Distributed powertrain for high torque, low electric power generator

• US 6,304,002 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2000
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clipper Windpower, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dehlsen Associates LLC
• Inventors: Dehlsen, James G. P., Deane, Geoffrey F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US09/552,577
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.C, 290/1.D, 290/42, 290/55, 310/83, 310/112, 746/61, 746/55
• US Class Current: 290/1.00C
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/00 Transmission of mechanical power
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/10 using gearing not limited to rotary motion, e.g. with oscillating or reciprocating members
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2210/16 Air or water being indistinctly used as working fluid, i.e. the machine can work equally with air or water without any modification
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/1016 in variable speed operation
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/22 with a plurality of driving or driven shafts; with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/065 with a plurality of driving or driven shafts F16H37/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 16/00 Machines with more than one rotor or stator machines for transmitting mechanical power from a driving shaft to a driven shaft and comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; permanent magnet machines with multiple rotors or stators relatively rotated for vectorially combining the excitation fields or the armature voltages H02K21/029
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/116 with gears
• 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: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

Wind or water currents turn a power generator rotor. A torque-dividing gearbox is coupled to an input shaft driven by the rotor. The torque-dividing gearbox has a plurality of output shafts located around a perimeter of the input shaft. A number of torque-reducing gearboxes are each coupled to a respective one of the output shafts, each one of the torque-reducing gearboxes driving a generator. In one design the torque-reducing gearboxes and generators are held stationary and the torque-dividing gearbox includes a bull gear turned by the input shaft. Each one of the output shafts is connected to a gear that engages the bull gear teeth. Alternatively, the torque-reducing gearboxes and generators rotate with the input shaft. The torque-dividing gearbox includes a stationary ring gear having ring gear teeth around an inner circumference. Each of the output shafts is connected to a gear that engages the ring gear teeth.

Claims

1. An electric power-generating device that converts fluid flow of wind or water to electricity comprising:

a rotor having blades that rotate in response to fluid flow;

a main power input shaft coupled to said rotor;

a single-stage torque-dividing gearbox coupled to said main power input shaft;

said torque-dividing gearbox having a plurality of output shafts located around a perimeter of said main power input shaft; and

,

a plurality of sub-powertrains, each one of said sub-powertrains including a generator coupled to a respective one of said torque-dividing gearbox output shafts.

2. The electric power-generating device of claim 1 wherein said torque-dividing gearbox includes a stationary ring gear having ring gear teeth around an inner circumference of said ring gear;

each one of said torque-dividing gearbox output shafts being connected to a gear that engages said ring gear teeth.

3. The electric power-generating device of claim 1 wherein said torque-dividing gearbox includes a bull gear, each one of said torque-dividing gearbox output shafts being connected to a gear that engages said bull gear teeth.

4. The electric power-generating device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sub-powertrains are held stationary with respect to said main power input shaft and said torque-dividing gearbox includes a bull gear, each one of said torque-dividing gearbox output shafts being connected to a gear that engages said bull gear teeth.

5. The electric power-generating device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sub-powertrains are connected to said main power input shaft such that said plurality of sub-powertrains are free to rotate with said main power input shaft and said torque-dividing gearbox includes a ring gear having ring gear teeth around an inner circumference of said ring gear;

each one of said torque-dividing gearbox output shafts being connected to a gear that engages said ring gear teeth.

6. The electric power-generating device of claim 1 wherein said torque-dividing gearbox comprises:

a ring gear held stationary with respect to said main power input shaft;

said ring gear having ring gear teeth around an inner circumference of said ring gear;

each input shaft of said plurality of sub-powertrains being connected to a pinion that engages sad ring gear teeth such that as said main power input shaft turns, said sub-powertrains and pinions rotate with said main power input shaft.

7. The electric power-generating device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sub-powertrains are held stationary with respect to said main power input shaft and said torque-dividing gearbox comprises:

a rotating bull gear;

each input shaft of said plurality of sub-powertrains being connected to a pinion that engages said bull gear such that as said main power input shaft turns, said bull gear rotates causing said pinions to turn, driving said sub-powertrains.

8. The electric power-generating device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sub-powertrains are connected by a spindle to said main power input shaft and said torque-dividing gearbox comprises:

a stationary ring gear;

each input shaft of said plurality of torque-reducing gearboxes being connected to a pinion that engages said ring gear such that as said main power input shaft turns, said spindle rotates causing said pinions to turn, driving said sub-powertrains.

