초록 ▼

A wind turbine for harvesting energy from both horizontal and vertical wind currents having an open frame structure and a central passage through the structure with at least three wind energy harvesting generally vertically disposed and rotatably mounted blades positioned about the central passage a

A wind turbine for harvesting energy from both horizontal and vertical wind currents having an open frame structure and a central passage through the structure with at least three wind energy harvesting generally vertically disposed and rotatably mounted blades positioned about the central passage and at least three wind energy harvesting generally horizontal blades projecting radially from the central vertical axis of the device. The open frame structure includes a unique rod and cable central structure offset from the periphery of the frame. In one embodiment, the frame structure is suspended from a rotatable hub at the top of a stationary mast.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wind turbine for harvesting energy from both horizontal and vertical wind flow comprising: an open frame structure having at least one generally horizontally disposed circular outer blade supporting member mounted for rotation about a central vertical axis passing through the center of the supp

1. A wind turbine for harvesting energy from both horizontal and vertical wind flow comprising: an open frame structure having at least one generally horizontally disposed circular outer blade supporting member mounted for rotation about a central vertical axis passing through the center of the supporting member;at least three wind energy harvesting generally vertically disposed and rotatable blades mounted on the circular outer supporting member of the open frame structure and defining a central passage, the vertically disposed and rotatable blades at an angle to the vertical of about ±12°; andat least three wind energy harvesting generally horizontally disposed blades projecting radially from the central vertical axis. 2. The wind turbine of claim 1 in which the circular outer blade supporting member is a hoop located at the bottom of the open frame structure and the turbine includes a lower fixed annular guideway in which one of the hoop and the guideway has an annular cavity and the other has an annular flange disposed in the cavity. 3. The wind turbine of claim 1 in which the circular outer blade supporting member is a lower hoop located at the bottom of the open frame structure, the open frame structure includes an upper hoop adjacent the top of the open frame structure, and the vertical blades are disposed between the top and bottom hoops. 4. The wind turbine of claim 2 in which a stationary vertical mast is positioned at the central vertical axis, the mast includes a rotatable hub adjacent to its top, and the open frame structure is attached to the rotatable hub. 5. The wind turbine of claim 1 including a rotatable mast located at the central vertical axis and the open frame structure is attached to the rotatable mast. 6. The wind turbine of claim 1 including a generator package configured to be driven by the circular outer supporting member to generate electricity in response to rotation of the open frame structure. 7. The wind turbine of claim 4 in which the open frame structure includes a central support structure offset from the perimeter of the housing comprising rod and cable supports located inwardly of the periphery of the open frame structure and an upper hoop where: the upper hoop is affixed to the hub with cabling running from the hub to the hoop that is maintained under tension;the bottom hoop is hung from the hub by a series of support rods affixed to their proximal ends to the lower hoop and at their distal ends to the hub; andthe upper and lower hoops are interconnected by tensioned cabling from each hoop to the rod to ensure that the hoops rotate in tandem. 8. The wind turbine of claim 1 in which the wind-catching generally horizontally disposed blades are disposed adjacent to the top of the open frame structure. 9. The wind turbine of claim 1 including an equal number of wind-catching generally vertically disposed blades and wind-catching generally horizontally disposed blades where the generally horizontally disposed blades are offset from the generally vertically disposed blades. 10. The wind turbine of claim 1 mounted on the roof of a building or tower with vertical facades that produces building or tower induced generally vertical upwardly directed wind flow as it is struck by natural horizontal wind and the lower hoop is adjacent to at least one roof or tower edge to receive a portion of the vertical upwardly directed wind flow into the central passage to drive the generally horizontally disposed blades. 11. The wind turbine of claim 10 mounted with the lower hoop adjacent at least two roof or tower edges. 12. The wind turbine of claim 10 including at least one wind deflector positioned above a roof edge to help deflect building-induced wind flow into the central passage. 13. A wind turbine for harvesting energy from both horizontal and vertical wind flow comprising: an open frame structure having at least one generally horizontally disposed circular outer blade supporting member mounted for rotation about a central vertical axis passing through the center of the supporting member;at least three wind energy harvesting generally vertically disposed and rotatable blades mounted on the circular outer supporting member of the open frame structure and defining a central passage,where the circular outer blade supporting member is a lower hoop located at the bottom of the open frame structure, the open frame structure includes an upper hoop adjacent the top of the open frame structure, and the vertical blades are disposed between the top and bottom hoops,where the generally vertically disposed blades include a pivot rod running between the top and bottom hoops and cabling running between at least one intermediate point on the pivot rod and a member of the support structure of the open frame structure to minimize bowing of the vertical blades in response to centrifugal forces on the blades during rotation of the open frame structure; andat least three wind energy harvesting generally horizontally disposed blades projecting radially from the central vertical axis. 14. The wind turbine of claim 13 in which the circular outer blade supporting member is a hoop located at the bottom of the open frame structure and the turbine includes a lower fixed annular guideway in which one of the hoop and the guideway has an annular cavity and the other has an annular flange disposed in the cavity. 15. The wind turbine of claim 13 in which the circular outer blade supporting member is a lower hoop located at the bottom of the open frame structure, the open frame structure includes an upper hoop adjacent the top of the open frame structure, and the vertical blades are disposed between the top and bottom hoops. 16. The wind turbine of claim 13 including a generator package configured to be driven by the circular outer supporting member to generate electricity in response to rotation of the open frame structure. 17. The wind turbine of claim 16 in which the open frame structure includes a central support structure offset from the perimeter of the housing comprising rod and cable supports located inwardly of the periphery of the open frame structure where: the upper hoop is affixed to the hub with cabling running from the hub to the hoop that is maintained under tension;the bottom hoop is hung from the hub by a series of support rods affixed to their proximal ends to the lower hoop and at their distal ends to the hub; andthe upper and lower hoops are interconnected by tensioned cabling from each hoop to the rod to ensure that the hoops rotate in tandem. 18. The wind turbine of claim 13 mounted on the roof of a building or tower with vertical facades that produces building or tower induced generally vertical upwardly directed wind flow as it is struck by natural horizontal wind and the lower hoop is adjacent to at least one roof or tower edge to receive a portion of the vertical upwardly directed wind flow into the central passage to drive the generally horizontally disposed blades. 19. A wind turbine for harvesting energy from both horizontal and vertical wind flow comprising: an open frame structure having at least one generally horizontally disposed circular outer blade supporting member in the form of a hoop located at the bottom of the open frame structure and a lower fixed annular guideway in which one of the hoop and the guideway has an annular cavity and the other has an annular flange disposed in the cavity, the supporting member being mounted for rotation about a central vertical axis passing through the center of the supporting member;at least three wind energy harvesting generally vertically disposed and rotatable blades mounted on the circular outer supporting member of the open frame structure and defining a central passage, the vertically disposed and rotatable blades at an angle to the vertical of about ±12°;at least three wind energy harvesting generally horizontally disposed blades projecting radially from the central vertical axis;a stationary vertical mast positioned at the central vertical axis, the mast including a rotatable hub adjacent to its top, where the open frame structure is attached to the rotatable hub; anda generator package configured to generate electricity in response to rotation of the open frame structure.