US4242050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Windmill power generator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-02-14
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Granted: 1980-12-30
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Expires: 2000-02-14
Abstract
Abstract A windmill powered generator having one or a plurality of wind operated motor units, each being operably connected to a single power drive shaft to effect rotation of said drive shaft regardless of the rotational direction of the wind operated rotary units. Each rotary unit is provided with a crank shaft having one or more crank arms carried thereby, the drive shaft having one frictional hub associated with each crank arm. A drive belt extends from each crank arm around its associated hub and is yieldably secured to either the frame or to the end of another drive belt attached to an oppositely oriented crank arm whereby movement of the crank arm in a direction away from the drive shaft increases the friction between the drive belt and the frictional hub causing rotation of the drive shaft and whereby movement of the crank arm in a direction toward the drive shaft decreases the friction between the drive belt and the frictional hub thereby allowing the belt to slip about the frictional hub.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard M. Oakes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:01
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03D; F03D15/00; F03D15/10; F03D80/00; F03D80/70; F05; F05B; F05B2240/00; F05B2240/40; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/70; Y02E10/72; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/15; Y10T74/1503; Y10T74/1508; Y10T74/1524; Y10T74/1526; Y10T74/1542; Y10T74/1544; Y10T74/1547
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A windmill powered generator comprising: a frame; a rotary wind operated member; a crankshaft operably connected to the wind operated member for rotation therewith, a crank arm connected to the crankshaft, the outer end thereof being offset from the rotational axis of the crankshaft; an elongated rotary power drive shaft spaced from the crankshaft, a frictional hub member connected to the drive shaft for rotation therewith; and an elongated flexible line having a first end operably connected to the outer end of the crank arm, said flexible line being passed around one side of the frictional hub member and including means for yieldably securing the second end of the flexible line; whereby travel of the crank arm end away from the drive shaft increases the frictional force between the flexible line and the drive shaft to cause rotation of the drive shaft and whereby travel of the crank arm toward the drive shaft decreases the frictional force between the flexible line and the drive shaft allowing the drive shaft and associated frictional hub to slip with respect to the flexible line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A windmill powered generator comprising: a frame; a rotary wind operated member; a crankshaft operably connected to the wind operated member for rotation therewith, a crank arm connected to the crankshaft, the outer end thereof being offset from the rotational axis of the crankshaft; an elongated rotary power drive shaft spaced from the crankshaft, a frictional hub member connected to the drive shaft for rotation therewith; and an elongated flexible line having a first end operably connected to the outer end of the crank arm, said flexible line being passed around one side of the frictional hub member and including means for yieldably securing the second end of the flexible line; whereby travel of the crank arm end away from the drive shaft increases the frictional force between the flexible line and the drive shaft to cause rotation of the drive shaft and whereby travel of the crank arm toward the drive shaft decreases the frictional force between the flexible line and the drive shaft allowing the drive shaft and associated frictional hub to slip with respect to the flexible line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A power generator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the crankshaft comprises a horizontally disposed bearing mounted shaft connected directly to the wind operated member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A power generator as set forth in claim 1 and including gear means for operably connecting the crankshaft to the wind operated member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
A power generator as set forth in claim 1 and including a second crank arm operably connected to the crankshaft, the outer end of said second crank arm being oriented 180° from that of the first crank arm and including a second frictional hub member secured to the drive shaft and a second flexible line operably connecting the second crank arm to the second frictional hub member and including second means for yieldably securing the second end of the second flexible line member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A power generator as set forth in claim 4 wherein the means for securing the second ends of the flexible line members comprise an elongated yieldable tension segment connected between the frame member and the second end of the line member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
A power generator as set forth in claim 4 wherein the means for securing the second ends of the flexible line members comprise at least one idler pulley, the second ends of the first and second flexible lines being attached together with a yieldable tension segment connected therebetween, at least one of said lines being passed over said idler pulley.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A power generator as set forth in claim 1 and including at least a second rotary wind operated member and associated crankshaft and crank arm, an additional frictional hub member secured to the drive shaft and a flexible line member operably connecting the rotary wind operated member and associated crank arm to the drive shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
173 words
A windmill powered generator system comprising an elongated frame member, a plurality of rotary wind operated members carried by the frame member, each said wind operated member comprising a crankshaft operably connected to the wind operated member for rotation therewith, a crank arm connected to the crankshaft, the outer end thereof being offset from the rotational axis of the crankshaft, an elongated rotary power drive shaft rotatably carried by the frame member and spaced from the plurality of crankshafts of each of the wind operated members, a plurality of frictional hub members connected to the drive shaft for rotation therewith, there being one said frictional hub member associated with each crank arm of the plurality of wind operated members, a plurality of elongated flexible line members, the first end of each line member being operably connected to the outer end of a crank arm, said flexible line member being passed around one side of the associated frictional hub member and including means for yieldably securing the second end of each frictional line member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
173 words
A windmill powered generator system comprising an elongated frame member, a plurality of rotary wind operated members carried by the frame member, each said wind operated member comprising a crankshaft operably connected to the wind operated member for rotation therewith, a crank arm connected to the crankshaft, the outer end thereof being offset from the rotational axis of the crankshaft, an elongated rotary power drive shaft rotatably carried by the frame member and spaced from the plurality of crankshafts of each of the wind operated members, a plurality of frictional hub members connected to the drive shaft for rotation therewith, there being one said frictional hub member associated with each crank arm of the plurality of wind operated members, a plurality of elongated flexible line members, the first end of each line member being operably connected to the outer end of a crank arm, said flexible line member being passed around one side of the associated frictional hub member and including means for yieldably securing the second end of each frictional line member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A power generator system as set forth in claim 8 and including means for pivoting said elongated frame member in a horizontal plane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A power generator system as set forth in claim 8 wherein each rotary wind operated member is pivotally secured to the frame member about a horizontal pivotal axis whereby said wind operated members may be individually pivoted about said horizontal pivotal axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A power generator system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the frictional hub member comprises a sheath secured to the drive shaft for rotation therewith.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
A power generator system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the flexible line comprises a rope of woven fabric, one end thereof being attached to a crank arm for rotation therewith and an elongated pulley belt which is passed around said frictional hub member and yieldably secured and wherein the free end of said woven rope member being spreadable to accept one end of the belt member therein for gripping said belt member in tension.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-30 | 1984-06-30 | 1984-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-30 | 1988-06-30 | 1988-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-30 | 1992-06-30 | 1992-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |