AU7825201A - A vertical axis wind turbine improvement - Google Patents

Description

Australia, Patents Act 1990 Complete Specification For A Standard Patent Original 0 0 .00 0 9.

Invention Title: Name of Applicant: Name of Inventors: Associated Provisional Patent Appl. No.: Date Provisional Patent Application Filed: Address for Service: A Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Improvement Talsh Engineering Pty Ltd, A.C.N. 002326614 Fedor Alex Tialshinsky Valery Fedor Tialshinsky, PR0621 9 October 2000 SAMPARK CO 67 Moate Avenue Brighton Le Sands NSW 2216 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: A VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE IMPROVEMENT Background The invention relates to an improvement to vertical axis wind turbines.

Summary Of The Invention A first aspect of the invention provides a vertical axis wind turbine including: a frame rotate-able about an axis, a plurality of vanes each coupled to the frame for rotating the frame about the axis wherein each vane is pivot-able relative to the frame in a first or second direction about an axis of the vane, and a plurality of first and second stopper pairs, each pair corresponding to a vane and limiting the amount each vane can be pivoted in the first and second direction.

Preferably each first stopper is integrated into a corresponding linkage mechanism coupling the vane to the frame and includes one end of a crank pivotally coupled to the frame and the other end pivotally coupled to a link, the link having its other end pivotally coupled to the vane, and in use when the linkage mechanism is in its maximum extended state it acts as the first stopper.

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i* Preferably the crank and link are inter-engageable, and in use when the link inter-engages the crank the linkage mechanism is prevented from extending further.

S 6 Preferably each second stopper includes a post secured to the frame located in the pathway of the corresponding vane, and in use the vane is prevented from pivoting beyond the post by the post.

%0.6 Alternatively each second stopper is integrated into the corresponding linkage mechanism and each 25 linkage mechanism has the end of the crank pivotally coupled to the frame via a post located in the ooeo pathway of the corresponding vane, and in use the vane is prevented from pivoting beyond the post by the post.

S0.0 A second aspect of the invention provides a vertical axis wind turbine including: a frame rotate-able about an axis; a plurality of vanes each coupled to the frame for rotating the frame about the axis, each vane having one face working for part of a cycle of rotation to rotate the frame, and the other face working for another part of the cycle and each vane is pivot-able relative to the frame in a first or second direction about an axis of the vane.

Preferably each vane has an extendable linkage mechanism coupling the vane to the frame for limiting the amount each vane can be pivoted in the first direction and includes one end of a crank pivotally coupled to the frame and the other end pivotally coupled to a link, the link having its other end pivotally coupled to the vane.

Preferably the crank and link are inter-engageable, and in use when the link inter-engages the crank, the linkage mechanism is prevented from extending further.

Preferably a post corresponding to each vane is secured to the frame located in the pathway of the vane, and in use the vane is prevented from pivoting in the second direction beyond the post by the post.

Preferably each crank is pivotally coupled to the frame via the corresponding post.

Drawings The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of wind turbine in accordance with the invention, with a portion broken away for illustration purposes.

Figure 2 illustrates a plan view of the preferred embodiment in Figure 1 shown as a schematic.

20 Figure 3 illustrates some partial detail of the linkage mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 illustrates the linkage mechanism shown in Figure 1 and Figure 3 in two different states.

Detailed Description 25 A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 oooo generally, and it is to be noted that common numeric references in the Figures relate to the same feature in the respective figures.

The vertical axis wind turbine 1 in Figure 1 includes a frame 2 rotate-able about an axis 3, a plurality of vanes 4 each coupled to the frame 2 for rotating the frame about the axis 3.

Each vane 4 has two faces, one face 17 working for part of a cycle of rotation of the frame to rotate the frame 2, and the other face 18 working for another part of the cycle, and each vane 4 is mounted on the frame so it can pivot relative to the frame about an off geometric axis 7 of the vane in a first or second direction 5, 6. Furthermore each vane 4 has an extendable linkage mechanism 8 coupling the vane 4 to the frame 2 for limiting the amount each vane can be pivoted in the first or second direction 5, 6.

The linkage mechanism 8 includes one end 9 of a crank 10 pivotally coupled to the frame 2 via a post 11, and the other end 12 pivotally coupled to one end 13 of a link 14, the link having its other end 15 pivotally coupled to the vane 4. The post 11 is located in the pathway of the corresponding vane 4 so in use the vane 4 is prevented from pivoting beyond the post 11 in the second direction 6 by the post 11, which acts as a stopper. Optionally the post 11 includes a buffer 19 to act as a seat for the vane 4 against post 11.

When the linkage mechanism 8 is in its maximum extended state it acts as a stopper for the vane 4 preventing the vane 4 from pivoting any further in the first direction 5. As can be seen in Figure 3 the crank 10 and link 4 are inter-engageable, and in use when link 14 inter-engages the crank the linkage mechanism 8 is prevented from extending further.

The operation of the vertical axis wind turbine 1 will now be described with particular reference to Figure 2. As can be seen the turbine 1 includes a set of eight vanes 4 that can move or pivot about their respective axis 7 in accordance with their respective linkage mechanisms 8. This arrangement allows vanes 4 to move within predefined limits in accordance with the direction of the wind 16.

