Turbine with dynamically adaptable savonius blades

Abstract

An electric power generating apparatus includes: a cage rotating around a cage axis and including a cage shaft; a plurality of turbines located within the cage, wherein each of the plurality of turbines includes one or more turbine blades and a turbine shaft, and is configured by two end points to fully rotate in a 360-degree circular path around a respective turbine axis different from the cage axis; and an electric power generating motor coupled to the cage shaft, wherein the motor is configured to convert kinetic energy to electric energy, from rotation of the cage around the cage axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric power generating apparatus comprising:
 a cage rotating around a cage axis and including a cage shaft;   a plurality of turbines located within the cage, wherein each of the plurality of turbines includes one or more turbine blades and a turbine shaft, and is configured by two end points to fully rotate in a 360-degree circular path around a respective turbine axis different from the cage axis; and   an electric power generating motor coupled to the cage shaft, wherein the motor is configured to convert kinetic energy to electric energy, from rotation of the cage around the cage axis.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of turbines comprises:
 one or more turbine blades having an adaptable shape;   a frame including a first frame portion and a second frame portion coupled to the first frame portion, and wherein the first frame portion pivots relative to the second frame portion; and   a first connection between an end of the frame and a region of the frame away from the end of the frame, wherein a length of the first connection is configured to change,   wherein changing the length of the first connection causes the adaptable shape of the turbine blade to conform to a flat shape and a curved shape.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first frame portion pivots relative to the second frame portion when the length of the connection is shortened or lengthened. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a second connection between the end of the frame and the region of the frame away from the end of the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the adaptable shape of the turbine blade comprises the flat shape when the length of the connection is the same as a length of the second connection, and the curved shape when the length of the connection is different from the length of the second connection. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein shortening the connection while concurrently lengthening the second connection or shortening the second connection while concurrently lengthening the first connection forms the curved shape. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a rotation of the cage around the cage axis is inhibited when the apparatus is in a first mode, and wherein a rotation of each of the plurality of turbines around the respective turbine axis is allowed when the apparatus is in the first mode. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a rotation of the cage around the cage axis is allowed when the apparatus is in a second mode, and wherein a rotation of each of the plurality of turbines around the respective turbine axis is allowed when the apparatus is in the second mode. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a rotation of the cage around the cage axis is inhibited when the apparatus is in a third mode, and wherein the turbine blade remains in a horizontal position relative to the ground and a rotation of each of the plurality of turbines around the respective turbine axis is inhibited when the apparatus is in the third mode. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of turbines configured such that a rotation of each of the plurality of turbines around the respective turbine axis lifts the apparatus above the ground. 
     
     
         11 . An electric power generating apparatus comprising:
 a cage rotating around a cage axis and including a cage shaft;   a plurality of turbines located within the cage, wherein each of the plurality of turbines includes one or more turbine blades and a turbine shaft, and is configured by two end points to fully rotate in a 360-degree circular path around a respective turbine axis different from the cage axis; and   a motor coupled to a respective turbine shaft, wherein the motor is configured to convert kinetic energy to electric energy, from rotation of a respective turbine around the respective turbine axis.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of turbines comprises:
 one or more turbine blades having an adaptable shape;   a frame including a first frame portion and a second frame portion coupled to the first frame portion, and wherein the first frame portion pivots relative to the second frame portion; and   a first connection between an end of the frame and a region of the frame away from the end of the frame, wherein a length of the first connection is configured to change,   wherein changing the length of the first connection causes the adaptable shape of the turbine blade to conform to a flat shape and a curved shape.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first frame portion pivots relative to the second frame portion when the length of the connection is shortened or lengthened. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a second connection between the end of the frame and the region of the frame away from the end of the frame. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the adaptable shape of the turbine blade comprises the flat shape when the length of the connection is the same as a length of the second connection, and the curved shape when the length of the connection is different from the length of the second connection. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein shortening the connection while concurrently lengthening the second connection or shortening the second connection while concurrently lengthening the first connection forms the curved shape. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein a rotation of the cage around the cage axis is inhibited when the apparatus is in a first mode, and wherein a rotation of each of the plurality of turbines around the respective turbine axis is allowed when the apparatus is in the first mode. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein a rotation of the cage around the cage axis is allowed when the apparatus is in a second mode, and wherein a rotation of each of the plurality of turbines around the respective turbine axis is allowed when the apparatus is in the second mode. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of turbines configured such that a rotation of each of the plurality of turbines around the respective turbine axis lifts the apparatus above the ground. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a clutch to decouple the motor from the respective turbine shaft.