US3877836A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Horizontal windmill
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-08-13
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Granted: 1975-04-15
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Expires: 1994-08-13
Abstract
Abstract Multiple radial beams extend horizontally for rotation about a vertical axis, and support at their outboard ends vertical, aerodynamic sails which pivot about vertical axes. Cams and cam followers pivot trim tabs at the downstream ends of the sails which shifts the main body of the sail to produce additive lift forces for sustained rotation in a desired direction, while weather cocking the sail as the arms move to right angle positions with respect to the wind.
Inventors
- 👤 Leo L Tompkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:53
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03D; F03D3/00; F03D3/06; F03D3/062; F03D3/066; F03D3/067; F03D3/068; F05; F05B; F05B2200/00; F05B2200/30; F05B2200/32; F05B2260/00; F05B2260/50; F05B2260/507; F05B2260/70; F05B2260/72; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/70; Y02E10/74
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
In combination; a windmill comprising; a plurality of vertical aerodynamic sail assemblies, sail supporting means for maintaining said sail assemblies in positions for pivoting about a vertical pivot axis for each assembly with the center of lift of each sail being slightly behind the vertical pivot axis thereof and including at least one vertical aerodynamic sail in each assembly, means permitting said sail assemblies to move in a closed circular path, means for additively applying the torque output of the wind acting on the sails of said sail assemblies to provide output torque for said windmill, a trim tab pivotably mounted to said at least one sail of each sail assembly such that the trim tab is disposed downwind from the trailing edge of said one sail, control means responsive to movement of said sail assemblies about said closed circle for automatically pivoting said trim tabs to inclined positIons relative to the longitudinal axis of the sails when said sail supporting means is rotated such that the sail axis, the circular path axis and the wind direction are substantially in line such that these sails provide additive forces tending to rotate said sail supporting means in the same direction, and for maintaining the sail assemblies that are generally at right angles to the circular path axis and the wind direction in weather cocked position; whereby, said sail assemblies provide minimum drag in comparison with their useful additive torque output.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
In combination; a windmill comprising; a plurality of vertical aerodynamic sail assemblies, sail supporting means for maintaining said sail assemblies in positions for pivoting about a vertical pivot axis for each assembly with the center of lift of each sail being slightly behind the vertical pivot axis thereof and including at least one vertical aerodynamic sail in each assembly, means permitting said sail assemblies to move in a closed circular path, means for additively applying the torque output of the wind acting on the sails of said sail assemblies to provide output torque for said windmill, a trim tab pivotably mounted to said at least one sail of each sail assembly such that the trim tab is disposed downwind from the trailing edge of said one sail, control means responsive to movement of said sail assemblies about said closed circle for automatically pivoting said trim tabs to inclined positIons relative to the longitudinal axis of the sails when said sail supporting means is rotated such that the sail axis, the circular path axis and the wind direction are substantially in line such that these sails provide additive forces tending to rotate said sail supporting means in the same direction, and for maintaining the sail assemblies that are generally at right angles to the circular path axis and the wind direction in weather cocked position; whereby, said sail assemblies provide minimum drag in comparison with their useful additive torque output.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The windmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a vertically supported hub mounted for rotation about its axis, said plurality of sail assemblies are mounted at circumferentially spaced positions radially outward from said hub.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
124 words
The windmill as claimed in claim 2, wherein said trim tab control means comprises a cam operatively carried by said sail supporting means at each sail assembly position and a cam follower carried by each sail assembly, operatively positioned with respect to said cam and operatively coupled to said trim tab, such that upon rotation of said hub and said sail supporting means, said sail assemblies pivot to maintain positions in general alignment with the wind, and said cam followers in following the profile of the cam pivot said trim tabs to given inclined positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the sail assemblies when the sail assembly pivot and the hub of the sail supporting means are generally in line with the wind.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
117 words
The windmill as claimed in claim 3, wherein; each cam is circular and includes an elongated slot intersecting its center, said sail is pivotably mounted to said sail supporting means by means of a shaft passing through the elongated slot and said windmill includes means carried by said sail supporting means for maintaining the elongation parallel to the radius of said support such that the rotation of said hub causes said cam follower to rotate about the sail pivot shaft such that said cam is eccentric to said cam follower when said sail axis, the hub axis and the wind direction are generally in line, with the sail assembly in a extreme downwind or extreme upwind position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
The windmill as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for preventing rotation of said cam comprises a control rod mounted at one end to said cam parallel to the elongated hole within said cam, and extending radially inwardly from said cam towards said hub, and a biasing means yielding holding said control rod and said cam toward the radially proximate end of said elongated slot, and said biasing means allowing said control rod to yield to centrifugal force to limit the upper speed of the windmill to a given value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
149 words
The windmill as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: an upper collar fixed to said hub and rotatable therewith, a lower collar coaxially mounted beneath said upper collar on said hub and axially slidable toward and away from said upper collar, holes carried at circumferentially spaced positions within said upper collar corresponding to said control rods, pins fixed to and extending upwardly from said lower collar at circumferentially spaced positions corresponding to said holes, and received by the holes within said upper collar and connecting rods pivoted at one end to the ends of said pins projecting through said upper collar, and to the inboard ends of said control rod; whereby, axial shifting of said lower collar with respect to said upper collar shifts the cams relative to the sail pivot shafts to position the cams concentric to position either concentric with or eccentric to the sail pivot shafts.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |