GB2451642A

GB2451642A - Energy absorption by rotation

Info

Publication number: GB2451642A
Application number: GB0715300A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Robert Goodall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-07
Filing date: 2007-08-07
Publication date: 2009-02-11
Also published as: GB0715300D0; WO2009019488A2; WO2009019488A3

Abstract

Rotation of turbines 54b adjacent to a cliff 74 by wave energy 52b may be used to reduce coastal erosion or protect flood defences, or rotation by wind energy to protect buildings or bridges. Also disclosed is a lighter than air structure (e.g. airship or balloon) which has one or more turbines mounted thereon, rotation of the turbines by the wind reducing the force of the wind impacting on the structure. Alternatively the lighter than air structure may itself rotate to reduce the force of the wind impacting thereon. The rotation of the turbines or structure may be used to drive an electric generator. The rotation of turbines mounted on an airship may be used to power one or more propellers to enable controlled movement of the airship. Rotation of the turbines may be slowed or braked so as to allow increased wind force on the lighter than air structure in order to move it to a desired location. An umbrella may rotate so as to absorb some or all of the wind which makes it better able to resist the wind and not fold up.

Description

1 2451642 Changing a position of a structure 5 With any lighter than air structures there is a need to move it around the sky and change its position. The apparatus uses the wind to move the apparatus which we will call an air brake and anything attached to it, moving one or both around the sky. This is done by using one or more blades that can rotate that can absorb wind by their rotation so that there is no pressure from the wind on that side of the structure. By controlling the amount of wind that can reach a part of the structure behind blade(s) on different sides of the structure so that pressure is exerted by the wind on that side or sides. This part of the structure behind the blade(s) can have varying amounts of wind resistance.

This is shown in the figures on pages 19 and 20 of the drawings. To differentiate the different parts of the air brake from embodiments of the invention described later in the description they are numbered from 51 upwards. For example the direction the air brake structure will travel is marked as 51.

The structure behind the blade(s) might for example be completely wind proof or be designed to allow some wind to pass through it. The wind resistance might also be variable such as by opening or closing parts of the part of the structure so that some wind might pass through. This might be useful to deal with sudden gusts of wind, or unusually strong winds and the air brake could be designed that if there is a sudden gust of wind the part of the structure catching the wind behind the blade(s) might open automatically to allow wind to pass through.

The idea is to use wind action to move an object around the sky by having it fixed to a structure that has a device that will be known as an air brake or air brakes at different angles and positions so that by applying a device to brake or slow one or more of the blades attached to these air brakes, the wind would pass through the slow moving or still blade and make contact with part of a structure which might have varying degrees of wind resistance and so when the wind makes contact with this part of the structure it will exert pressure against it and this will mean that this part of the structure is pushed by the wind, the extent of this push being affected by wind speed and whether the blade is completely stopped or the brake is being applied to allow some rotation and if so how much and also if degree of wind resistance of the structure behind the blade.

There will be a number of such devices consisting of a blade in front of a part of a structure which is designed to catch varying degrees of wind or to act as a completely solid barrier to the wind so that the wind will push against it. Some embodiments might develop this idea of a wind trap so that some variations might be designed in a way to maximize the amount of wind trapped. This could be achieved in a number of ways. If the wind resistant part of the structure behind the blade is shaped in some way such as curving outwards towards the direction of the incoming wind then this would increase wind resistance by reducing the amount of wind that escapes around the sides of the structure.

The invention envisages one or a number of such devices placed in different directions. One embodiment of the invention might have one such air brake placed in front of another or a number in such a configuration with the devices that would be in first contact with the wind having a structure behind the blade with varying degrees of wind resistance so that some wind can pass thought it and make contact with the device behind it.

By slowing or stopping the rotation of the blades in some or all of the devices by braking the blades, the devices can work together and the effect of the wind will be to move these connected devices around the sky.

The purpose of this will be to move around any structure attached to it. This might include a lighter than air structure such as a balloon or airship.

A variation of the design might have it attached to a lighter than air structure where the wind making contact with the structure that might push it out of position is used to turn and tumble the entire structure so that in one action the wind is both absorbed by the turning action of the structure as it makes contact, which can be assisted by fins to help in the catching of the wind, and then this is simultaneously used to drive a generator to produce electricity. This electricity could be passed to the ground in a number of ways. It might be sent in microwaves to the ground or passed to the ground by freely hanging cables which are not used to tether the device in position or passed in a way still to be developed.

Because of the versatility of this design these structures can be positioned high in the sky or even in areas of the planet to maximize the generation of electricity. The structures can be moved into position and maneuvered by this system of air brakes using the wind.

A further embodiment of the air brake might see the wind energy making contact with the air brakes being used to drive an air brake on one or more sides to propel the craft in that direction as in figure 32. The wind brake on one or more sides would receive an instruction from the ground crew to engage a system of pulleys or worm and driver gears to transfer the energy making contact with one or more wind brakes to another wind brake (s) and drive this brake (s).

In one embodiment the air brake consists of a solid wind proof construction with the mechanisms to brake the blades or slow them down or the worm and driver gears in other variations to transfer energy from one blade, simultaneously absorbing the wind on one side and transferring it to the blade on another side to propel it in that direction.

In the drawings the blades are shown as 54 The part of the structure with which wind can make contact if the blade in front of it is braked or slowed in rotation is marked as 56 The direction of the movement of the structure resulting from braking or slowing of the blade or blades is marked as 51 Figure 29 and figure 30 show how the apparatus uses wind to alter direction.

In all drawings showing the air brake the movement of the apparatus is marked as 51. The direction of the wind is marked as 52. The blades of the apparatus are marked as 54. The point at which the wind makes contact with the structure are marked as 53. This might be the blade or the part of the apparatus that catches the wind. The part of the structure that catches the wind is marked as 56.

In figure 29 the wind 52 on the side marked as 57 makes contact with the blade of the air brake marked 54 because the blade (s) is either rotating fully or partially. Because of this rotation the wind energy does not reach the part of the structure 56 and therefore is not able to exert a pressure against the structure.

On the other side of the structure marked as 58 the wind marked as 52 passes through the blade (s) marked as 54 because the blades are not moving.

Therefore the wind makes contact with the part of the structure 56 that catches the wind. The effect of this is that the wind can exert pressure on the structure and this has the effect of moving it in the direction marked as 51.

In figure 30 the reverse occurs. The wind marked as 52 passes from the side marked as 59 though the blades 54 because they are not moving. The wind makes contact with the part of the structure that catches the wind marked as 56. On the side marked as 60 the wind marked as 52 makes contact with the blade (s) marked as 54 at the point marked as 53 because the blade is rotating.

This means that no or less pressure on the structure is applied on the side marked as 60 but pressure is applied to the side marked as 59. The structure will move in the direction marked as 51.

In figure 31 the air brake apparatus is shown attached to a lighter than air structure, in this case a wind turbine that generates electricity. The embodiment in figure 31 has four air brakes at the bottom of the structure. The invention can have different number of air brakes placed in different positions.

The Invention has one embodiment where the apparatus can be attached and unattached to a lighter than air structures Another embodiment would see the air brake or number of attached air brakes permanently attached to the lighter than air structure.

One embodiment of the air brake invention has a flexibility to change the configuration and the number of air brakes that can be used. Additional air brakes can be added or removed depending on the need of the lighter than air structure to which they are attached.

Some lighter than air structures may need increased maneuverability, such as in the case of any lighter than air structure that requires a high degree of maneuverability such as within a confined area, for example if it needs to dock with another structure or offload cargo or people Some lighter than air structures may not need to move position or maneuvere as much as others. For an airship this is a basic requirement, for others such as wind turbines there may be less need to move once in position but having less air brakes might mean that the entire structure carries less weight.

Lighter than air structures that carry passengers or perishable cargoes or those that need to be move quickly for whatever reason such as post might need more air brakes to increase speed.

Figure 31 shows an embodiment with one air brake above the wind turbine.

