Cyclosail wind turbine

Abstract

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.

1 . A vertical axis wind turbine comprising a large elongated horizontally rotating wind rotor as the support structure for vertical masts and fabric sails that are mounted near the perimeter of rotation on the wind rotor arms; 
 a tower mounted on the top and center of said rotor supports steel cables that carry the weight of the outer portions of said rotor arms and attachments;    said rotor is supported and stabilized by a hub which is securely attached to the ground;    said rotor may be constructed to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise.    
     
     
         2 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising said wind rotor constructed of aluminum, steel, metal alloy, wood, wood composites or synthetic composites and designed similar to a wing, crane boom or bridge using construction components such as longerons, stringers, struts, trusses, bulk heads, lattice and/or gussets; 
 said wind rotor is securely attached to the arbor and supported at the outer perimeter by said cables making said rotor arm a cantilever type structure that is designed so it is strong as well as light weight and is covered with a light weight material such as aluminum, metal alloy, fabric or composites;    and is designed so as said rotor arm is running downwind the leeward side would be streamlined and the windward side would be designed to capture the wind;    said wind rotor provides some of the power output of said wind turbine.    
     
     
         3 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  wherein said rotor arms are installed radially 180 degrees from each other at the center of said rotor and at an equal distance from each other around the perimeter, this would create a said wind turbine with an even number of rotor arms, a said wind turbine with an odd number of said rotor arms could also be built; 
 said rotor arms will have integral support structures for said arbor, said tower, said masts, said sails and said support cables as well as for the landing gear, catwalks and boom control systems.    
     
     
         4 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising said rotor arms constructed to be symmetrical or tapered in length wherein a said rotor arm could be constructed with equal cross sections through out the length of each said rotor arm or said rotor arm could be constructed with cross sections smaller near the ends and larger in cross section near the center of said rotor.  
     
     
         5 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  wherein said rotor arms are equipped with said landing gear with wheels that ride on a circular track that is located on the top of the exterior wall of said hub thereby supporting said rotor and stabilizing said rotor as said rotor rotates.  
     
     
         6 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising lateral support cables may be installed at the windward side and the leeward side of each said rotor arm and at an equal radius from the center of the rotor and are designed to distribute the force that is applied on the center of the rotor by said sails and said rotor, providing for a light weight center section at said rotor where said rotor arms are attached; 
 said lateral support cables could be eliminated by having said rotor constructed with internal support structures at the center of said rotor designed to withstand the forces and stress applied by said rotor arms and said sails.    
     
     
         7 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  wherein said rotor arms could be built with internal support structures making said rotor arms strong enough to support the weight of said rotor arms, said masts, said sails and said attachments independently thereby eliminating the need for said tower and said suspension cables to support the weight of the outer portions of said rotor arms and said attachments.  
     
     
         8 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising vertical vanes located at said windward side of said rotor arms whereby said vanes serve to aid in the collection of energy from the wind by preventing the wind from sliding outwardly along said windward side of said rotor arms as said rotor arm is rotating and traveling downwind.  
     
     
         9 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising said fabric sails as used on a sailboat to create most of the power derived from the wind whereby said sails push said rotor arms in the same way as the sails of a sailboat push said sailboat and each said rotor arm must have at least one said mast and sail assembly; 
 the sails of many different sailboat configurations could be used to cause said rotor to rotate and function such as a sloop rigged vessel, rotating mast rigged vessel, cutter, yawl, ketch, schooner or catboat.    
     
     
         10 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising a system whereby said sails must all work in concert as said wind turbine rotates so it is necessary for said sails to be oriented with the wind whereby each said sail moves independently to catch the wind as said sail travels around the perimeter of said rotor thereby each said sail transitions from and to known sail configurations to catch the wind, such as; 
 when said sail is passing through the said sails furthermost upwind section of travel and approaching downwind travel the said sail is in a beam reach and will transition to and from a broad reach, running, broad reach, beam reach, close reach, close hauled, head to wind, close hauled, close reach and then back to a broad reach to start the cycle all over again repeating said cycle once for every revolution of said rotor as long as wind direction remains constant thereby said sails are configured so each said sail will automatically sail in a circle providing thrust to push said rotor arms around most of the perimeter of said rotor;    when the wind direction changes then each said sails orientation with the wind will change maintaining the rotation of said rotor.    
     
     
         11 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising a system to automatically furl said sails when wind speeds begin to rise above the structural capability of said sails the said sails will be automatically furled to prevent damage to said sails or said sails could be partially furled to allow said wind turbine to continue to operate during higher than optimum wind speeds due to less surface area of said sails exposed to the wind; 
 when wind speeds exceed the structural capability of said sails then said sails will be completely furled and said rotor will stop rotating then after the wind storm has subsided said sails will be automatically unfurled and said wind turbine will self start.    
     
