WO2010060911A1

WO2010060911A1 - Wind power generator

Info

Publication number: WO2010060911A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/065773
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arrigo Battiston; Giacomo Battiston; Sara Battiston; Valeria Collini; Rosario Lombardo; Franco Blanchini
Original assignee: Sailenergy S.R.L.
Priority date: 2008-11-25
Filing date: 2009-11-24
Publication date: 2010-06-03
Also published as: ITTV20080153A1

Abstract

A wind power generator, composed of at least one pair of supports (2a, 2b), which optionally can rotate and tilt, each for a shaft (16a, 16b) having a vertical axis to which at least two pulleys (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d) are keyed which are approximately mutually parallel and rotatable, at least one loop-shaped cable (18a, 18b) being interposed between each one of the pulleys (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d). A plurality of sails (21) are associated at right angles between the cables (18a, 18b) by way of means for rotary interconnection. Means for converting rotary motion into electric power are associated with at least one of the two pulleys (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d).

Description

WIND POWER GENERATOR

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a wind power generator. Background Art Currently, the problem of generating energy that does not require the use of sources such as coal or oil, in order to eliminate the pollution that the use of these sources generates in the surrounding environment, is strongly felt.

The possibility has thus been considered to generate energy by using the wind: for this purpose, wind power machines are known which are usually divided into vertical axis wind power generators and horizontal axis wind power generators. The former are scarcely used due to their low energy yield.

The latter usually comprise a rotor, which is moved by appropriately provided blades and is arranged at the top of a supporting tower placed in elevated and windy locations, such as for example the tops of hills or at sea close to the coast.

There are also generators whose blades are movable, in order to follow the inclination of the wind, so as to keep constant the quantity of electricity that is generated, or twin-rotor generators in order to double the generated electric power.

However, these generators require a specific minimum wind speed and use large blades.

Moreover, when the wind reaches high speeds, the wind power generator is usually halted for safety reasons.

Usually, in known types of wind power generator the rotation axis of the blades is horizontal, and this technical characteristic is the main limitation to the provision of very large plants, mainly because it would be necessary to use rotors with very large diameters and towers also having considerable heights. This requires the provision of foundations which are structurally complicated and expensive, leaving in any case the problem of compensating for sudden gusts of strong wind. Disclosure of the Invention The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited background art, by providing a wind power generator that has a high rated power without however requiring the use of large blades and tall towers.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a wind power generator that does not require particular infrastructures for its provision and in particular complex foundations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wind power generator that can also be provided in a smaller scale for not only industrial but also domestic use, requiring small spaces and also requiring wind that is not particularly strong.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wind power generator that has low manufacturing costs with respect to those of the background art and has good efficiency.

This aim and these objects, as well as others that will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a wind power generator, characterized in that it is constituted by at least one pair of supports, each for a shaft having a vertical axis to which at least two pulleys are keyed which are approximately mutually parallel and rotatable, at least one loop-shaped cable being interposed between each one of said at least two pulleys, a plurality of sails being associated at right angles between said cables by way of means for rotary interconnection, means for converting rotary motion into electric power being associated with at least one of said at least two pulleys.

In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments. Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

Brief description of the drawings Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a particular embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a first side perspective view of a generator according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the generator;

Figure 3 is a view of a detail of one end of the generator;

Figure 4 is a view of a detail of the other end of the generator;

Figure 5 is a view of a detail of the generator; Figure 6 is a top view of one end of the generator;

Figure 7 is a schematic side view of the generator. Ways of carrying out the Invention

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a wind power generator, which is constituted by at least one pair of supports, designated by the reference numerals 2a and 2b, which are substantially U- shaped and from the base 3 of which two first pairs of tabs 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d protrude on the opposite side with respect to wings designated by the reference numerals 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d; such tabs are pivoted, by means of adapted first pivots 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d, at two pairs of second tabs 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d, which in turn protrude at right angles from a pair of poles 8a and 8b.

As an alternative, the number of supports can be greater than two, for example three, in order to have a solution that, in plan view, assumes a triangular (or polygonal) arrangement in order to take the wind from three

(or more) directions or to have intermediate supports for long spans in order to discharge the weight and the force of the wind. The supports 2a and 2b can thus rotate so as to swing with respect to the poles 8a and 8b.

Each one of said poles can be advantageously allowed to tilt by an angle A with respect to the vertical and on a plane that passes at right angles to the surface from which the pairs of second tabs protrude.

