A Vertical Axis Wind Turbine comprising: A hub housing an alternator or generator, gearbox, arbor, tachometer and programmable logic controller. At the upper outer radius of the hub is a track supporting the landing gear for the wind rotor. Above the hub a large elongated wind rotor is attached to the arbor with landing gear that ride on the track. The rotor is the support structure providing anchoring for masts, sails and boom control systems. Attached to the top/center of the rotor is a tower with cables supporting the outer perimeter portions of the rotor arms. At the top of the tower is a weathervane and position controller. Fabric sails are attached to the mast assemblies and controlled by resolvers. When the wind causes rotation the programmable logic controller adjusts the sails to best catch the wind regardless of wind direction or their position while the rotor is rotating.

U.S. patent Documents

	330,168	Nov. 10, 1885	Tallerday
	802,144	Oct. 17, 1905	Harrington
	3,995,170	Nov. 30, 1976	Graybill	290/55
	4,191,507	Mar. 4, 1980	DeBerg	416/177
	4,208,168	Jun. 17, 1980	Chen	416/132B
	4,303,835	Dec. 1, 1981	Bair	290/55
	4,681,512	Jul. 21, 1987	Barnard	416/132B
	4,730,119	Mar. 8, 1988	Biscomb	290/55
	5,083,902	Jan. 28, 1992	Rhodes	416/132B
	5,784,978	Jul. 28, 1998	Saiz	114/103
	5,823,749	Oct. 20, 1998	Green	416/132B
	6,655,916 B2	Dec. 2, 2003	Navarro	416/177
	6,672,522	Jan. 6, 2004	Lee	290/55

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to a vertical axis wind turbine of great stature. Using a large wind rotor as the support structure to mount vertical masts and sails to extract energy from the wind.

Sails and vertical axis windmills are a part of ancient history. Only recent developments in automatic sail controls and advancements in computer technology and control devices have made this invention possible.

The efficiency of modern sails is well known. Some sails have the ability to actually sail up wind, such as a sloop rigged sail or a rotating mast rigged sail. A machine that uses this type of sail set up in such a way that each sail automatically sails in a circle and pushes the rotor arms in the same way a sail pushes a sailboat would be a great improvement to the original vertical axis windmill.

The masts and sails must have some sort of structure to be attached to and supported by. To have this structure exposed to the wind would create a great deal of wind resistance lowering the efficiency of the machine so it is reasonable to make this structure aerodynamic. Covering this structure with a light weight material and designing it so the structure would be streamlined for going into the wind and designed so it would capture the wind when going downwind, as a wind rotor, would actually cause the structure to create some power rather than costing power to turn it.

The use of wind rotors in wind turbines is largely used and typically provides the torque for the turbine to self start. Having the sails a large distance from the center of the rotor would create a great deal of torque but to have a large structure designed to support itself independently may not be feasible, so using lessons learned from the suspension bridge would solve this problem. Utilizing the tower in the center of the rotor structure as a fulcrum and having the rotor arms extend horizontality from the center and connecting them with cables from one rotor arm up to the tower then down to the opposing rotor arm would provide the support required and allow for a light weight cantilever type rotor structure similar to the primary center support section of a self anchoring suspension span or cable stay bridge.

The sails on this machine must all work in concert so it is necessary for the machine to be oriented into the wind. Having a weathervane and position controller at the top of the tower would provide the ability to correctly position the sails so the machine develops optimum power and gives it the ability to self start.

The objective of this invention is to provide a solution to problems known to exist with the wind turbines located at wind farms. The great height that is required for such wind turbines makes them visible for miles and reduces the intrinsic value of the surrounding land. The speed at which the blades turn create a hazard for birds and bats putting additional strain on some species already endangered.

2. Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 206,631 by Smith describes a wind engine using sails that rotate about a vertical axis. The weight of the sails and masts are supported directly by a boat or a wheeled vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 802,144 by Harrington describes a windmill with sails that rotate about a vertical axis and uses a tower to support the sails. The sails on this invention collapse when going upwind. U.S. Pat. No. 1,697,574 by Savonious describes a wind rotor that uses curved fixed vanes that rotate about a vertical axis. U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,170 by Graybill describes a wind energy conversion devise that uses sails which collapse when going upwind and are mounted on a frame. U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,835 by Bair describes a wind powered generator with cyclic airfoil latching. This invention uses rigid airfoils that rotate about a vertical axis and are computer controlled so the airfoils turn to catch the wind as the machine rotates. U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,119 by Biscomb describes a sail driven wind motor using fore and aft rigged sails that are mounted on arms. This invention utilizes an oscillating movement of the arm structure and the arms are supported by wheels that ride on a circular track. U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,522 by Lee describes a wind power generating system that uses sails mounted on rotating masts and travel on a race track shaped track and has furling sail devises.