The wind turbine is of the type described later where the fins (22) catch the air and in one movement the entire wind turbine tumbles and turns to absorb the wind which would otherwise move it out of position and simultaneously uses this movement to drive an internal generator to generate electricity.

This is then microwaved to the ground or passed to the ground cables which are not used to tether the entire structure. The electricity may also be transferred to the ground in ways to be developed.

Figure 32 shows two air brake apparatus at different angles and this is an example of how two air brakes might work in relation to each other using worm gears and driver gears to transfer wind energy from one air brake to another thereby neutralizing the effect of the wind on one side where the rotating blade absorbs the wind so that it does not exert pressure against the structure behind the blade marked as 56 and where this energy turns part of a fixed structure to the blade which rotates as the blade rotates and marked as 61. This becomes a driver gear. It makes direct contact with a similar structure attached to the other air brake apparatus in the drawing which becomes the worm gear, and this is marked as 66. As the blade on the side marked as 62 rotates and part of the structure 61 fixed rigidly to it turns. This makes contact with the worm gear marked as 66 which turns and provides energy to propel the blade on the area marked as 63. So energy is absorbed on side 62 and is then used to turn the blade on the side marked as 66 turns the blade to provide energy needed to make the structure move in the direction marked as 51, which is the direction the structure moves in all the drawings.

In figure 33 the process is reversed and the numbers are changed to demonstrate which is the driver and worm gears. The direction of the wind is marked as 52 but this shows how energy is not just absorbed by the air brake but in some embodiments put to positive use to provide energy to drive the blade on other air brakes The instructions to do this can come from the ground by microwave or other communication but there is a failsafe mode whereby if contact is lost with the ground after a set period of time the entire structure will return to the ground station along a preset route to avoid other air traffic.

There is also the means built into the structure for crews to board the entire structure which may be unmanned to carry out repairs while it is in position.

If the desire is to make the structure move in a different direction this is shown in figure 33.

the whole process is reversed. The wind energy is absorbed by the rotation of the blade on the air brake device on the side marked as 65 and this turns the part of the structure marked as 61 but this time it becomes a driver gear and turns the similar part of the structure marked on the other air brake on the side marked as 64. In air brake on the side marked as 64 the part of the structure marked as 66 becomes the worm gear and as with the other air brake on side 65, this is fixed rigidly to the blade. This worm gear is turned and as it does so this turns to blade on the side marked as 64 to makes the craft move in the direction marked as 51.

This is a simple example of how 2 air brakes would use worm and driver gears to provide energy from the other one, while negating wind on wind side, using it to provide when energy to drive a blade to move it in another direction.

The worm and driver gears can be set at different directions and angles, in some embodiments their position can be changed, and in some embodiments of the invention they act solely to move the craft.

In other embodiments of the invention they provide additional help to move the structure to simply keeping one blade rotating as previously outlined in the description of figure 29 so that wind exerts does not pressure against part of the structure behind that blade while another blade is either static or moving more slowly, having had a brake applied or having had its free rotation impeded, so that the wind can make contact with the part of the structure 56 behind this and hence the structure is pushed in a direction shown in figure 29 as 51.

Using worm and driver gears can provide adthtional help if needed. In some embodiments these two methods can be both used or be part of the structure, in other embodiments the structure may have one method built in but not the other. Reasons for this might include, weight, speed and maneuverability required of the craft and cost of construction, and also the wind conditions where the craft may operate. If there are high winds present it might be sufficient to only have a simple method as described in the earlier description for figure 29 but not needing worm and driver gears as well.

Figure 34 shows an embodiment of the invention with the braking mechanism for the part of the structure attached to the blade. The braking mechanism which can be present or absent in different embodiment is marked as 68 in figure 36.

In figure 34 on page 22 of the drawings shows one embodiment of the invention where there are moving pads marked as 67 inside the part marked as 68.

These can be moved to make cohtact with the rotating part of the structure attached to the blade to either stop it completely or slow its rotation so that the wind can make contact with the part of the structure behind the blade marked as 56 and exert pressure on the structure.

This movement of the pads 67 can be powered by energy from the air brake itself which would drive a generator on the structure particularly as it would only be required if there was wind available to turn the blades of the structure and if there was wind this could also drive the generator aboard the craft.

The arrow marked as 69 in figure 34 show the pads moving to engage the shaft attached to a blade to slow it down or stop it. In figure 35 the pads 67 have made contact with the blade. When it is required for air brake to absorb wind the pads will move away from the shaft to allow it to rotate. They might maintain some contact to allow slow rotation.

In case of failure of some sort there might be reserve batteries or other forms of power available as a back up.

The craft could also be designed so that it could be boarded while in position and repaired by maintenance crews.

In the event of a complete failure of the craft embodiments of the invention might have a capability to deflate the lighter than air structure so that it would return to the ground or the sea at speed that would be required.

In some embodiments the pads 67 might be soaked in water or other materials to reduce the heat generated. Some embodiments would include ways of cooling the pads to reduce the heat generate by the friction from engaging with the rotating part of the structure attached to the blade. This might be particularly important where this operation was required on a regular basis such as if the air brake structure was attached to an airship or of the lighter than air structure for whatever reason required a lot of amount of maneuvering over a short period of time, often without time for the heat to dissipate after engaging with the rotating part of the structure attached to the blade The idea is to use wind action to move an object around the sky by having a device or number of devices at different angles and positions so that by applying a device to brake or slow one or more of the previously mentioned devices.

The position of lighter than air structures can also be modified by having different compartments with the structure where the gas keeping it aloft can be cooled or heated in different compartments to change the angle of the structure.

The invention can be used in other ways. A sea brake can use one or more blades that can be attached to a ship or vessel travelling on water which can have varying degrees of immersion into the water and whose rotation can slow the ship or help the vessel to change direction One or more of these blades could be lifted out of the water The immersion of the blades in the water can be varied to change the contact with the blades to the water In one embodiment there are blades on the front of the vessel where braking a blade on one side will allow water to pass through it and allowing the free rotation of the blade on the other side will slow the water on that side and cause the vessel to turn towards the direction of the blade that is rotating In one embodiment the vessel is given greater assistance to change directions by structures using the principals of absorbing energy by rotating. Part of this invention is that so that the mechanism returns to its initial position so that it can repeat what it is doing and does not require energy from the ship to return it to the position. As more energy must be absorbed for example if the ship needs to turn quickly and is of a large tonnage this extra energy can be absorbed by the blade rotating faster. This blade that rotates can be placed into the water at the front of the vessel in any position and can be retracted. If a sea brake is used on the left side of the ship or vessel or object floating on water, or traveling in water as it rotates it absorbs energy. The pressure on the right side remains more constant and the vessel will turn to the left.

The embodiment of the invention as used as a sea brake is shown in figure 37 and figure 38 on page 23. To show the similar invention at work in the sea as in the air the same numbers are used for the equivalent pieces of the structure as in the air brake except that an a is added. The direction of the sea is marked as 52a. The rotating blade (s) are marked as 54a. The part of the structure behind the blades are marked as 56a. In some embodiments of the sea brake there is not a piece of structure as shown by 56a and the rotating blades may act alone.

The vessel or craft or ship travelling through the water is marked as 71. In this embodiment the sea brake is at the bow of the vessel.

The blades on the side marked as 72 are braked or have their movement slowed so that the water makes contact with the part of the structure or plate which may either act as a full or partial barrier to the passage of water and pressure is exerted on that side. On the other side marked as 73 the blades rotate absorbing the water so no or less water makes contact with the part of the structure marked as 56a so less pressure is exerted on 56a and this causes the vessel to steer towards the left, the side marked as 72.

The invention can also be used as a way of protecting coastlines or any structure such as flood defences from damage by energy in the water. For example at the foot of cliffs one or more rotating blades can absorb the energy.

This can be turned into electricity. In some embodiments the structure can have all or part of it beneath the sea so that it doesn't affect the appearance of the area.

The invention can also be applied to umbrellas that will perform more effectively in wind. This is where rotation of the umbrella would absorb some or all of the wind.

The invention can be used to prevent any structure of any type from wind such as bridges and buildings. The act of rotation can absorb a higher degree of energy in a device made to a lower specification and strength of materials than if the same materials and specification were used to protect against wind but the device that was constructed for this purpose was in a fixed position or did not rotate. This would lead to greater stresses on the structure designed to protect against wind.

Currently people are considering how to generate electricity from renewable sources such as the wind but following on from the air brake the following further embodiments of the invention where energy such as wind is both absorbed by blades resulting in a change of position of a structure or the energy used can be re-directed and then used to provide energy to provide movement also looks at the way that wind turbines are mounted or supported and considers a moveable way of positioning the wind turbine to both maximise output and minimise environmental problem.

A embodiment of the invention would be for an entire structure to tumble and turn and thereby absorb wind energy that might change the position of a wind turbine that can be positioned in the sky by being supported by lighter than air gases, but then in the same movement to simultaneously turn a generator to generate electhcity.

One problem facing wind turbines mounted or supported by balloons or structures filled with lighter than air gasses such as helium is that the wind that drives the turbine blade of the turbine also applies pressure against the structure on which the wind turbine is mounted or supported.

Even if the Balloon or structures filled with lighter than air gasses such as helium is tethered the wind will try to push the balloon out of position and apply enormous pressure to the cable tethering the structure to the ground.

The problem remains for any balloon or structures filled with lighter than air gasses such as helium on which a wind turbine is mounted or supported is how to overcome the wind pressure against the structure while using it to drive the turbine blade of a wind turbine, so that the balloon or structure filled with lighter than air gas stays in position. The wind may blow the structure out of position unless this problem is overcome or negate or reduce the effectiveness of the wind turbine. If the wind blows the structure along it will not also drive the turbine blade of the wind turbine very quickly. It will also lead to other problems such as how to pass the generated electricity to the ground. Cables carrying the generated electricity would snap. If the balloon was tethered the cable might snap under the pressure.

Also the angle of balloons or structures filled with lighter than air gasses such as helium would change as the wind exerted pressure on the structure and this would make it more difficult to maintain the optimum position of the wind turbine the structure might be supporting relative to the wind. If the wind turbine itself was at an angle relative to the wind it would make it less effective in generating electricity.

The apparatus may be able to hover at different altitudes taking advantage of higher wind speeds found at higher altitudes than usually found at ground level or on the sea, and can avoid the environmental problems of wind turbines on the ground through noise or affecting the visual appearance of a landscape, and to do so with a mechanism or means that reduces the wind pressure on the structure itself which would tend to push it out of position. The key feature of the embodiment of the invention is that it is designed so that the wind energy is absorbed by the structure by a number of embodiments of the invention so that the wind does not try to push the structure out of position.

This can be achieved in a number of different ways or embodiments of the invention but the same invention is at work, to absorb the wind pressure to maintain the position of the balloon or structure filled with lighter than air gas and so it is not pushed by the wind out of position..

In the first embodiment of the invention the wind can be absorbed by the turbine blade of the wind turbine that generates the electricity which can be large enough to cover the area of the balloon facing the wind. This is shown in figure 1 where the turbine blade I that revolves as the wind makes contact and generates electricity in the generator 3 as it revolves. The turbine blade also acts to shield the whole of the side of the balloon 18 from the wind and so prevents the wind exerting pressure on the balloon 4 and pushing it out of position or exerting pressure on a cable which may tether it to a fixed position on the ground. The turbine blades of the wind turbine can be of sufficient size to shield all or parts of the balloon or structure filled with lighter than air gas from the wind and the pressure it will exert against the structure which may push the balloon or structure out of the desired position.

In an arrangement not in accordance with the invention the wind energy can be absorbed by a free turning turbine blade that absorbs the wind as it revolves. This is shown in figure 6 with the wind absorbing turbine blade 1 connected by the shaft 2 to the structure 4.

The freely moving turbine blade or turbine blades can be of sufficient size to shields all or part of one or more sides of the structure from the wind In the third embodiment of the invention the wind can also be absorbed by the balloon or structure filled with a lighter than air gas itself turning as the wind makes contact. This is shown in figure 13, Figure 14a and Figure 14b. Figure 14b shows fins 22 that catch the wind. As this happens the whole structure turns in the direction marked by the arrow 21. Figure 14b shows the inside of the balloon or structure filled with lighter than air gas. As the balloon revolves it generates electricity in the generator 3. The shaft 2a which is a shaft not fixed to turbine blades turns as the structure 4 turns and as it does so this generates electricity in the generator 3.

Another variation of this third embodiment of the invention where the balloon absorbs the wind by revolving as the wind blows is shown in figure 13 where the generator hangs below the revolving balloon or structure filled with lighter than air gas. As the balloon 4 revolves it turns the shaft inside the generator 19 and this generates electricity in the generator 3. / The embodiment or variation of the invention is also shown in figure 26, figure 27 and figure 28. The balloon 4 can turn in different directions, it can roll from bottom to top from 47a to 47b and the whole of the structure 29 connected to the balloon can move in the direction marked by 46. The balloon can also move in other directions. The invention as shown in figure 26 is described in more detail later.

An embodiment of the invention allows balloon or structure supporting the wind turbines to be mobile or tethered to a fixed point.

The embodiment of the invention to absorb the wind energy can also be used to propel an airship or a balloon filled with helium or lighter than air gases. This might not necessarily be to generate electricity but would be a use of this embodiment of th e invention to utilise wind energy to provide propulsion for an airship in a way that not only is the wind blowing against the structure of the airship not a problem or a hindrance but it is actually used to provide the energy to move the airship in different directions without having to rely on more conventional power sources to do this. In this embodiment of the invention it is used to brake the turbine blades on one side of a balloon to reduce its resistance to wind and to transfer energy from turbine blades through gears, belts and pulleys this transferred energy can be used to provide forward and sideways propulsion for airship propellers. Hence the power to drive a balloon forwards or in other directions can come from the wind rather than from other energy sources.

Currently there is a search for means of generating electricity from renewable sources such as the wind. This invention is not the actual generator of electricity such as wind turbines but a way of positioning them and keeping them in position, that overcomes environmental problems such as noise made by the machines and their visual impact and the space they take up as well as maximising the amount of electricity generated by allowing the wind turbines to be placed and moved to an area with the highest wind speeds or close to areas needing an electricity supply. The fastest airspeeds are found higher in the sky than at ground level. Different locations in the sky to which the wind turbine can be moved because the invention makes it mobile can offer higher wind speeds than other areas.

A number of embodiments of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying 24 pages of drawings.

In all the drawings the same number will refer to the same feature.

The features may be of different shapes or dimensions. The description will refer to different variations of the invention. For example 4 refers to the balloon or structure filled with a lighter than air gas. In some parts of the description the balloon or structure filled with a lighter than air gas it may be referred simply as a balloon.

An embodiment of the invention is about the mounting of a wind turbine. By wind turbine I mean a piece of equipment which includes a generator where the generator marked as 3 in the drawings is turned and produces electricity. The shaft 19 in the drawings within the generator rotates as the turbine blades 1 of the wind turbine rotate as the wind makes contact. The wind turns one or more propellers which turn a shaft 2 which generates electricity in a generator. The shaft 2 is fixed rigidly to the turbine blades I at the point that the shaft has contact with the turbine blades.

The generator is described as 3.

The balloon or structure filled with lighter than air gases is described as 4.

The cable or cables holding the balloon to the ground are described as 5.

The cable passing the electricity generated to the ground or national grid are described as 5a.

The winch can extend or shorten 5 is described as 6.

The fins to stabilise the balloon are described as 7.

The wings to stabilise the balloon are described as 8.

In figure 7, which shows an arrangement not in accordance with the invention, the part of the structure connecting the balloon 4 to the generator 3 is described as 9.

In the arrangement not in accordance with the invention shown in figure 4 the flexible joint that joins the balloon and the wind turbine is described as 10 in figure 7.

The direction of the turbine blade 1 as shown by an arrow in figure 12 is marked as 11.

In the drawings a circle whose line is broken or dotted is not part of the structure but represents the circular'path of the turbine blades 1 or 23 as they rotate.

There are two different types of blades known as I and 23. Turbine blades I are driven by the wind and propeller 23 moves the balloon forwards. Propeller 23 are one or more propellers that make the balloon move forwards and are powered by wind energy that is obtained by turbine blades 1.

The embodiment of the invention uses gears, pulleys and belts. The types of belt that may be used may include vee belts to transfer power.

The gears are of the worm gear or bevel gear type and can change the direction of the wind energy and the speed of the wind energy as it is transferred to a different part of the balloon or structure.

The gear that is powered by the energy source which is wind is known as the driver gear and in the drawings is described as 12a.

The gear that is connected to the driver gear 12a and which uses the energy passed by the driver gear 1 2a to power either the generator 3 as shown in figure 12 or the propellers 23 to provide forward movement for the balloon or airship as shown in figure 16 and figure 17, is known as the driven gear and is described as 12b.

The belt which can run for different lengths within the structure is described as 13.

The freely moving pulley fixed rigidly to the driver gear I 2a and over which the belt 13 passes is described as 14. Pulley 14 rotates as the belt bringing wind energy from the propellers 1 passes over it. Pulley 14 is fixed rigidly at one end at 40 to the driver gear 12a. As 14 rotates it makes driver gear 12a rotate. This is shown in figure 22.

The pulley marked I 4b is wrapped around the shaft 2 which moves freely within the structure 17 which supports it but does not hold it rigidly. Neither end of the pulley 14b is fixed.

All the pulleys marked 14, 14b,14c and 14d rotate on as a belt travels over them. They either receive or pass on energy that has originally come from the wind by way of turbine blades 1. The belt is freely moving over the pulleys.

Pulley 14c is shown in figures 25 and figure 26. Pulley 14c is to hold a moving fan belt that transfers the wind energy to different parts of the structure often at different angles. Pulley 14c is supported but not fixed rigidly to the structure 17.

In figure 12 the pulley 14d is of the same design as pulley 14 except that the end which is fixed rigidly is fixed rigidly instead to 19 which is the shaft within the generator. The fixed end of figure 14 is fixed rigidly to the driver gear 12a. The reason for the fixed end is to transfer the energy from the belt to either the shaft inside the generator 19 or the driver gear 12a.

The shaft of the turbine blade I is described as 2.

In figure 12 the shaft 2 fixed rigidly at one end to the turbine blade 1 is fixed rigidly to the driven gear 12a at point 16.

The part of the structure holding pulleys 14, 14b and 14c is described as 17.

The side of the balloon is described as 18.

The part of the shaft within the generator itself whose rotation with regard to the generator actually produces the electricity is described as 19.

The direction of the wind is shown by an arrow is described as 20.

The direction of the revolving balloon as shown in the variation of the invention shown in figure 13, figure 14a and figure 14b is described by an arrow marked as 21.

The curved shaped fin that is turned by the wind in figure 13, figure 14a and figure 14b is described as 22.

The propellers to drive the balloon or airship forwards as shown in figure 16 and figure 17 and is given the energy to do so by the driven gear 12b are described as 23.

The sails to provide additional energy to move the balloon forwards as shown in figure 16 are described as 24.

The rigging to hold and control the sails 24 as shown in figure 16 are described as 25.

The cable which can be used to raise or lower the compartment 28 is described as 27.

The compartment holding the crew, passengers, cargo and equipment to control the balloon is described as 28.

In figure 16 The framework of the balloon holding the different parts of the craft including the sails 24 and turbine blades I and connected to parts of the structure including the part of the structure 17 holding pulleys 14, 14b and 14c is described as 29.

The ground is described as 30.

In figure 9 the direction the balloon moves away from the side of the baHoon marked 31 is shown by an arrow described as 32. The balloon will move in the direction indicated by 32 when the rotation of the turbine blades 1 on the side marked 31 are slowed so that they absorb less of the wind energy and therefore the wind exerts pressure on that side of the balloon.

In the figure 17 the part of the frame 29 of the balloon that fits in the driven gear 12b to support it and also so that it can rotate and which allows 12b to freely rotate is described as 33.

In figure 17 the whole of the turbine blade 1 is not shown and this is indicated by 35. Similarly in figure 18 not all of the fan belt is shown and where it continues is indicated by 36. To simplify matters the drawings with the invention show parts of the invention and to indicate that the part of the invention continues beyond a particular drawing is indicated by 37. Looking at all the drawings should help describe the invention.

The turbine blade or turbine blades will be described as 1.

The shaft of the wind turbine connected at one end to the propellers will be referred to as 2 The wind turbine works by turbine blades driven by wind turning a shaft in a generator to generate electricity. In the invention the turbine blade is 1, the shaft 2 of the wind turbine which is fixed rigidly to the turbine blades. The generator that produces the electricity is marked as 3. The part of the shaft inside the generator is marked as 19.

The wind turbine is mounted on a balloon to benefit from higher wind speeds and to lessen problems such as noise and other ways wind turbines affect the environment.

In each drawing the same number will refer to the same part of the invention. For example in each drawing 4 refers to a balloon or structure filled with a lighter than air gas. The dimensions and shape of 4 will vary in different drawings.

Figure 1 shows a cross section of a wind turbine with parts 1, 2 and 3 mounted on a balloon 4 showing the generator 3 inside the-balloon.

Figure 2 shows the front of a wind turbine and its turbine blades I mounted on a balloon 4.

Figure 3 shows a cross section of a wind turbine mounted on a balloon 4 with propellers 1 at the front and back of the balloon 4. It also shows how it is tethered along cables 5 to the ground at points 6. The electricity generated would be passed to the national grid along power cables 5a.

Figure 4 shows the front of an arrangement, which is not in accordance with the present invention, where the wind turbine and the blades 1 and generator 3 is carried underneath the balloon 4 Figure 5 shows the wind turbine and stabilizing wings and fins of the arrangement shown in figure 4 Figure 6 shows the side of the arrangement shown in figure 4 where the wind turbine is carried underneath the balloon.

Figure 7 shows the flexible joint 10, of the arrangement shown in figure 4, holding the wind turbine carried underneath the balloon.

Figure 8 shows the front of the invention and the turbine blades 1 of the wind turbine Figure 8b shows the balloon 4 behind the turbine blades I of figure 8 Figure 9 shows turbine blades I on all sides of a balloon 4 and shows the shaft of the wind turbine 2.

Figure 10 and figure 11 show a side view of the balloon 4 with turbine blades I mounted above and below the balloon 4.

Figure 12 shows the system using gears, pulleys and fan belts in a variation of the design where there are a number of turbine blades I on different positions on the balloon 4. In this variation of the invention the energy produced by the turbine blades driven by the wind can be transferred in different directions to drive one generator 3 to reduce the weight of the structure.

Figure 13 shows a variation of the invention without turbine blades where the balloon 4 itself is turned by the wind when the wind makes contact with fins 22 and this rotation makes the shaft 19 within the generator 3 rotate and this generates electricity. In this variation of the invention the generator 3 which hangs below the balloon 4.

Figure 14 shows a view from overhead of the variation of the invention in figure 13 where the balloon is turned by the wind as it makes contact with the curved fins 22 that are driven by the wind 20 to make the balloon rotate in the direction marked by the arrow 21.

In figure 14b the generator 3 and the shaft 19 that rotates Inside the generator are located inside the balloon 4.

Figure 15 shows the front of a variation of the invention also shown in figure 16 where the use of turbine blades 1 to absorb wind energy and gears, pulleys and fan belts as shown in figure 12 to move this energy from the wind around a structure can be used to drive propellers 23 to drive a balloon forwards.

Figure 16 shows a side view of a balloon where wind energy is absorbed on the sides by turbine blades 1 and transferred to propellers 23 to drive the balloon forwards. Forward movement is assisted by sails 24 held in position by the framework 29 of the structure below the balloon with a sail in the front controlled by rigging 25. The compartment 28 containing the crew, controls to the balloon, the passengers and cargo can be lowered to the ground by a cable 27 so that the balloon does not have to descend.

Figure 17 shows in more detail the part of figure 16 and the propellers 23 connected to the driven gear 1 2b which is driven by the driver gear 12a which receives its energy from a fan belt 13 that runs over pulleys 14 and 14b and which is driven by the energy that the turbine blades 1 obtain as the wind 20 in figure 16 makes contact.

The pulley 14c allows the energy to be transferred from other turbine blades along the side of the balloon. The pulley 14c also alters the direction of the energy travelling from the turbine blades 1 to drive the driver gear 12a.

Figure 18 shows in more detail the fan belt 13 and the pulley 14c. It also has one example of the fan belt from one of the turbine blades which travels over pulley 14b which is supported by part of the structure 17 but which allows the pulley 14b to move freely. That only part of the fan belt 13 is shown and which continues is shown by 36.

Figure 19 shows the fan belt 13, the pulley 14 which is fixed rigidly to the driver gear 12a and the driver gear 12a as it rests on the driven gear 12b which rotates and makes the propellers 23 rotate. The propellers 23 are fixed rigidly to the driven gear 1 2b.

Figure 20 shows the part of the structure above the part shown in figure 19. The turbine blades I are shown. These turn as the wind makes contact. The turbine blade 1 and shaft which is not shown are supported but able to move freely by part of the structure described as 17. The pulley 14b is fixed rigidly to the turbine blades I and rotates as the turbine blades 1 rotate. This drives a fan belt 13 which turns another pulley 14 which is fixed rigidly to the driver gear 12a which as it is turned by the fan belt 13 turns a driven gear 12b and transfers the energy at 90 degrees. As the driven gear 12b turns so do the propellers 23 which are fixed rigidly to the driven gear 12b.

Figure 21 shows in detail the pulley 14b which is connected rigidly to the shaft 2 which is supported by but moves freely within the part of the structure described as 17. The area of the structure 17 not connected to the shaft 2 and where the shaft 2 can move freely as it is turned by the turbine blades as the wind makes contact with them, is described as 17a. The fan belt 13 moves freely over the pulley 14b. As the pulley 14b rotates this moves the fan belt 13 and the energy is taken by the fan belt to another part of the structure. The transferred energy can then drive a generator 3 as in figure 12 or drive propellers 23 to make a balloon move forwards as in figure 16 and figure 17. The belt continues beyond the drawing as shown by 37.

Figure 22 shows the pulley 14 fixed rigidly as 40 to the driver gear 12a. The belt 13 moves as it is supplied by energy from the turbine blades 1 and this makes the pulley 14 rotate. As the pulley 14 rotates it turns the driver gear 12a. The driver gear 12a has teeth which are not shown which interconnect with teeth on the driven gear 12b. As the driver gear 12a rotates it turns the Driven gear 12b. The energy changes direction by 90 degrees.

Figure 23 shows a side view of the framework 29 of the airship shown in more detail in figure 16. The framework 29 connects parts of the structure 17 which support pulleys 14, pulley 14b and pulley 14c and connect them with the balloon 4.

Figure 24 shows a variation of the invention as applied to an airship where the wind energy is transferred more directly from driver gears 12a to driven gears 12b.

Figure 25 and figure 26 show pulley 14c.

Figure 26a, figure 27 and figure 28 show a variation of the invention where the balloon itself rotates and turns sideways to absorb wind energy.

The embodiment of the invention is a wind turbine which is mounted on a balloon or structure filled with a lighter than air gas which enables the wind turbine to be driven by higher wind speeds found at higher altitudes.

The embodiment of the invention consists of one or more wind turbines placed along one or more of the sides of a balloon as in figures 1,2,3,8, 8b, 9, 10,lland 16.

An embodiment of a variation of the invention in its simplest form is shown in figure 1. The generator 3 is situated in this variation in the centre of the balloon. The winds which are stronger in the sky blow against the turbine blade which are marked as 1. The propellers rotate and simultaneously turn a shaft 2 which is fixed rigidly to the turbine blades 1. The turbine blades 1 can be large enough to shield all or part of the balloon or structure behind it from the wind. The part of the shaft situated within the generator is marked as 19. This is a continuation of the shaft 2. The shaft 19 rotates and as it does so electricity is produced. In this variation part of the shaft marked as 2a extends from the end of the generator to the side of the baltoon. This is to help provide balance for the weight of the propellers. The generator would also be placed to balance the weight of the propellers. The balloon itself is marked as 4. This mounting of the balloon would be tethered to the ground using cables.

Figure 2 shows the balloon carrying the wind turbine as it is seen from the front. It is tethered to the ground using cables marked as 5 and the electricity is carried to the ground using cables marked as 5a. The ground as in other drawings is marked as 30.

In figure 3 there is a variation of the invention with propellers at both sides. This drawing also shows the winches 6 which can extend or shorten the cables 5 to change the altitude of the balloon.

An arrangement not in accordance with the invention is shown in figure 4, figure 4b, figure 5 and figure 6 where the wind turbine is carried below a balloon or structure filled with lighter than air gasses.

The balloon carries the wind turbine rather than having it located internally. Essentially it is the same as mounting a wind turbine on a balloon. The generator 3 is stabilised by fins 7 and wings 8. This is seen in more detail in figure 5. The wind turns the turbine blade 1.

This is connected to a shaft that generates electricity. One advantage of this might be that the turbine could be lowered to the ground for maintenance while the balloon remains airborne in the same way that is later described for the airship application of this invention that is shown in figure 16 the airship compartment 28 can be lowered to the ground using cables 27.

The side view of the arrangement shown in figure 4 and figure 5 is shown in figure 4b and in more detail in figure 6. Figure 6 shows two turbine blades 1 at the front and back of the balloon 4. These turbine blades might be to absorb the wind energy so that it doesn't apply pressure against the structure. In this case the propellers 1 would be free turning and would turn as fast as the wind blowing against them. Because they turned the wind energy would be absorbed and would not push the balloon out of position.

Figure 7 shows a feature of the wind turbine of the arrangement shown in figure 4. The feature marked 9 represents the part of the structure connecting the balloon to the wind turbine. The feature marked 10 in this drawing represents a flexible joint that holds the wind turbine and can absorb the effect of the buffeting of the wind on the wind turbine and the movement and vibrations it may cause. If the connection was rigid it might lead to metal fatigue.

Another variation or embodiment of the invention is shown in figure 13 and figure 13 where the balloon or structure filled with lighter than air gasses revolves as wind strikes curved shaped fins 22 and drives a generator 3 and 19 which does not revolve.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in figures 1, 2,3,8, 8b, 9, 10,11 and 16 the turbine blade or turbine blades of the wind turbine should reach to the top of the side. The propellers absorb the wind energy and this stops the wind pushing the balloon out of the desired position. Wherever there are turbine blades for example on the other sides it absorbs wind energy and stops any wind pressure against that particular side.

If it is desired to move the balloon in any direction the turbine blades on one side for example on one of the sides 31 in figure 9 can have a brake applied so that their rotation slows down. This has the effect of reducing the amount of wind energy that is absorbed by the turbine blade of the wind turbine on that side. Therefore the wind on this side will not be fully absorbed by the propeller and will therefore apply pressure to that side and the balloon will be pushed in the direction of the arrow 32.

On the same page 5/18 that shows figure 9 there are also figure 8 and figure 8b. Figure 8 shows the turbine blades I and their path of rotation that would take place for figure 9. This variation has three balloons 4 connected to each other. This provides the platform for the wind turbines. The invention can consist of different sizes and shapes of balloon to carry the wind turbine.

The dotted line marked as 49 shows the edge of the rotation of the turbine blade I of the balloon on the outside which is seen as a view from the front that corresponds with the edge of the balloons 4 on the outside that would carry it which is also seen as a view from the front as it would appear without the turbine blades attached and the edge 18 of the invention shown in figure 9 which shows a view of the structure from above.

Figure 10 and figure 11 show the embodiment of the invention with turbine blades 1 at the top and bottom of the balloon 4 which are free moving not to generate electricity but to rotate to absorb the wind energy so that the wind doesn't push the balloon downwards or upwards. For example if wind blew from above the balloon it would be absorbed by the rotation of the turbine blade 1.

The wind turbine would be designed to be as light as possible. The actual generator to produce the electricity would be positioned to balance the structure. The balloon might be designed to be as light as possible. Other designs might envisage one wind turbine rather than many with the balloon designed to trap as much wind energy as possible and direct it to one turbine only.

Another way to reduce the weight of the turbine in proportion to the weight of the balloon, would be to have a system with many turbine blades catching the available wind power and directing it through a series of moving belts to drive one generator rather than many as shown in figure 12.

The invention uses the technology of gears known as worm gears and bevel gears to transfer energy around the structure in different directions as much as 90 degrees. The invention uses worm gears to transfer wind energy that is obtained from turbine blades 1 to propellers 23 as shown in figure 16 and figure 17 and this changes the direction the balloon or structure moves and can change the speed with which it can move.

The gear which is connected to the power source, which are the turbine blades 1 and are connected either directly or indirectly to the turbine blades 1 which are turned by wind energy is known as the driver gear. The gear or wheel which uses this energy to either drive an electricity generator 3 as in figure 12 or propellers 23 to make a balloon move forwards as shown in figure 16 is known as the driven gear.

In all the drawings to illustrate my invention the driver gear is marked as 12a and the driven gear is marked as 12b. The same invention is shown in this description to drive a generator 3 to produce electricity or propellers 23 to make a balloon or airship move forwards. The same invention is at work. The power source is the wind which drives turbine blades I This energy can then be transferred around a structure using pulleys marked 14, 14b and 14c.. The drawing that shows the invention driving a generator in figure 12 has a pulley 12d that is connected to the shaft of the generator itself.

In all the drawings the pulley 14 is fixed rigidly to the driver gear 12a and the pulley marked 14b is made to rotate by shaft 2 which moves freely within the structure 17 which supports it but does not hold it rigidly, it moves freely at the points and in the area marked 17a. This is shown in figure 21. The area marked as 17a may contain features such as ball bearings to allow fast free movement of the shaft 2 within 17.

All the pulleys which are marked in the drawings as 14, 14b,14c and 14d make a belt pass over it as they rotate. The belt 13 is freely moving over the pulleys. The pulleys vary as shown in figure 21, figure 22 and figure 25.

The pulley marked 14c is to hold a moving fan belt that transfers the wind energy to different parts of the structure often at different angles. 14c is supported but not fixed rigidly to the structure 17.

Figure 12 shows two turbine blades 1. There may be more turbine blades in a variation of the invention. As the wind makes contact with the turbine blade I it rotates in the direction indicatedby the arrow marked 11. The turbine blade I is fixed rigidly to a shaft marked as 2.

As the turbine blade 1 is turned by the wind it turns the shaft 2.

The shaft 2 14 is fixed rigidly to 15. The shaft 2 is fixed rigidly at the point marked 16 to a driver gear marked I 2a. This driver gear I 2a has teeth that make contact with the teeth of the driven gear I 2b to transfer the energy to another direction. As the driver gear 12a is turned by the shaft 2 connected to the propeller 1 it connects with through its own teeth with the teeth of the driven gear 12b and therefore the driven gear 12b also rotates. The driven gear 12b holds pulley 14 over which runs a fan belt 13. The design of pulley 14 is shown in more detail in figure 22 which shows it connected rigidly to a driver gear 12a as applicable to make an airship move forwards as shown as a whole in figure 16. Essentially pulley 14 needs to be fixed rigidly at one end to the gear that is being made to rotate.

In figure 12 pulley 14 is fixed rigidly to a driven gear marked as 12b.

The working of pulley 14 in figure 12 is as shown in figure 22 except in place of being fixed rigidly to a driver gear 1 2a as shown in figure 12 it is fixed rigidly to a driven gear 12b.

In figure 12 as the driven gear 12b turns so does the belt 13 which can be of different lengths within the structure. The energy is transferred within the structure by a moving belt.

At the other end of the belt the moving belt moves over a pulley 14c which is shown in more detail in figure 25 and figure 26.

Looking at figure 25 the pulley is fixed rigidly to the frame of the whole structure marked as 29. The pulley itself rotates freely on a shaft marked as 2c. One belt moves towards a point marked as 42.

This causes the pulley Ic to rotate. As it pulley 14c rotates it makes another belt also move. In the drawing in figure 25 cause the second belt is seen to be moving away from a point marked as 41 at right angles to the first belt. Thus the energy is transferred to a different direction. The energy can be made to change direction at different degrees. in figure 25 the direction of the moving belts is shown by arrows marked as 40. Figure 26 shows a cross section of the pulley 14c with the pulley itself wrapped around in a continuous circle a shaft marked as,2c with an area to allow free movement between two moyingparts-ni'arked as 17a.

Returning to figure 12 the wind energy has therefore completed its journey within the structure. The second fan belt turns on a pulley marked as 14d. The pulley 14d is the same as 14 which is shown in figure 22 except that whereas in the drawing 14 is fixed rigidly to a driver gear 12a in this case pulley Md is fixed rigidly at one end to the part of the shaft 19 that is inside the generator 3. Earlier 14 was demonstrated using the same figure 12 but where it was fixed rigidly to a driven gear 12b as shown in figure 12 rather than a driver gear 12a as shown in figure 22.

Finally as shown in figure 12 as the moving belt 13 makes the pulley 14c rotate and the end of pulley 14c is fixed rigidly to the shaft of the generator 19 which is inside the generator 3 the shaft 19 turns and electricity is generated. The actual shaft 19 is not shown in figure 12 but is can be seen in other drawings such as figure 1 and figure 14b.

In this way the energy from the wind can be transferred from the turbine blades on the side or sides of the balloon and this energy can then be transferred in different directions even at right angles to the revolving shaft 19 which turns and generates electricity within a single generator 3. Thus the weight of the entire structure is reduced.

The edge of the balloon is shown by 18.

So that with the invention the structure can have one generator rather than several. Normally conventional designs of wind turbines on the ground the generator is set behind the turbine blade so that as the shaft that is turned by the turbine blade the shaft directly turns the generator. The invention uses gears, fan belts and pulleys to overcome the problem that having turbine blades on different sides of the structure would normally require a similar number of generators in fixed positions in relation to the turbine blades adding to the weight of the structure.

The generator might be situated in any part of the structure. The turbine blades would be rotated by the wind. The rotating turbine blades 1 would drive fan belts 13 as in figure 12. The moving fan belts 13 could move the energy to other fan belts 12 running at right angles to the fan belts attached to the turbine blades to turn the generator to produce electricity.

In another embodiment of the invention the balloon itself can be designed to be propelled by wind as in figure 13 and figure 14a and in this variation of the invention the balloon itself can drive the generator 3 which can be situated below the balloon as in figure 13 or within the balioon as ii figure 14b.

In this embodiment of the invention where the balloon itself driven by the wind turns the generator rather than the generator been turned by turbine blades mounted on a balloon. In this variation of the invention shown in figure 13 the balloon would have fins 22 that would extend from the bottom to the top and the balloon. The wind would make the whole balloon turn in a circular direction and this would turn the shaft 19 within the generator 3 to produce electricity.

