초록 ▼

In one aspect, a wind turbine blade assembly includes a central shaft defining an axis of rotation and a plurality of helically twisted blades supported on the central shaft. The helically twisted blades have an inner edge and an outer edge, and at least a portion of the helically twisted blades is

In one aspect, a wind turbine blade assembly includes a central shaft defining an axis of rotation and a plurality of helically twisted blades supported on the central shaft. The helically twisted blades have an inner edge and an outer edge, and at least a portion of the helically twisted blades is radially spaced apart from the central shaft. In another aspect, a wind turbine apparatus employing the wind turbine blade assembly is provided.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wind turbine blade assembly, comprising: a central shaft defining an axis of rotation;a plurality of helically twisted blades supported on said central shaft, said helically twisted blades having an inner edge, an outer edge, and an upwind edge, wherein at least a portion of said helically twis

1. A wind turbine blade assembly, comprising: a central shaft defining an axis of rotation;a plurality of helically twisted blades supported on said central shaft, said helically twisted blades having an inner edge, an outer edge, and an upwind edge, wherein at least a portion of said helically twisted blades is radially spaced apart from said central shaft;each of said helically twisted blades supported on one or more spokes extending from said central shaft, wherein said upwind edge connects with one of said one or more spokes; andsaid one or more spokes inclined with respect to a transverse plane extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation toward an upwind end of said wind turbine blade assembly. 2. The wind turbine blade assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of helically twisted blades is selected from: two blades angularly spaced apart 180 degrees;three blades angularly spaced apart 120 degrees; andfour blades angularly spaced apart 90 degrees. 3. The wind turbine blade assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said helically twisted blades is formed from a generally circular strip of sheet material. 4. The wind turbine blade assembly of claim 3, wherein said generally circular strip of sheet material is selected from a strip having a uniform radial thickness and a strip having a tapered radial thickness. 5. The wind turbine blade assembly of claim 3, wherein said generally circular strip of sheet material has an inner radius and an outer radius and wherein the inner radius is approximately equal to one half of the outer radius. 6. The wind turbine blade assembly of claim 5, wherein a distance between the axis of rotation and the inner edge is equal to about one third of a distance between the axis of rotation and the outer edge. 7. The wind turbine blade assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said helically twisted blades is formed from strip of sheet material forming a partial circle. 8. The wind turbine blade assembly of claim 7, wherein each of said helically twisted blades is formed from a strip of sheet material forming a partial circle selected from a half circle, a third of a circle, and a quarter circle. 9. A wind turbine apparatus, comprising: a wind turbine blade assembly including a central shaft defining an axis of rotation and a first plurality of helically twisted blades supported on said central shaft, each of said first plurality of helically twisted blades having an inner edge, an outer edge, and an upwind edge, wherein at least a portion of each of said first plurality of helically twisted blades is radially spaced apart from said central shaft;a support member for rotatably supporting said wind turbine blade assembly;each of said helically twisted blades supported on one or more spokes extending from said central shaft, wherein said upwind edge connects with one of said one or more spokes; andsaid one or more spokes inclined with respect to a plane extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation toward an upwind end of said wind turbine blade assembly. 10. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: said support member including a vertical leg and a horizontal arm attached to said vertical leg;said horizontal arm rotatably supporting said central shaft. 11. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: said vertical leg is positioned on an upwind end of said first plurality of helical blades. 12. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: said vertical leg is positioned on a downwind end of said first plurality of helical blades; andmeans for aligning said wind turbine blade assembly with a wind direction. 13. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a second plurality of helically twisted blades supported on said central shaft, each of said second plurality of helically twisted blades having an inner edge and an outer edge, wherein at least a portion of each of said second plurality of helically twisted blades is radially spaced apart from said central shaft. 14. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: said support member including a vertical leg and a horizontal arm attached to said vertical leg;said horizontal arm rotatably supporting said central shaft; andsaid first plurality of helical blades and said second plurality of helical blades being disposed on opposite sides of said vertical leg. 15. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a mechanical output coupled to said central shaft for generating mechanical power from rotation of said blade assembly. 16. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: an electrical output coupled to said central shaft for generating electrical power from rotation of said blade assembly. 17. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: each of said helically twisted blades is formed from a generally circular or partial circular strip of flat sheet material having an inner radius and an outer radius, wherein the inner radius is approximately equal to one half of the outer radius; andwhen assembled, each of said helically twisted blades is offset from the central shaft such that a distance between the axis of rotation and the inner edge is equal to about one third of a distance between the axis of rotation and the outer edge. 18. A wind turbine apparatus, comprising: a wind turbine blade assembly including a central shaft defining an axis of rotation and a plurality of helically twisted blades supported on said central shaft, each of said helically twisted blades having an inner edge, an outer edge, and an upwind edge, wherein at least a portion of each of said helically twisted blades is radially spaced apart from said central shaft;each of said helically twisted blades supported on one or more spokes extending from the central shaft, wherein said upwind edge connects with one of said one or more spokes;a support member for rotatably supporting said wind turbine blade assembly;said support member including a vertical leg and a cantilevered horizontal arm attached to said vertical leg;said cantilevered horizontal arm rotatably supporting said central shaft; andsaid vertical leg positioned on one of: an upwind end of said plurality of helical blades; anda downwind end of said plurality of helical blades. 19. The wind turbine apparatus of claim 18, wherein said vertical leg is positioned on a downwind end of said plurality of helical blades, said wind turbine apparatus further comprising means for aligning the wind turbine blade assembly with a wind direction. 20. A wind turbine apparatus, comprising: a wind turbine blade assembly including a central shaft defining an axis of rotation and a plurality of helically twisted blades supported on said central shaft, each of said helically twisted blades having an inner edge, an outer edge, and an upwind edge, wherein at least a portion of each of said helically twisted blades is radially spaced apart from said central shaft;a support member for rotatably supporting said wind turbine blade assembly, said support member including a vertical leg and a horizontal arm attached to said vertical leg, said horizontal arm rotatably supporting said central shaft, said wind turbine blade assembly rotatable about a vertical axis of said vertical leg;each of said helically twisted blades supported on one or more spokes extending from said central shaft, wherein said upwind edge connects with one of said one or more spokes;said one or more spokes inclined with respect to a plane extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation toward an upwind end of said wind turbine blade assembly; andone or both of: means for preventing free rotation of said wind turbine blade assembly rotatable about the vertical axis of said vertical leg; andmeans for returning said wind turbine blade assembly to an initial orientation relative to the vertical axis of the vertical leg.