Wind powered device

Abstract

There is described a wind powered device including a vertical support, a horizontal support rotatably attached to the vertical support, and planar elements respectively attached to opposite ends of the horizontal support by articulating hinge elements. The articulating hinge elements are connected to ones of the planar elements at respective positions that are horizontally offset from the center of each planar element, and each hinge element can rotate through a predetermined maximum throw angle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wind powered device, comprising:
 a vertical support;   a horizontal support rotatably attached to the vertical support; and   planar elements respectively attached to opposite ends of the horizontal support by articulating hinge elements, wherein   the articulating hinge elements are connected to ones of the planar elements at respective positions that are horizontally offset from centers of each planar element, and   each hinge element is configured to rotate through a predetermined, maximum throw angle.   
     
     
         2 . The wind powered device of  claim 1 , wherein the throw angle is between 5 and 80 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The wind powered device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the planar elements is configured to rotate, by interaction with wind, one of the hinge elements to the predetermined, maximum throw angle in a rotation direction such that the at least one planar elements is prevented from further rotation in the rotation direction whereupon the wind applies a torque to the at least one planar element causing rotation of the planar elements about the vertical support. 
     
     
         4 . The wind powered device of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second horizontal support rotatably attached to the vertical support; and   second planar elements respectively attached to opposite ends of the second horizontal support by second articulating hinge elements, wherein   the second articulating hinge elements are connected to ones of the second planar elements at respective positions that are horizontally offset from centers of each second planar elements, and   each hinge element is configured to rotate through the predetermined, maximum throw angle relative to the second horizontal support.   
     
     
         5 . The wind powered device of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the second planar elements is configured to rotate, by interaction with wind, one of the second hinge elements to the predetermined, maximum throw angle in a second rotation direction, opposite to the rotation direction, such that the at least one of the second planar elements is prevented from further rotation in the second rotation direction whereupon the wind applies a second torque to the at least one of the second planar elements thereby causing a second rotation of the second planar elements about the vertical support,
 the second rotation being opposite to the rotation of the planar elements about the vertical support.   
     
     
         6 . The wind powered device of  claim 1 , wherein the centers of each planar element are along a longitudinal direction of the planar elements. 
     
     
         7 . The wind powered device of  claim 1 , wherein the hinges are closer to leading edges of the planar elements than to tail edges of the planar elements,
 the leading edges and tail edges being opposite edges in longitudinal directions of the planar elements, and   the leading edges lead into the rotation of the planar elements about the vertical support.