Patent ID: 6717285
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: F03D,F05B,Y02E,Y10S

Abstract:
A wind driven power generating device comprising:a tube cluster comprising a central outlet tube having a narrowed center for channeling an airflow; a plurality of inlet tubes; each inlet tube being defined by a cylindrical wall; each inlet tube further having a collector end located at a distance from said central outlet tube, the inlet tube communicating with said central outlet tube for delivering airflow from said inlet tube collector end to said central outlet tube; and the generator device further including a turbine in said narrowed center to be driven by the airflow, a collector assembly being attached to the collector end of each inlet tube, whereby an air flow is collected and redirected into said inlet tubes, each collector assembly comprising a vertical mast a curved boom, and a flexible sail connected at its top end to the mast and at its bottom end to the boom, a steering sail for orienting said collector assembly with respect to an ambient air flow, and a mechanism for reducing the area of the sail presented to the ambient air flow in response to a predetermined load on the sail.