The invention is a VAWT consisting of a large elongated horizontal wind rotor with attached vertical tower, vertical masts, horizontal booms and fabric sails all supported by vertical hub.

It is an object of this invention to provide:

• • Large fabric sails mounted on each rotor arm as the primary means for collecting wind energy to be used to power a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). The sails are automatically adjusted to cause each sail to sail in a circle around the perimeter of the machine.
  • A streamlined horizontally rotating structure to support and to mount the vertical masts and sails. The structure takes the shape and characteristics of a wind rotor. The rotor structure contributes to collecting wind energy. The sails are mounted at a suitable distance from the center of the machine on the rotor arms so the turbulence created from each sail is minimized when it interacts with other sails that are downwind.
  • A hub to support and stabilize the rotor and it's attachments as they rotate with the arbor.
  • A centralized vertical tower with cables to support most of the weight of the rotor arms and attachments as the rotor arms extend a considerable distance from the center of the machine.
  • A programmable logic controller or computer to receive and analyze data input from sensors and devices located on the machine in order to activate the boom control systems and also the automatic furling systems to correctly position the sails so the machine develops the most optimum power output from the available wind conditions without causing any damage to the machine.
  • A weathervane with an attached position controller located at the top of the tower and also an anemometer located at the top of the tower, in order to relay wind direction and wind speed information to the programmable logic controller.
  • Boom control systems with resolvers to relay boom locations to the programmable logic controller to enable the proper positioning of the booms according to wind direction.
  • Halyards with resolvers to relay sail furling information to the programmable logic controller.
  • A tachometer located in the hub to relay rotor rpm information to the programmable logic controller to aid in maintaining an optimum rotational speed.
  • Electric hydraulic pumps, valves and cylinders which are operated and controlled by the programmable logic controller, to accurately position the booms and sails so they capture wind energy n the most optimum way to cause the machine to rotate or to maintain a certain rpm.
  • Automatic boom furling systems, which are also operated and controlled by the programmable logic controller, to raise or lower the sails according to wind conditions in order to prevent damage due to high wind speeds and also to aid in maintaining a certain rpm during higher than optimal wind speed conditions.
  • Utilize the torque created by having the sails a large distance from the center of the machine.
  • An optional irrigation system that could be installed on suitable machines.

The hub is attached to the ground and houses alternators, gearbox, transmission, arbor, brake, battery pack, tachometer and programmable logic controller. At the upper outer perimeter of the hub is a circular track to allow the landing gear for the rotor to ride.

An elongated wind rotor is attached to the arbor above the hub and each rotor arm has landing gear that ride on the track that is designed to help support the weight of the rotor and to stabilize it while the machine is rotating. The wind rotor has structural components designed to support the mast assemblies, standing rigging, support cables, tower, sails and the boom control systems.

The tower is attached to the top and center of the rotor and rotates with the rotor. The masts are installed on the outer portions of the rotor arms, each rotor arm may have more than one mast and the rotor may have an odd number of rotor arms or an even number of rotor arms. The tower supports cables that stretch diagonally between the tower and the outer portions of the rotor arms. The cables are designed to support the weight of the rotor arms, mast assemblies, sails and boom control systems.

At the top of the tower is located the weathervane, position controller and anemometer. The weathervane always points into the wind and orientates the position controller as to wind direction. The programmable logic controller extrapolates this information and correlates it with boom location information received from resolvers and rpm information from the tachometer then activates electrically operated hydraulic pumps, valves and cylinders that control the precise position of the booms so the sails are always in the best position to capture the power of the wind regardless of wind direction, change in wind direction, wind speed or the sails position on the machine while the rotor is rotating.

Having an anemometer at the top of the tower provides wind speed information to the programmable logic controller giving it the ability to raise or lower the sails according to wind conditions.

Having the sails mounted on the rotor arms will provide the ability to have a very large surface area exposed to the wind without requiring great height giving the machine a much lower profile than existing wind turbines and making it more difficult to see from a distance.

With the sails mounted a large distance from the center of the rotor will not only utilize the full potential of the sails ability to capture wind power but will also cause the rotor to rotate very slowly allowing birds and bats to avoid the machine as it is operating making it suitable to be placed in areas of migratory or endangered birds and bats.

Given this inventions ability to irrigate a filed would provide the means for a farm operation to become more productive and efficient allowing more time for other activities.

There is a clear and present need for clean electrical energy, a wind turbine that can utilize lower altitude winds and create a great deal of electricity would be of tremendous value in helping to minimize the use of fossil fuels, contributing to a cleaner atmosphere and providing minimal environmental impact.

