Integrated vane for use in wind or water and process for producing the same

Abstract

In an integrated vane 1 for use in wind or water, main blades 3 arranged around an axial shaft 2 of the vane and support blades 4 for joining the main blades to the axial shaft are integrally formed with light and high strength fiber material such as glass fibers and carbon fibers. The main blade is symmetrical or asymmetrical in its cross sectional view and the support blade is symmetrical in its cross sectional view. The upper support blade may be asymmetrical in its cross sectional view and the lower support blade may have an up-and-down reversed shape of that of the upper support blade. A mountain-shaped portion may be formed at the ends of the main blade for reducing noise. The strength of crossing portions between the main and support blade of the vertical axis vane for use in wind or water is thus improved.

1 - 4 . (canceled)  
     
     
         5 . A process for producing an integrated vane for use in wind or water comprising the steps of: 
 crossing a preform of a main blade and a preform of a support blade, each of which comprises at least foamed plastics material;    covering both of the preforms with a light and high strength bag-shaped fiber fabric; and    adhering the bag-shaped fiber fabric to the outer surface of both of the preforms, thereby forming a hard skin with a plurality of layers of the fiber fabric.    
     
     
         6 . The process for producing an integrated vane for use in wind or water according to  claim 5 , wherein a sagging portion of the fiber fabric is pushed into the foamed plastics in a junction portion between the preform of the main blade and the preform of a support blade.  
     
     
         7 . The process for producing an integrated vane for use in wind or water according to  claim 5 , wherein the preform of a main blade is symmetrical or asymmetrical in its cross sectional view and the preform of a support blade is symmetrical in its cross sectional view.  
     
     
         8 . The process for producing an integrated vane for use in wind or water according to  claim 5 , wherein the preform of a main blade is symmetrical or asymmetrical in its cross sectional view, a preform of an upper support blade is symmetrical in its cross sectional view, and the preform of a lower support blade has an up-and-down reversed shape of that of the preform of an upper support blade.  
     
     
         9 . The process for producing an integrated vane for use in wind or water according to  claim 5 , wherein a bulging portion having a bulging height which is about half of thickness of a preform of a main blade is formed at ends of the preform of a main blade in the axial direction and the fiber fabric is adhered on the bulging portion, thereby forming a protruding portion at ends of the main blade.  
     
     
         10 . The process for producing an integrated vane for use in wind or water according to  claim 6 , wherein the preform of a main blade is symmetrical or asymmetrical in its cross sectional view and the preform of a support blade is symmetrical in its cross sectional view.  
     
     
         11 . The process for producing an integrated vane for use in wind or water according to  claim 6 , wherein the preform of a main blade is symmetrical or asymmetrical in its cross sectional view, a preform of an upper support blade is symmetrical in its cross sectional view, and the preform of a lower support blade has an up-and-down reversed shape of that of the preform of an upper support blade.  
     
     
         12 . The process for producing an integrated vane for use in wind or water according to  claim 6 , wherein a bulging portion having a bulging height which is about half of thickness of a preform of a main blade is formed at ends of the preform of a main blade in the axial direction and the fiber fabric is adhered on the bulging portion, thereby forming a protruding portion at ends of the main blade.  
     
     
         13 . The process for producing an integrated vane for use in wind or water according to  claim 7 , wherein a bulging portion having a bulging height which is about half of thickness of a preform of a main blade is formed at ends of the preform of a main blade in the axial direction and the fiber fabric is adhered on the bulging portion, thereby forming a protruding portion at ends of the main blade.  
     
     
         14 . The process for producing an integrated vane for use in wind or water according to  claim 8 , wherein a bulging portion having a bulging height which is about half of thickness of a preform of a main blade is formed at ends of the preform of a main blade in the axial direction and the fiber fabric is adhered on the bulging portion, thereby forming a protruding portion at ends of the main blade.  
     
     
         15 . The process for producing an integrated vane for use in wind or water according to  claim 10 , wherein a bulging portion having a bulging height which is about half of thickness of a preform of a main blade is formed at ends of the preform of a main blade in the axial direction and the fiber fabric is adhered on the bulging portion, thereby forming a protruding portion at ends of the main blade.  
     
     
         16 . The process for producing an integrated vane for use in wind or water according to  claim 11 , wherein a bulging portion having a bulging height which is about half of thickness of a preform of a main blade is formed at ends of the preform of a main blade in the axial direction and the fiber fabric is adhered on the bulging portion, thereby forming a protruding portion at ends of the main blade.