Oscillating Windmill

• US 20090224551A1
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnnie Williams
• Original Assignee: Johnnie Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Johnnie
• Application Number:
  US12/104,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20090224551A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/55
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 5/06 the wind-engaging parts swinging to-and-fro and not rotating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/70 Wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

An oscillating windmill having the ability to generate clean electrical power by mechanically capturing the power of the wind. The oscillating windmill utilizes a rigid mast having a plurality of rotatable vanes. The lower section of the mast is fixed about an axis allowing the mast to oscillate in response to wind resistance upon the vanes. An actuating mechanism is in communication with the mast and the vanes to rotate the vanes about an axis in response to the oscillations of the mast. These oscillations of the mast are converted into usable energy using a power generating mechanism engagable with the mast.

Claims

1. An oscillating windmill, comprising:

a plurality of vanes rotatably coupled to an upper section of a rigid, mast;

a lower section of said mast being fixed about an axis allowing said mast to oscillate in response to resistance harnessed by said vanes;

an actuating mechanism in communication with said mast and said vanes to rotate said vanes about an axis in response to said oscillations of said mast; and

a power generating mechanism engagable with said mast for converting said oscillations of said mast into usable energy.

2. The oscillating windmill of claim 1 wherein said vanes are substantially horizontal and rotatably coupled to opposing sides of said mast.

3. The oscillating windmill of claim 1 wherein said actuating mechanism comprises an actuator that couples said mast to an actuating cable;

said actuating cable extends through an interior portion of said mast and is coupled to said vanes;

wherein said oscillation of said mast triggers said actuator to actuate said actuating cable resulting in rotation of said vanes about an axis.

4. The oscillating windmill of claim 1 wherein said lower section of said mast further comprises a mast base and at least one gear wheel engagable with said power generating mechanism.

5. The oscillating windmill of claim 4 wherein said power generating mechanism comprises a cogwheel engagable with said gear wheel and coupled to a drive axle, a transmission coupled to said drive axle, a flywheel coupled to said transmission, a gear box coupled to said flywheel, and a generator coupled to said gear box;

wherein said power generating mechanism coverts said oscillations of said mast into rotational energy, which is converted into usable energy using said generator.

6. The oscillating windmill of claim 5 wherein said cogwheel comprises two one-directional ratcheting drive hubs;

wherein one of said hubs turns clockwise and the other said hubs turns counter-clockwise;

said drive hubs are be placed side by side in parallel and engagable with said gear wheel.

7. The oscillating windmill of claim 1 further comprising a ballast assembly having at least one ballast element secured to a ballast cable, said ballast cable secured to a ballast drum, said ballast drum rotatably connected to a ballast gear, which is in communication with said lower section of said mast;

and wherein said oscillation of said mast causes said ballast gear to rotate said ballast drum causing ballast cable to wrap about said ballast drum resulting in restrictive movement of said ballast element;

aiding in counter-oscillation of said mast.

8. The oscillating windmill of claim 7 wherein said ballast assembly includes a plurality of ballast springs to further restrict said movement of said ballast element in response to said oscillations of said mast.

9. The oscillating windmill of claim 7 wherein said ballast assembly includes a ballast sheave for holding and directing said ballast cable.

10. The oscillating windmill of claim 1 further comprises a platform having a mast support assembly;

said mast support assembly having a pair of mast support brackets;

each of said mast support brackets having a mast axle in communication with said lower section of said mast.

11. The oscillating windmill of claim 10 further comprising a rotatable base having a plurality of vertical support arms attached to said platform.

12. The oscillating windmill of claim 1 wherein said vanes are collapsible to lay substantially parallel with said mast.

13. The oscillating windmill of claim 1 further comprising a maintenance assembly having a maintenance motor powering a maintenance cogwheel;

wherein said maintenance cogwheel is selectively engagable with said lower section of said mast to raise and lower said mast.

14. An oscillating windmill, comprising:

a rigid mast having a plurality of rotatable vanes and at least one gear wheel;

wherein gear wheel of said mast is fixed about an axis allowing said mast to oscillate in response to resistance upon said vanes;

an actuating mechanism in communication with said mast and said vanes to rotate said vanes about an axis in response to said oscillations of said mast;

a power generating mechanism engagable with said gear wheel of said mast for converting said oscillations of said mast into usable energy; and

a rotatable platform assembly supporting said mast and said power generating mechanism.

15. The oscillating windmill of claim 14 wherein said vanes are substantially horizontal and rotatably coupled to opposing sides of said mast and are collapsible to lay substantially parallel with said mast.

16. The oscillating windmill of claim 14 wherein said actuating mechanism comprises an actuator that couples said mast to an actuating cable;

said actuating cable extends through an interior portion of said mast and is coupled to said vanes;

wherein said oscillation of said mast triggers said actuator to actuate said actuating cable resulting in rotation of said vanes about an axis.

17. The oscillating windmill of claim 14 wherein said power generating mechanism comprises a cogwheel engagable with said gear wheel and coupled to a drive axle, a transmission coupled to said drive axle, a flywheel coupled to said transmission, a gear box coupled to said flywheel, and a generator coupled to said gear box;

wherein said power generating mechanism coverts said oscillations of said mast into rotational energy, which is converted into usable energy using said generator.

18. The oscillating windmill of claim 14 further comprising a ballast assembly having at least one ballast element having a plurality of ballast springs and secured to a ballast cable, said ballast cable engaged with a ballast sheave and secured to a ballast drum, said ballast drum rotatably connected to a ballast gear in communication with said gear wheel of said mast;

and wherein said oscillation of said mast causes said ballast gear to rotate said ballast drum causing said ballast cable to wrap about said ballast drum resulting in restrictive movement of said ballast element against said ballast springs;

said restrictive movement of said ballast element of said ballast assembly aids in counter-oscillation of said mast.

19. The oscillating windmill of claim 14 wherein said rotatable platform assembly comprises a platform having a plurality of vertical support arms attached to a rotatable base;

said platform having a mast support assembly comprising a pair of mast support brackets;

each of said mast support brackets having a mast axle in communication with said gear wheel of said mast.

20. The oscillating windmill of claim 14 further comprising a maintenance assembly having a maintenance motor powering a maintenance cogwheel;

wherein said maintenance cogwheel is selectively engagable with said lower section of said mast to raise and lower said mast.