The invention is a vertical axis wind turbine using a large rotating support structure that takes the shape of a horizontal wind rotor. The rotor is the support structure for all of the components mounted above a centralized hub; where a tower, masts, booms, boom control systems and fabric sails are mounted, directly or indirectly, on the rotor. The sails are configured so each sail automatically sails in a circle providing the power to turn the rotor and thereby the alternator, generator or water pump. The invention could be used to create electricity suitable for the electrical power grid to which the machine is attached, to create electricity in a remote location, to power a hydrogen production facility or it could be used to pump water.

A self starting Vertical Axis Wind Turbine designed to make electricity using the power of the wind and is intended to be very large. The machine utilizes fabric sails 1 as used on a sailboat and an elongated horizontal wind rotor 2 with a vertical hub 3 to create the power required to cause the machine to rotate 4. Alternators or generators 5 driven by the wind rotor 2 and sails 1 via the arbor 6 provide the source of electricity.

A central hub 3 is securely mounted to the ground 7 and contains within it the alternators or generators 5, gearbox 8, transmission 9, tachometer 10, programmable logic controller 11, arbor 6, brake 12, battery pack 13, thrust bearings 14, irrigation pipe 15 and the mounting structures for the various equipment. The exterior wall of the hub 3 is designed to be strong enough to support the weight of the rotor 2. The top of the exterior wall is built at a radius to match the landing gear 16 for the rotor 2. The track 17 for the landing gear 16 is located at the top of the exterior wall of the hub 3 and is designed to be adjustable to allow for settling and to prevent the landing gear 16 from rising above the track 17 when the machine encounters high winds. The hub 3 has a roof 18 covering the structure to keep the weather out and to protect the interior components. The center of the roof 18 has a thrust bearing 14 to allow the arbor 6 to pass through. The roof 18 is designed to support the thrust bearing 14, arbor 6, some of the weight of the rotor 2 and the tower 19. On models with the ability to irrigate a farmers field the arbor 6 will be hollow to allow the irrigation pipe 15 to pass through and extend along the length of two opposing rotor arms 20 to maintain balance. Beneath the bottom of the arbor 6 the irrigation pipe 15 will have a swivel fitting 21. The arbor 6 and rotor 2 are securely fastened together.

The rotor 2 will have four equal arms 20 installed 90 degrees from each other and extend radially from the center of the rotor 2, maintaining an equal distance between each rotor arm 20 around the perimeter of the machine. The rotor arms 20 are constructed in such a way as to have high strength and light weight, with integral mounting structures for the vertical masts 22, sails 1, boom control systems 23, support cables 24, standing rigging 25 as well as the support structure for the fore and aft attachment 26 of the standing rigging for each mast 22. The mast and boom assemblies 27 are mounted on the rotor arms 20 at such a distance from the center of the rotor so that turbulence created by an upwind sail is minimized before it can interact with the function of downwind sails as the machine rotates. Each rotor arm 20 may have more than one mast and boom assembly 27. The rotor structure 2 is covered with a light weight material and is designed so as a rotor arm 20 is running downwind it would be streamlined on the leeward side 28 and designed to capture the wind on the windward side 29.

In the center of the rotor 2 and extending up from the top is a vertical tower 19 designed to support the cables 24 which provide support for the outer perimeter portions of the rotor arms 20. Utilizing the tower 19 as a fulcrum and having the rotor arms 20 extend horizontally from the center and connecting them with diagonal cables 24 attached at one rotor arm 20 up to the tower 19 then down to the opposing rotor arm 20 in order to provide the support needed for a cantilever type suspension of the rotor arms 20. The tower 19 is securely fastened to and rotates with the rotor 2. At the top of the tower 19 is a weathervane 30, position controller 31 and anemometer 32. The weathervane 30 always points into the wind and orientates the position controller 31 as to wind direction 33. The programmable logic controller 11 extrapolates this information and correlates it with information received from resolvers 34 located at the boom control systems 23 as well as rpm information received from the tachometer 10 and activates electric hydraulic pumps 35 and valves 36 located at the boom control systems 23 to cause hydraulic cylinders 37 to extend and retract. Each hydraulic cylinder 37 is connected to a pushrod that is connected to a pivoting lever 38 that is connected to another pushrod 39 that is connected to the accompanying boom 27 to control the accurate position of the boom 27 so the sails 1 catch the wind in the best possible way regardless of the sails 1 position on the machine, machine rpm, wind direction 33 or wind speed. The sails 1 are made of fabric and are similar in design as those used on a sailboat, such as a sloop or rotating mast rigged vessel.

