Abstract:
The disclosure presents several embodiments of Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill. In the first, the windmill is adapted as a windmill-lamppost which stores electrical energy during daylight and operates the lamps at night. In the second, some sail restraints are eliminated by mounting sails on a common mast. In the third, a yoke allows sails to be mounted close together on a horizontal arm and also eliminates some sail restraints. In the fourth, Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill is submerged in a river, with additional generators used to harness the slow movement of the water. In the fifth, a boat is powered by Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill using direct drive of the propeller. In the sixth, a boat is powered by Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill using a transmission to enhance propeller speed. In the seventh a boat is powered by Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill using electrical energy to operate an electric motor. In the eighth, a boat is powered by Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill using a storage battery to operate an electric motor when there is no wind. In the ninth a boat is powered by Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill, having pontoons to provide stability during strong crosswinds.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The device relates generally to the field of windmills or wind turbines for the production of electricity. More specifically it relates to the field of vertical axis wind turbines. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1) Lampost-Windmill 
       [0002]    Interstate highway lampposts expend considerable energy in lighting their bulbs at night. Means to reduce the cost of operating these lampposts would be useful. In an embodiment of Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill (U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,491 B2 and USPTO publication number US-2007-0248450-A1; patent allowed but not yet issued) hereby incorporated by reference) as a lamppost-windmill, the tower of the lamppost becomes the tower of the windmill. The invention reduces the cost of operating these lampposts by harnessing and storing the energy of the wind during daylight and using that stored energy to light the bulbs at night. 
       2 and 3) Common Mast and Yoked Pairs of Sails 
       [0003]    In Migler&#39;s vertical axis wind turbine, each sail requires two sail restraints. These sail restraints increase the cost and complexity of the device, and eliminating some of them would be useful. The invention eliminates some of these sail restraints by using a common mast in one embodiment and yoking pairs of adjacent sails in another embodiment. 
       4) River-Turbine 
       [0004]    Flowing water in a river or estuary holds potential energy. A simple means of capturing some of that energy is possible using an embodiment of Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill. The main problem in doing so is the fact that the water flows slowly, compared to the wind. This problem is solved by the use of secondary generators driven by each mast. 
       5) Windmill-Sailboat 
       [0005]    Sailboats can sail in any direction except directly into the wind, and cannot sail when there is no wind. These two problems are solved in an embodiment of Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill as a sailboat-windmill. The invention described here utilizes the fact the windmill rotates in a constant direction regardless of the direction of the wind striking the windmill. The energy that is captured is then used to propel the sailboat in any direction. Alternatively the energy can be stored in a battery and used when there is no wind. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In an embodiment of Migler&#39;s wind turbine, the tower is the tower of a lamppost of the type used on the Interstate Highway System and other major roads. Rotation of the tower collar drives a generator and the electrical energy produced by the generator is stored in a battery. At night, or when a solar cell on the device indicates low light, the energy stored in the battery is used to light the lamps. 
         [0007]    In Migler&#39;s vertical axis wind turbine, sails may be mounted both above and below a horizontal arm, with sail restraints for every sail. In one of the inventions described here, the sail restraints for the lower (or upper) sail are eliminated by yoking the upper and lower sails to a common mast. The result is a reduction in cost and complexity. 
         [0008]    In Migler&#39;s vertical axis wind turbine two or more sails can be mounted horizontally along a horizontal arm, with each sail having its own sail restraints. The sails must be kept a sufficient distance apart so as not to collide with each other. For example if the width of each sail is 10 feet, then the masts for the sails must be mounted at least 20 feet apart. If the masts could be mounted say 12 feet apart, then more sails could be mounted along a horizontal arm. In one of the inventions described here the masts are mounted closer together by means of a yoke between the masts. The yoke prevents collisions between the sails. 
         [0009]    A recent attempt to install a horizontal axis (wind) turbine in the East River of NYC failed, with the destruction of the machine for unknown reasons. Since the East River is actually a tidal estuary, that is, the flow of water changes direction with the tide. This change creates a problem for a horizontal axis machine since the machine has to reverse the direction it is facing with each change in the direction of flow of the water. Migler&#39;s vertical axis wind turbine solves this problem. When it is submerged and adapted as a river-windmill, it does not need to be reversed with each change in direction of flow of the water. This is due to the fact that Migler&#39;s horizontal axis machine rotates in a constant direction, regardless of the direction of the wind, or in this case, the direction of flow of the water. 
         [0010]    The problem with this adaptation of Migler&#39;s machine is that the flow of water is usually so slow that there is essentially no gybe that normally occurs with the higher speeds of wind. However, the force behind the slowly flowing water is much greater that the force of the wind at low wind speed. To harness the energy in this slowly flowing water, each sail drives its own secondary generator, while the rotation of the tower collar continues to drive its primary generator. The electrical energy generated by the machine is the result of the combination of all the generators. 
         [0011]    Sailboats can sail in any direction except directly into the wind, and cannot sail when there is no wind. In the embodiment of Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill described here the windmill is mounted on a boat. The energy of the wind is used to drive a generator which provides electrical energy for an electric motor which rotates a drive shaft that turns a propeller in the water A conventional rudder controls the direction of movement of the sailboat. Pontoons provide stability during crosswinds. Since the windmill rotates in a constant direction regardless of the direction of the wind the sailboat can sail in any direction. In addition, excess electrical energy is stored as electrical energy in a battery on the boat. The energy stored in the battery is then used to drive the electric motor when there is no wind. In another embodiment the rotary motion of the tower collar is translated directly into rotary motion of a horizontal shaft to which the propeller is secured. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a three dimensional view of an embodiment of Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill as a lamppost-windmill. In this embodiment the tower of the lamppost serves as the tower of the windmill. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a three dimensional view of an embodiment of Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill in which the sails above and below each horizontal arm are secured to a common mast, and the sail restraints for the lower (or upper) sails are eliminated. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a three dimensional view of an embodiment of Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill in which three adjacent sails on a horizontal arm are linked by a yoke, eliminating the sail restraints for two of the sails and allowing the sails to be mounted close together. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill which is adapted for use submerged in a river or estuary. In this view the water should be understood as flowing toward the reader. The sail on the right side of the figure is being driven slowly by the flow of the water toward the reader and the sail on the left side of the figure is “feathered” and is moving away from the reader, that is, upriver. In this embodiment the tower collar drives a primary generator, and the mast of each sail drives a secondary generator. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a three dimensional view of an embodiment of Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill as a windmill-sailboat. The windmill-sailboat can sail directly into the wind. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of the interior of the boat shown in  FIG. 5  utilizing only windmill-generated mechanical energy to rotate the drive shaft and propeller of the boat. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of the interior of the boat shown in  FIG. 6  utilizing only windmill-generated mechanical energy to rotate the drive shaft and propeller of the boat through a transmission. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of the interior of the boat shown in  FIG. 7 , utilizing windmill-generated electricity to rotate the drive shaft and propeller of the boat by an electric motor. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of the interior of the boat shown in  FIG. 8 , having a storage battery and control means to run the electric motor when there is no wind. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a three-dimensional view of the windmill-sailboat shown in  FIG. 5  with pontoons for lateral stability during crosswinds. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     1) Lamppost-Windmill 
       [0022]    Referring now to the drawing in  FIG. 1  there is shown a three dimensional drawing of Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill adapted as a lamppost-windmill. The reader is referred to that patent for a detailed description of each part of the windmill and the operation of its adjustable sail restraints and motorized sail restraint controllers. 
         [0023]    The arrow in  FIG. 1  indicates the direction of the wind. The lamppost-tower  1  has support arms  20  that are secured to the tower  1 . Lamps  21  that can illuminate a roadway are connected to the support arms  20 . The tower  1  has a rotatable tower collar  2 . Horizontal arms  4  are secured to the rotatable tower collar  2 . Sail restraints  10  and  11  and motorized sail restraint controllers  13  are secured to each horizontal arm  4 . Masts  6  are secured to the horizontal arms  4  between sails restraints  10  and  11 . Each mast  6  has a rotatable mast collar  5 . Booms  7 , sail frames  5  and sails  8  are secured to each mast collar  5 . The tower collar  2  rests on a thrust bearing  19 , which rests on a shaft collar  3  secured to the tower  1 . Rotation of the tower collar  2  turns a belt  14  which drives a generator  15 . In another embodiment the generator is driven by a chain rather than a belt. In another embodiment the generator is driven by a gear secured to the tower, rather than a belt. Electrical energy produced by the generator  15  is stored in a battery  22 . A solar cell  24  and a control box  23  housing conventional control circuitry, including a clock (not shown) control the lighting of the lamps  21 . An electrical cable (not shown) connects the control box  23  to the lamps  21  through the tower  2 . A cable carrying conventional electrical power  25  is connected to the control box  23 . At night, or when the solar cell  24  detects low light, the energy stored in the battery  22  is directed by the control box  23  to light the lamps  21 . If the energy stored in the battery is not sufficient to light the lamps, then the control box  23  directs power from the conventional electrical power cable  25  to the lamps  21 . 
