Patent US4350896A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4350896A
Expired / Lapsed
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Lighter than air wind energy conversion system utilizing an internal radial disk diffuser
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1980-10-24
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Granted: 1982-09-21
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Expires: 2000-10-24
Abstract
Abstract A lighter-than-air (LTA) wind energy conversion system (WECS) wherein the gas-filled LTA envelope carries a main rotor and electrical generator to take advantage of high wind speeds available at high altitudes. The LTA envelope is tethered to a ground based mooring system designed to provide self-orientation for the LTA envelope. In a preferred embodiment, heavy mechanical transmissions are eliminated by providing a radial disk diffuser within the LTA envelope coupled through a drive shaft to a wind-driven external rotor. Rotation of the rotor-diffuser drives an induction turbine positioned within the gas inlet to the diffuser, the lifting gas for the envelope also serving as the working fluid for the turbine. The output of the induction turbine is coupled to an electrical generator whose output is, in turn, transmitted to the ground via the tethering system.
Inventors
- 👤 William R. Benoit
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:48
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03D; F03D9/00; F03D9/30; F03D9/32; F03D80/00; F03D80/70; F03D9/20; F03D9/25; F05; F05B; F05B2220/00; F05B2220/61; F05B2240/00; F05B2240/90; F05B2240/92; F05B2240/922; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/70; Y02E10/72; Y02E10/728; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
Apparatus, which comprises: a lighter than air structure including an enclosed gas-filled envelope; means supported by said ligher than air structure for generating electricity, said means including a main rotor adapted to be rotated by the wind, a diffuser mounted within said envelope and coupled to rotate with said main rotor, a turbine in fluid communication with said diffuser, and an electrical generator coupled to said turbine; and means connected between said ligher than air structure and the ground for tethering said structure and for delivering electricity from said generator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus, which comprises: a lighter than air structure including an enclosed gas-filled envelope; means supported by said ligher than air structure for generating electricity, said means including a main rotor adapted to be rotated by the wind, a diffuser mounted within said envelope and coupled to rotate with said main rotor, a turbine in fluid communication with said diffuser, and an electrical generator coupled to said turbine; and means connected between said ligher than air structure and the ground for tethering said structure and for delivering electricity from said generator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said diffuser includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said diffuser comprises a plurality of vanes, one end of each of said vanes positioned near said gas inlet, the other end of each of said vanes positioned adjacent said gas outlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said diffuser further comprises a pair of cover plates between which said vanes are mounted, said gas inlet positioned in the center of one of said plates, said gas outlet located on the periphery thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said vanes are curved and extend radially outwardly from said gas inlet to said gas outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said main rotor comprises a pair of rotor blades connected to a hub, and further including a drive shaft connecting said hub to said diffuser so that said diffuser rotates therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said turbine is positioned within said gas inlet of said diffuser.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said turbine, said diffuser and said generator are positioned within a nose cowling form at the fore portion of said envelope.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said diffuser is adapted, upon rotation thereof, to draw gas from said gas-filled envelope through said gas inlet and expel some through said gas outlet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said turbine includes impeller blade means adapted to be rotated by the gas drawn through said gas inlet of said diffuser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said electrical generator is positioned forwardly of said turbine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said drive shaft extends through said envelope substantially along the longitudinal axis thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, further comprising bearing means positioned at spaced locations along said drive shaft for supporting same, and means connected to said structure for supporting said bearing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said bearing means comprise gas bearings that utilize said gas within said envelope.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said means for supporting said bearing means includes a rigid support structure coupled to the forwardly positioned bearing means, and support hangers coupled to the remaining bearing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, 6 or 13, wherein said main rotor is connected to the rear of said envelope and rotates in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said envelope.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means connected between said lighter than air structure and the ground comprises at least one tethering cable means and at least one electrical cable means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 17, further comprising means positioned on the ground for mooring said cable means which includes means for selectively drawing in said cable means and thereby bringing said structure closer to the ground.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said cable means includes at least two cables, one of which is connected to the fore portion of said structure, said mooring means including a beam pivotally coupled to a support pedestal and having one of said cables connected to each end thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 19, further comprising outriggers extending laterally from said lighter than air structure to which said cables are connected.
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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) | 1985-09-20 | 1986-03-22 | 1986-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-09-20 | 1990-03-22 | 1990-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-09-20 | 1994-03-22 | 1994-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |