US4291233A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wind turbine-generator
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1980-01-29
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Granted: 1981-09-22
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Expires: 2000-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A wind-turbine generator system which transforms the rotational energy of a wind driven turbine blade into rotation in opposite directions of a rotor and a stator of a dynamoelectric machine to generate electrical power. A bevel gear rotating with the turbine blade drives two pinion gears and associated concentric shafts in opposite directions. The two shafts combine with a planetary gear set to provide the desired oppositely directed rotation. One of the shafts is associated with a ring carrier and drives a ring gear in one rotational direction. The other shaft drives a planet carrier in the opposite rotational direction. The planetary gear set is arranged such that a sun gear is driven in the direction opposite to that of the ring gear. A rotor is affixed to the sun gear by a spider support structure, and a stator, affixed to rotate with the ring gear, surrounds the rotor. The rotor and stator are thus rotated in opposite, mechanically and electrically additive, directions.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert S. Kirschbaum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:12
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H37/00; F16H37/02; F16H37/06; F16H37/08; F16H37/0833; F03; F03D; F03D15/00; F03D15/10; H; H02; H02K; H02K16/00; H02K16/005; H02K7/00; H02K7/10; H02K7/116; H02K7/18; H02K7/1807; H02K7/1823; H02K7/183; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/70; Y02E10/72; Y10; Y10S; Y10S416/00; Y10S416/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A wind turbine generator system comprising: (a) a turbine and affixed shaft rotatable by a wind; (b) gearing for transposing the rotational energy of said turbine and affixed shaft into rotational energy of a first shaft rotating in one direction and a second concentric shaft rotating in the opposite direction; (c) a generator rotor; (d) a stator disposed concentrically about said rotor; and (e) planetary gearing cooperatively relating said shafts and said rotor and stator such that said rotor rotates in one direction and said stator rotates about said rotor in the opposite direction, said stator being rigidly connected to the outer one of said concentric shafts so as to rotate at the same velocity as said outer shaft, said rotor being driven by said planetary gearing to rotate at a velocity different than the rotational velocity of the inner one of said concentric shafts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A wind turbine generator system comprising: (a) a turbine and affixed shaft rotatable by a wind; (b) gearing for transposing the rotational energy of said turbine and affixed shaft into rotational energy of a first shaft rotating in one direction and a second concentric shaft rotating in the opposite direction; (c) a generator rotor; (d) a stator disposed concentrically about said rotor; and (e) planetary gearing cooperatively relating said shafts and said rotor and stator such that said rotor rotates in one direction and said stator rotates about said rotor in the opposite direction, said stator being rigidly connected to the outer one of said concentric shafts so as to rotate at the same velocity as said outer shaft, said rotor being driven by said planetary gearing to rotate at a velocity different than the rotational velocity of the inner one of said concentric shafts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
202 words
A wind turbine generator system comprising: (a) a turbine rotatable by the wind; (b) a turbine shaft affixed to rotate with said turbine; (c) a bevel gear affixed to rotate with said turbine shaft; (d) two concentric power shafts; (e) two pinion gears cooperatively engaging said bevel gear so as to rotate in opposite directions, each said pinion gear being respectively affixed to one of said concentric power shafts; (f) a planetary gear train including a sun gear, a planet carrier, a plurality of planet gears, a ring gear and a ring gear carrier rigidly affixed to said ring gear, one of said concentric shafts driving said planet carrier and the other of said concentric shafts being rigidly affixed to, and driving, said ring gear carrier, said gear train being arranged such that said sun gear rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation of said ring gear and ring gear carrier; (g) a generator rotor affixed to rotate with rotation of said sun gear; and (h) a generator stator disposed radially about said rotor and rigidly affixed to said ring gear carrier so as to rotate with rotation of said ring gear, ring gear carrier and the other of said shafts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
202 words
A wind turbine generator system comprising: (a) a turbine rotatable by the wind; (b) a turbine shaft affixed to rotate with said turbine; (c) a bevel gear affixed to rotate with said turbine shaft; (d) two concentric power shafts; (e) two pinion gears cooperatively engaging said bevel gear so as to rotate in opposite directions, each said pinion gear being respectively affixed to one of said concentric power shafts; (f) a planetary gear train including a sun gear, a planet carrier, a plurality of planet gears, a ring gear and a ring gear carrier rigidly affixed to said ring gear, one of said concentric shafts driving said planet carrier and the other of said concentric shafts being rigidly affixed to, and driving, said ring gear carrier, said gear train being arranged such that said sun gear rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation of said ring gear and ring gear carrier; (g) a generator rotor affixed to rotate with rotation of said sun gear; and (h) a generator stator disposed radially about said rotor and rigidly affixed to said ring gear carrier so as to rotate with rotation of said ring gear, ring gear carrier and the other of said 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) | 1984-09-21 | 1985-03-23 | 1985-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-09-21 | 1989-03-23 | 1989-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-09-21 | 1993-03-23 | 1993-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |