Patent ID: 6413038
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: F03D,F05B,Y02E

Abstract:
A windmill device, said device comprising:a support structure, said support structure including a plurality of generally vertically orientated posts, each of said posts being spaced from each other, each of said posts having a top edge, a covering being positioned on and securely coupled to each of said top edge of said posts; a first axle, said first axle being elongate, said first axle having a first end rotatably coupled to a bottom surface of said covering, said first axle having an upper portion and a lower portion; a plurality of vanes, each of said vanes comprising a top arm, a bottom arm and an end portion, each of said arms having a first end securely attached to said upper portion of said first axle and a second end securely attached to an opposite end of said end portion such that a frame is defined; a plurality of panels, each of said panels being substantially rigid and having a front side, a back side, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, each of said top edges being hingedly coupled to one of said top arms and each of said bottom edges being hingedly coupled to a bottom arms by a plurality of hinging means, each of said panels being spaced such that a front side of a panel may abut a back side of a next adjacent panel, wherein said panels may selectively move between an open position and a closed position; and each of said vanes having a ridge portion, said ridge portion extending inwardly from said end portion of the associated one of said vanes, said second side edge of a outermost one of said panels coupled to the associated one of said abutting against said ridge portion of the associated one of said vanes for preventing the outermost one of said vanes from pivoting through the associated one of said vanes such that said panels are positioned within the perimeter of the associated one of said vanes when said panels are in a closed position.