Wind Turbine

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a support unit having a lower base block and a cylindrical protruding part. A rotary cylinder is rotatably supported by the protruding part. A rotating shaft extends from a center of the rotary cylinder to rotate along therewith. An upper bearing is installed on the protruding part to support the rotary cylinder. A lower bearing is installed on the lower base block to support the rotary cylinder. A plurality of vanes is installed along the outer circumference of the rotary cylinder at regular angular intervals, and is opened outwards relative to the rotary cylinder or closed to be in close contact with the outer circumference of the rotary cylinder, according to a position relative to a wind direction. An angle limiting means prevents each vane from being opened beyond a preset angle.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional wind turbine;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a wind turbine, according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the wind turbine shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of portion ‘A’ of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a vane shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a wind turbine, according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side view of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the construction of a fastening means to fasten cloth of FIG. 9 to a rotary cylinder.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS OF IMPORTANT PARTS

110: support unit         111: lower base block
112: protruding part      120: rotary cylinder
130: rotating shaft       140: upper bearing
150: lower bearing        160: vanes
161: frame                162: cloth
170: angle limiting means 180: power generator
190: storage battery      210: rotary cylinder
211: cylindrical part     212, 213: enlarged parts
220: vanes                230: support cloth
240: fastening means      241: fastening groove
242: fastening bar        243: bolts

Claims

1. A wind turbine for generating power using wind force, comprising: a support unit, comprising a lower base block mounted to a ground, and a cylindrical protruding part extending upwards from an upper surface of the lower base block;a rotary cylinder surrounding the protruding part, and rotatably supported by the protruding part;a rotating shaft vertically extending from a center of the rotary cylinder, and installed in the rotary cylinder to rotate along with the rotary cylinder, thus transmitting mechanical energy produced by rotation of the rotary cylinder to a power generator;an upper bearing installed on the protruding part to be positioned between the rotary cylinder and the protruding part, and supporting rotation of the rotary cylinder;a lower bearing installed on the lower base block to be positioned between the rotary cylinder and the lower base block, and supporting a lower portion of the rotary cylinder;a plurality of vanes installed along an outer circumference of the rotary cylinder at regular angular intervals, the vanes being opened outwards relative to the rotary cylinder or closed to be in close contact with the outer circumference of the rotary cylinder, according to a position relative to a wind direction; andangle limiting means to prevent each of the vanes from being opened beyond a preset angle.

2. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein each of the vanes comprises: a frame having a rectangular shape, and having a plane structure which is bendable to have a curvature radius corresponding to a radius of the rotary cylinder, a first side of the frame being hinged to the rotary cylinder so that the frame is closed to be in close contact with the outer circumference of the rotary cylinder or is opened to protrude outwards relative to the rotary cylinder; andcloth or artificial leather installed in the frame to cover an interior of the frame.

3. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the angle limiting means comprises a rope which is made of fiber and couples the rotary cylinder to a second side of each of the vanes.

4. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein each of the vanes comprises cloth, the cloth being fastened at a first side, an upper side, and a lower side thereof to the rotary cylinder via fastening means, and a second side of the cloth opposite the first side thereof comprises an open end and is longer than the first side, so that, when the open end is positioned in a direction facing a wind, the cloth is expanded and rotates the rotary cylinder by wind force, and, when the open end is positioned in a direction which does not face the wind, the cloth is contracted and reduces rotational resistance of the rotary cylinder.

5. The wind turbine according to claim 4, wherein the rotary cylinder comprises: a cylindrical part having a constant diameter, and providing space for securing the first side of each of the vanes; andenlarged parts provided on opposite ends of the cylindrical part, and extending from the opposite ends of the cylindrical part such that their diameters are increased outwards, the enlarged parts providing space for securing the upper side and the lower side of each of the vanes.

6. The wind turbine according to claim 4, wherein the second side of each of the vanes is fastened to the rotary cylinder via support cloth so that a center of the second side of each of the vanes is expanded within a predetermined distance range from the rotary cylinder.