GB2431782A

GB2431782A - Windmill powered outdoor lighting system

Info

Publication number: GB2431782A
Application number: GB0521775A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ferid Hickmet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-10-26
Filing date: 2005-10-26
Publication date: 2007-05-02
Also published as: GB0521775D0

Abstract

An outdoor lighting system comprises a Savonius type vertical windmill V, an electrodynamic generator 13, and a lamp 23. The rotor winding of the generator is driven by the windmill rotor 19. Current derived at the stator winding serves to energise the lamp. The lamp may supported in the ground by means of a spike. The windmill may be attached directly to the lamp or may be located remotely (see fig. 4). The lamp may comprise a plurality of LEDs. Rechargeable batteries 37 may be provided to store energy generated by the windmill.

Description

AL FRESCO LIGHTfNG SYSTEMS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to al fresco lighting systems for use, typically, in the illumination of gardens and other like out-of-door sites of pleasure and recreation.

Uackiround to the Invention Whilst al fresco lighting systems have been available comprising at least one electric lamp adapted to he energised by electrical power derived from photocell means irradiated by the solar energy such systems constitute a very low level light source, particularly in climates, such as are encountered in northern Europe in which solar power is available intermittently and lbr limited periods of time.

It is common practice to provide al Iresco lighting systems comprising a multiplicity of electric lamps disposed about the site to he illuminated, the several lamps hein.g connected in circuit to a remote electric power source most commonly located in a dwelling place adjacent to the site to be illuminated.

It is the principle object of the present invention to provide al fresco lighting systems which, utilizing wind energy in the supply to the lamp means of electrical power avoids the need for an electrical power source a aforesaid remote from such lamp means.

Summary 0.! the Invention

In accordance with the present invention, an al fresco lighting system comprises: a self-starting vertical axis windmill of the Savonius type incorporating an electro-dynamic generator having electromagnetically coupled rotor and stator winding arrangements, the rotor winding arrangement being angularly displaceable with respect to the stator winding arrangement by angular movement of the windmill rotor part with respect tot the windmill stator l11t means associated with said windmill stator part, being means whereby the windmill may he readily releasibly held with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially vertical with respect to the ground and, electric lamp means adapted to be energiseci, in operation of the windmill, by electrical current derived from said stator winding arrangement.

Preferably, said rotor and stator winding arrangements are wiiiding arrangements of generally toroidal form having their axes of symmetry coincident with the longitudinal axis of the windmill, that is to say, with the axis of rotation of the vane-bearing windmill rotor part.

an al fresco lighting system comprises: a self-starting vertical axis windmill of the Savonius type incorporating an electro-dynamic generator, the generally toroidal rotor and stator winding arrangements of which have their axes ol symmetry coincident with the longitudinal axis of the windmill, that is to say, with the axis of rotation of the vane-bearing windmill rotor part; means associated with said windmill stator part, being means whereby the windmill may be readily releasibly held with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially vertical with respect to the ground; and, electric lamp means adapted to be energised, in operation of the windmill, by electrical current derived from said stator winding arrangement.

Suitably, the stator part of said windmill comprises: a shaft formed, at its upper end, with a cavity said shaft and cavity sharing a common longitudinal axis coincident with said windmill longitudinal axis; and, within said shaft cavity, a first of two bearing balls; and, the rotor part osaid windmill comprises: tube means encompassing said shaft, being tube means from which the several vanes ()lthe windmill outwardly prqjcct, said tube means having a rotary running fit with said shaft: a cap part having a cavity the longitudinal axis of which is coincident with said shalt longitudinal axis and being adapted to be secured to said tube means at the upper end thereol and, within said cap part cavity, the second of said bearing balls; and, the shaft and the cap part of said the stator and rotor parts, respectively. arc constructed, adapted and arranged such that said first and second hearing balls are in contact with one another at a point contained in said windmill longitudinal axis.

The foregoing and other characteristic features of al fresco lighting systems in accordance with the invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. I shows, in longitudinal axial section, a first embodiment of a wind-powered electrical lighting system in accordance with the invention; Fig.2 shows, in plan, the lighting system of Fig.1; Fig.3 is a scrap diagram showing, to an enlarged scale, a part of the lighting system of Fig. I; and, Fig.4 is a diagram of a second embodiment of a self-powered lighting system in accordance with the invention.

