Fluid Turbine Featuring Dynamically Phase-Adjustable Cam

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 phase-adjustable mechanism 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 radially 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 phase-adjustable mechanism 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 phase-adjustable mechanism comprises a cam having a pitch profile. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the phase of the phase-adjustable mechanism is varied by means of a gear. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the phase-adjustable mechanism comprises a cam secured to a gear mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid turbine of  claim 4 , wherein the phase-adjustable mechanism further comprises a set of cam followers, each operably connected to a proximal end of an actuating rod having its distal end operably connected to a pitch control linkage point on a rotor blade. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid turbine of  claim 4 , wherein the phase-adjustable mechanism further comprises a motor operably connected to the gear of the gear mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the phase-adjustable mechanism is operable to adjust the phase of the blade pitch profile according to prevailing conditions, which may include conditions of the fluid and rotational velocity of the turbine. 
     
     
         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 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 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.