Each one of the poles 8a and 8b can in fact have an arc-like lower end 9, which rests on a complementarity shaped seat 10 formed between two pairs of shoulders l la, l ib, l ie and l id, which protrude from a pair of footings 12a, 12b and lie on parallel planes. The rotary connection is obtained by means of second pivots 13a,

13b, which are arranged along an axis which is perpendicular to the axis of the first pivots 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d. A tension member 15a, 15b is associated with the upper end 14 of each pole for the fixed or dynamic adjustment of the angle of the poles 8a, 8b. A shaft 16a, 16b is interposed rotatably between the free ends of each one of the pairs of wings 4a, 4b and 4c, 4d, with an axis which is parallel to the axis of the poles 8a, 8b and is substantially vertical with respect to the ground; at least two pairs of pulleys 17a, 17b and 17c, 17d of a suitable diameter are keyed to said shaft proximate to the ends for pivoting to the wings.

The pulleys can be more than two.

At least one cable 18a, 18b is interposed between the grooves of each one of the at least two pairs of pulleys 17a, 17b and 17c, 17d, has a loop- like shape and therefore has a closed configuration. In order to avoid the derailment of the cables, advantageously there are at least two pairs of rollers 19a, 19b and 19c, 19d, which have a rolling surface in contact with the cables and a supporting axis 20a, 20b and 20c, 2Od that protrudes laterally (in pairs on opposite sides) proximate to the free ends of the wings 4a, 4b and 4c, 4d at a distance from the pivoting axis of the shafts 16a, 16b that is greater than the diameter of the pulleys. A plurality of sails 21 are associated at right angles between the cables 18a, 18b by way of means for rotary interconnection.

Such means for rotary interconnection comprise a plurality of pairs of clamps 22a, 22b which are adapted to be anchored at a first end 23 to each cable; each one of said clamps protrudes at right angles from each one of the cables and has, at a second end 24, a seat for the fixed connection of a secondary shaft 25.

A bush 26a, 26b is rotatably associated on each secondary shaft 25, proximate to each second end 24 of each secondary shaft 25, and the end of an elastic cord 27 is coupled to the bush and, at the other end, to a corner of a first longitudinal side 28 of a sail 21.

A second longitudinal side 29 of the preceding sail 21 is associated, so that it is free to rotate, with the adjacent secondary shaft 25 (for example wrapped around it), so that the sail 21 can gather the wind that arrives along an axis that is approximately perpendicular thereto.

The rotary connection to the secondary shaft 25 of the corners of the first longitudinal side 28 and of the second longitudinal side 29 of each sail 21 allows said sail to gather the wind in both of the positions that it assumes with respect to the plane of incidence of the wind, therefore depending on whether it is traveling along one side or the other of the loop formed by the cable.

Means for converting rotary motion into electric power are associated with at least one of the two pulleys and are constituted by a sheave 30, which is jointly rotationally connected to the shaft 16a or 16b proximate to the keying point of one of the pulleys, on the opposite side relative to the respective wing of the support.

A belt 31 cooperates with said sheave and affects the pinion of a step- up gear system 32, which is connected to an alternator 33, which in turn is connected electrically to other devices, for example for interconnection to a local grid that is controlled electronically, using therefore for example a converter for converting variable-frequency alternating current to direct current, which is subsequently converted into alternating current but with a frequency that is equal to the grid frequency and then, after filtering, fed into the grid through an adapted electrical panel and/or meter. Use of the generator according to the invention is therefore as follows.

After installing the poles and the corresponding supports, in the desired number and in the desired arrangement, so that they can gather the wind according to the desired angle of incidence, the shafts are associated between them, with the desired number of pulleys keyed thereto and therefore with the desired number of cables and the corresponding means for converting rotary motion into electric power, and it is sufficient to associate the sails, so that they are appropriately mutually spaced and therefore in the desired number and size, with the cables arid with the secondary shafts.

Thus, the distance between the pairs of cables can be the most pertinent according to requirements.

The poles are optionally inclined by the desired angle A so that they take into account the angle of incidence that the cables can have with respect to the pulleys, so that said incidence occurs preferably along a perpendicular axis, as shown in Figure 7.

The wind thus fills the sails, which begin to travel along a rotary path at high speed, the motion being thus converted into power in both cases.

The rotary interconnection of the sails to the secondary shafts 25 and the presence of the elastic cords 27 allow said sails to gather the wind in an optimum manner on both mutually parallel planes of arrangement in output and in input to the pulleys; in the portion in which the cables affect the arc- like part of the pulleys that is adjacent to the poles, the cord contracts, drawing back the sail, which collapses outside the area formed by the pulleys and then turns about the secondary shaft 25 and catches the wind again.

It has thus been found that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a wind power generator having been devised which allows to generate power without requiring the use of large blades and tall towers, so that it can be used without the need for complex foundations and very large spaces.

Moreover, the wind power generator thus obtained has a good efficiency, its shaped being stable in that it is scarcely affected by turbulence. The generated power depends not only on the force of the wind but also on the size of the pulleys and on the number of sails used.

The invention is of course susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

The materials used, as well as the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention, may of course be more pertinent according to specific requirements.