I Six vanes 4a-4f as shown cooperate to be involved in actual work. The remaining two vanes 4g, 4h are in a parallel orientation relative to the direction of the wind 16.

20 At the instant in time illustrated in Figure 2 as will be appreciated the off-geometric axis 7 of each vane 4 biases the orientation of the vanes 4 relative to the wind direction 16 in the orientations as shown in the figure. Vanes 4a to 4d are under wind pressure against working face 17 with the corresponding linkage mechanisms 8 in the fully retracted state and the vanes 4a to 4d abutting the corresponding post 11 a to 11ld. The vanes 4a to 4d are creating forces that are shown as Fa to Fd 25 respectively to rotate the turbine. These forces are not to scale but are indicative only and are shown to assist explanation.

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Vanes 4e and 4f at the same instant in time are under wind pressure against working face 17 with S the corresponding linkage mechanism 8 is in the fully extended state and the vanes 4e and 4f are creating forces that are shown as Fe Ff and cooperate with Fa to Fd to rotate the turbine in the same direction.

Vanes 4g 4h in the mean time are parallel with the direction of the wind 16 and the corresponding linkage mechanism is in a state intermediate the fully extended and fully retracted state allowing the vane 4 to stall or luff and not create any forces that contribute to the rotation of the turbine at this instant in time.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the net force resulting from all the vanes 4a to 4h will urge the turbine 1 to rotate clockwise about its axis 3. It will also be appreciated that as the turbine rotates clockwise each vane 4 will have one face 17 working for part of a cycle of rotation to rotate the frame, and the other face 18 working for another part of the cycle and the vane will stall or luff for the remaining part of the cycle. Advantageously the turbine 1 is omnidirectional and will work in this manner independent of the direction of the wind or changes in direction of the wind.

Each vane 4 is free to pivot about its axis 7 subject to the linkage mechanism 8, which allows the vane 4 to pivot between one working orientation where face 17 is working against the wind to rotate the frame to the other working orientation where face 18 is working against the wind for another part of the cycle to rotate the frame.

The invention has been described by way of example only with reference to a preferred embodiment, which is not intended to introduce limitations on the scope of the invention. It will be Sappreciated by persons skilled in the art that alternative embodiments exist even though they may c dnot have been described herein which remain within the scope and spirit of the invention as broadly described herein.

S 20 For example the geometric location of the axis 7 of each vane 4 and or the limits of the allowable angles of each vane 4 relative to the direction of the wind by the linkage mechanism 8 can be selected to manipulate what portions of each cycle of rotation of the frame each face of a vane 4 is working. Similarly the number and or size of vanes 4 provide on a turbine 1 can be selected as required.

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Claims (9)

1. A vertical axis wind turbine including: a frame rotate-able about an axis; a plurality of vanes each coupled to the frame for rotating the frame about the axis, each vane pivot-able relative to the frame in a first or second direction about an axis of the vane; and a plurality of first and second stopper pairs, each pair corresponding to a vane and limiting the amount each vane can be pivoted in the first and second direction.

2. A turbine in accordance with claim 1 wherein each first stopper is integrated into a corresponding linkage mechanism coupling the vane to the frame and includes one end of a crank pivotally coupled to the frame and the other end pivotally coupled to a link, the link having its other end pivotally coupled to the vane, and in use when the linkage mechanism is in its maximum extended state it acts as the first stopper.

3. A turbine in accordance with claim 2 wherein the crank and link are inter-engageable, and in use when the link inter-engages the crank, the linkage mechanism is prevented from extending further. 20

4. A turbine in accordance with any preceding claim wherein each second stopper includes a post secured to the frame located in the pathway of the corresponding vane, and in use the vane is prevented from pivoting beyond the post by the post.

A turbine in accordance with claim 2 or 3 wherein each second stopper is integrated into the 25 corresponding linkage mechanism and each linkage mechanism having the end of the crank pivotally coupled to the frame via a post located in the pathway of the corresponding vane, and in use the vane is prevented from pivoting beyond the post by the post.

6. A vertical axis wind turbine including: a frame rotate-able about an axis; a plurality of vanes each coupled to the frame for rotating the frame about the axis, each vane having one face working for part of a cycle of rotation to rotate the frame, and the other face working for another part of the cycle and each vane is pivot-able relative to the frame in a first or second direction about an axis of the vane.

7. A turbine in accordance with claim 6 wherein each vane has an extendable linkage mechanism coupling the vane to the frame for limiting the amount each vane can be pivoted in the first direction and includes one end of a crank pivotally coupled to the frame and the other end pivotally coupled to a link, the link having its other end pivotally coupled to the vane.

8. A turbine in accordance with claim 7 wherein the crank and link are inter-engageable, and in use when the link inter-engages the crank, the linkage mechanism is prevented from extending further.

9. A turbine in accordance with claim 7 or 8 wherein a post corresponding to each vane is secured to the frame located in the pathway of the vane, and in use the vane is prevented from pivoting in the second direction beyond the post by the post. A turbine in accordance with claim 9 wherein each crank is pivotally coupled to the frame via the corresponding post. i* 11. A vertical axis wind turbine substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings. *ooo o*o*