1)escription of Characteristic Features of Embodiments of the Invention Common to any al fresco lighting system in accordance with the invention there is provided: a self-starting vertical axis windmill 11 of the Savonius type incorporating an electro-dynamic generator 13, rotor and stator, generally toroidal, winding arrangements 1 5, I 7, respectively, of' which have their axes of symmetry coincident with the longitudinal axis A---A of the windmill, that is to say, the axis of rotation of the vane-bearing windmill rotor part 19 with respect to the windmill stator part 21; electric lamp means 23 adapted to be energised, in operation of the windmill, by current derived from said stator winding arrangement 1 7, said stator winding arrangement 1 7 being fixedly held within a housing part 25 integral with the windmill stator part 21, and being, being held therein coaxial with the windmill longitudinal axis A---A; and, means 27 associated with said windmill stator part 21, being means whereby the windmill may he readily releasibly supported with the longitudinal axis A--A thereof substantially vertical with respect to the ground (not shown in the drawings).

In the example depicted in Figs. Ito 3, the windmill stator part 21 comprises: a shaft 29, of generally cruciform cross-section, formed at its lower end with a multiplicity spaced circular disc-form lands 29', and at its upper end, with a cavity 29', said shaf't 29 and its end cavity 29" sharing a common longitudinal axis coincident with said windmill longitudinal axisA---A; within said shaft cavity 29", a first 31a of two bearing balls 31a, 31b, respectively, and the windmill rotor part 1 9 comprises: tube means, specifically first and second tube portions 33a, 33b, respectively, encompassing the shaft 29 at spaced apart positions therealong, being tube portions from which the several windmill vanes V, three in the example, outwardly project, the tube portions 33a, 33b, having a running fit with the shaft 29, the aforesaid lands 29' serving to keep friction between the two relatively movable parts to a low practical level; a cap part 35 having a cavity 35' the longitudinal axis of which is coincident with said shall longitudinal axis A---A and is adapted to be secured to the lube portion 33a at the upper end thereof and, within said cap part cavity 35', the second 3 lb of said bearing balls.

The shaft 29 and the cap part 35 of the stator and rotor parts 21, 1 9, respectively, are constructed, adapted and arranged such that said first and second bearing balls 3 1 a, 31 b, are in point contact with one another at a position contained in the windmill longitudinal axis A---A.

Fixed within the housing 25 there are provided rechargeable electrical storage batteries 37; and battery charging circuit means (not illustrated) inter-connecting the stator winding arrangement 17 and the electrical storage batteries 37.

l'he circunifrentially extensive wall 25' of the housing 25, or at least a portion thereof is of' a light transmissive material, and the electric lamp means 23 is held fixed within the housing 25, being carried by a housing interior tubular portion 25" upstanding from the bottom wall of the housing. In the example, the electric lamp means 23 comprises a multiplicity of high brightness light emissive diodes disposed, in the example, in four planes vertically spaced apart along the interior tubular portion 25", the several LEDs in each plane being spaced apart circumfèrentially around said tubular portion.

The means 27. whereby the windmill may he readily releasibly supported with the longitudinal axis A--A thereof substantially vertical with respect to the ground, comprises, in the example of Figs. 1 to 3, a spike part downwardly projecting from the housing 25, the spike part being constructed, arranged, and adapted for penetration of' the ground under pressure applied to the stator part 21 of the windmill.

In the second embodiment, depicted in Fig.4. the electric lamp means is to be found not in a housing of the windmill hut in housings 3 1 of a multiplicity of lamp carriers 33 each having an individual spike portion which, as before, constitutes means whereby the carrier may. by penetration under pressure applied to the carrier, he supported vertically with respect to the ground. As with the first embodiment, the housing of the lamp carrier has an interior tubular portion (not shown in Fig.4), the electric lamp means comprising, as with the Iirst embodiment, a iiuiltiplicity of LEDs carried on said tubular portion with a distribution as described and depicted in Figs. I and 3.

In distinction from the windmill of Fig,1, also, the windmill 11 ol Fig.4 has a base 35 by which the windmill 11 is adapted to be supported vertically by being secured, for example, by screw fasteners (not shown) to a suitable stable member, such, for example the top of a post.

Claims

CLAIMS

I. An al fresco lighting system which comprises: a sellstarting vertical axis windmill of the Savonius type incorporating an electro-dynamic generator having electromagnetically coupled rotor and stator winding arrangements, the rotor winding arrangement being angularly displaceable with respect to the slator winding arrangement by angular movement of the windmill rotor part with respect tot the windmill stator lart; means associated with said windmill stator part, being means whereby the windmill may be readily releasibly held with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially vertical with respect to the ground and, electric lamp means adapted to be energised, in operation of' the windmill, by electrical current derived from said stator winding arrangement.

2. An a! fresco lighting system as claimed in claim 1 in which: said rotor and stator winding arrangements are winding arrangements of' generally toroidal lrm having their axes of' symmetry coincident with the longitudinal axis of' the windmill, that is to say, with the axis of' rotation of the vane-bearing windmill rotor part.

3. A lighting system as claimed in claim 2 in which: the stator part of said windmill comprises: a shaft formed, at its upper end, with a cavity said shaft and cavity sharing a common longitudinal axis coincident with said windmill longitudinal axis; and, within said shaft cavity, a first of two bearing balls; and, the rotor part of' said windmill comprises: tube means encompassing said shaft, being tube means from which the several vanes of the windmill outwardly project, said tube means having a rotary running lit with said shaft a cap part having a cavity the longitudinal axis of which is coincident with said shaft longitudinal axis and being adapted to be secured to said tube means at the upper end thereot and, within said cap part cavity, the second of said bearing balls; and in which, the shaft and the cap part of said the stator and rotor parts, respectively, are constructed, adapted and arranged such that said first and second hearing balls are in contact with one another at a point contained in said windmill longitudinal axis.

4. An al fresco lighting system as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which: said stator winding arrangement is fixedly located within a housing portion integral with and embracing said windmill stator part.

5. A lighting system as claimed in claim 4 in which: at least a portion of the peripheral wall of said housing part is ol' a light transmissive material; and there is provided, fixed within said housing part: rechargeable battery electrical storage means; and, battery charging circuit means inter-connecting said stator winding arrangement and said battery electrical storage means.

6. A lighting system as claimed in claims 2 and 5 in which: said electric lamp means is held fixed within said housing part.

7. A lighting system as claimed in claim 6 in which: said housing part incorporates, coaxial with said windmill stator part, a housing internal tubular portion; and, said electric lamp means comprises at least one set of high brightness light emissive diodes distributed at intervals circumlèrentially around said internal tubular portion.

8. A lighting system as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7 in which: the windmill stator part incorporates means integral therewith, being means downwardly projecting from said housing part and constructed arranged and adapted such as to penetrate the ground under pressure applied to the stator part of the windmill, said downwards projecting means being such as to support said windmill with the longitudinal axis thereof vertical.

9. A lighting system as claimed in claim 8 in which: said downwardly projecting means comprises a spike portion.

10. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which: said windmill has a base part adapted to be secured to a stable ground based part; said lamp means is housed in at least one lamp means carrier, being a carrier having a housing part within which is located said lamp means and having means associated therewith by which said carrier or carriers may he stably supported with respect to the ground at a location or locations, as the case may be, remote from the windmill; and said lamp means is connected to said stator winding arrangement by electrical conductor means.

II. A lighting system as claimed in claim 10 in which: the lamp means carrier support means comprises means downwardly projecting from said housing part and constructed arranged and adapted such as to penetrate the ground under pressure applied to the stator part of the windmill.

said downwards projecting means being such as to support said windmill with the longitudinal axis thereof vertical.

I
2. A lighting system as claimed in claim 11 in which said downwardly projecting means comprises a spike portion.

1
3. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1 0. I I, or 12 in which said electric lamp means comprises a multiplicity of high brightness light emissive diodes.

14. A lighting system substantially as hereinhefre described with reference to Figs 1,2 and 3.

I 5. A lighting system substantially hereinhelore described with reference to Fig.4 of the accoinpanying drawings.