GENERATING ELECTRICITY USING WIND

• US 20100276939A1
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Manfred Clynes
• Original Assignee: Manfred Clynes
• Inventors: Clynes, Manfred
• Application Number:
  US12/487,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20100276939A1
• 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: F03D 9/11 storing electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/255 connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/7068 equipped with permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/911 already existing for a prior purpose
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/02 incorporating moving display members
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/00 Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on or in vehicles G09F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

Among other things, wind energy can be harnessed without using an outmoded rotational windmill model, which is inherently inefficient because much of the wind energy is bypassed; blade stresses are pronounced; and there is a danger to birds, animals, and in smaller models to people. Efficiency directs rotational devices to be quite large, unaesthetic, and a slur on the environment. Here, the quasi-random movements of hundreds of flexible flaps, called wixels, in an array generates electricity through neodymium magnets and wire coils which move relatively to one another in the wind. Each flap generates small amounts of electricity; the random-like contributions of the many flaps are added electronically using standard methods. The sum is fed negatively into the grid, as in solar panel arrays. Multiple arrays can be arranged as wind farms or can be used on rooftops or back yards without danger. Various colored wixels provide for mobile artistic design, an environmental plus, and in large installations for advertising.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising

a wind catching surface supported to face an oncoming wind and not to rotate continuously in one direction under the influence of the oncoming wind, and

an energy converter that converts motion, caused by the surface catching the oncoming wind, into electricity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the wind catching surface is fixed at one edge and at least some other portions are free to move in response to the wind.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the wind catching surface is supported to face the oncoming wind directly.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the wind catching surface is arranged to alter its configuration in response to the oncoming wind.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the wind catching surface is arranged to billow in response to the oncoming wind.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the wind catching surface is generally rectangular.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the wind catching surface comprises a stem.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which the stem is coupled to the energy converter.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the wind catching surface is fixed at one edge and is coupled at another location to the energy converter.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which the motion caused by the surface catching the oncoming wind comprises linear motion of the energy converter.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 in which the wind causes a distance between the fixed pitch and the coupled location to vary.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the energy converter comprises an electromagnetic device.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the energy converter comprises a magnet and a coil that move relative to one another.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the energy converter comprises reciprocating elements.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 also comprising an element that applies a restoring force in response to the motion.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the element that applies a restoring force comprises a spring.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the element that applies a restoring force comprises a mass that is acted on by gravity.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 in which the mass comprises the wind catching surface.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the restoring force comprises a natural elasticity of the wind catching surface.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 also comprising a support for the wind catching surface.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 also comprising at least one additional wind catching surface on the support.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 in which the support is stationary relative to the wind.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 in which the support comprises nodal points of resonance to impart a randomized elasticity to the support.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 in which the support is movable to orient the wind catching surface relative to a direction of the wind.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 in which the wind catching surface and the additional wind catching surface are mounted to prevent interference with one another in the wind.

58. The apparatus of claim 1 also comprising at least one element supporting the wind catching surface and configured to increase randomness of motion of the wind catching surface relative to the oncoming wind.

59. The apparatus of claim 58 in which the one element comprises a primary support of a portion of the wind catching surface and the element has non-uniformities of shape.

60. The apparatus of claim 59 in which the non-uniformities comprise nodes along the primary support.

61. The apparatus of claim 58 in which the element comprises a secondary support and the element has non-uniformities of shape.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 in which the non-uniformities comprise an S-shape.

63. The apparatus of claim 1 also comprising a half-wave and/or a full-wave rectifier.

26. A method comprising

receiving, at a wind catching surface, an oncoming wind that varies unpredictably in speed and direction over time, and

converting motion, which is caused by the surface catching the unpredictably varying wind and is not continuous rotational motion in one direction, into electricity.

27. The method of claim 26 in which the wind catching surface is oriented to face the oncoming wind.

28. The method of claim 26 in which receiving the oncoming wind comprises altering the configuration of the wind catching surface in response to the wind.

29. The method of claim 26 in which the motion is converted to electricity electromagnetically.

31. The apparatus of claim 27 in which the wind catching surface is fixed at one edge and at least some other portions are free to move in response to the wind.

32. The apparatus of claim 27 in which the wind catching surface is supported to face the oncoming wind directly.

33. The apparatus of claim 27 in which the wind catching surface is arranged to alter its configuration in response to the oncoming wind.

35. The apparatus of claim 27 in which the wind catching surface is generally rectangular.

36. The apparatus of claim 27 in which the wind catching surface comprises a stem.

37. The apparatus of claim 33 in which the stem is coupled to the energy converter.

38. The apparatus of claim 27 in which the wind catching surface is fixed at one edge and is coupled at another location to the energy converter.

39. The apparatus of claim 35 in which the wind causes a distance between the fixed edge and the coupled location to vary.

40. The apparatus of claim 27 in which the energy converter comprises a magnet and a coil that move relative to one another.

41. The apparatus of claim 27 in which the energy converter comprises reciprocating elements.

42. The apparatus of claim 27 also comprising an element that applies a restoring force in response to the motion.

43. The apparatus of claim 39 in which the element that applies a restoring force comprises a spring.

44. The apparatus of claim 39 in which the element that applies a restoring force comprises a mass that is acted on by gravity.

45. The apparatus of claim 27 also comprising a support for the wind catching surface.

46. The apparatus of claim 42 also comprising at least one additional wind catching surface on the support.

47. The apparatus of claim 42 in which the support is stationary relative to the wind.

48. The apparatus of claim 42 in which the support is movable to orient the wind catching surface relative to a direction of the wind.

49. The apparatus of claim 43 in which the wind catching surface and the additional wind catching surface are mounted to prevent interference with one another in the wind.

51. The apparatus of claim 47 in which there is an array of the wind catching surfaces.

52. The apparatus of claim 48 in which the array comprises rows and columns of generally rectangular wind catching surfaces.

53. The apparatus of claim 47 also comprising a supporting structure for the wind catching surfaces, the supporting structure and the wind catching surfaces comprising a wind screen.

57. The apparatus of claim 53 in which the visual effects embody artistic creativity and individual satisfaction and are capable of changes of design over time.

30. An apparatus comprising

a wind catching surface supported to face an oncoming wind and not to rotate continuously in one direction under the influence of the oncoming wind, and

a linear electromagnetic energy converter that converts back and forth linear motion, caused by the surface catching the oncoming wind, into electricity.

34. The apparatus of claim 30 in which the wind catching surface is arranged to billow in response to the oncoming wind.

50. Apparatus comprising

two or more independently movable wind catching surfaces supported in common to face an oncoming wind and to exhibit different motions at a given time in response to the oncoming wind, and

and energy converter that converts the different motions into electricity.

54. The apparatus of claim 50 in which there are additional such wind screens, and the wind screens are coupled to provide electricity to electricity distribution grid.

55. Apparatus comprising

at least two wind catching surfaces supported to face and to move in response to an oncoming wind,

an energy converter that converts the motion into electricity, and

text, colors, and/or images arranged on the wind catching surfaces and configured to provide visual effects that depend on motion of the surfaces in response to the oncoming wind

56. The apparatus of claim 55 in which the text and/or images comprise advertising