초록 ▼

Apparatus for furling, unfurling, and controlling a flexible airfoil for use in connection with a wind turbine wheel, comprising a rotatably mounted spindle journaled at one of its ends (the head end) to the hub of a wind turbine wheel, and at its other end (the foot end) in a foot plate bracket adj

Apparatus for furling, unfurling, and controlling a flexible airfoil for use in connection with a wind turbine wheel, comprising a rotatably mounted spindle journaled at one of its ends (the head end) to the hub of a wind turbine wheel, and at its other end (the foot end) in a foot plate bracket adjacent the rim of the wheel. The bracket is attached to a diametral bracing cable, and a soft airfoil is furled on the spindle. The foot plate is rotatably mounted so that the spindle foot can swing through a small arc about a centerline defined by the outer end of the cable. A “V”-shaped boom is rotatably secured to the foot plate and the bracing cable at its free ends such that the boom is pivotable with the spindle about a common axis spaced from the rotational axis of the spindle. A pulley is affixed to the outer, apex end of the boom. An outhaul line for furling and unfurling the soft airfoil is connected at one end to the clew of the soft airfoil, is threaded through the boom pulley, and its other end is secured to and wound about the spindle in a direction opposite the furling of the airfoil. A rotation means connected to the hub end of the spindle rotates the spindle, thus furling or unfurling the airfoil automatically by the self-winding/rewinding action of the outhaul line, thereby permitting rapid and precise adjustment of the soft airfoil in response to changing wind conditions. The upper end of the V-shaped boom pivots in a special connector assembly affixed to the intersection of the three major tension cables and provides precise adjustment of that intersection in three dimensions.

대표청구항 ▼

Soft airfoil support and control assembly for a wind turbine having a wheel with an axle suspended from a rim, said axle having a hub assembly in the plane of said wheel, comprising: (a) an elongate support member mounted in tension extending between said hub and rim; (b) an elongate spindle mounted

Soft airfoil support and control assembly for a wind turbine having a wheel with an axle suspended from a rim, said axle having a hub assembly in the plane of said wheel, comprising: (a) an elongate support member mounted in tension extending between said hub and rim; (b) an elongate spindle mounted radially between said hub and rim in a manner minimizing longitudinal force loading thereof; (c) said spindle carrying a soft airfoil furled thereabout; (d) means for mounting said spindle for rotation about its elongate axis to permit furling and unfurling of said soft airfoil therefrom; (e) means for supporting a portion of said airfoil spaced from said spindle, said support means including at least one elongate boom member disposed intermediate said rim and said hub; (f) means for selectively changing the angular position of the boom member with respect to the plane of the wheel to control the angle of attack of said unfurled airfoil relative to wind conditions; (g) means for mounting said boom member and said spindle to pivot in unison about a common center line spaced from the rotational axis of said spindle; (h) said assembly cooperating to provide selective positioning of a selected amount of unfurled soft airfoil before the wind to effect rotation of said wind turbine wheel for power take-off from the rim thereof.