       2) Common Mast 
       [0024]    Referring now to the drawing in  FIG. 2  there is shown a three dimensional drawing of Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill with a tower  100 , tower collar  120  and horizontal arms  130 . The tower  100  is secured to the ground or other stable surface. The tower collar  120  rests on a thrust bearing  190 , which rests on a shaft collar  195  secured to the tower  100 . A sail frame  165  and a sail  160  is secured to a rotatable mast  170  on each horizontal arm  130 . The sails  160  and sail frames  165  are restrained by adjustable sail restraints  140  and motorized sail restraint controllers  150 . The sail restraints  140  and motorized sail restraint controllers  150  restrain only one of the two sails  160  on the common mast  170 . The wind should be understood as coming from the direction shown by the arrow, and is driving the sails  160  on the right side of the figure toward the reader. The sails  160  on the left side of the figure are feathered and moving upwind, that is, away from the reader. With sails mounted on a common mast  170 , the device operates as it would with sail restraints  140  and motorized sail restraint controllers  150  for every sail  160 . The result of mounting two sails on a common mast is a saving in cost of construction and a reduction in complexity. A belt  180  driven by the tower collar  120  causes the rotation of a gearbox and generator  185  to produce electricity. In another embodiment the generator is driven by a chain rather than a belt. In another embodiment the generator is driven by a gear secured to the tower, rather than a belt. In another embodiment more than two sails are used. with sail restraints  140  and motorized sail restraint controllers  150  for every sail  160 . The result of mounting two sails on a common mast is a saving in cost of construction and a reduction in complexity. A belt  180  driven by the tower collar  120  causes the rotation of a gearbox and generator  185  to produce electricity. In another embodiment the generator is driven by a chain rather than a belt. In another embodiment the generator is driven by a gear secured to the tower, rather than a belt. In another embodiment more than two sails are used. In another embodiment Migler&#39;s automatic sail restraints replace the sail restraints shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       3) Yoked Sails 
       [0025]    Referring now to the drawing in  FIG. 3  there is shown a three dimensional drawing of a fragment of Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill. The drawing shows only a part of the tower  201 , and tower collar  202 , and only one of a plurality of horizontal arms  203 . The tower  201  is secured to the ground or other stable surface (not shown.) The tower collar  202  rests on a thrust bearing (not shown), which rests on a shaft collar (not shown) secured to the tower  201 . Three rotatable masts  205  are secured to the horizontal arm  203 . A sail frame and sail  206  is secured to each rotatable mast  205 . A yoke arm  209  is secured at one end of each mast  205 . The yoke arms  209  are connected to each other by a yoke  210 . One of the masts  205  and its sails  206  is controlled by sail restraints,  207  and motorized sail restraint controllers  208 , but other masts are not. The yoke  210  causes the sails  206  to move simultaneously and in the same direction, negating the need for additional sail restraints  207  and sail restraint controllers  208 . 
         [0026]    One result of connecting sails  206  by a yoke  210  is a saving in cost of construction and a reduction in complexity. More importantly, by yoking the masts  205  and sails  206  they can be mounted close together on a horizontal arm  203 , the distance between the sails being only slightly more that the width of the widest sail. Without the yoke  210  two sails would have to be mounted at a much greater distance, the width of two sails, in order to avoid collisions between the sails. 
         [0027]    A belt (not shown) driven by the tower collar  202  causes the rotation of a gearbox and generator (not shown) to produce electricity. In another embodiment the gearbox and generator are driven by a chain rather than a belt. In another embodiment the gearbox and generator is driven by a gear secured to the tower, rather than a belt. 
       4) River-Turbine 
       [0028]    Referring now to the drawing in  FIG. 4  there is shown a cross-sectional side view of Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill, submerged in water, and adapted as a river-windmill, having a tower  400 , a tower collar  401  and horizontal arms  402  secured to the tower collar. The tower  400  is secured to the ground. Guy wires  413  help to support the tower  400 . The tower collar  401  rests on a thrust bearing  411 , which rests on a shaft collar  412  secured to the tower  400 . A rotatable mast  406  is secured to each horizontal arm  402 . A sail frame and sail  405  is secured to each rotatable mast  406  on each horizontal arm  402 . Adjustable sail restraints  404  are controlled by motorized sail restraint controllers  403 . A main belt  409  is driven by the tower collar  401  and drives a main generator  410 . In another embodiment the main generator  410  is driven by a main chain rather than a belt. In another embodiment the main generator  410  is driven by a main gear secured to the tower, rather than a belt. 
         [0029]    Each rotatable mast  406  drives a secondary belt  407  which drives a secondary generator  408 . In another embodiment the secondary generator  408  is driven by a secondary chain rather than a belt. In another embodiment the secondary generator  408  is driven by a secondary gear secured to the tower, rather than a belt. 
         [0030]    The electrical output of the device is the sum of the power generated by the main generator  410  and the secondary generators  408 . The slow movement of the water, compared to wind, results in the absence of a rapid gybe. As a result the energy of a rapid gybe that is captured in Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill is not available in slowly flowing water. However, since the force of the water on the sails  405  is greater in water than in air, due to the mass of the water, some of that energy is captured by the secondary generators  408  when the sails slowly rotate from one sail restraint  404  to another sail restraint  404  during each cycle. 
         [0031]    The flow of water should be understood as coming toward the reader and is driving the sail  405  on the right side of the figure toward the reader. The sail  405  on the left side of the Figure is shown on edge and feathered and should be understood as moving upriver and away from the reader. 
         [0032]    In another embodiment three or more horizontal arms are used. The device may also be used on land. 
       5) Windmill-Sailboat 
       [0033]    Referring now to the drawing in  FIG. 5 , there is shown a three dimensional view of Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill adapted as a windmill-sailboat  300 . The windmill-sailboat  300  has a tower  301 , a rotatable tower collar  302  which penetrates the deck  340  of the boat, and horizontal arms  308  secured to the tower collar  302 . A sail frame and sail  305  is secured to a rotatable mast  303  on each horizontal arm  308 . The sails  305  are restrained by sail restraints  306  and motorized sail restraint controllers  307 . The windmill-sailboat  300  has a rudder (not seen in this figure) and a keel  380 . The arrow indicates that the wind is coming directly toward the boat; the boat  300  should be understood to be moving directly into the wind. The horizontal arms  308  on the tower collar  302  of the boat  300  should be understood as rotating clockwise, with the sail on the right side of the figure moving toward the reader, and the sail on the left side of the figure moving away from the reader. A propeller  310  is turned by a drive shaft  360 . In another embodiment, the sails  305  may be partially or completely reefed, as disclosed in Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill. 
         [0034]    Referring now to the drawing in  FIG. 6  there is shown a cross-sectional side view of the interior of the windmill-sailboat shown in  FIG. 5 , showing only the lower end of the tower collar  302  below the horizontal arms  308  (not shown.) The tower  301  is secured to a stable point in the boat. The tower collar  302  passes through a radial bearing  330  in the deck  340 . The tower collar  302  rests on a thrust bearing  365 , which rests on a shaft collar  375  secured to the tower  301 . The tower collar  302  turns a belt  350  which drives a right-angle gearbox  315 . In another embodiment the right-angle gearbox  315  is driven by a chain rather than a belt. In another embodiment the right-angle gearbox  315  is driven by a gear secured to the tower, rather than a belt. 
         [0035]    The right angle gearbox  315  turns a drive shaft  360 . A propeller  310  is secured to the end of the drive shaft  360 . Rotation of the propeller  310  propels the boat in the water. The pilot (not shown) operates a conventional rudder  311  to control the direction of sail. A keel  380  provides stability against cross winds. 