The various means for performing certain different functions need not certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but can be present per se in many embodiments, including ones that are not illustrated. The characteristics indicated as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV2008A000153 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference sign.

Claims

1. A wind power generator, characterized in that it is constituted by at least one pair of supports (2a, 2b), each for a shaft (16a, 16b) having a vertical axis to which at least two pulleys (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d) are keyed which are approximately mutually parallel and rotatable, at least one loop- shaped cable (18a, 18b) being interposed between each one of said at least two pulleys (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d), a plurality of sails (21) being associated at right angles between said cables (18a, 18b) by way of means for rotary interconnection, means for converting rotary motion into electric power being associated with at least one of said at least two pulleys (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d).

2. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that said supports (2a, 2b) are essentially U-shaped, two first pairs of tabs (5a, 5b and 5c, 5d) protrude from a base (3) on the opposite side with respect to wings (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) and are pivoted, by means of first pivots (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d), at two pairs of second tabs (7a, 7b and 7c, 7d), which in turn protrude at right angles from a pair of poles (8a, 8b), said supports (2a, 2b) being allowed to rotate so as to swing with respect to said poles (8a, 8b).

3. The generator according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each one of said poles (8a, 8b) is allowed to tilt by an angle A with respect to the vertical and on a plane that passes at right angles to the surface from which said pairs of second tabs (7a, 7b and 7c, 7d) protrude, each one of said poles (8a, 8b) having an arc-like lower end (9), which rests on a complementarity shaped seat (10) provided between two pairs of shoulders (Ha, 1 Ib and l ie, l id), which protrude from two footings (12a, 12b) and lie on parallel planes, the rotary connection being obtained by means of second pivots (13a, 13b), which are arranged along an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of said first pivots (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d).

4. The generator according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a tension member (15a, 15b) is associated with the upper end (14) of each one of said poles (8a, 8b) for the fixed or dynamic adjustment of the angle of said poles (8a, 8b).

5. The generator according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a shaft (16a, 16b) is interposed rotatably between the free ends of each one of said pairs of wings (4a, 4b and 4c, 4d) and has an axis which is parallel to the axis of said poles (8a, 8b) and is substantially vertical with respect to the ground, and to which at least two pairs of pulleys ( 17a, 17b and 17c, 17d) are keyed proximate to the ends for pivoting to said wings, at least one cable (18a, 18b) being interposed between the grooves of each one of said two pairs of pulleys and being loop-shaped and therefore having a closed configuration.

6. The generator according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has, in order to avoid the derailment of said cables, one or more pairs of rollers (19a, 19b and 19c, 19d), each of which has a rolling surface in contact with said cables and a supporting axis (20a, 20b and 20c, 2Od) which protrudes laterally, in pairs and on the opposite side, proximate to the free ends of said wings (4a, 4b and 4c, 4d) at a distance from the pivoting axis of said shafts (16a, 16b) that is greater than the diameter of said pulleys.

7. The generator according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of sails (21) are associated at right angles, by way of means for a rotary interconnection, between said cables (18a, 8b), said means comprising a plurality of pairs of clamps (22a, 22b), which are adapted to be anchored, at a first end (23), to each one of said cables, each one of said clamps protruding at right angles from each one of said cables and having, at a second end (24), a seat for the fixed connection of a secondary shaft (25).

8. The generator according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that proximate to each one of said second ends (24) of each one of said secondary shafts (25) there is a rotatably associated bush (26a, 26b) to which the end of an elastic cord (27) is coupled, said cord being coupled at the other end to a corner of a first longitudinal side (28) of one of said sails (21).

9. The generator according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second longitudinal side (29) of each sail (21) is associated, with freedom to rotate, with said adjacent secondary shaft (25), so that the sail (21) can gather the wind that arrives along an axis which is approximately perpendicular thereto, the rotary connection to said secondary shaft (25) of said corners of said first longitudinal side (28) and of said second longitudinal side (29) of each one of said sails (21) allowing said sails to gather the wind in both positions assumed with respect to the plane of incidence of the wind, depending therefore on whether it is traveling along one side or the other side of the loop formed by said cables.

10. The generator according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that means for converting rotary motion into electric power are associated with at least one of said at least two pairs of pulleys (17a, 17b and 17c, 17d), said means being constituted by a sheave (30), which is jointly connected for rotation to said shaft (16a, 16b) proximate to the keying point of one of said two pairs of pulleys, on the opposite side relative to the respective wing (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) of said support (2a, 2b), a belt (31 ) cooperating with said sheave and affecting the pinion of a step-up gear system (32), which is connected to an alternator (33), which in turn is connected electrically to other devices for interconnection to a local grid which is controlled electronically, by using a converter for converting variable-frequency alternating current into direct current, which is subsequently converted into alternating current but with a frequency that is equal to the frequency of the grid and then, after filtering, is fed into the grid through an electrical panel and/or meter.