Wind and water power generation system with multi-stage linear generators

Abstract

A power generation assembly for use in generating electrical power from air or water currents includes a rail system including at least one rail and a vane assembly, drivable by the air or water currents. A car assembly is slidably mounted to the rail and coupled to the vane assembly: wherein movement of vanes of the vane assembly generates linear movement of the car assembly. An electrical energy generating system includes two or more independent sets of stator windings carried by the rail system, and a piston, carried by the car assembly, wherein linear movement of the piston relative to the stator windings generates electrical energy. A switching system is operable to controllably and individually activate each of the two or more independent sets of stator windings.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A power generation assembly for use in generating electrical power from air or water currents, comprising:
 a rail system including at least one rail;   a vane assembly, drivable by the air or water currents;   a car assembly, slidably mounted to the rail and coupled to the vane assembly, wherein movement of vanes of the vane assembly generates linear movement of the car assembly;   an electrical energy generating system, having:
 i) two or more independent sets of stator windings carried by the rail system, and 
 ii) an armature, carried by the car assembly, wherein linear movement of the armature relative to the stator windings generates electrical energy; and 
   a switching system, operable to controllably and individually activate each of the two or more independent sets of stator windings.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy generating system includes four independent sets of stator windings. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the four sets of stator windings are arranged in two pairs of windings, each of the pairs including a stator winding arranged on opposing sides of rail system. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the car assembly is supported by a wheel that travels within the rail of the rail system, the wheel vertically supporting a load of the car assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the wheel is pivotally coupled to a support post, and is pivotal about the support post to allow travel of the car assembly in either linear direction within the rail. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a series of permanent levitation magnets arranged within the rail, and a series of permanent levitation magnets arranged on the car assembly, the levitation magnets cooperatively providing a lifting force sufficient to levitate the car assembly and the vane assembly coupled to the car assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the levitation magnets arranged on the car assembly are carried by a pair of bogeys, each bogey coupled to the car assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the track comprises an oval or a circle. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the stator windings are arranged in a substantially continuous array along the track. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the stator windings are arranged in discontinuous, linear segments along the track. 
     
     
         11 . A power generation assembly for use in generating electrical power from air or water currents, comprising:
 a rail system, including at least one rail configured in an endless loop;   a vane assembly, drivable by the air or water currents;   a car assembly, slidably mounted to the rail and coupled to the vane assembly, wherein movement of vanes of the vane assembly generates linear movement of the car assembly;   an electrical energy generating system, having:
 i) at least one set of stator windings carried by the rail system, and 
 ii) an armature, carried by the car assembly, wherein linear movement of the armature relative to the stator windings generates electrical energy; wherein 
   the at least one rail is supported upon, or at least partially submerged in, a body of water.   
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein vanes of the vane assembly are at least partially submerged in the body of water. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising two or more independent sets of stator windings carried by the rail system, and
 a switching system, operable to controllably and individually activate each of the two or more independent sets of stator windings.   
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the electrical energy generating system includes four independent sets of stator windings. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the four sets of stator windings are arranged in two pairs of windings, each of the pairs including a stator winding arranged on opposing sides of rail system. 
     
     
         16 . A power generation assembly for use in generating electrical power from air or water currents, comprising:
 a rail system, including at least one rail configured in an endless loop;   a vane assembly, drivable by the air or water currents;   a car assembly, slidably mounted to the rail and coupled to the vane assembly, wherein movement of vanes of the vane assembly generates linear movement of the car assembly;   an electrical energy generating system, having:
 i) at least one set of stator windings carried by the rail system, and 
 ii) an armature, carried by the car assembly, wherein linear movement of the armature relative to the stator windings generates electrical energy; and 
   a series of permanent levitation magnets arranged within the rail, and a series of permanent levitation magnets arranged on the car assembly, the levitation magnets cooperatively providing a lifting force sufficient to levitate the car assembly and the vane assembly coupled to the car assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising two or more independent sets of stator windings carried by the rail system, and
 a switching system, operable to controllably and individually activate each of the two or more independent sets of stator windings.   
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the electrical energy generating system includes four independent sets of stator windings. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the four sets of stator windings are arranged in two pairs of windings, each of the pairs including a stator winding arranged on opposing sides of rail system. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the track comprises an oval or a circle. 
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the stator windings are arranged in a substantially continuous array along the track. 
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the stator windings are arranged in discontinuous, linear segments along the track.