Patent Application
20200256316
This invention relates to a wind-driven energy generation device which converts wind into kinetic mechanical energy efficiently, consistently and with less attenuation of rotational speed than currently available.
Wind power has been used as long as humans have put sails into the wind. For more than two two-thousand years, wind-powered machines have ground grain and pumped water. The most common wind power system that comes to mind when one thinks of wind power is the windmill, as built by the Dutch in Holland to harness the winds off the English Channel, to pump water in and out of canals, and channels used for both transportation and irrigation.
Wind power, however, has been limited by at least two technical difficulties. One is variability of the wind. The second is overcoming frictional resistance that is inherent in all rotational systems.
There have been attempts to establish efficient wind power devices, but none has been widely commercialized due to their inability to deliver consistent and reliable wind power generation. U.S. Pat. No. 8,177,482 to Chuy-Nan Chio shows a wind power conversion apparatus driven by a fly wheel which requires a cumbersome long, hollow, tubular wind channel to direct wind through the flywheel. U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,983 to Poeta shows a wind motor but requires multiple rotating rotors rather than panel vanes which makes it more complicated and expensive. U.S. Pat. No. 1,568,718 to Brattland shows a series of rotating motors within a V-shaped conduit. All of these systems are complicated and energy-inefficient.
Thus, there is a need for extending the ability of wind-driven power generation equipment to generate power beyond the time when the wind has dropped below velocities sufficient to turn generators; to provide a wind power system that partially compensates for frictional resistance, and to provide a system that provides sustained power generation without the complexity and cost-constraints of current wind power generation systems.
The present invention fulfills this need by providing a high-speed wind power generation device and method that converts wind into kinetic mechanical energy efficiently, consistently and with less attenuation of rotational speed than currently available. The device is comprised of a first circular plate and a second circular plate having a space therebetween. Each of the circular plates has an outer side, an inner side, a center opening therein, and one or more weights positioned on the first and second circular plates. Positioned in the space between the first and second plates are three “wing assemblies” comprised of an upper curved wing section, a cylindrical bar and a lower curved wing section. Each wing assembly is spaced 120 degrees apart and has a space therebetween from an adjacent wing assembly. Each of the wing assemblies are securely attached to a center, hollow cylindrical bar that is fitted within the center openings of the first and second circular plates. A rotating shaft is tightly fitted within the center, hollow cylindrical bar. Adjacent to each of the center openings on the outside of the first and second circular plates is a shaft collar, which secures the center, hollow cylindrical bar to the first and second circular plates.
The present invention also provides a method of producing power for a generator or energy storage device. The method comprises the steps of connecting the high-speed wind power generation device to a generator or energy storage device; having wind flow over the three wing assemblies and the three spaces therebetween so as to rotate the hollow, cylindrical bar with rotating shaft therein, having the generator or energy storage device capture the mechanical energy produced by the rotation of the device; and converting the mechanical energy to another form of energy.
For the present disclosure to be easily understood and readily practiced, the present disclosure will now be described for purposes of illustration and not limitation in connection with the following figures, wherein:
FIG. is a front view of the high-speed wind power generation device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying figures that form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the inventive subject matter may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice them, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive subject matter. Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to, individually and/or collectively, herein by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed.
As shown in
As best seen in
One or more weights are located on the periphery of the inside and/or the outside of the first and second circular plates to increase inertial force and centrifugal energy. As shown in
The high-speed wind power generation device also may include additional circular plates on either side of the first and second circular plates. As shown in
The circular plates and curved wing assembly sections may be made from any suitable, light-weight plastic material, including, without limitation, high density polyethylene, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride and the like.
The center, hollow cylindrical bar may be made from any suitable metal including, without limitation, steel, aluminum, copper, iron, lead, titanium and the like.
The invention contemplates that the curved wing assemblies are securely attached to the center, hollow cylindrical bar using, for example and without limitation, adhesives well known by those skilled in the art, such as steel reinforced epoxy glues and the like.
In motion, the center, hollow, cylindrical bar with rotating shaft therein rotates at the same speed and in the same direction as the three wing assemblies and circular plates.
In use, the rotating shaft is configured to connect with a mechanical shaft of a generator to capture the rotating shaft's mechanical energy and convert it to another form of energy. Alternatively, the rotating shaft may be connected to a mechanical shaft of an energy storage device.
It is contemplated that the high-speed wind power generation of the inventive device can be used to generate other forms of energy for use in transportation including, without limitation, energy to power automobiles, trucks, buses, boats, trains, airplanes or any other moving objects.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments described above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various alterations in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.
