Wheel-hub driven wind turbines

• US 10,364,794 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yueli Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yueli Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Liu, Hangxian, Gong, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Quigley, Thomas K
• Application Number:
  US15/121,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20180223802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/00 Transmission of mechanical power
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 5/04 the wind-engaging parts being attached to carriages running on tracks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/20 Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus F03D9/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/32 on moving objects, e.g. vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/941 which is a land vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/183 wherein the turbine is a wind turbine adaptation of a wind turbine to an electric generator F03D9/25
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1846 structurally associated with wheels or associated parts dynamos arranged in the wheel hub of cycles B62J6/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/70 Wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines

Abstract

A wheel-hub driven wind turbine apparatus is disclosed. One embodiment of the apparatus may include a body and at least one vertical-axis wind turbine blade mounted on the body to translate wind forces exerting on the at least one vertical-axis wind turbine blade to the body, causing the body to move. The apparatus may also include at least one wheel-hub attached to the body and configured to rotate when driven by the movement of the body. The apparatus may also include at least one generator coupled to the at least one wheel-hub to generate electrical power when driven by the rotation of the at least one wheel-hub.

Claims

1. A wheel-hub driven wind turbine apparatus, comprising:

a body;

at least one vertical-axis wind turbine blade mounted on the body and configured to translate wind forces exerting on the at least one vertical-axis wind turbine blade to the body, causing the body to move;

at least one wheel-hub attached to the body and configured to rotate when driven by the movement of the body;

at least one generator disposed next to the at least one wheel-hub and configured to generate electrical power when driven by the rotation of the at least one wheel-hub, the at least one generator comprising a rotor, a first generator, and a second generator,

wherein

the at least one wheel-hub is separated from the rotor while being magnetically coupled to the rotor, and

the at least one wheel-hub is configured to magnetically drive the rotor;

a detector unit on the body configured to detect wind speeds; and

a control unit on the body coupled to the detector unit, the first generator, and the second generator, the control unit being configured to;

operate the first generator when the detector detects a first wind speed, and

operate the second generator when the detector detects a second wind speed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the at least one wheel-hub comprises a central shaft;

and

the rotor aligned with the central shaft.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the rotor rotates coaxially with the at least one wheel-hub.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one generator is disposed on an inner side of the body with respect to the at least one wheel-hub.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one wheel-hub magnetically drives the at least one generator to generate electrical power.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one generator is suspended from the body.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one wheel-hub moves along a circular or elliptical track.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the track is a monorail track.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the track is a dual-rail track.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one wheel-hub is a hub of a wheel with a tire.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the at least one generator comprises a first generator and a second generator;

and

the apparatus further comprises;

a detector unit configured to detect wind directions; and

a control unit coupled to the detector unit, the first generator, and the second generator, the controller being configured to;

operate the first generator when the detector detects a first wind direction, and

operate the second generator when the detector detects a second wind direction.

12. A wheel-hub driven wind turbine apparatus, comprising:

a body;

at least one vertical-axis wind turbine blade mounted on the body and configured to translate wind forces exerting on the at least one vertical-axis wind turbine blade to the body, causing the body to move;

a first wheel-hub attached to a first side of the body, the first wheel-hub being mounted on a first rail;

a second wheel-hub attached to a second side of the body, the second wheel-hub being mounted on a second rail parallel to the first rail, the second side being opposite to the first side;

a central shaft coupled to the first wheel-hub and the second wheel-hub;

a transmission coupled to the central shaft; and

at least one generator coupled to the transmission comprising a cardan shaft, the at least one generator including a first generator and a second generator,

wherein

the first wheel-hub and the second wheel-hub are configured to rotate when driven by the movement of the body;

a detector unit on the body configured to detect wind speeds; and

a control unit on the body coupled to the detector unit, the first generator, and the second generator, the control unit being configured to;

operate the first generator when the detector detects a first wind speed, and

operate the second generator when the detector detects a second wind speed.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the generator comprises a rotor indirectly coupled to the first wheel-hub and the second wheel-hub through the transmission.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein

the central shaft is coupled to the transmission with a low-speed input shaft;

and

the transmission is coupled to the rotor with a high-speed output shaft.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the high-speed output shaft is coupled to the rotor via the cardan shaft.

16. A wheel-hub driven wind turbine apparatus, comprising:

a body;

a plurality of vertical-axis wind turbine blades mounted on the body and configured to translate wind forces exerting on the plurality of vertical-axis wind turbine blades to the body, causing the body to move;

at least four wheel-hubs attached to the body;

at least four generators, each generator being coupled with at least one of the at least four wheel-hubs;

wherein

the at least four wheel-hubs are configured to rotate when driven by the movement of the body, and

the at least four generators comprise a first generator and a second generator;

a detector unit on the body configured to detect wind speeds; and

a control unit on the body coupled to the detector unit, the first generator, and the second generator, the control unit being configured to;

operate the first generator when the detector detects a first wind speed, and

operate the second generator when the detector detects a second wind speed.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each one of the at least four generators is disposed inside one of the at least four wheel-hubs.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each one of the at least four generators comprises a rotor, each rotor being formed integrally with the at least one of the at least four wheel-hubs.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each one of the at least four wheel-hubs comprises a central shaft, each central shaft being fixed to a corresponding rotor of one of the at least four generators.