Abstract:
A wind turbine system utilizes three vertical shaft rotor units, each rotor unit consisting of three blades. The rotor units are synchronized such that the blades of each unit are maintained at twenty degree intervals, so as to capture head on wind at maximum efficiency. The front rotor unit comprises baffles which appropriately redirect airflow to the rotor units. A stabilizing fin is provided to ensure that the wind turbine system is always headed into the prevailing wind. The system achieves near one hundred percent efficient use of ongoing ambient wind.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a wind turbine system rotatable about a plurality of vertical axes, and having a configuration specifically designed to greatly increase the efficiency of wind energy utilization without unreasonably adding to the process or to the cost of manufacture. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Wind generated turbines of various designs and configurations, including those which employ vertical axes, are well known. Yet a significant disadvantage of these wind turbines is that their blades, which are designed to accept the ongoing wind, are configured such that the full force of the wind cannot at all times act on the blades themselves. For instance, wind turbine blades are situated such that as their respective shafts rotate, a subsequent blade in the direction of the rotation blocks its predecessor as it moves into position to catch ongoing wind. Blades which are not positioned to receive ongoing wind can actually be a detriment to providing wind power to operate the turbine. In fact, it has been estimated that in excess of eighty percent of the energy of wind or moving air which engages and acts upon blades used in wind turbines is lost as a result of these conditions and the deflection and the slippage of air from the tips and/or trailing edges of the blades. The deflection or change of direction of moving air also wastefully reduces much of the energy carried by the wind. When redirected air slips from or leaves the blades, significant energy is lost. As a result, most wind powered turbines are inefficient and oft times ineffective. 
         [0003]    Much of the cause of the loss of wind energy is occasioned by the fact that there is little or no control of the blades of wind turbines in relation to each other. The blades of wind turbines are generally designed to rotate freely and as fast as the wind moves them, in the direction the wind is blowing. Current wind turbines have no coordination between rotating blades nor is any effort made to configure blades to operate at maximum efficiency, that is to capture and turn into energy as much of the wind as possible. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a wind turbine system which overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of prior wind turbine devices. 
         [0005]    It is the object of the present invention to provide a wind turbine which utilizes a plurality of rotor units to efficiently and effectively capture wind flow and use this flow at near one hundred percent efficiency. 
         [0006]    These and other objectives are accomplished by the present invention, a wind turbine system which utilizes three vertical shaft rotor units, each rotor unit consisting of three blades. The rotor units are synchronized such that the blades of each unit are maintained at twenty degree intervals, so as to capture head on wind at maximum efficiency. The front rotor unit comprises baffles which appropriately redirect airflow to the rotor units. A stabilizing fin is provided to ensure that the wind turbine system is always headed into the prevailing wind. The system achieves near one hundred percent efficient use of ongoing ambient wind. 
         [0007]    The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the wind turbine system in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the wind turbine system in accordance with the present invention with its top bracket plate removed. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the wind turbine system in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the internal components of the control housing of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a schematic top view showing airflow in the wind turbine system in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a schematic showing calculation of airflow/blade efficiency. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The wind turbine system of the present invention comprises three rotor units: forward rotor unit  2 , left rear rotor unit  12  and, right rear rotor unit  22 . Rotor unit  2  comprises vertical rotor unit shaft  3 . Three blades  4 ,  5 , and  6 , spaced 120° apart, extend from collar bearings  7  and  8  around shaft  3 . In like fashion, rotor unit  12  comprises vertical rotor shaft  13 . Three blades  14 ,  15 , and  16 , spaced 120° apart, extend from collar bearings  17  and  18  around shaft  13 . Rotor unit  22  comprises vertical rotor shaft  23 . Three blades  24 ,  25 , and  26 , spaced 120° apart, extend from collar bearings  27  and  28  around shaft  23 . 
         [0015]    Rotor units  2 ,  12 , and  22  are vertically mounted by means of their respective shafts  3 ,  13 , and  23 , between top bracket plate  30  and control housing  32 . The rotor units are mounted in triangular configuration between the top bracket and the control housing. 
         [0016]    Curved baffle plate  33 , having two sets of vertically oriented slots  34  and  35  extend from shaft  3  of rotor unit  2 , substantially at the front of wind turbine system  1 . Curved baffle plate  36 , having two sets of vertically oriented slots  37  and  38 , extend from shaft  3 , substantially at the rear of the wind turbine system. Airflow deflectors  40  and  42  extend from shafts  13  and  23  respectively of rotor units  12  and  22 . The airflow deflectors are also curved, and are solid, having continuous, uninterrupted surfaces, free from slots or other openings. 
         [0017]    Vertical pole  46 , located equidistant between shafts  3 ,  13 , and  23 , extends through control housing  32  and top bracket  30 . In this manner, wind turbine system  1  is mounted atop pole  46 . Fin stabilizer  48  rotatably extends from pole  46 , via control arms  49  and  50 . 
         [0018]    The three rotor units  2 ,  12 , and  22  are synchronized such that their respective, corresponding blades are always 20° apart. That is (with specific reference to  FIG. 5  which depicts 0° at the right side of the rotor units and 180° at the left side of the rotor units), the blades of rotor unit  2  are always 20° forward of the blades of rotor unit  12 , e.g. blade  5  at 200°; blade  15  at 180°; blade  4  at 320°; blade  14  at 300°; blade  6  at 80°; blade  16  at 60°. In like manner the blades of rotor unit  2  are always 20° behind the blades of rotor unit  22 , e.g. blade  5  at 200°; blade  25  at 220°; blade  4  at 320°; blade  24  at 340°; blade  6  at 80°; blade  26  at 100°. 
         [0019]    The following chart lists the angular orientation of each blade of rotor units  2 ,  12 , and  22 , as they rotate 360°, beginning with position  1 , the position in which the blades in  FIG. 5  are configured: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 LEFT REAR 
                 FORWARD 
                 RIGHT REAR 
               
