Cylindrical wind turbine

Abstract

This invention is a cylindrical turbine incorporating rotating vanes, unlike the fixed vanes utilized in conventional turbines. The rotational position of each vane is continually adjusted, as the turbine turns, to maximize the turbine's energy extraction from the wind.

1 . A cylindrical turbine for converting wind energy to rotary power comprising a square, tabular base supporting four posts at the corners, said posts supporting, at their upper ends, a top identical to said base, creating a roughly cubical space housing the turbine rotor composed of two identical circular plates affixed at their centers and held by flanges mounted on an axle that turns in bearings centrally bolted to said base and top; two or more (depending on turbine size) elongate, tabular vanes having shafts mounted at each end aligned coincident with said vane's long axis, said shafts held in bearings mounted in a circular, evenly spaced array on the inside surface and near the edge of said circular plates; an identical sprocket, centered on the shaft attached to the base of each vane, said sprockets linked together by an endless chain having minimal slack; a lower shaft of one of the said vanes extending through its bearing to the rotor's underside where on said shaft a sprocket is affixed and linked by an endless chain to a smaller sprocket having one half the number of teeth of its larger companion and centered on, but free to turn independently of, the axle; two meshed gears, one concentrically joined to said smaller sprocket, free of the axle, the second gear mounted on the output shaft of a commercial servo motor installed below the said base.