Windmill kite

• US 20030091437A1
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bryan W. Roberts
• Original Assignee: Bryan W. Roberts
• Inventors: Roberts, Bryan William
• Granted Patent: US 6,781,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 416/9
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/40 Use of a multiplicity of similar components
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/921 kept aloft due to aerodynamic effects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines

Abstract

One or more tethered platforms, each comprising three or more, mill rotors, are operated at altitudes in relatively high winds to generate electricity.

These windmill kites use one or more electro-mechanical tethers on each platform. Their position, attitude and orientation are controlled through differential thrusts and torque-reactions produced by the mill rotors. The kites can be electrically powered from a ground supply during relatively calm periods, or landed if desired. During windy periods the kites may be used to generate electricity by tilting the rotors at an angle, or incidence to the on-coming wind. In this generate mode the mill rotors simultaneously develop thrust while generating electricity.

Claims

1. A windmill kite for converting the kinetic energy of high altitude winds into useful work or other forms of energy the apparatus comprises.

at least three substantially axially co-directed, spaced apart mill rotors mounted into an assembly or unit.

a platform frame to hold the said mill rotors.

a single or plurality of tethers, either simple mechanical tether(s) or electro-mechanical tether(s), to hold the said mill rotors against the wind.

a winch(s) at ground level enabling the kite to be reeled in or let out in order to adjust its altitude as needed.

including a plurality of mill rotors with a simple tethering line maintaining the stability of the platform in spite of wind fluctuations or absence, at one dynamo on the platform drive connected to said mill rotors, and conductor means connecting said at least one dynamo to an electrical supply at ground level.

an electrical system to allow the electrical energy so produced to be distributed into an electrical system, including a system with other power sources.

means to position the platform at a substantially fixed geographic location and maintain the attitude of the platform relative to a set of fixed, orthogonal axes.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the thrust produced by the pluarity of mill rotors is produced by either electric motors powered through the tether or tethers, or produced by the wind itself forcing the mill rotors to rotate.

3. Apparatus as described in claims 1 and 2 in which blade pitch control on the mill rotors is used to adjust the thrust produced by the respective mill rotors, thereby using a variation of the thrust and torque reaction on the mill rotors to stabilize the platform in any desired altitude or orientation relative to the wind.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 3 in which error signals are generated by control equipment such as gyros as a consequence of deviation in the orientation, altitude or position of the platform from a desired position.