Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A wind turbine generator comprising a rigidly mounted supporting post, a rotor assembly including a vertically elongated tubular sleeve telescoped over the post and rotatably journaled therefrom, a rotor mounted on said sleeve for rotation therewith, said rotor including a pair of vertically spaced annular frame structures, a plurality of vertically disposed louvers mounted in circumferentially spaced relation around the axis of rotation of the rotor, said louvers being substantially flat blades, means mounting said louvers between the frame structures for free pivotal movement about an axis at the inner edge portion thereof from an active to inactive position so that the louvers to one side of the axis of rotation will be active while the louvers on the other side of the axis of rotation will be inactive so that wind impinging against the active louvers will rotate the rotor assembly, stops on said frame structures for limiting the free pivotal movement of the louvers between an active generally radial position and an inactive generally tangential position, means selectively retaining the louvers in inactive position in response to over-speeding of the rotor assembly thereby limiting the maximum rotational speed of the rotor, said rotor defining a substantially open frame to eliminate the trapping of air therein, and generator means drivingly connected with the sleeve for producing electrical energy when the rotor and sleeve are rotatably driven by the wind.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
A wind turbine generator comprising a rigidly mounted supporting post, a rotor assembly including a vertically elongated tubular sleeve telescoped over the post and rotatably journaled therefrom, a rotor mounted on said sleeve for rotation therewith, said rotor including a pair of vertically spaced annular frame structures, a plurality of vertically disposed louvers mounted in circumferentially spaced relation around the axis of rotation of the rotor, said louvers being substantially flat blades, means mounting said louvers between the frame structures for free pivotal movement about an axis at the inner edge portion thereof from an active to inactive position so that the louvers to one side of the axis of rotation will be active while the louvers on the other side of the axis of rotation will be inactive so that wind impinging against the active louvers will rotate the rotor assembly, stops on said frame structures for limiting the free pivotal movement of the louvers between an active generally radial position and an inactive generally tangential position, means selectively retaining the louvers in inactive position in response to over-speeding of the rotor assembly thereby limiting the maximum rotational speed of the rotor, said rotor defining a substantially open frame to eliminate the trapping of air therein, and generator means drivingly connected with the sleeve for producing electrical energy when the rotor and sleeve are rotatably driven by the wind.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotor assembly includes lift blades thereon for lifting a portion of the rotor assembly during rotation thereof to reduce the supported load thus reducing friction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotor assembly includes a wing member mounted above the rotor and rigid with said sleeve, said wing member including an elevating leading edge to lift a portion of the weight of the rotor assembly to reduce friction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein propeller means is mounted on the wing, power means driving said propeller means for rotating the assembly rotor during periods of low velocity wind.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means selectively locking the louvers in inactive position includes a governor operatively connected to the rotor assembly for rotation therewith and including output means movable in response to overspeeding of the rotor assembly, latch means connected with the output meaNs of the governor and movable to operative position in response to over-speeding of the rotor assembly, said latch means when moved to operative position being disposed for engagement with the louvers when in inactive position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said latch means in said operative position is disposed to engage and retain each louver individually when moved to its inactive position, and wherein said latch means in its inoperative position releases all of said louvers.