Abstract:
A wind power plant includes four main elements: a foundation ( 29 ), at least one supporting structure ( 21 ), a carrying construction ( 23 ) having a vertical axis ( 25 ) and being rotatable around the vertical axis, and at least one rotor ( 45 ), ( 49 ), ( 52 ) positioned on the carrying construction. The rotors can have horizontal, vertical, and inclined axes of rotation in different combinations. Each rotor has at least two blades ( 53 ) arranged along its axis of rotation. Since the rotors used in the invention have a small diameter, the wind power plant can produce energy under high and low wind speeds, consequently producing more energy per year than known wind turbines. Also, because the rotors have rectilinear blades for their manufacture expensive composite materials and complicated expensive equipment are not required. For these reasons the wind power plant of this invention will produce energy at lower cost.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of provisional patent applications Ser. No. 60/731,573, filed 2005 Oct. 28 and Ser. No. 60/754,814, filed Dec. 29, 2005 by the present inventor. 

   FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
   Not Applicable 
   SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM  
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to the utilization of wind energy, and more specifically, to the utilization of wind energy through the use of wind turbines. 
   2. Prior Art 
   A wind turbine is a machine for converting the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy. All of the known wind turbines can produce useful energy only as a result of sufficient wind speed. Generally speaking, the bigger is the wind turbine, the larger is the amount of useful energy that it can produce. On the other hand, the bigger is the size of wind turbine, the higher is the wind speed required for the wind turbine to produce useful energy. However, there are many locations in the world where the prevailing wind speeds are too low for the known wind turbines to produce useful energy. Accordingly, the capabilities of current wind turbines to practically utilize wind energy are limited. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,454 to Ohlmann (2005) discloses a vertical axis wind turbine. However, this wind turbine cannot be used for producing a high power output because the turbine is limited to only two rotors. Additionally, the structure of the wind turbine disclosed in Ohlmann is ill-equipped for production because it is non-rigid and unreliable and can operate under only low wind speeds and when rotors are short. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The wind power plant of the present invention uses rotors having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the rotors in presently utilized wind turbines. Consequently, an output shaft on the present invention will rotate with higher speed than its counterpart in the known wind turbines. Thus the wind power plant of the present invention can produce useful energy at lower wind speeds as compared to the presently utilized wind turbines. 
   Accordingly, the present invention has following advantages: 
   1. It allows for the production of useful energy in world areas with prevailing low wind speeds in which the currently utilized wind turbines cannot produce useful energy. 
   2. It allows for the production of useful energy both at wind speeds when the presently utilized wind turbines can, and at wind speeds lower when the presently utilized wind turbines cannot produce useful energy. 
   3. It allows for the production of more useful energy per year than the presently utilized wind turbines. 
   4. It allows for the creation of high power wind plants in word areas where low wind speeds prevail. 
   In addition to the above-stated advantages, the rotors in the present invention have rectilinear blades arranged along of the axis of rotor rotation. Accordingly, to manufacture the rotors of the present invention, one does not need any complicated expensive machinery, any expensive composite materials, or any skilled specialists, As a result of including the above-listed advantages, the present invention is capable of both efficient production of clean and cheap energy and of word-wide utilization. 
   The present invention has many embodiments. All of the embodiments comprise the following four main elements: 
   a foundation; 
   at least one supporting structure, only one supporting structure being installed on the foundation; 
   a carrying construction arranged on the supporting structures, the carrying construction having a vertical axis and being rotatable about the vertical axis; and 
   at least one rotor positioned on the carrying construction. 
   An element of the wind power plant on which the rotors are positioned is called “the carrying construction” in this specification and in the claims. 
   There are two main groups of the invention. First group represents embodiments, where the supporting structure installed on the foundation is not fixedly secured to it. The carrying construction is fixedly secured to the supporting structures. The carrying construction is rotatable about its vertical axis jointly with the supporting structures. Second group represents embodiments, where the supporting structure installed on the foundation is fixedly secured to it. The carrying construction is rotatable about its vertical axis independently from the supporting structure installed on the foundation. 