         [0036]    Referring now to the drawing in  FIG. 7  there is shown a cross-sectional side view of the interior of the windmill-sailboat shown in  FIG. 5 , showing only the lower end of the tower collar  302  below the horizontal arms  308  (not shown.) The tower  301  is secured to a stable point in the boat. The tower collar  302  passes through a radial bearing  330  in the deck  340 . The tower collar  302  rests on a thrust bearing  365 , which rests on a shaft collar  375  secured to the tower  301 . The tower collar  302  turns a belt  350  which drives a right angle gearbox  315 . In another embodiment the right-angle gearbox  315  is driven by a chain rather than a belt. In another embodiment the right-angle gearbox  315  is driven by a gear secured to the tower, rather than a belt. The right angle gearbox  315  turns a transmission  355 . The transmission produces accelerated rotation of a horizontal drive shaft  360 . The pilot (not shown) controls the gears (not shown) of the transmission  355 . A propeller  310  is secured to the end of the drive shaft  360 . Rotation of the propeller  310  propels the boat in the water. The pilot (not shown) operates a conventional rudder  311  to control the direction of sail. A keel  380  provides stability against cross winds. 
         [0037]    Referring now to the drawing in  FIG. 8  there is shown a cross-sectional side view of the interior of the windmill-sailboat shown in  FIG. 5 , showing only the lower end of the tower collar  302  below the horizontal arms  308  (not shown.) The tower  301  is secured to a stable point in the boat. The tower collar  302  passes through a radial bearing  330  in the deck  340 . The tower collar  302  rests on a thrust bearing  365 , which rests on a shaft collar  375  secured to the tower  301 . The tower collar  302  turns a belt  350  which turns a right-angle gearbox  315 . In another embodiment the right-angle gearbox  315  is driven by a chain rather than a belt. In another embodiment the right-angle gearbox  315  is driven by a gear secured to the tower, rather than a belt. 
         [0038]    The right angle gearbox  315  turns a transmission  355 . The output of the transmission  355  serves as input to a generator  370  which provides electricity to an electric motor  325  through a cable  320 . The electric motor  325  turns a drive shaft  360 , which turns a propeller  310  in the water. The pilot (not shown) operates the rudder  311  to control the direction of sail. A keel  380  provides stability against cross winds. 
         [0039]    Referring now to the drawing in  FIG. 9  there is shown a cross-sectional side view of the interior of the windmill-sailboat shown in  FIG. 5 , showing only the lower end of the tower collar  302  below the horizontal arms  308  (not shown.) The tower  301  is secured to a stable point in the boat. The tower collar  302  passes through a radial bearing  330  in the deck  340 . The tower collar  302  rests on a thrust bearing  365 , which rests on a shaft collar  375  secured to the tower  301 . The tower collar  302  turns a belt  350  which turns a right angle gearbox  315 . In another embodiment the right-angle gearbox  315  is driven by a chain rather than a belt. In another embodiment the right-angle gearbox  315  is driven by a gear secured to the tower, rather than a belt. 
         [0040]    The right angle gearbox  315  turns a transmission  355 . The output of the transmission  355  serves as input to a generator  370 . The pilot (not shown) using a conventional switch  345  directs some or all of the electrical power produced by the generator  370  to an electric motor  325  through a cable  320  or to a battery  335 . When there is insufficient wind the pilot directs electrical energy from the battery  335  to the electric motor  325 . The electric motor  325  turns a drive shaft  360 , which turns a propeller  310  in the water. The pilot (not shown) operates the rudder  311  to control the direction of sail. A keel  380  provides stability against cross winds. The pilot (not shown) also controls the gears and rotational speed of the transmission  355 . 
         [0041]    Referring now to the drawing in  FIG. 10 , there is shown another embodiment of the device shown in  FIG. 5 . In this embodiment additional stability against crosswinds is provided by pontoons  380 . The pontoons are secured to the boat by pontoon supports  385 . The arrow in the figure indicates that the wind should be understood as coming from left to right over the side of the boat, that is, as a crosswind. Stability against crosswinds is provided by the keel (not seen in this figure) and by the pontoons  380 . Stability against crosswinds may also be achieved by partially reefing the sails as described in Migler&#39;s vertical axis windmill. Partially reefing the sails reduces the sail area, which reduces lateral force on the boat, which enhances lateral stability during strong crosswinds.