Retractable wind turbines
First Claim
1. An energy generating wind turbine comprising a plurality of airfoil shaped blades and a central rotating shaft in which said blades are retractable to a smaller sweep diameter and the degree of retraction is determined by the position of a floating hub on said central shaft of said wind turbine;
- wherein said blades are connected to said floating hub by support arms.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wind turbine electrical generating device is described where the blades that comprise the airfoil are retractable during operation. This feature allows for a number of improvements over the current state of the art including damage protection and the ability to remain operational during high wind conditions. Further described is a computer feedback loop that controls the degree of retraction. In addition, lightweight airfoil turbine blades are described that are assembled from discrete segments.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. An energy generating wind turbine comprising a plurality of airfoil shaped blades and a central rotating shaft in which said blades are retractable to a smaller sweep diameter and the degree of retraction is determined by the position of a floating hub on said central shaft of said wind turbine;
- wherein said blades are connected to said floating hub by support arms.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- 9. An energy generating wind turbine comprising a plurality of airfoil shaped blades connected to support arms connected by pivot joints to fixed hubs on a central rotating shaft in which said blades are retractable to a smaller sweep diameter and the degree of retraction is determined by mechanical means that effect the angle of said support arms.
-
19. An computer controlled feedback loop to control the position of a retractable energy generating wind turbine comprised of
a wind speed sensor that monitors the torque of the central shaft of said wind turbine and sends a signal with this information to a central processing unit (CPU) that processes this information and sends a signal to a motor driver that controls the position of an actuator or ball screw motor that moves up or down the central shaft positioning a floating hub that is connected to the blades of said wind turbine causing extension or retraction of said blades in response to current wind conditions.
- 20. Airfoil shaped blades for use in energy generating wind turbines that are produced by joining discrete segments such that the individual segments are easily transported and assembled and are possible to mass produce at low cost and from lightweight materials.
- 29. An energy generating wind turbine comprising a plurality of airfoil shaped blades that are manufactured from a material that allows said blades to flex in the wind, and said blades are mounted on one end to a central hub that connects to a central rotating shaft, and said blades extend outward from said central rotating shaft.
Specification