Wind power generator

Claim 1

A device for generating energy derived from a moving fluid comprising: a. housing means for guiding the moving fluid generally parallel to a predetermined direction; b. means disposed within the housing means for oscillating generally transversely to the predetermined direction in response to the movement of the fluid, said oscillating means including a generally flat flexible membrane supported within the housing means under tension, said membrane positioned so as to have at least one edge disposed so as to divide the fluid flow to pass over the surfaces of said membrane such that vortices are created which cause said membrane to oscillate; and c. means coupled to at least a portion of the surface of said membrane for converting the oscillatory motion thereof into energy which is derived from the energy of the moving fluid.

Claim 2

A device for generating energy derived from a moving fluid comprising: a. housing means for guiding the moving fluid generally parallel to a predetermined direction; b. means disposed within the housing means for oscillating generally transversely to the predetermined direction in response to the movement of the fluid, said oscillating means including a generally flat flexible membrane supported within the housing means under tension, said membrane positioned so as to have at least one edge disposed so as to divide the fluid flow to pass over the surfaces of said membrane such that vortices are created which cause said membrane to oscillate; and c. means coupled to at least a portion of the surface of said membrane for converting the oscillatory motion thereof into energy which is derived from the energy of the moving fluid.

Claim 3

A device for generating useful energy derived from an airflow comprising: a. housing means for guiding the airflow generally parallel to a predetermined direction therethrough; b. means disposed within the housing means for oscillating in response to the movement of the airflow through the housing means, the oscillatory motion being generally transverse to the predetermined direction, said oscillating means including a generally flat flexible membrane supported within the housing means under tension, said membrane positioned so as to have at least one edge disposed so as to divide the fluid flow to pass over the surfaces of said membrane such that vortices are created which cause the membrane to oscillate; and c. means coupled to at least a portion of the surface of said membrane for converting the oscillatory motion thereof into useful energy which is dependent upon and derived from the energy of the airflow.

Claim 4

A device for generating useful energy derived from an airflow comprising: a. housing means for guiding the airflow generally parallel to a predetermined direction therethrough; b. means disposed within the housing means for oscillating in response to the movement of the airflow through the housing means, the oscillatory motion being generally transverse to the predetermined direction, said oscillating means including a generally flat flexible membrane supported within the housing means under tension, said membrane positioned so as to have at least one edge disposed so as to divide the fluid flow to pass over the surfaces of said membrane such that vortices are created which cause the membrane to oscillate; and c. means coupled to at least a portion of the surface of said membrane for converting the oscillatory motion thereof into useful energy which is dependent upon and derived from the energy of the airflow.

Claim 5

A device for generating useful energy derived from an airflow comprising: a. housing means for guiding the airflow generally parallel to a predetermined direction therethrough; b. means disposed within the housing means for oscillating in response to the movement of the airflow through the housing means, the oscillatory motion being generally transverse to the predetermined direction, said oscillating means including a generally flat flexible membrane supported within the housing means under tension, said membrane positioned so as to have at least one edge disposed so as to divide the fluid flow to pass over the surfaces of said membrane such that vortices are created which cause the membrane to oscillate; and c. means coupled to said membrane for converting the oscillatory motion thereof into useful energy which is dependent upon and derived from the energy of the airflow; the housing means including: d. a first and a second aperture each permitting passage of the airflow generally along the predetermined direction; and e. venturi vanes disposed adjacent the first and the second aperture and configured so as to permit the acceleration of the airflow passing into the housing means through either the first or the second aperture; and further comprising an elongated member positioned generally parallel to and adjacent the edge of the membrane so as to create vortices of the airflow passing over the surfaces of the membrane. PG,22

Claim 6

A device for generating useful energy derived from an airflow comprising: a. housing means for guiding the airflow generally parallel to a predetermined direction therethrough; b. means disposed within the housing means for oscillating in response to the movement of the airflow through the housing means, the oscillatory motion being generally transverse to the predetermined direction, said oscillating means including a generally flat flexible membrane supported within the housing means under tension, said membrane positioned so as to have at least one edge disposed so as to divide the fluid flow to pass over the surfaces of said membrane such that vortices are created which cause the membrane to oscillate; and c. means coupled to said membrane for converting the oscillatory motion thereof into useful energy which is dependent upon and derived from the energy of the airflow; the housing means including: d. a first and a second aperture each permitting passage of the airflow generally along the predetermined direction; and e. venturi vanes disposed adjacent the first and the second aperture and configured so as to permit the acceleration of the airflow passing into the housing means through either the first or the second aperture; and further comprising an elongated member positioned generally parallel to and adjacent the edge of the membrane so as to create vortices of the airflow passing over the surfaces of the membrane. PG,22

Claim 11

The device according to claims 4 or 6 wherein the conversion means comprises: a. at least one shaft having one end connected to a generally central portion of the membrane; b. at least one electrical conductor disposed concentrically about the other end of the shaft; and c. means for generating a magnetic field adjacent the other end of the shaft such that upon movement of the shaft in accordance with the oscillatory motion of the membrane an electromotive force is created within the electrical conductor.

Claim 15

The device according to claims 4 or 6 wherein the conversion means comprises: a. a shaft having one end connected to a generally central portion of the membrane; b. a piston connected to the other end of the shaft; and c. a hydraulic housing having a chamber capable of containing hydraulic fluid, the chamber being dimensioned and configured to slidably receive the piston therein such that upon movement of the shaft in accordance with the oscillatory motion of the membrane differential pressures can be created within the cylindrical portion of the hydraulic housing.

Claim 17

The device according to claims 4 or 6 wherein the conversion means comprises: a. a flexible, resilient tubing for passage of a fluid, therethrough; b. a plurality of shafts each having one end secured to the membrane in a linear fashion generally along the predetermined direction, the other ends of the shafts each having a plunger member adapted to engage and compress the tubing such that upon the oscillation of the membrane the plunger members will undergo oscillatory motion capable of advancing fluid within the tube.

Claim 18

The device according to claims 4 or 6 wherein the conversion means comprises: a. means for transforming reciprocating rotary motion into unidirectional rotary motion; and b. means interconnecting the membrane and the transforming means so as to impart reciprocating rotary motion to the transforming means.