               
                   
                 ROTOR UNIT (12) 
                 ROTOR UNIT (2) 
                 ROTOR UNIT (22) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Posi- 
                 Blade 
                 Blade 
                 Blade 
                 Blade 
                 Blade 
                 Blade 
                 Blade 
                 Blade 
                 Blade 
               
               
                 tion 
                 (15) 
                 (14) 
                 (16) 
                 (5) 
                 (4) 
                 (6) 
                 (25) 
                 (24) 
                 (26) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 180 
                 300 
                 60 
                 200 
                 320 
                 80 
                 220 
                 340 
                 100 
               
               
                 2 
                 170 
                 290 
                 50 
                 210 
                 330 
                 90 
                 230 
                 350 
                 110 
               
               
                 3 
                 160 
                 280 
                 40 
                 220 
                 340 
                 100 
                 240 
                 0 
                 120 
               
               
                 4 
                 150 
                 270 
                 30 
                 230 
                 350 
                 110 
                 250 
                 10 
                 130 
               
               
                 5 
                 140 
                 260 
                 20 
                 240 
                 0 
                 120 
                 260 
                 20 
                 140 
               
               
                 6 
                 130 
                 250 
                 10 
                 250 
                 10 
                 130 
                 270 
                 30 
                 150 
               
               
                 7 
                 120 
                 240 
                 0 
                 260 
                 20 
                 140 
                 280 
                 40 
                 160 
               
               
                 8 
                 110 
                 230 
                 350 
                 270 
                 30 
                 150 
                 290 
                 50 
                 170 
               
               
                 9 
                 100 
                 220 
                 340 
                 280 
                 40 
                 160 
                 300 
                 60 
                 180 
               
               
                 10 
                 90 
                 210 
                 330 
                 290 
                 50 
                 170 
                 310 
                 70 
                 190 
               
               
                 11 
                 80 
                 200 
                 320 
                 300 
                 60 
                 180 
                 320 
                 80 
                 200 
               
               
                 12 
                 70 
                 190 
                 310 
                 310 
                 70 
                 190 
                 330 
                 90 
                 210 
               
