requires low maintenance and service charges should minimal. The present invention of the wind powered generator, the Imgen, is user friendly. It is aesthetically designed to take account of persons' sensibilities.

It should be appreciated that the specific form of this present invention, as described and illustrated, is representative only as certain alterations can be made during manufacture without departing from its simple description and ethical prin- ciple. Therefore all subject matter described above and illustrated in the accom- panying drawings should be interpreted as descriptive and not limiting in any sense.

Thus references should be made to the appended 'Claims' in determining the full extent of the present invention 1<

Claims

CLAIMS.

01. The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a new and innovative type of vertical axis wind turbine and it relates specifically to an electricity generating vertical axis wind turbine, the Imgen, which is not anticipated, is obvious, suggested or even implied by any of the prior art electric wind powered generators, either alone or in combination thereof. This vertical axis wind turbine consists of two main parts, the magnetic stator and the copper rotor assembly. The rotor assembly is the only moving part of the Imgen. The other parts of the Imgen are stationary and are designed to provide stability for the moving part, the rotor assembly, and the stationary part, the stator. Therefore, the Imgen is itself the generator and is not attached to an external generator. The present invention is characterized as a vertical axis wind powered generator which converts the mechanical power of the air stream directly into electric power for use in multiplicity of functions including supplying the national grid, homes, office buildings, lighting, heating, powering vehicles, including recreational ones and other recreational and industrial uses.

02. A vertical axis wind powered generator according to claim 1, consisting of two principal parts, the rotor and stator assemblies.

03. According to claim 2, the rotor assembly consists of rotor blades mounted on a rotor blades support cylinder, concentric copper rotor cylinders, a rotor shaft with a hollow core and a commutator joined to and supported by a rotor base plate and base plate insulator.

04 According to claim 3, the rotor base plate has hollow channels which are connected with the rotor shad which has a hollow core extending from the base plate to the commutator. The electricity generated by the Imgen is transmitted via the necessary windings from the copper rotor cylinders through these channels to the commutator and the brushes and then to transformers, if necessary, for distribution for various uses.

According to claim 4, the rotor assembly; comprising the rotor blades, the rotor blades support cylinder, the copper rotor cylinders, the rotor base plate and base plate insulator, the rotor shaft and commutator, is supported by the upper and lower rotor shaft bearings.

06. According to claim 5, the rotor assembly rotates on the rotor turn table with the copper rotor cylinders freely rotating between the magnetic stator cylinders.

07. According to claim 5, the rotor assembly is held in place because the rotor shaft, which is a part of the assembly, is supported by the upper and lower rotor shaft bearings.

08. According to claim 2, the stator assembly is formed from concentric magnetic cylinders so that the copper rotor cylinders can freely rotate between them.

09. According to claim 8, the stator is fixed to the generator housing by the stator stabilising rods and the fixing bolts.

10. According to claim 1, both the rotor and the stator assemblies are contained within the generator housing.

11. According to claim 10, all the parts of the Imgen including the rotor and stator assemblies, the vibration absorbers, the rotor shaft bearings, the rotor shaft turn table are contained within the sides, lid and base of the generator housing.

12. The Imgen generator can be fitted with wind compressors in order to concentrate the wind more directly on the rotor blades.