The height of the balloon can be adjusted and the relative air pressures caused by factors such as air temperature compensated for by using some of the electricity generated to heat elements within the balloon to make the helium or inert gas expand within the balloon to make the balloon gain altitude. To allow the balloon to descend the electricity to these elements would be turned off to allow them to cool and for the gasses within the balloon to contract and therefore for the balloon to lose attitude. The heating elements could be used to make the gas in the balloon lighter by warming it to adjust for atmospheric conditions when the pressure of the air might vary.

The electricity would be transferred to the national grid by cables than would be lowered once the balloon was in position and would hang down from the balloon and would transmit the electricity to the nearest part of the grid.

This is shown in figure 2 and figure 3. The cables holding the balloon in position in this variation of the invention are marked as 5. The winch 6 to extend or shorten the cables 5 are marked as 6 and the cable passing the electricity generated to the national grid is marked as 5a. Alternatively the electricity would be beamed to the national grid by microwaves as this technology developed.

Further to the previously mentioned invention to reduce the part of the structure generating the electricity by using one generator rather than several and achieving this by having a system with many turbine blades catching the available wind power on different sides of the balloon and directing it through a series of moving belts to one generator this idea could help drive an airship with wind power as shown in figure 16. This use of the invention could drive an airship by transferring the energy of one side of a balloon, where the turbine blades 1 would turn as the wind made contact and would simultaneously absorb the wind's energy, thus preventing the wind pushing the balloon to either side and then would transfer the energy of the wind through a series of belts and pulleys and gears to the front propellers 23 that would drive the balloon forward. In this application of the idea additional forward propulsion could be obtained from sails which are marked as 24 and would work in the same way as sails worked in traditional sailing ships.

The use of the invention to use wind to drive an airship would work using wind energy directed to forward propellers using pulleys and belts to move the energy around the structure in the same way as described earlier for the generator shown in figure 12.

The airship is shown in figure 15 and figure 16. In figure 16 wind blowing against the side of the airship is absorbed by turbine blades 1. The turbine blades 1 turn as the wind makes contact with them.

This energy is then transferred along fan belts 13 to direct the energy to drive propellers 23 to provide forwards propulsion.

Figure 21 shows this in more detail. The turbine blades 1 are fixed rigidly to the shaft 2. The other end of the shaft 2 is supported but able to turn freely within the part of the structure 17. As the shaft turns it makes a belt 13 move.

In figure 21 the turbine blades 1 are fixed rigidly to a shaft 2. As the wind makes the turbine blades 1 rotate the shaft 2 rotates. At the other end to the turbine blades the shaft 2 is supported by part of the main structure of the craft but is able to move freely. The area which allows free movement between two moving parts is marked as 17a.

As the shaft rotate it makes a pulley 14b rotate. Pulley 14b is wrapped around in a continuous circle around the shaft 2 in the same way as another pulley 14c is wrapped around a shaft and which is shown in figure 26.

As pulley 14b rotates it makes the belt 13 move over it and therefore the energy from the wind blowing against the turbine blades I on the side of the craft is therefore transferred to another part of the structure in this case the ultimate destination of this energy is to drive propellers 23 to make the balloon move forwards. This is rather than to drive a generator to generate electricity as earlier described.

Looking again at Figure 25 it shows the moving belt 13 travelling from point 41 which is the area of the turbine blades 1 and as it passes over pulley 14c it makes pulley 14c rotate. As the pulley 14c rotates it makes a second belt move towards point 42 which is the area of the propellers 23 which are made to rotate as the energy is transferred first to the driver gear 1 2a as shown in figure 17 which then passes the energy at 90 degrees to the driven gear 12b also shown in figure 16.

This process is shown in more detail in figure 19 and figure 20.

Figure 19 shows the belt 13 which is transferring wind energy from the turbine blades not shown in this drawing to drive a pulley 14 which is fixed rigidly to a driver gear I 2a, a process which is shown in more detail in figure 12. As the belt makes pulley 14 turn it makes the driver gear 12a turn. The teeth of driver gear 12a interconnect with the teeth of driven gear 12b which also turns. As the driven gear 12b turns it makes the propellers 23 which are fixed rigidly to the driven gear 12b rotate and the balloon moves forwards.

Figure 20 shows the position of the turbine blades 1 relative to the driver gear 12a, driven gear 12b and the propellers 23 to make the balloon move forwards.

The invention as it applies to making a balloon move forwards using wind power is shown in figure 17 and figure 18. These drawings show the process and include a feature 33 where the driven gear 12b is connected and supported to the craft but where the driven gear can rotate freely. The area marked 36 in figure 18 indicates only part of the fan belt is shown and 37 indicates that the feature shown continues beyond the drawing. In most of the drawings the features will continue beyond what is shown but the drawings taken as a whole should help describe the invention.

In figure 17 the driver gear 12a rotates forwards. The teeth of driver gear 12a connect with and make driven gear 12b rotate sideways. As driven gear 1 2b rotate sideways and it can rotate freely on part of the structure 33 shown in figure 23 which is a shaft connected to the frame of the whole structure 29. As the driven gear I 2b rotate' sideways they make the propellers 23 which are fixed rigidly to them also rotate and as they do this makes the balloon move forwards.

The direction of the moving belts 13 are shown by an arrow 40.

Returning to figure 25 the direction of the rotation of the pulley 14c is shown by a circular arrow 39.

The pulley 14c turns freely on a shaft 2c which is fixed rigidly to the frame of the structure 29. Figure 26 shows a cross section of the pulley 14c which is able to turn freely because of an area 17a. The pulley 14c and the shaft 2c are not fixed to each other. Free movement might be assisted by ball bearings in the area 17c.

An embodiment of the invention as applied to driving an airship using wind power is shown in figure 24. In this variation instead of the energy being transferred by pulleys 14c as in figure 16 and figure 17 the invention shown in figure 24 could be modified so that the belt 13 driven by the turbine blades 1 connected to the pulley 14 carrying the belt would transfer the energy directly to driver gears I 2a, one for each set of turbine blades 1. The driver gear 12a would then turn and transfer the energy at 90 degrees directly to a driven gear I 2b. A series of driven gears I 2b would be connected by a shaft 2a and they would turn together to make the propellers 23 rotate and make the balloon go forwards.

To allow the airship to move in different directions the turbine blades on one side can have a brake applied so that their rotation slows and allows wind pressure on the side of the turbine blades revolving more slowly to apply pressure as described earlier for figure 9.

To simplify the description and demonstrate the same method of using gears, pulleys and belts are at work to redirect wind energy to drive an airship as described earlier to drive a generator shown in figure 12 to save weight and can be used to drive propellers 23 in figure 16 the same numbers including I 2a to show the driven gear that is connected to the source of the energy perhaps via a pulley 14c and the driven gear 12b that uses the energy to either turn a generator 3 in figure 12 or propellers 23 to make a balloon move forwards as is shown in figure 16.

In the case of figure 12 the invention is to drive a wind generator 3 and in figure 16 the invention is to drive propellers 23 to provide forwards movement. The application of the invention in figure 16 in provides the same flexibility to move energy around the airship as to generate electricity as in figure 12.

As shown in figure 21 where the power is provided by the turbine blades 1 which rotate when the wind makes contact the pulley 1 4b is fixed rigidly to the turbine blade 1 and the shaft 2. This is shown in detail in figure 21. As the wind makes contact with the turbine blades 1 they make the shaft 2 wüch is fixed rigidly to 1 also rotate. As the shaft 2 rotates it makes the pulley 14b spin. Pulley 14b has the shaft 2 passing through its centre. The revolving pulley 14b makes the belt 12 move across it and this takes the wind energy to another part of the structure. The shaft 2 is not fixed rigidly to the structure 17 but turns freely. The part of the drawing marked 1 7a shows where the structure is designed to allow the shaft 2 to turn freely within the structure 17 which supports but does not hold the shaft 2 rigidly Where the wind energy is transferred using pulleys within, the structure and uses pulleys to change direction the pulley that carries out this task is marked as 14c and this is shown in figure 16 and figure 17. PuUey 14c is supported but not fixed rigidly to the structure 17.