               
                 13 
                 60 
                 180 
                 300 
                 320 
                 80 
                 200 
                 340 
                 100 
                 220 
               
               
                 14 
                 50 
                 170 
                 290 
                 330 
                 90 
                 210 
                 350 
                 110 
                 230 
               
               
                 15 
                 40 
                 160 
                 280 
                 340 
                 100 
                 220 
                 0 
                 120 
                 240 
               
               
                 16 
                 30 
                 150 
                 270 
                 350 
                 110 
                 230 
                 10 
                 130 
                 250 
               
               
                 17 
                 20 
                 140 
                 260 
                 0 
                 120 
                 240 
                 20 
                 140 
                 260 
               
               
                 18 
                 10 
                 130 
                 250 
                 10 
                 130 
                 250 
                 30 
                 150 
                 270 
               
               
                 19 
                 0 
                 120 
                 240 
                 20 
                 140 
                 260 
                 40 
                 160 
                 280 
               
               
                 20 
                 350 
                 110 
                 230 
                 30 
                 150 
                 270 
                 50 
                 170 
                 290 
               
               
                 21 
                 340 
                 100 
                 220 
                 40 
                 160 
                 280 
                 60 
                 180 
                 300 
               
               
                 22 
                 330 
                 90 
                 210 
                 50 
                 170 
                 290 
                 70 
                 190 
                 310 
               
               
                 23 
                 320 
                 80 
                 200 
                 60 
                 180 
                 300 
                 80 
                 200 
                 320 
               
               
                 24 
                 310 
                 70 
                 190 
                 70 
                 190 
                 310 
                 90 
                 210 
                 330 
               
               
                 25 
                 300 
                 60 
                 180 
                 80 
                 200 
                 320 
                 100 
                 220 
                 340 
               
               
                 26 
                 290 
                 50 
                 170 
                 90 
                 210 
                 330 
                 110 
                 230 
                 350 
               
               
                 27 
                 280 
                 40 
                 160 
                 100 
                 220 
                 340 
                 120 
                 240 
                 0 
               
               
                 28 
                 270 
                 30 
                 150 
                 110 
                 230 
                 350 
                 130 
                 250 
                 10 
               
               
                 29 
                 260 
                 20 
                 140 
                 120 
                 240 
                 0 
                 140 
                 260 
                 20 
               
               
                 30 
                 250 
                 10 
                 130 
                 130 
                 250 
                 10 
                 150 
                 270 
                 30 
               
               
                 31 
                 240 
                 0 
                 120 
                 140 
                 260 
                 20 
                 160 
                 280 
                 40 
               
               
                 32 
                 230 
                 350 
                 110 
                 150 
                 270 
                 30 
                 170 
                 290 
                 50 
               
               
                 33 
                 220 
                 340 
                 100 
                 160 
                 280 
                 40 
                 180 
                 300 
                 60 
               
               
                 34 
                 210 
                 330 
                 90 
                 170 
                 290 
                 50 
                 190 
                 310 
                 70 
               
               
                 35 
                 200 
                 320 
                 80 
                 180 
                 300 
                 60 
                 200 
                 320 
                 80 
               
               
                 36 
                 190 
                 310 
                 70 
                 190 
                 310 
                 70 
                 210 
                 330 
                 90 
               
