Wind turbine

Abstract

The present invention is a wind turbine that includes a mandrel, a plurality of supporting arms or trusses, and a plurality of umbrella-like vanes. The wind mandrel is adapted for rotating in a generally circular orientation with respect to a vertical axis of a turbine-receiving structure during operation wherein the circular orientation is generally parallel to a ground surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A turbine comprising:
 a mandrel, 
 wherein said mandrel is adapted for being secured for operation to a turbine-receiving structure having a generally vertical axis and a sufficient height; 
 a plurality of supporting arms extending laterally away from said mandrel, 
 wherein each of said plurality of supporting arms comprises a first end, a second end, and a body extending from said first end to said second end, and 
 wherein said first end of said each of said plurality of supporting arms is located proximate said rotating mandrel; and 
 a plurality of umbrella-like vanes, 
 wherein each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes comprises a face side and a back side and is adapted for being alternatively placed in an open configuration and a closed configuration during operation, 
 wherein said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes is secured at a location along a corresponding supporting arm of said plurality of supporting arms, 
 wherein said plurality of supporting arms and said plurality of umbrella-like vanes are adapted for rotating in a generally circular orientation with respect to the vertical axis of the turbine-receiving structure during operation wherein said circular orientation is generally parallel to a ground surface, and 
 wherein said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes, when opened or in said open configuration, provides a solid surface for the wind to act upon but, as said plurality of umbrella-like vanes rotate around the vertical axis of the turbine-receiving structure, said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes provides said back side for the wind to act upon and to give little resistance to the wind so as to return said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes to said closed configuration as said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes rotates into position to be opened and acted upon again, repetitively, as solid rotatable surfaces. 
 
     
     
       2. The wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one supporting arm of said plurality of supporting arms forms an angle of about ninety degrees with the vertical axis of the turbine-receiving structure. 
     
     
       3. The wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes is secured proximate said second end of a corresponding supporting arm of said plurality of supporting arms. 
     
     
       4. The wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein the turbine-receiving structure is a tower or pole. 
     
     
       5. The wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein speed of rotation of said rotating mandrel is directly proportional to speed of the wind. 
     
     
       6. The wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein power produced is directly proportional to size, in square feet surface, of said plurality of vanes times force or speed of the wind, and wherein torque is proportional to length of said plurality of supporting arms. 
     
     
       7. The wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of umbrella-like vanes are at least six umbrella-like vanes. 
     
     
       8. The wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of umbrella-like vanes are secured on said plurality of supporting arms that are connected by bridging so that turning action is transmitted from any one of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes into and through a system of said plurality of supporting arms. 
     
     
       9. The wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of supporting arms are made of a lightweight material. 
     
     
       10. The wind turbine according to  claim 9 , wherein said lightweight material is aluminum. 
     
     
       11. The wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of umbrella-like vanes are made of a lightweight material. 
     
     
       12. The wind turbine according to  claim 11 , wherein said lightweight material is selected from the group consisting of sail cloth and parachute cloth. 
     
     
       13. The wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of umbrella-like vanes are made of a strong material that is sun and weather resistant. 
     
     
       14. The wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein said rotating mandrel is centrally positioned with respect to said plurality of supporting arms. 
     
     
       15. The wind turbine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a turbine-receiving structure. 
     
     
       16. The wind turbine according to  claim 15 , wherein said turbine-receiving structure is a tower or pole. 
     
     
       17. A turbine comprising:
 a rotating mandrel, 
 wherein said rotating mandrel is adapted for being rotatably secured for operation to a turbine-receiving structure having a generally vertical axis and a sufficient height; 
 a plurality of supporting arms extending laterally away from said rotating mandrel, 
 wherein each of said plurality of supporting arms comprises a first end, a second end, and a body extending from said first end to said second end, 
 wherein said first end of said each of said plurality of supporting arms is located proximate said rotating mandrel, and 
 wherein at least one supporting arm of said plurality of supporting arms forms an angle of about ninety degrees with the vertical axis of the turbine-receiving structure; and 
 a plurality of umbrella-like vanes, 
 wherein each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes comprises a face side and a back side and is adapted for being alternatively placed in an open configuration and a closed configuration during operation, 
 wherein said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes is secured proximate said second end of a corresponding supporting arm of said plurality of supporting arms, 
 wherein said rotating mandrel, said plurality of supporting arms and said plurality of umbrella-like vanes are adapted for rotating in a generally circular orientation with respect to the vertical axis of the turbine-receiving structure during operation wherein said circular orientation is generally parallel to a ground surface, and 
 wherein said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes, when opened or in said open configuration, provides a solid surface for the wind to act upon but, as said plurality of umbrella-like vanes rotate around the vertical axis of the turbine-receiving structure, said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes provides said back side for the wind to act upon and to give little resistance to the wind so as to return said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes to said closed configuration as said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes rotates into position to be opened and acted upon again, repetitively, as solid rotatable surfaces. 
 
     
     
       18. The wind turbine according to  claim 17 , further comprising a turbine-receiving structure. 
     
     
       19. The wind turbine according to  claim 17 , wherein at least one supporting arm of said plurality of supporting arms forms an angle of about ninety degrees with the vertical axis of the turbine-receiving structure. 
     
     
       20. The wind turbine according to  claim 17 , wherein said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes is secured proximate said second end of a corresponding supporting arm of said plurality of supporting arms.