Auxiliary wind energy generation from a wind power generation apparatus

• US 7,245,042 B1
• Filed: 11/25/2005
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Larry W. Simnacher
• Original Assignee: Larry W. Simnacher
• Inventors: Simnacher, Larry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg; Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuevas; Pedro J.
• Application Number:
  US11/285,951
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 290 43- 44, 290 54- 55, 310/12, 310/15, 310/36
• US Class Current: 290/55
• 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 9/11 storing electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/7068 equipped with permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A wind energy generator has a generator having a shaft extending therefrom, a plurality of blades interconnected to the shaft so as to be rotatable by the action of wind energy, and an elongate chamber cooperative with the shaft such that the chamber rotates relative to a rotation of the shaft. The elongate chamber has a coil extending therearound. A magnet is positioned within chamber such that a movement of the magnet interacts with an electrical field of the coil so as to produce electrical energy therefrom. Separate elongate chambers are associated with each of the blades of wind energy generator.

Claims

1. A wind energy generator comprising:

a generator having a shaft extending therefrom;

a plurality of blades interconnected to said shaft, said plurality of blades being rotatable by action of wind energy, said plurality of blades being radially spaced from each other; and

an elongate chamber cooperative with said shaft such that said elongate chamber rotates relative to a rotation of said shaft, said elongate chamber having a coil extending therearound, said elongate chamber having a magnet positioned therein such that a movement of said magnet interacts with an electrical field of said coil so as to produce electrical energy therefrom, said elongate chamber having a propulsion means therein suitable for urging said magnet back and forth during the rotation of said plurality of blades, said propulsion means comprising;

a first spring mounted at one end of said elongate chamber; and

a second spring mounted at an opposite end of said elongate chamber;

a first spring retraction means connected to said first spring for retracting said first spring prior to contact by said magnet during the rotation of said plurality of blades; and

a second spring retraction means connected to said second spring for retracting said second spring prior to contact by said magnet during the rotation of said plurality of blades.

2. The generator of claim 1, said magnet being slidably movable within said elongate chamber relative to the rotation of said plurality of blades.

3. The generator of claim 1, said elongate chamber extending transversely to said shaft.

4. The generator of claim 3, said elongate chamber being offset from said plurality of blades.

5. The generator of claim 1, said elongate chamber comprising:

a first elongate chamber;

a second elongate chamber radially offset from said first elongate chamber; and

a third elongate chamber radially offset from each of said first and second elongate chambers.

6. The generator of claim 1, each of said first and second spring retraction means being actuatable so as to release the spring so as to propel said magnet through said interior of elongate chamber.

7. The generator of claim 1, further comprising:

a firing means connected to said first and second spring retraction means for actuating said first and second springs and said magnet approaches one said first and second springs.

8. The generator of claim 1, further comprising:

an energy storing means electrically connected to said coil so as to receive power from said coil.

9. A method of generating energy from a wind energy generator comprising:

forming an elongate chamber having a coil extending longitudinally therearound, said elongate chamber having a magnet slidably received therein;

rotating said elongate chamber with a rotation of blades of the wind energy generator;

sliding said magnet within said elongate chamber back and forth as said elongate chamber is rotated so as to produce electrical energy from said coil;

transferring electrical energy from said coil; and

propelling said magnet from one end of said elongate chamber toward another end of said elongate chamber during the rotation of said elongate chamber, said step of propelling comprising;

retracting a spring mounted on each of said ends of said elongate chamber prior to contact by said magnet; and

releasing the spring when said magnet contacts the spring so as to propel said magnet.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

mounting said elongate chamber so as to be axially aligned with at least one of the blades of the wind energy generator, said elongate chamber extending outwardly beyond an end of the blade.

11. An apparatus for generating auxiliary energy from a wind energy generator comprising:

an elongate chamber;

a coil extending longitudinal along said elongate chamber;

a magnet slidably positioned within said elongate chamber;

a propulsion means mounted in opposite ends of said elongate chamber, said propulsion means for propelling said magnet across said coil, said propulsion means comprising;

a first spring mounted at one end of said elongate chamber;

a second spring mounted at an opposite end of said elongate chamber;

a first spring retraction means connected to said first spring for retracting said first spring prior to contact by said magnet during the rotation of said elongate chamber; and

a second spring retraction means connected to said second spring for retracting said second spring prior to contact by said magnet during the rotation of said elongate chamber; and

a mounting means affixed to said elongate chamber for mounting said elongate chamber to a rotatable element of the wind energy generator.

12. The generator of claim 11, each of said first and second spring retraction means being actuatable so as to release the spring so as to propel said magnet through said interior of elongate chamber.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a firing means connected to each of first and second spring retraction means for actuating said first and second spring when said magnet approaches one of said first and second springs.