Figure 24 shows the areas of the structure marked 17 and the frame of the balloon or structure marked 29 without showing the fan belt or pulleys 14, 14b and 14c.

Where the wind energy is used to drive the propellers 23 the pulley driven by the fan belt with energy from the turbine blades I is fixed rigidly to the driven gear 12b. This is shown in figure 22.

An embodiment of the invention as used in powering an airship would be to allow the balloon itself to rotate in different directions to absorb the wind energy against its sides rather than the energy be absorbed by turbine blades 1 as in figure 17. This is shown in figure 26a.The invention of a rotating balloon would use the same inventive idea as seen in figure 13,figure 14a and figure 14b where a rotating balloon itself to directly generate electricity rather than supporting turbine blades that would drive the shaft 2 and hence the generator 3. In this case a variation of this inventive idea would use the rotating balloon to reduce wind resistance against the balloon where the wind would otherwise apply pressure against the structure and make the balloon move.

This is also the embodiment of the invention as used for an airship is shown in figure 26a, figure 27 and figure 28.

Figure 28 shows a balloon which can rotate sideways or from the bottom to the top or top to bottom and therefore absorb the wind energy that would otherwise distort its flight path. The balloon in turn supports two propellers 1 which are set at right angles. These propellers I can change speed to make the balloon move in different directions.

The propellers 1 work by worm gears with a driver gear 12a and a driven gear 12b. They can work in reverse to change direction. As shown in figure 28 to accommodate the movement of the balloon sideways movement the entire frame 29a of the structure can rotate.

The top of the frame 29a would be circular.

In figure 26a the arrow marked 46 suggests how the top part of the structure holding the balloon marked as 29a would turn from left to right if the wind came from the left of the structure.

If the wind came from another direction as indicated by the arrow marked as 48 the balloon would rotate from bottom to top, basically in a rolling motion as shown by the arrow 47 from the point marked as 47a to the point marked as 47b.

To allow the top of the frame 29a to rotate if the wind is coming from the side at each end of the lemon shaped balloon would be wheels marked as 44 that would travel along a circular track which are constructed as a complete circle as shown as 29a on figure 27.

The part of the frame 29a carrying the track for the wheels 44 is shown by 43.

The balloon is shown by 4, the propellers that rotate when the wind makes contact are shown by 1 and the driver gear by 12a and the driven gear by 12b.

The effect of the wind on the balloon is absorbed by the rotation of the balloon both sideways and as a roll.

The propeller I connected for example on the driver gear I 2a would use that wind energy to drive the driven gear 1 2b to move the structure forward in that direction. To move the other way the driven gear would use the wind to drive the driver gear 12b. The gears would work in reverse to change direction.

As shown in figure 28 to allow the top part of the frame 29a to rotate freely without negating the work of the propellers I to move the structure in the desired direction the bottom of the frame shown by 29b which was connected to the propellers I and the driver gear 12a and driven gear 1 2b could rotate using a joint to allow free movement shown by 45 in figure 28. The way it might rotate is shown by the arrows 45a.

This joint could be engaged so that it became rigidly fixed or released and the worm gears 12a and 12b could work in a synchronised way to assist the movement required for the whole structure.

The embodiment of the invention where wave energy is absorbed to prevent coastal erosion or the effect on structures in the sea one version is shown on page 24. In figure 39 a cliff is marked as 74, the rotating blades as 54b, the sea as 75 and the wave energy as 52b.

Again I have used similar numbers but with b added to show the similarity of the invention to other embodiments in the air and to help vessels turn. As 52b comes in the rotating blades 54b rotate and absorb the energy reducing the impact and erosive effect and power of the waves and sea energy on the cliff.

Figure 40 on page 24 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this case an umbrella marked as 77 that is more wind resistant. The wind energy is represented by 52 c, this causes a rotation of the umbrella in the direction of the arrow marked as 76 which absorbs all or some of the wind energy and this action makes the umbrella better able to resist the wind and not fold up.

Claims

Claims Changing a position of a structure 5 1) A lighter than air structure where the entire structure can in one action absorb wind as the wind makes contact by the turning, tumbling or rotating action of the structure and which action simultaneously drives a generator to produce electricity.

Amended claims have been filed as follows:-Amended claims for application GB0715300.O 1) A device positioned between a source of kinetic energy of natural origin and a fixed object or form where some or all of the energy is absorbed by the rotation of some or all of the device to reduce the force of the impact caused by the energy as it makes contact with the fixed object or form.

2) A device according to claim 1 where some of the absorbed energy be used to generate electricity by transferring the energy to drive a generator.

3) A device according to any of the claims that can help to protect coastline.

4) A device according to any of the claims that can protect flood defences.

5) A device according to any of the claims that can protect buildings.

6) A device according to any of the claims that can protect bridges.

7) A device according to of the preceding claims that can be fixed.

8) A device according to claims 1-6 that can be untethered.

9) A device according to any of the preceding claims where the rotation of part of the structure reduces the amount of wind or wave energy impacting on the structure but does not generate electricity.

10) A device according to any of the preceding claims where the rotation of part of the structure redirects the amount of wind energy making impact with the structure but does not generate electricity. * ***

11) A device according to any of the preceding claims where the rotation of part of the structure reduces the amount of wind or wave energy impacting on the structure. *

****.. . . * * 12) A Wind energy absorption apparatus where part or all of the structure is rotated by the wind the structure being untethered and wherein its rotation absorbs substantially all of the force of the wind * S.... Qo

13) A wind energy absorption apparatus where part or all of the structure is rotated by the wind the structure being tethered and wherein its rotation absorbs substantially all of the force of the wind 14) A wave energy absorption apparatus where part or all of the structure is rotated by the wave energy the structure being untethered and wherein its rotation absorbs substantially all of the force of the wind 15) A wave energy absorption apparatus where part or all of the structure is rotated by the wave energy the structure being tethered and wherein its rotation absorbs substantially all of the force of the wind.

16) A building wind energy absorption apparatus where part or all of the structure is rotated by the wind the structure being untethered and wherein its rotation absorbs substantially all of the force of the wind 17) A building wind energy absorption apparatus where part or all of the structure is rotated by the wind the structure being tethered and wherein its rotation absorbs substantially all of the force of the wind 18) A coastal wave energy absorption apparatus where part or all of the structure is rotated by the wave energy the structure being untethered and wherein its rotation absorbs substantially all of the force of the wind 19) A coastal wave energy absorption apparatus where part or all of the structure is rotated by the wave energy the structure being tethered and wherein its rotation absorbs substantially all of the force of the wind.

*Y 20) A bridge wind energy absorption apparatus where part or all of the structure is rotated by the wind the structure being tethered and wherein its rotation absorbs substantially all of the force of the wind.

21) A bridge wind energy absorption apparatus where part or all of the * structure is rotated by the wave energy the structure being uritethered and wherein its rotation absorbs substantially all of the force of the wind.

* 22) A bridge wave energy absorption apparatus where part or all of the structure is rotated by the wave energy the structure being untethered and wherein its rotation absorbs substantially all of the force of the waves 23) A bridge wave energy absorption apparatus where part or all of the structure is rotated by the wave energy the structure being tethered and wherein its rotation absorbs substantially all of the force of the waves.

24) A flood defence wave energy absorption apparatus where part or all of the structure is rotated by the wave energy the structure being tethered and wherein its rotation absorbs substantially all of the force of the waves.

25) A flood defence wave energy absorption apparatus where part or all of the structure is rotated by the wave energy the structure being tethered and wherein its rotation absorbs substantially all of the force of the waves.

26) A device according to claims 13-26 that can generate electricity.

27) A device according to claims 13-26 that does not generate electricity.

28) A device according to claims 13-26 which generates electricity for use only by the device itself where the device does not transport the electricity to power another device or pass the current to the national grid. * S. * . S * *. * S *S S

*5S5.. * . *

**SS.S * S *5S* * * *.I5

S

*****. * a