Fluid Turbine Featuring Improved Blade Mounting Structure

Abstract

A fluid turbine comprising a rotor, having an axis of rotation, comprising at least two rotor blades disposed at a radius from the axis of rotation, each rotor blade having a pitch axis and a variable pitch angle. The fluid turbine comprises a mechanism comprising an actuation rod secured to an internal portion of each rotor blade, operable to control the pitch angle of at least one rotor blade about its pitch axis and to vary the pitch angle of the rotor blade between various pitch angles as the blade moves circumferentially about the axis of rotation of the rotor.

1 . A fluid turbine comprising:
 a rotor, having an axis of rotation, comprising at least two rotor blades disposed at a radius from the axis of rotation, each rotor blade having a pitch axis and a variable pitch angle; and   a mechanism comprising an actuation rod secured to an internal portion of each rotor blade, operable to control the pitch angle of at least one rotor blade about its pitch axis and to vary the pitch angle of the rotor blade from a first pitch angle at a first circumferential location about the axis of rotation to a second pitch angle at a second circumferential location about the axis of rotation.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises a cam-and-follower mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid turbine of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one strut rod for each rotor blade. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid turbine of  claim 3 , wherein the strut rod is parallel and adjacent to the actuation rod. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid turbine of  claim 4 , wherein the strut rod and actuation rod connect to a bearing block, and wherein the bearing block is mated to a pocket in the rotor blade. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the pitch control mechanism is a cam and follower mechanism, and wherein each follower is operably connected to at least one actuation rod. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid turbine of  claim 1 , further comprising a set of strut rod covers operable to protect and improve the efficiency of the strut rods. 
     
     
         8 . A fluid turbine comprising:
 a rotor, having an axis of rotation, comprising at least two rotor blades disposed at a radius from the axis of rotation, each rotor blade having a first end, a second end, a first mounting point, a second mounting point, a pitch axis and a variable pitch angle, each of the first and second mounting points being disposed inboard of the first and second ends; and   a mechanism comprising an actuation rod secured to an internal portion of each rotor blade, operable to control the pitch angle of at least one rotor blade about its pitch axis and to vary the pitch angle of the rotor blade from a first pitch angle at a first circumferential location about the axis of rotation to a second pitch angle at a second circumferential location about the axis of rotation.   
     
     
         9 . The fluid turbine of  claim 8 , wherein the mechanism comprises an array of actuating rods. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid turbine of  claim 8 , wherein each rotor blade is connected to at least two struts. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid turbine of  claim 8 , wherein the pitch of each rotor blade is controlled by an actuating rod extending from a rotor hub to a rod end secured to the rotor blade. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid turbine of  claim 11 , wherein each actuating rod is disposed adjacent to a strut. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid turbine of  claim 8 , wherein each rotor blade is secured to struts at pivot points. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid turbine of  claim 8 , wherein mechanism operable to control the pitch angle of at least one rotor blade comprises a cam-and-follower mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . A fluid turbine comprising:
 a rotor, having an axis of rotation, comprising a first hub, a second hub, an array of at least two struts, having strut covers disposed thereabout, extending from each of the first and second hubs, and at least two rotor blades, each secured to the distal end of a strut and having a pitch axis and a variable pitch angle; and   a mechanism comprising an actuation rod secured to an internal portion of each rotor blade, operable to control the pitch angle of at least one rotor blade about its pitch axis and to vary the pitch angle of the rotor blade from a first pitch angle at a first circumferential location about the axis of rotation to a second pitch angle at a second circumferential location about the axis of rotation.   
     
     
         16 . The fluid turbine of  claim 15 , wherein at least one strut cover has an aerodynamic shape. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid turbine of  claim 15 , wherein at least one strut cover comprises a centrally-located and axially-aligned aperture. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid turbine of  claim 17 , wherein at least one strut is disposed within at least one centrally-located and axially-aligned aperture within at least one strut cover. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid turbine of  claim 15 , wherein the rotor further comprises an actuating rod disposed adjacent to at least one strut. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid turbine of  claim 19 , wherein the actuating rod is disposed within an aperture in the strut cover.