Square Rigged Sail Wind Turbine

Abstract

A square rigged sail wind turbine includes a vertical main shaft (with a vertical axis of rotation), with parallel horizontal yardarms, cross-connected and corner braced, to the vertical main shaft. A sail assembly is included that comprises rectangular sails in frames pivotally attached at the tip of parallel horizontal yardarms. The rectangular sails in frames are configured to move between a closed position and an open position relative to the parallel horizontal yardarms. An outer support structure made of vertical columns with lateral cross bracing, joins together at the vertical main shaft in the middle and top, and is coupled thereto with self-aligning split bearings. The support columns are anchored to the ground firmly with three-way guy-wire in two places on each column, thereby providing more support to the structure. Thus, the present invention is an improved technique for providing wind power to produce electrical energy at ground level.

1 . A square rigged sail wind turbine, comprising:
 a first sail assembly, the first sail assembly including:
 a main shaft having a vertical axis of rotation; 
 a first yardarm connected with and extending horizontally from the main shaft; 
 a first sail pivotally connected with the first yardarm, wherein the sail is formed to pivot about a sail pivot axis between an open position and a closed position relative to the first yardarm, whereby in the closed position, the sail harnesses power from wind energy to rotate the main shaft, then opens to relieve wind pressure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a second sail pivotally connected with the first yardarm such that the main shaft is connected with the first yardarm between with the first and second sails. 
     
     
         3 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising a second yardarm connected with and extending horizontally from the main shaft such that the second yardarm is parallel with respect to the first yardarm, the first and second yardarms collectively forming a first yardarm set, and wherein each of the first and second sails is pivotally connected with and between both the first and second yardarms. 
     
     
         4 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the main shaft includes a shaft stem for providing power take off to a power take off system. 
     
     
         5 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 4 , further comprising a second set of parallel yardarms, the second set of parallel yardarms extending from the main shaft approximately perpendicular to the first set of parallel yardarms, and further comprising two sails pivotally connected between each of the yardarms in the second set of parallel yardarms such that the main shaft is connected with the second set of parallel yardarms between each of the two sails. 
     
     
         6 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising a lanyard attached with each sail for limiting motion of each sail about the sail pivot axis. 
     
     
         7 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the lanyard is connected between each sail and a neighboring yardarm for limiting motion of each sail about the sail pivot axis. 
     
     
         8 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising a second sail assembly, the second sail assembly having a main shaft connected with the main shaft of the first sail assembly such that the first sail assembly and the second sail assembly share a vertical axis of rotation, and wherein the second sail assembly further comprises two sets of parallel yardarms extending from the main shaft, each set of parallel yardarms having two sails pivotally connected between the parallel yardarms, wherein the first and second sail assemblies form a multiple tiered and stacked wind turbine. 
     
     
         9 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising support columns connected with the vertical main shaft and for anchoring with a ground surface to support the main shaft in a vertical orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 9 , further comprising a main deck with bearings positioned therein, wherein the shaft stem passes through the bearings to provide the power take off to a power take off system. 
     
     
         11 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising a ball-joint four roller thrust bearing for positioning on the main deck, with the main shaft passing therethrough, thereby providing stability to the main shaft and support weight of the sail assemblies. 
     
     
         12 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second yardarm connected with and extending horizontally from the main shaft such that the second yardarm is parallel with respect to the first yardarm, the first and second yardarms collectively forming a first yardarm set with the first sail pivotally connected between both the first and second yardarms; and   a second sail pivotally connected between with the first and second yardarms such that the main shaft is connected with the first and second yardarms between the first and second sails.   
     
     
         13 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising a second set of parallel yardarms, the second set of parallel yardarms extending from the main shaft approximately perpendicular to the first set of parallel yardarms, and further comprising two sails pivotally connected between each of the yardarms in the second set of parallel yardarms such that the main shaft is connected with the second set of parallel yardarms between each of the two sails. 
     
     
         14 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising a lanyard attached with each sail for limiting motion of each sail about the sail pivot axis. 
     
     
         15 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the lanyard is connected between each sail and a neighboring yardarm for limiting motion of each sail about the sail pivot axis. 
     
     
         16 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the main shaft includes a shaft stem for providing power take off to a power take off system, and further comprising a main deck with bearings positioned therein, wherein the shaft stem passes through the bearings to provide the power take off to a power take off system. 
     
     
         17 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising a ball-joint four roller thrust bearing for positioning on the main deck, with the main shaft passing therethrough, thereby providing stability to the main shaft and support weight of the sail assemblies. 
     
     
         18 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a second sail assembly, the second sail assembly having a main shaft connected with the main shaft of the first sail assembly such that the first sail assembly and the second sail assembly share a vertical axis of rotation, and wherein the second sail assembly further comprises at least one yardarm extending from the main shaft, the yardarm having a sail pivotally connected thereto, wherein the first and second sail assemblies form a multiple tiered and stacked wind turbine. 
     
     
         19 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising support columns connected with the vertical main shaft and for anchoring with a ground surface to support the main shaft in a vertical orientation. 
     
     
         20 . The square rigged sail wind turbine as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a lanyard attached with the sail for limiting motion of the sail about the sail pivot axis.