   In simplest cases, the carrying construction is a pillar or a horizontal beam. On this pillar or beam at least one rotor is positioned. As the quantity of rotors increases, the carrying construction becomes a pillar which has either branching horizontal beams only, inclined beams only, or horizontal and inclined beams together. 
   In other cases, the carrying construction is simply a very long horizontal beam. Yet in other cases when it is necessary for a large quantity of rotors to be positioned on the carrying construction, the carrying construction has a pillar arranged along its vertical axis with at least two horizontal beams branching off in opposite directions, and at least two supplementary pillars bearing against supplementary supporting structures. In another case, when it is necessary for a large quantity of rotors to be positioned on the carrying construction, the carrying construction is a very long horizontal beam having at least two supplementary pillars bearing against supplementary supporting structures. 
   In this specification and in claims, the pillars and the beams are referred to as members of the carrying construction. 
   In the simplest cases, a single rotor is positioned on the carrying construction. This single rotor has either a horizontal or a vertical axis of rotation. In cases when two rotors are positioned on the carrying construction, the rotors have either horizontal axes of rotation only, vertical axes of rotation only, or inclined axes of rotation only. In cases when more then two rotors are positioned on the carrying construction, the rotors have either horizontal axes of rotation only, vertical axes of rotation only, inclined axes of rotation only, or different combinations of horizontal, vertical, and inclined axes of rotation. 
   Each rotor has at least two blades arranged along its axis of rotation. The rotors are positioned on the pillars and on the beams in one or two rows along the borders of these carrying construction members. 
   The invention has other design features as well. Further features of the invention will be apparent from the attached drawings and a description of the illustrative embodiments of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of the invention, which has rotors with horizontal and vertical axes of rotation. 
       FIG. 2  is a right-side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention, which has rotors with horizontal and vertical axes of rotation. 
       FIG. 4  is a right-side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention, which has a single rotor with a horizontal axis of rotation. 
       FIG. 6  is a partial right-side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a transverse sectional view taken on line A—A in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
       FIG. 8  is a simplified front view of another embodiment of the invention, which has two or four rotors with horizontal axes of rotation. 
       FIG. 9  is a simplified front view of another embodiment of the invention, which has two or four rotors with horizontal axes of rotation and one or two rotors with vertical axes of rotation. 
       FIG. 10  is a simplified front view of another embodiment of the invention, which has two rotors with horizontal axes of rotation and two rotors with inclined axes of rotation. 
       FIG. 11  is a simplified front view of another embodiment of the invention, which has tow rotors with horizontal axes of rotation, two rotors with inclined axes of rotation, and one or two rotors with vertical axes of rotation. 
       FIG. 12  is a simplified front view of another embodiment of the invention, which has either one, or two, or four rotors with vertical axes of rotation. 
       FIG. 13  is a simplified front view of another embodiment of the invention, which has four rotors with inclined axes of rotation. 
       FIG. 14  is a simplified front view of another embodiment of the invention, which has two rotors with inclined axes of rotation and one or two rotors with vertical axes of rotation. 
       FIG. 15  is a simplified front view of another embodiment of the invention, which has two or four rotors with horizontal axes of rotation. 
       FIG. 16  is a simplified front view of another embodiment of the invention, which has two rotors with inclined axes of rotation and one or two rotors with vertical axes of rotation. 
       FIG. 17  is a simplified front view of another embodiment of the invention, which has for rotors with inclined axes of rotation. 
       FIG. 18  is as simplified front view of another embodiment of the invention, which has a large number of rotors with horizontal axes of rotation. 
       FIG. 19  is a simplified front view of another embodiment of the invention, which has a large number of rotors with horizontal axes of rotation. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7  illustrate one of the embodiments of the wind power plant of the present invention. The plant includes a supporting structure (mast, tower)  21  and a carrying construction  23 . The carrying construction  23  is arranged on the supporting structure  21  and has a vertical axis  25 . In this embodiment, the carrying construction  23  is fixedly secured to the supporting structure  21 , i.e., they are integral. The carrying construction  23  is rotatable jointly with the supporting structure  21  about the vertical axis  25 . This is provided by a round bar  27  fixed in a foundation  29 . The supporting structure  21  is installed on turning elements (wheels or rollers)  31 . The turning of the plant is enabled by a truck  33 . The truck  33  is fixed to the supporting structure  21  by a connecting construction  35 . The truck  33  also prevents the plant from turning over under wind influence since it is arranged on the side opposed to the wind pressure. Referring to  FIG. 2 , an arrow  37  shows the wind direction. The truck  33  is driven by a motor (not shown). 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the supporting structure has a platform  39 . Around the platform  39 , brackets  41  are installed on the foundation  29 . On the brackets  41  other turning elements  43  are positioned, which also act to prevent the plant from turning over. 
   On the carrying construction  23  rotors  45  having horizontal axes of rotation  47  and rotors  49  having vertical axes of rotation  51  are positioned. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the rotors have at least two blades  53  arranged along the axes of rotation. Referring back to  FIG. 1 , each rotor has a shaft  55 , which rotates in bearings  57  placed in arms  59  and  61 . The arms  59  and  61  are attached to the carrying construction  23 . The rotors are arranged in two rows. The shafts of aligned rotors are connected by couplings  63 . 
   There are vertical shafts  65  and  67  on the carrying construction  23 . The shafts  55  of the vertical rotors  49  are connected by couplings  63  to the vertical shafts  65  and  67 . The shafts  55  of the horizontal rotors  45  are connected to the vertical shafts  65  and  67  by a mechanical transmission consisting of two bevel-gears  69 . The vertical shafts  65  and  67  are connected to each other by a mechanical transmission consisting of two gears  71 . One of the vertical shafts  67  is connected by coupling  63  to an input shaft of a gear-box  73 . An output shaft of the gear-box  73  is connected by a mechanical transmission consisting of two gears  75  to a driven device  77  (a generator or a pump). 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , the rotors  45  and  49  are positioned along the borders  79  and  81  of the carrying construction  23 . The rotors are arranged so that less than half of the rotors&#39; diameter protrudes out of the borders of the carrying construction. 
   The transverse section of the carrying construction may have a special shape in locations where the rotors are positioned. This section may be shaped by a first straight line  83  arranged nearest to said rotors, and two other straight lines  85  and  87  adjoining said first straight line at an acute included angle. 
   When the plant operates, under wind pressure the rotors acquire rotational motion. The rotors mounted in one row acquire rotational motion in one direction, while the rotors mounted in another row acquire rotational motion in opposite direction. Turning moment of the horizontally arranged rotors transmits through the bevel-gears  69  to the vertical shaft on which the vertical rotors are arranged. Since the vertical shafts are connected by the gears  71 , total turning moment is transmitted to the gear-box  73  through the coupling  63 . Then, the total turning moment is transmitted to the driven device through the gears  75 . 
     FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  7  show another embodiment of the wind power plant. This embodiment distinguishes from the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in that the supporting structure  21  is fixedly secured to the foundation and is immovable. The carrying construction  23  is rotatable around the vertical axis  25  and about the immovable supporting structure  21 . This is provided by the round bar  27  fixed in the carrying construction  23 . The rotation of the carrying construction can be accomplished by any known method utilized for Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines. 
   The reference numerals on all figures are the same as on  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7  for the same elements. 
   The embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1–4  and  7  may include more than one supporting structure. The number of supporting structures depends on the size “L” of the carrying construction. When the size “L” increases, the number of the supporting structures increases too. If three supporting structures are needed, one of them is positioned on the vertical axis  25 , and two supplementary ones are positioned symmetrically to the vertical axis  25 , and so on. The supplementary supporting structures are fixedly secured to the carrying construction and are installed on turning elements. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  show another embodiment of the wind power plant. This embodiment has only a single rotor  45  and is therefore the simplest embodiment. The rotor  45  has a horizontal axis of rotation  47 . The supporting structure  21  is fixedly secured on the foundation  29  and is immovable. The carrying construction  23  is rotatable around the vertical axis  25  and about the immovable supporting structure. This is provided by the round bar  27  fixed in the supporting structure. The rotation of the carrying construction can be accomplished by any known method utilizing for Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines. 
   The rotor  45  is positioned on the carrying construction  23  and has at least two blades  53  arranged along the axis of rotation  47 . The rotor  45  has a shaft  55 , which rotates in the bearings  57  placed in the arms  61 . The arms are fixed to the carrying construction. The shaft  55  is connected by a mechanical transmission consisting of a belt drive  89  to the input shaft of the gear-box  73 . The output shaft of the gear-box is connected by the coupling  63  to the driven device  77  (a generator or a pump). 
   The rotor  45  is positioned along the border  79  of the carrying construction. The rotor is arranged so that less than half of the rotor&#39;s diameter protrudes out of the border of the carrying construction. 
   The transverse section of the carrying construction may have a special shape. This section may be shaped by a first straight line  83  arranged nearest to said rotor, and two other straight lines  85  and  87  adjoining said first straight line at an acute included angle. 
   In all cases, if one rotor is mounted on the carrying construction, it is arranged along one border of the carrying construction, and if two or more rotors are mounted on the carrying construction, the may be arranged both in one row along one border and in two rows along two borders. 
   The rotors can be mounted either on the side of the carrying construction opposed to the wind pressure, or on the side which is under the wind pressure. 
   When the wind power plant contains many rotors, several driven devices may be mounted on the carrying construction. In this case, each driven device will be powered by a separate group of rotors. 
   Mechanical transmissions used for transmitting power from rotors to driven devices can be different. The mechanical transmissions mentioned above are used as an example only. 
     FIG. 8  shows another embodiment of the wind power plant. In this embodiment the supporting structure  21  is not fixedly secured to the foundation  29 . The carrying construction  23  is fixedly secured to the supporting structure and is rotatable around the vertical axis  25  jointly with the supporting structure. In this embodiment two or four rotors  45  with horizontal axes of rotation are positioned on the carrying construction  23 . 
     FIG. 9  shows another embodiment of the wind power plant. In this embodiment the supporting structure  21  is not fixedly secured to the foundation  29 . The carrying construction  23  is fixedly secured to the supporting structure and is rotatable around the vertical axis  25  jointly with the supporting structure. In this embodiment two or four rotors  45  with horizontal and one or two rotors  49  with vertical axes of rotation are positioned on the carrying construction. 
     FIG. 10  shows another embodiment of the wind power plant. In this embodiment the supporting structure  21  is not fixedly secured to the foundation  29 . The carrying construction  23  is fixedly secured to the supporting structure and is rotatable around the vertical axis  25  jointly with the supporting structure. In this embodiment two rotors  45  with horizontal and two rotors  52  with inclined axes of rotation are positioned on the carrying construction. 
     FIG. 11  shows another embodiment of the wind power plant. In this embodiment the supporting structure  21  is not fixedly secured to the foundation  29 . The carrying construction  23  is fixedly secured to the supporting structure and is rotatable around the vertical axis  25  jointly with the supporting structure. In this embodiment two rotors  45  with horizontal, two rotors  52  with inclined, and one or two rotors  49  with vertical axes of rotation are positioned on the carrying construction. 
     FIG. 12  shows another embodiment of the wind power plant. In this embodiment the supporting structure  21  is into fixedly secured to the foundation  29 . The carrying construction  23  is fixedly secured to the supporting structure and is rotatable around the vertical axis  25  jointly with the supporting structure. The carrying construction is made as a pillar. The transverse section of the pillar may have a special shape in the places where the rotors are located. This section may be shaped by a first straight line  83  arranged nearest to said rotors, and two other straight lines  85  and  87  adjoining said first straight line at an acute included angle. In this embodiment one or more rotors  49  with vertical axes of rotation are positioned on the carrying construction. 
