초록 ▼

A wind turbine, including: a rotatable frame; a plurality of airfoils extending in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotatable frame; and an enclosure surrounding the rotatable frame, wherein the enclosure comprises a plurality of moveable members configured to direct air flow onto

A wind turbine, including: a rotatable frame; a plurality of airfoils extending in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotatable frame; and an enclosure surrounding the rotatable frame, wherein the enclosure comprises a plurality of moveable members configured to direct air flow onto a first half of the rotatable frame and to block air flow onto a second half of the rotatable frame to thereby cause the rotatable frame to rotate. The moveable members may be pivotable louvers that can be opened by being oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of the air flow. By changing the orientation of the pivotable louvers, the present wind turbine can generate electricity from winds blowing in any direction.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A wind turbine, comprising: a rotatable frame; a plurality of airfoils mounted to the rotatable frame, wherein each of the airfoils have a curved side and an opposing flattened side, and wherein the airfoils extend in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotatab

What is claimed is: 1. A wind turbine, comprising: a rotatable frame; a plurality of airfoils mounted to the rotatable frame, wherein each of the airfoils have a curved side and an opposing flattened side, and wherein the airfoils extend in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotatable frame; and an enclosure surrounding the rotatable frame, wherein the enclosure comprises a plurality of moveable members configured to direct air flow onto a first side portion of the rotatable frame and to simultaneously block air flow onto a second side portion of the rotatable frame, wherein the first and second side portions are next to one another. 2. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein air flow directed onto the first portion of the rotatable frame causes the rotatable frame to rotate. 3. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the moveable members comprise pivotable louvers. 4. The wind turbine of claim 3, wherein the pivotable louvers are opened by being oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of the air flow. 5. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the moveable members are positioned such that the first and second side portions of the rotatable frame are approximately equal in size. 6. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the moveable members are positioned to block air flow onto one half of the rotatable frame. 7. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the first and second side portions of the rotatable frame comprise opposite halves of the rotatable frame, divided by a line passing through an axis of rotation of the rotatable frame. 8. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein air flow perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotatable frame causes the rotatable frame to rotate. 9. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the rotatable frame rotates about a vertical axis. 10. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the rotatable frame is a rotor of an electric generator. 11. The wind turbine of claim 1, further comprising: a generator drive wheel in contact with the rotatable frame. 12. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is rectangular in shape. 13. The wind turbine of claim 1, further comprising: an air flow direction sensor. 14. The wind turbine of claim 13, further comprising: a member positioning system that moves the moveable members to direct air flow onto the first side portion of the rotatable frame and to block air flow onto the second side portion of the rotatable frame. 15. The wind turbine of claim 14, wherein the member positioning system rotates the pivotable louvers open in a direction of air flow over the first side portion of the rotatable frame. 16. A method of operating a wind turbine, comprising: positioning a plurality of moveable members to direct air flow over a first side portion of a wind turbine and to simultaneously block air flow over a second side portion of the wind turbine, wherein the first and second side portions are next to one another, thereby causing the wind turbine to rotate, wherein the wind turbine comprises: a rotatable frame; and a plurality of airfoils mounted to the rotatable frame, wherein the airfoils extend in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotatable frame, and wherein each of the airfoils have a curved side and an opposing flattened side. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: positioning the moveable members such that the first and second side portions of the rotatable frame are approximately equal in size. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein positioning the plurality of moveable members comprises pivoting a plurality of louvers surrounding the wind turbine. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second side portions of the rotatable frame comprise opposite halves of the rotatable frame, divided by a line passing through an axis of rotation of the rotatable frame. 20. The method of claim 16, further comprising: sensing the direction of air flow, and positioning the plurality of moveable members dependent upon the direction of air flow. 21. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of airfoils are positioned such that the flattened sides of the airfoils extend radially outwards from the axis of rotation of the rotatable frame. 22. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of airfoils are positioned such that the flattened sides of the airfoils extend radially outwards from the axis of rotation of the rotatable frame.