               
                 1 
                 180 
                 300 
                 60 
                 200 
                 320 
                 80 
                 220 
                 340 
                 100 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0020]    The blades in rotor units  2 ,  12  and  22  are synchronized at the above described 20° separation by means of the synchronize gear/chain system depicted in  FIG. 4 , showing the internals of control housing  32 . The lower end of shaft  3  of rotor unit  2  is keyed to pinion gear  62 . The lower end of shaft  13  of rotor unit  12  is keyed to pinion gear  63 . The lower end of shaft  23  of rotor unit  22  is keyed to pinion gear  64 . Each shaft is thus secured to their respective pinion gear such that the 20° angle difference between the blades extending from the upper ends of the shafts is, at all times, maintained. 
         [0021]    As the blades of rotor units  2 ,  12 , and  22  rotate, shafts  3 ,  13 , and  23  are rotated, and so too are pinion gears  62 ,  63 , and  64 . This rotative action serves to rapidly rotate power output pinion gear  68 , via gear chains  66  and  67 , the drive pinion gear  69  which leads to an alternator or similar power generating device. 
         [0022]    Wind generated airflow is utilized with almost 100% efficiency by wind turbine system  1 . With specific reference to  FIG. 5 , fin stabilizer  48  serves to maintain the wind turbine system oriented so that forward rotor unit  2  is the forwardmost rotor unit which, at all times, faces head-on prevailing ambient wind or airflow  70 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 5 , blade  15  of rotor unit  12  is at 180°. Therefore, it receives direct and full head-on airflow  70 , which results in blade  15 , in this position, utilizing airflow and rotating with 100% efficiency. 
         [0023]    Again with reference to  FIG. 5 , blade  4  of rotor unit  2 , shown as being at an angle of 320°, is also impacted by head-on airflow  70 . However, since blade  4  is at an angle to horizontal, airflow is not being utilized at 100% efficiency. Nonetheless, blade  4  also receives secondary airflow  72 , which is the airflow directed from baffle plate  33  through slots  34 . This results in blade  4  utilizing the airflow provided by the wind at approximately 77% efficiency. 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  schematically shows the calculation of airflow efficiency against effected blades of a rotor R. F represents the direct force of the wind (100% efficiency on a horizontal blade), F 1  the percentage efficiency based on the angular position of the blades, i.e. the actual force derived from the wind impacting the blade at this angle, and Ø the angle between the blade and the horizontal. Here, F 1 =F×cos Ø. 
         [0025]    Expanding this analysis to the other blades, it can be seen that blade  6  of rotor unit  2  will only be impacted minimally by the residual airflow  74  which is directed out of rotor unit  2  through slots  37  in baffle plate  36 . Discharged residual airflow  78  from rotor unit  22  is expelled through slot  38  of baffle plate  36  and does not effect blade  6 . The wind utilization efficiency of blade  6  is 17%. Blade  5  of rotor unit  2  experiences virtually no benefit from any wind generated airflow, so its efficiency in this position is 0%. Discharged residual airflow  80  is expelled from rotor unit  2  through slots  35  of baffle plate  33 . 
         [0026]    Deflector  40  of rotor unit  12  effectively expels discharged residual airflow  82  from blade  15  out of the rotor unit. Blades  14  and  16  are substantially unaffected by wind airflow and so their efficiencies are each 0%, when in the position depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0027]    Blade  24  of rotor unit  22  is at an angle of 340°, almost, but not quite, at the horizontal 0° angle, which represents 100% efficiency. Blade  24  receives head on airflow  70  as well as secondary airflow  74  directed from rotor unit  2  through slots  37  of baffle plate  36 . It thus operates at 94% efficiency in this position. Like deflector  40 , discussed alone, deflector  42  expels discharged residual airflow  84  from blade  24  out of rotor unit  22 . Blades  25  and  26  are substantially unaffected by wind airflow and so their efficiencies are each 0%, when in the position depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0028]    The sum of the wind use efficiencies of the three rotor units  2 ,  12 , and  22  is 288% (blade  4 —77%; blade  6 —17%; blade  15 —100%; blade  24 —94%). Since the maximum cumulative wind use efficiency can only be 300% (100% for each of the three rotor units), the current invention provides a system which has an overall efficiency of 96% (288/300). 
         [0029]    Line  1  in the Position column of the following chart, memorializes these results. The chart itself lists the efficiencies of the system of the present invention, at thirty six angular positions of the blades of each rotor unit. The average wind use efficiency is approximately 285.5%, for an overall efficiency of 95.1%, a result heretofore not achieved by any practical, working wind turbine system. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 LEFT REAR ROTOR UNIT (12) 
                 FORWARD ROTOR UNIT (2) 
                 RIGHT REAR ROTOR UNIT (22) 
                 TOTAL 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Position 
                 Blade (15) 
                 Blade (14) 
                 Blade (16) 
                 Blade (5) 
                 Blade (4) 
                 Blade (6) 
                 Blade (25) 
                 Blade (24) 
                 Blade (26) 
                 EFFICIENCY * 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.77 
                 0.17 
                 0 
                 0.94 
                 0 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 2 
                 0.98 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.87 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.98 
                 0 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 3 
                 0.94 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.94 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 4 
                 0.87 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.98 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.98 
                 0 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 5 
                 0.77 
                 0.17 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.94 
                 0 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 6 
                 0.64 
                 0.34 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.98 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.87 
                 0 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 7 
                 0.5 
                 0.5 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.94 
                 0 
                 0.17 
                 0.77 
