Patent ID: 6015258
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: F03D,Y02E,Y10S

Abstract:
Wind turbine apparatus comprising:(a) a rotatable central shaft member;(b) a plurality of rotor blades each having inner and outer edges and upper and lower ends; wherein said inner edges are attached to said shaft member; and wherein each said outer edge is angled away from the direction of rotation of said central shaft member;(c) a plurality of airfoils spaced around the periphery of said rotor blades, wherein each said airfoil has a convex cross-section and a cross-sectional length-to-width ratio in the range of about 8-12:1; and(d) gussets extending between adjacent rotor blades in horizontal planes and positioned between said upper and lower ends; wherein said gussets include openings;and wherein the ratio of the number of rotor blades to the number of said airfoils is at least 1.25 to 1.