Wind driven electrical power generating apparatus

• US 6,608,397 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Original Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Inventors: Makino, Tomoaki, Nozaki, Takashi, Takaki, Masuo, Tanigaki, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US09/985,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20020053802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 290/43, 290/44, 290/54, 290/55
• US Class Current: 290/44
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/00 Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor controlling thereof F03D7/02
• 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 80/70 Bearing or lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/40311 of the epicyclic, planetary or differential type
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/1014 to keep rotational speed constant
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/1033 Power (if explicitly mentioned)
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 13/06 with members having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/22 the axes of the members being parallel or approximately parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/38 with two members B having hollow toroid surfaces opposite to each other, the member or members A being adjustably mounted between the surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A wind driven electrical power generating apparatus includes a rotor rotating by receiving wind force, a gear assembly having an input shaft connected to the rotor, a generator connected to an output shaft of the gear assembly, a sensor for detecting generating capacity of the generator and a controller for varying gear ratio of the gear assembly based on a signal from the sensor. In this construction, the controller controls so that the generator keeps rotating at around the lowest rotational speed within a range of rotational speed, the range being determined so as to include a maximum power operation region of the generator. Alternatively, the controller controls so that rotational speed of the output shaft of the gear assembly is adjusted to at around the lowest rotational speed within a range of rotational speed, the range being determined so as to include a rated power region as an upper operational limit.

Claims

1. A wind driven electrical power generating apparatus comprising:

a rotor rotating by receiving wind force;

a gear assembly having an output shaft and an input shaft, the input shaft being connected to said rotor;

a generator connected to the output shaft of said gear assembly;

a sensor for detecting a generating capacity of said generator; and

a controller for varying a gear ratio of the gear assembly in accordance with a signal from the sensor to control the generator to keep rotating at around a lowest rotational speed within a range of rotational speed, said range being determined so as to include a maximum power operation region of said generator.

3. The wind driven electrical power generating apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said sensor is a rotary sensor.

4. The wind driven electrical power generating apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said gear assembly is a planetary roller type traction drive gear assembly.

2. A wind driven electrical power generating apparatus comprising:

a rotor rotating by receiving wind force;

a gear assembly having an output shaft and an input shaft, the input shaft being connected to said rotor;

a generator connected to the output shaft of said gear assembly;

a sensor for detecting parameters representing an output power of said generator; and

a controller for varying a gear ratio of the gear assembly in accordance with a signal from the sensor to control said output shaft of said gear assembly to rotate at around a lowest rotational speed within a range of rotational speed, said range being determined so as to include a rated power region as an upper operational limit.