Patent ID: 6538340
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: F03D,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
An improved lightweight vertically rotating wind turbine having enhanced conversion of wind kinetic energy into usable energy, comprising:a. a wind-collecting base with a bottom surface defining an area and a top surface defining an area wherein said area of said bottom surface is larger than said area of said top surface and wherein said top surface comprises an energy-transfer element and wherein said wind-collecting base comprises an upward tapered base having an angle to smoothly direct wind currents; b. a vertically rotating shaft with a top end and a bottom end wherein said bottom end is mechanically connected to said energy-transfer element; c. an energy-utilizing device responsive to said shaft through said energy-transfer element of the top surface of said base; d. a top plate attached in the vicinity of the top end of said vertically rotating shaft; e. a bottom plate that defines a diameter and is attached to said vertically rotating shaft at a location above the top surface of said base; f. a plurality of vertically oriented torque generating elements having outer edges and inner edges which are located circumferentially around said vertically rotating shaft between said top plate and said bottom plate and are attached to said round top plate and said round bottom plate at their ends to form a cage assembly; g. a plurality of vertically oriented flat wind directing elements arranged circumferentially around said cage assembly and adjacent to said outer edges of said vertically oriented flat torque generating elements; h. an open cover comprising concentric braces comprising two side bearings; and i. a top shield having a central pivoting point and an outer terminus above said side bearings of said open cover, the improvement wherein the wind turbine elements are constructed from lightweight materials which allow the enhanced conversion of wind kinetic energy into mechanical energy by the wind turbine.