                 0 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 8 
                 0.34 
                 0.64 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.87 
                 0 
                 0.34 
                 0.64 
                 0 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 9 
                 0.17 
                 0.77 
                 0 
                 0.17 
                 0.77 
                 0 
                 0.5 
                 0.5 
                 0 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 10 
                 0 
                 0.87 
                 0 
                 0.34 
                 0.64 
                 0 
                 0.64 
                 0.34 
                 0 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 11 
                 0 
                 0.94 
                 0 
                 0.5 
                 0.5 
                 0 
                 0.77 
                 0.17 
                 0 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 12 
                 0 
                 0.98 
                 0 
                 0.64 
                 0.34 
                 0 
                 0.87 
                 0 
                 0 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 13 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0.77 
                 0.17 
                 0 
                 0.94 
                 0 
                 0 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 14 
                 0 
                 0.98 
                 0 
                 0.87 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.98 
                 0 
                 0 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 15 
                 0 
                 0.94 
                 0 
                 0.94 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 16 
                 0 
                 0.87 
                 0 
                 0.98 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.98 
                 0 
                 0 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 17 
                 0 
                 0.77 
                 0.17 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.94 
                 0 
                 0 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 18 
                 0 
                 0.64 
                 0.34 
                 0.98 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.87 
                 0 
                 0 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 19 
                 0 
                 0.5 
                 0.5 
                 0.94 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.77 
                 0 
                 0.17 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 20 
                 0 
                 0.34 
                 0.64 
                 0.87 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.64 
                 0 
                 0.34 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 21 
                 0 
                 0.17 
                 0.77 
                 0.77 
                 0 
                 0.17 
                 0.5 
                 0 
                 0.5 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 22 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.87 
                 0.64 
                 0 
                 0.34 
                 0.34 
                 0 
                 0.64 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 23 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.94 
                 0.5 
                 0 
                 0.5 
                 0.17 
                 0 
                 0.77 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 24 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.98 
                 0.34 
                 0 
                 0.64 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.87 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 25 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0.17 
                 0 
                 0.77 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.94 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 26 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.98 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.87 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.98 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 27 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.94 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.94 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 28 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.87 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.98 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.98 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 29 
                 0.17 
                 0 
                 0.77 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.94 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 30 
                 0.34 
                 0 
                 0.64 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.98 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.87 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 31 
                 0.5 
                 0 
                 0.5 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.94 
                 0 
                 0.17 
                 0.77 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 32 
                 0.64 
                 0 
                 0.34 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.87 
                 0 
                 0.34 
                 0.64 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 33 
                 0.77 
                 0 
                 0.17 
                 0 
                 0.17 
                 0.77 
                 0 
                 0.5 
                 0.5 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 34 
                 0.87 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.34 
                 0.64 
                 0 
                 0.64 
                 0.34 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 35 
                 0.94 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.5 
                 0.5 
                 0 
                 0.77 
                 0.17 
                 2.88 
               
               
                 36 
                 0.98 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.64 
                 0.34 
                 0 
                 0.87 
                 0 
                 2.83 
               
               
                 1 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.77 
                 0.17 
                 0 
                 0.94 
                 0 
                 2.88 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 * All efficiencies calculated by multiplying by 100%. 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0030]    Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.