Wind generator with energy enhancer element for providing energy during periods of no wind and low wind conditions

Abstract

The present invention is a new and novel wind generator system particularly suitable for small wind applications that harnesses low velocity wind effectively. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wind generator system comprises a drive shaft; one or more retreating blades and one or more advancing blades attached to the drive shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom; a generator assembly coupled to the drive shaft and effective for generating electrical power; and a housing having an inner chamber for receiving the blades and a wind directional apparatus that operates to adjust the speed of the wind and to channel wind along a desired flow pathway towards the one or more of the retreating blades and blocks airflow from impinging on one or more advancing blades.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A wind generator system comprising:
 a rotor mounted to a drive shaft;   one or more blades attached to said rotor and extending radially outwardly from said rotor;   a generator assembly coupled to said drive shaft and effective for generating electrical power; and   a mechanical energy storage system, wherein said mechanical energy storage system operates to store rotational energy of said drive shaft by converting said rotational energy into potential energy stored in said mechanical storage system.   
     
     
         2 . The wind generator system of  claim 1  wherein said mechanical energy storage system comprises a mechanical bellows. 
     
     
         3 . The wind generator system of  claim 1  wherein said mechanical energy storage system comprises a hydraulic storage system that operates to transfer rotational energy to a hydraulic cylinder having a piston that functions to transfer fluid from a pressurization reservoir to said hydraulic cylinder to store said rotational energy as potential energy. 
     
     
         4 . The wind generator system of  claim 1  wherein said mechanical energy storage system comprises a combination of one or more systems comprising hydraulic systems, bellows systems and battery systems. 
     
     
         5 . A wind generator system comprising:
 a rotor mounted to a drive shaft;   one or more blades attached to said rotor and extending radially outwardly from said rotor; and   a mechanical energy storage system having a mechanical coupling coupled to said drive shaft and operates to move a piston that expands a bellows to store rotational energy of said drive shaft into potential energy.   
     
     
         6 . The wind generator system of  claim 5  wherein said energy storage system is coupled to a generator assembly effective for generating electrical power. 
     
     
         7 . A wind generator system comprising:
 a rotor mounted to a drive shaft;   one or more blades attached to said rotor and extending radially outwardly from said rotor; and   a mechanical energy storage system having a mechanical coupling coupled to said drive shaft and includes a hydraulic cylinder that operates to transfer fluid from a pressurization reservoir to said hydraulic cylinder to store rotational energy of said drive shaft into potential energy.   
     
     
         8 . The wind generator system of  claim 7  wherein said energy storage system is coupled to a generator assembly effective for generating electrical power.