When the programmable logic controller 11 detects high wind speed of a predetermined velocity, relayed by the anemometer 32, it will then activate electric motors located at the automatic boom furling system 40 thereby lowering the sails 1 a predetermined amount in relation to wind speed in order to protect the sails 1 from damage due to high winds. This will allow the machine to operate in higher winds than would otherwise be possible without risking damage to the sails 1. If wind speed continues to rise beyond the sails 1 structural ability to withstand the additional force applied by high wind speed then the programmable logic controller will completely lower the sails 1 and the machine will stop. When the wind storm has subsided the sails 1 would be automatically raised and the machine would self start.

Each sails leech can be controlled by activating the halyard motors 41 loosening the halyards and not activating the automatic boom furling system 40 thereby loosening the sails 1 giving them the ability to catch more wind when the sails 1 are running downwind. When the sail is traveling upwind the halyard would be tightened to minimize luffing of the sails.

There is also a limited travel extension spring 42 with a quick release detachment clasp 43, similar to a pentle hook, at the top of each sail 1. In the event of a large unexpected gust of wind that is beyond the structural ability of the sail 1 this spring would be fully compressed activating the detachment clasp 43 and the sail 1 would be disconnected from the halyard relieving any undue stress on the sail 1, preventing damage. The limited travel extension springs 42 will also act as a shock absorber to lessen the stress applied on the sails 1 by large gusts of wind thereby increasing the sails 1 usable life.

There are many wind turbines and windmills that use fabric sails as the means to collect wind energy. The structures that support these sails are generally exposed to the wind creating a great deal of drag. Using sails 1 mounted on a streamlined wind rotor 2 gives this invention the ability to extract wind energy from both the sails 1 and the wind rotor structure 2. This also provides an aesthetically pleasing devise.

The drawings depict various combinations of the different components that comprise the invention and show the counterclockwise rotation of the rotor with the sails shown in the approximate position to cause rotation as compared to wind direction. In order to simplify the drawings and because all rotor arms, on any one wind turbine, are identical every other rotor arm. Any numbered component identified on any rotor arm is duplicated on all other rotor arms.

FIG. 1/4:

A perspective view showing the invention with a single mast and boom assembly with sloop rigged sails located on the top surface of each rotor arm and near the perimeter of the rotor. A hydraulic version of the boom control system is shown that moves the mainsail booms into position as the machine rotates. Other components shown are symmetrical rotor arms, lattice tower, weathervane located in undisturbed wind, multiple support cables and concrete hub supported by columns and arches. This version of the invention may be suitable for a remote location and possibly with an irrigation system.

FIG. 2/4:

A perspective view showing the invention with rotating mast rigged sails mounted on the upper and lower surface of each rotor arm and near the perimeter of the rotor. The invention is shown using masts that do not require standing rigging. The upper and lower masts on each rotor arm are securely fastened together within the rotor arm and a system similar to the boom control system will rotate both upper and lower masts and booms together equally to cause the upper and lower sails to catch the wind. All of the mast and boom and halyard control systems are located within each rotor arm. A short tower is shown on the top/center of the rotor that is designed to be tall enough to adequately support the weight of the rotor arms via steel cables. The weathervane is located on top of the tower. A steel contoured hub is shown and the entire machine is shown supported by a contoured steel pedestal. This version of the invention could be suitable for a wind farm application.

FIG. 3/4:

A perspective view showing the invention using two sets of sloop rigged sails mounted on the top surface of each rotor arm with a lattice tower and cylindrical hub. The boom control system is shown using a rack and spur gear system to move the main sail booms.

FIG. 4/4:

A sectional view of FIG. 3/4 showing possible interior components of the hub and the relationship between the hub, arbor, landing gear, track, rotor, tower, masts and sails.

Legend:

• 1. Sail
• 2. Rotor
• 3. Hub
• 4. Direction of rotor rotation
• 5. Alternator/generator
• 6. Arbor
• 7. Ground
• 8. Gearbox
• 9. Transmission
• 10. Tachometer
• 11. Programmable logic controller/computer
• 12. Brake
• 13. Battery pack
• 14. Thrust bearing
• 15. Irrigation pipe
• 16. Landing gear
• 17. Track
• 18. Roof
• 19. Tower
• 20. Rotor arm
• 21. Swivel fitting
• 22. Mast
• 23. Boom control system
• 24. Support cable
• 25. Standing rigging
• 26. Rigging support structure
• 27. Mast and boom assembly
• 28. Leeward side of rotor arm
• 29. Windward side of rotor arm
• 30. Weathervane
• 31. Position controller
• 32. Anemometer
• 33. Wind direction
• 34. Resolver
• 35. Electric hydraulic pump
• 36. Electric hydraulic valve
• 37. Hydraulic cylinder
• 38. Lever
• 39. Pushrod
• 40. Boom furling system
• 41. Halyard motor
• 42. Limited travel extension spring
• 43. Quick release detachment clasp