19. The device of claim 2 wherein said torque-dividing gearbox is housed in a nacelle and said ring gear is fixed around an inner perimeter of said nacelle.

20. The device of claim 3 wherein said torque-dividing gearbox is housed in a nacelle that provides a portion of a structural casing for said bull gear.

21. The device of claim 6 wherein said torque-dividing gearbox is housed in a nacelle and said ring gear is fixed to an inner perimeter of said nacelle.

22. The device of claim 7 wherein said torque-dividing gearbox is housed in a nacelle that provides a portion of a structural casing for said bull gear.

28. The electric power-generating device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said sub-powertrains includes a torque-reducing gearbox coupled in series between a torque-diving gearbox output shaft and a generator.

29. The electric power-generating device of claim 2 wherein at least one of said sub-powertrains includes a torque-reducing gearbox coupled in series between a torque-dividing gearbox output shaft and a generator.

30. The electric power-generating device of claim 3 wherein at least one of said sub-powertrains includes a torque-reducing gearbox coupled in series between a torque-dividing gearbox output shaft and a generator.

9. An electric power-generating device that converts fluid flow of wind or water to electricity comprising:

a rotor having blades that rotate in response to fluid flow;

a main power input shaft coupled to said rotor;

a single-stage torque-diving gearbox coupled to said main power input shaft; and

,

a plurality of sub-powertrains, each including a generator having an input shaft connected to said torque-diving gearbox, said plurality of sub-powertrains, being located around a perimeter of said main power input shaft.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein at least one of said sub-powertrains includes

a torque-reducing gearbox driving a generator.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said torque-dividing gearbox includes a stationary ring gear about which said plurality of sub-powertrains rotate.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein said torque-dividing gearbox includes a bull gear which drives said plurality of sub-powertrains.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein said plurality of sub-powertrains are held stationary with respect to said main power input shaft and said torque-dividing gearbox includes a bull gear connected to said main power input shaft.

14. The device of claim 10 wherein said plurality of sub-powertrains are free to rotate with said main power input shaft and said torque-dividing gearbox includes a ring gear around said perimeter os said main power input shaft, said ring gear being engaged by each said input shaft.

15. The device of claim 9 wherein said torque-dividing gearbox comprises:

a ring gear held stationary with respect to said main power input shaft;

each input shaft of said plurality of sub-powertrains being connected to a pinion that engages said ring gear, said sub-powertrains and pinions being free to rotate around said perimeter of said main power input shaft.

16. The device of claim 10 wherein said torque-dividing gearbox comprises:

a ring gear held stationary with respect to said main power input shaft;

each input shaft of said plurality of sub-powertrains being connected to a pinion that engages said ring gear, said sub-powertrains and pinions being free to rotate around said perimeter of said main power input shaft.

17. The device of claim 10 wherein said plurality of sub-powertrains are held stationary with respect to said main power input shaft and said torque-dividing gearbox comprises:

a rotating bull gear;

each input shaft of said plurality of sub-powertrains being connected to a pinion that engages said bull gear.

18. The device of claim 10 wherein said plurality of sub-powertrains are connected to said main power input shaft, said plurality of generators and torque-reducing gearboxes being free to rotate with said main power input shaft, said torque-dividing gearbox comprising:

a ring gear;

each input shaft of said plurality of sub-powertrains being connected to a pinion that engages said ring gear, said sub-powertrains and pinions being free to rotate around said perimeter of said main power input shaft.

23. The device of claim 11 wherein said torque-dividing gearbox is housed in a nacelle and said ring gear is fixed to an inner perimeter of said nacelle.

24. The device of claim 12 wherein said torque-dividing gearbox is housed in a nacelle that provides a portion of a structural casing for said bull gear.

25. The device of claim 14 wherein said torque-dividing gearbox is housed in a nacelle and said ring gear is fixed to an inner perimeter of said nacelle.

26. The device of claim 16 wherein said torque-dividing gearbox is housed in a nacelle and said ring gear is fixed to an inner perimeter of said nacelle.

27. The device of claim 17 wherein said torque-dividing gearbox is housed in a nacelle that provides a portion of a structural casing for said bull gear.