WIND TURBINE BLADE ASSEMBLY AND APPARATUS

• US 20100278650A1
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel B. Parker
• Original Assignee: Daniel B. Parker
• Inventors: Parker, Daniel B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 416/176
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/0633 of the blades
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/0658 Arrangements for fixing wind-engaging parts to a hub
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/301 Cross-section characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/25 helical
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

In one aspect, a wind turbine blade assembly includes a central shaft defining an axis of rotation and a plurality of helically twisted blades supported on the central shaft. The helically twisted blades have an inner edge and an outer edge, and at least a portion of the helically twisted blades is radially spaced apart from the central shaft. In another aspect, a wind turbine apparatus employing the wind turbine blade assembly is provided.

Claims

1. A wind turbine blade assembly, comprising:

a central shaft defining an axis of rotation; and

a plurality of helically twisted blades supported on said central shaft, said helically twisted blades having an inner edge and an outer edge, wherein at least a portion of said helically twisted blades is radially spaced apart from said central shaft.

2. The wind turbine blade assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of helically twisted blades is selected from:

two blades angularly spaced apart 180 degrees;

three blades angularly spaced apart 120 degrees; and

four blades angularly spaced apart 90 degrees.

3. The wind turbine blade assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said helically twisted blades is formed from a generally circular strip of sheet material.

4. The wind turbine blade assembly of claim 3, wherein said generally circular strip of sheet material is selected from a strip having a uniform radial thickness and a strip having a tapered radial thickness.

5. The wind turbine blade assembly of claim 3, wherein said generally circular strip of sheet material has an inner radius and an outer radius and wherein the inner radius is approximately equal to one half of the outer radius.

6. The wind turbine blade assembly of claim 5, wherein a distance between the axis of rotation and the inner edge is equal to about one third of a distance between the axis of rotation and the outer edge.

7. The wind turbine blade assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said helically twisted blades is formed from strip of sheet material forming a partial circle.

8. The wind turbine blade assembly of claim 7, wherein each of said helically twisted blades is formed from a strip of sheet material forming a partial circle selected from a half circle, a third of a circle, and a quarter circle.

9. The wind turbine blade assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

each of said helically twisted blades is supported on one or more spokes extending from said central shaft; and

said spokes inclined with respect to a plane extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation toward an upwind end of said wind turbine blade assembly.

10. A wind turbine apparatus, comprising:

a wind turbine blade assembly including a central shaft defining an axis of rotation and a first plurality of helically twisted blades supported on said central shaft, each of said first plurality of helically twisted blades having an inner edge and an outer edge, wherein at least a portion of each of said first plurality of helically twisted blades is radially spaced apart from said central shaft; and

a support member for rotatably supporting said wind turbine blade assembly.

11. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

said support member including a vertical leg and a horizontal arm attached to said vertical leg;

said horizontal arm rotatably supporting said central shaft.

12. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

said vertical leg is positioned on an upwind end of said first plurality of helical blades.

13. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

said vertical leg is positioned on a downwind end of said first plurality of helical blades; and

means for aligning said axis of rotation with a wind direction.

14. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 11, wherein said wind turbine blade assembly is rotatable about a vertical axis of said vertical leg;

and further comprising one or both of;

means for preventing free rotation of said wind turbine blade assembly rotatable about the vertical axis of said vertical leg; and

means for urging said wind turbine blade toward a desired direction.

15. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a second plurality of helically twisted blades supported on said central shaft, each of said second plurality of helically twisted blades having an inner edge and an outer edge, wherein at least a portion of each of said second plurality of helically twisted blades is radially spaced apart from said central shaft.

16. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

said support member including a vertical leg and a horizontal arm attached to said vertical leg;

said horizontal arm rotatably supporting said central shaft; and

said first plurality of helical blades and said second plurality of helical blades being disposed on opposite sides of said vertical leg.

17. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a mechanical output coupled to said central shaft for generating mechanical power from rotation of said blade assembly.

18. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

an electrical output coupled to said central shaft for generating electrical power from rotation of said blade assembly.

19. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

each of said helically twisted blades is formed from a generally circular or partial circular strip of flat sheet material having an inner radius and an outer radius, wherein the inner radius is approximately equal to one half of the outer radius; and

when assembled, each of said helically twisted blades is offset from the central shaft such that a distance between the axis of rotation and the inner edge is equal to about one third of a distance between the axis of rotation and the outer edge.

20. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

each of said helically twisted blades is supported on one or more spokes extending from said central shaft; and

said spokes inclined with respect to a plane extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation toward an upwind end of said wind turbine blade assembly.