     FIG. 13  shows another embodiment of the wind power plant. In this embodiment the supporting structure  21  is not fixedly secured to the foundation  29 . The carrying construction  23  is fixedly secured to the supporting structure and is rotatable around the vertical axis  25  jointly with the supporting structure. In this embodiment four rotors  52  with inclined axes of rotation are positioned on the carrying construction. 
     FIG. 14  shows another embodiment of the wind power plant. In this embodiment the supporting structure  21  is not fixedly secured to the foundation  29 . The carrying construction  23  is fixedly secured to the supporting structure and is rotatable around the vertical axis  25  jointly with the supporting structure. In this embodiment two rotors  52  with inclined axes and one or two rotors  49  with vertical axes of rotation are positioned on the carrying construction. 
     FIG. 15  shows another embodiment of the wind power plant. In this embodiment the supporting structure  21  is fixedly secured to the foundation  29  and is immovable. The carrying construction  23  is rotatable around the vertical axis  25  and about the immovable supporting structure. In this embodiment two or four rotors  45  with horizontal axes of rotation are positioned on the carrying construction. 
     FIG. 16  shows another embodiment of the wind power plant. In this embodiment the supporting structure  21  is fixedly secured to the foundation  29  and is immovable. The carrying construction  23  is rotatable around the vertical axis  25  and about the immovable supporting structure. In this embodiment two rotors  52  with inclined and one or two rotors  49  with vertical axes of rotation are positioned on the carrying construction. 
     FIG. 17  shows another embodiment of the wind power plant. In this embodiment the supporting structure  21  is fixedly secured to the foundation  29  and is immovable. The carrying construction  23  is rotatable around the vertical axis  25  and about the immovable supporting structure. In this embodiment four rotors  52  with inclined axes of rotation are positioned on the carrying construction. 
     FIG. 18  shows another embodiment of the wind power plant. There are three supporting structures in this embodiment. The carrying construction  23 ( p  and  b ) is fixedly secured to the supporting structures and has a vertical axis  25 . The carrying construction is rotatable around the vertical axis  25  jointly with the supporting structures. One supporting structure  21  is installed on the foundation  29  at the vertical axis  25 , and two supplementary supporting structures  22  are symmetrized to the vertical axis  25 . All supporting structures are installed on turning elements  31 . The carrying construction consist of three pillars  23 ( p ) and four horizontal beams  23 ( b ). In this embodiment a large number of rotors  45  with horizontal axes of rotation is positioned on the beams. On each beam the rotors are positioned in two rows. 
   This embodiment allows for the creation of high power wind plants which can produce energy both under high and under low wind speeds. 
     FIG. 19  shows another embodiment of the wind power plant. There are three supporting structures in this embodiment. One supporting structure  21  is installed on the foundation  29 , fixedly secured to it, and is immovable. Two supplementary supporting structures  22  are symmetrized to the supporting structure  21  and are installed on the turning elements  31 . The carrying construction  23 ( p  and  b ) is fixedly secured to supplementary supporting structures  22  only and has a vertical axis  25 . The carrying construction is rotatable around the vertical axis  25  jointly with the supplementary supporting structures. The carrying construction consist of two pillars  23 ( p ) and the horizontal beam  23 ( b ). In this embodiment a large number of rotors  45  with horizontal axes of rotation is positioned on the beam. The rotors are positioned in two rows. 
   This embodiment allows for the creation of high power wind plants which can produce energy both under high and under low wind speeds. 
     FIGS. 18 and 19  show embodiments with two supplementary supporting structures. The number of supplementary supporting structures depends on the size “L” of the carrying construction. When the size “L” is greater, the number of supplementary supporting structures is also greater. 
   From the description above principal advantages of the present invention become evident. The wind power plant of the present invention can produce useful energy both under high and under low wind speeds and this energy will be cheaper than energy produced known wind turbines. That is why it will find a great circulation. 
   The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.