     
         12 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising a system for controlling the leech on said sails such as when said sails and said rotor are in motion and traveling around said perimeter of said wind turbine and when said sails begin to travel downwind it is desirable to loosen the tension of said sails, so said sails are able to catch more wind; this can be somewhat accomplished by loosening said halyards while not operating said automatic furling system thereby relieving tension on said sail; 
 when said sail and said rotor arm begin to travel upwind or during high winds said halyard will be tightened thereby increasing tension on said sail to minimize luffing of said sail allowing said sail to travel upwind with more efficiency.    
     
     
         13 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising a limited travel extension spring with a quick release detachment clasp, similar to a pentle hook, located at the top of said sails so that in the event of a large gust of wind or wind sheer that is beyond said sails structural ability said limited travel extension spring would become fully compressed activating said detachment clasp and said sail would become disconnected from the accompanying said halyard preventing damage to said sail caused by high winds; when a said sail becomes detached from said halyard then all of the said sails would be automatically completely furled and said rotor would stop rotating; 
 said limited travel extension spring will also act as a shock absorber for said sails when said sails experience a large unexpected gust of wind or wind sheer, increasing the service life of said sail.    
     
     
         14 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising said sails located only at the top side of the said rotor arms will create a great deal of torsion on said rotor arm structure therefore installing a set of said sails, said mast and said boom assemblies with said boom control systems at the bottom side of said rotor arms where said sails would hang upside down or be vertically inverted and would work in conjunction with said sails on top of said rotor arms would eliminate torsion on said rotor arms and double the available power output from said sails; 
 this configuration would require increasing the overall height of said rotor by the height of said bottom sails and would probably make having an irrigation system impracticable.    
     
     
         15 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising said vertical hub at the center of said wind turbine and said hub is securely attached to the ground using concrete footings, columns, posts or some other method of attachment also said hub may be supported by a pedestal to elevate the wind turbine to gain access to better wind conditions; 
 the top section of the exterior perimeter wall of said hub is built with a radius to match said landing gear on said rotor arms and made of concrete, steel, bricks, wood or some other suitable material and said perimeter wall should be tall enough to allow farm equipment to pass safely under said wind rotor while said wind turbine is operating and be strong enough to support said wind rotor and said components;    located at the top of said exterior wall is a track is securely fastened to the top of said exterior wall and is designed so said track captures said landing gear wheels to prevent said wheels from rising above said track due to high winds and said track should be adjustable to allow for settling of the soil beneath said perimeter wall of said hub;    preferred components contained within said hub are: 
 said large alternator or generator for producing electricity suitable for the applicable power grid for which said wind turbine is attached;  
 gearbox and transmission used to control the power input to the large alternator or generator;  
 tachometer to determine said rotor rpm;  
 brake for said arbor;  
 said arbor;  
 a small alternator or generator used to charge and maintain the operational battery pack;  
 programmable logic controller or computer;  
 operational battery pack used to power said wind turbines operational electronics; 
 programmable logic controller, anemometer, position controller, tachometer, resolvers, boom control motors and halyard control motors;  
 
 auxiliary battery pack suitable for storing electricity for use on calm days could be installed;  
 irrigation pipe with a swivel fitting for said wind turbines so equipped;  
 mounting structures for the various said components.  
   
     
     
         16 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising a roof to cover said hub structure whereby the center of said roof has a thrust bearing to allow said arbor to pass through and uses trusses, posts, columns, arches, load bearing walls or some other method to support the center of said roof, said thrust bearing and some of the weight of said rotor and said tower; said thrust bearing will also provide support against lateral stress applied by said rotor.  
     
     
         17 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising said vertical tower constructed with metal, wood, composites, or some other suitable material and is securely installed in the center of said wind rotor and on the upper surface of said wind rotor, there is an adjustment at the base of said tower to prevent any hunting motion at the top of said tower as said tower and said rotor rotate together; 
 said tower is designed to be able to support the weight and stress put on it by said support cables, wind, weathervane and possibly a lightning rod;    said support cables are attached to the outer portions of each said rotor arm and at the upper portion of said tower, so utilizing the tower as a fulcrum would allow the cables to go diagonally up to said tower from one said rotor arm and then diagonally down from said tower to the opposing said rotor arm, or arms for a said rotor with an odd number of said rotor arms, thereby transferring the weight from the outer portions of said rotor arms to said tower and creating a cantilever type rotor arm structure.    
     
     
         18 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising said weathervane with an attached position controller is located at the top of said tower, so as the wind blows and said wind rotor is rotating said weathervane is always pointing into the wind and orientates said position controller as to wind direction, said position controller then relays wind direction information to said programmable logic controller.  
     
     
         19 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  wherein if said rotor arms are constructed to be self supporting so that said centrally located tower is not necessary to support the said outer portions of said rotor arms then an independent tower could be designed to solely to support said weathervane, position controller and anemometer and be positioned to the side of said wind turbine and clear of said rotor arms as they rotate, making it possible to provide wind direction and wind speed information to several said wind turbines from a single said independent tower.  
     
     
         20 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising of a programmable logic controller or computer that extrapolates information received from said position controller and said anemometer then correlates this information with information received from said tachometer and resolvers, then activates electric hydraulic pumps and valves to actuate hydraulic cylinders located at the boom control systems to accurately position the booms or spars so said sails best collect wind power regardless of said sails position on said wind turbine, said sails location around said perimeter while said rotor is rotating, said rotor rpm, wind direction or wind speed.  
     
     
         21 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising said boom control system to accurately control the position of each boom or spar as said rotor rotates and said boom control system incorporates a said electronically controlled and operated hydraulic cylinder that when actuated extends or contracts; 
 said cylinder is connected to a pushrod-pivoting lever-pushrod system that is connected to said boom or spar and causes said boom or spar to move back and fourth pivoting said boom or spar at said mast;    some said wind turbines may incorporate a single said boom control system to operate more than one said boom or spar;    said resolvers detect any motion of said hydraulic cylinder and relay the position of said hydraulic cylinder to said programmable logic controller allowing the precise positioning of said booms or spars;    a sprocket and chain system, gear assembly, flexible drive belt or a direct drive hydraulic system could be used in lieu of the aforementioned said hydraulic cylinder and said pushrod system.    
     
     
         22 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising said small alternator or generator and said operational battery pack for the purpose of supplying electricity to power said electronic components that operate said wind turbine and provide said wind turbine the ability to be self dependent by providing the electrical power to correctly position said sails after a period of calm wind or after said wind turbine has furled said sail giving said wind turbine the ability to raise said sails and self start.  
     
     
         23 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  whereby some said large alternator configurations work best when a constant rpm is maintained and could be accomplished by feathering said sails in higher than optimum wind speeds, having said sails move into a position of a lesser efficient angle to the wind would cause said wind turbine to have a lower power output to wind speed ratio providing the ability to maintain a constant rpm during higher winds.  
     
     
         24 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising said vertical mast assemblies consisting of said mast, said automatic furling boom system, said sails, said halyard motors, said halyards, said halyard resolvers, standing rigging and the support structure for each of the various components.  
     
     
         25 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  wherein built into the framework of each said rotor arm where fore and aft of each said vertical mast assembly is located there will be a structure to attach and support the standing rigging for said mast, said structure must extend past said sails fore and aft, providing enough clearance for said sails to operate; 
 having a mast constructed in such a way as to be strong enough to support itself and the stress applied by said sails and the wind would eliminate the need for said standing rigging and the said fore and aft structure to attach said standing rigging.    
     
     
         26 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  wherein said wind turbine is constructed using rotating masts with fixed booms or spars and said booms or spars are attached to said rotating mast and extend fore and aft of said mast enough to provide support and attachment for each fore and aft said sail; 
 the entire said rotating mast with booms or spars would pivot to cause said sails to catch the wind;    enabling said boom control systems and halyard control systems to be located within said rotor arms.    
     
     
         27 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  comprising said arbor consisting of a round shaft mounted vertically in the center of said wind turbine extending through said hub roof and will be supported by one or more said thrust bearings and will be strong enough to withstand the forces applied to it by said rotor, said sails, said gearbox, said transmission, said brake and/or said alternators or said water pump; 
 a gear, sprocket, flexible drive belt or direct drive is used to power said components attached to said arbor within said hub and a brake disk is securely attached to said arbor for said brake system.    
     
     
         28 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  wherein a large water pump could be installed in lieu of said large alternator or generator for the purpose of pumping water.  
     
     
         29 . A vertical axis wind turbine as set fourth in  claim 1  wherein on said wind turbines equipped with an irrigation system said arbor will be hollow to allow said irrigation pipe to pass through the center and extend out along two or more opposing said rotor arms, maintaining balance; 
 beneath said arbor a swivel fitting will be installed in said irrigation pipe to allow said irrigation pipe to rotate with said rotor;    said irrigation pipe that passes through said arbor will have a splitter fitting at the top of said arbor allowing said irrigation pipes to be attached to two or more opposing said rotor arms, maintaining balance;    said irrigation pipes will be fitted with water sprinklers that face the said windward side of said rotor arm providing additional thrust;    the height of said rotor above the ground will determine if said irrigation system is feasible.