Abstract:
A power generator system provides a wind or water powered wheel having pairs of radially positioned arms each having a shaft with independently rotating fins or paddles so the fins are oriented at different angles as the main shaft rotates to allow for increased power generation and reduced drag.

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/646,122, filed Dec. 23, 2009, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/206,623 filed 8 Sep. 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,076,791, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to power generators and, more specifically, to a wind or water turbine with fins that rotate independently to maximize power generation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a wind or water powered wheel whereby optimal fin position is obtained to provide maximum power generation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of a generator made in accordance with the present invention being used in both wind and water; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the generator of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one of the side plates of the generator of  FIG. 1 , with the fins shown in phantom; 
         FIG. 4  is another side view of the generator of  FIG. 1 , similar to the view in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is another perspective view of one of the side plates of the generator of  FIG. 1 , with the fins shown in phantom, similar to  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view showing the fins and shafts of the generator of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a detailed view of the fins of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the generator of  FIG. 1 , showing the connections between the turbine, arms, fins, and generator; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view similar to  FIG. 8  but showing a greater number of fins which may be used in the turbine; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the water turbine showing the direction of the water flow through the fins as it passes through the generator; and 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the generator of  FIG. 1  with a cover added to prevent fluid from escaping. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate one embodiment of a water and wind turbine made in accordance with the present invention. (Another embodiment is shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 8,076,791, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.) 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the turbine and generator  10  in use powered by wind or water pressure. A pair of spaced apart stationary housing plates  14  have a plurality of fins  16  angularly disposed therebetween into optimum positioning for maximum driving and power. Additionally, the turbine and generator  10  may be utilized as a wind driven turbine  18  having a vane  20 . In a reversed scenario, the turbine may also be utilized as a propulsion means for watercraft  12 . 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the wind/water turbine of the present invention in use with wind  18 . The turbine comprises spaced apart stationary housing plates  14  with a main shaft  22  rotatively mounted therebetween. The main shaft is also called a main axle  42 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . The stationary housing plates  14  have magnetic tracks  30 , magnetic guides  29  and a magnetic stud transfer guide  31  attached thereto for constraining and guiding fins  16  through a cyclical path driven by wind  18 . The fins  16  are rotatively mounted to arms  36  which are fixedly attached to a main shaft  22 , which is used to drive a generator. The fins  16  are shown in phantom in  FIG. 2 , and it can be seen that they are driven through a cycle in which they pivot from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation and then return to a vertical orientation. Since the track  30  is eccentric relative to the axis of rotation of the main shaft  22 , it can guide the studs on the fins  16  and cause each of the fins  16  to pivot about the respective fin axis (the axis of the collar  48 ) as the main shaft  22  rotates. 
     Looking at  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that the fin  16  at the 9 o&#39;clock position has its upper stud in the leading position outside of the track  30  and its lower stud in the trailing position inside the track  30 . As the main shaft  22  rotates clockwise, when that fin  16  reaches the 12 o&#39;clock position, it is in a vertical orientation. Its upper (leading) stud is on the outside of the outer guide  27 , and its lower stud is between the ends  25  of the track  30 . As the main shaft  22  continues to rotate clockwise, the lower stud of the fin  16  (which had been the trailing stud) enters into the inside of the track  30  and becomes the leading stud as it travels inside that track  30  until it reaches the lower gap  60  in the outer portion of the track  30 , at which point it leaves the track and is guided by the guides  31  and  29  to the outside of the track  30 , which also guide the other stud (which has now become the trailing stud) to the inside of the track  30 . When the fin  16  reaches the six o&#39;clock position, just before the trailing stud enters the inside of the track  30 , the fin  16  has a horizontal orientation. It may also be appreciated that the fin axis  48  for each of the fins  16  follows an imaginary path  26  centered on the main axle  42 , and that the track  30  is eccentric relative to the main axle  42 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the orientation of one of the plates when the turbine is being used with wind. The fins  16  are independently moveable one from the other whereby one is driven through a vertical plane while the opposed fin  16  is driven through a horizontal plane. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of one of the plates oriented for use with a flowing liquid, such as water. Shown is a turbine powered by a moving water  18  generator having magnetic fin guides  30  as a friction reduction system. The system comprises a support having magnetic tracks and guide positioned thereon whereby a main shaft  22  having arms  36  terminating in rotative fins  16  with magnetic tracks  30  constraining the fins  16  to a prescribed path  28 , the inner track  24 , while being driven by the water-energy to store potential energy produced from the kinetic energy of the water-energy. The fins  16  are driven through a cycle having a vertical orientation through a horizontal orientation before returning to a vertical orientation. 
       FIG. 5  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use with a flowing liquid. The fins  16  are independently moveable one from the other whereby one is driven in a vertical plane while the opposed fin  16  is driven in a horizontal plane. 
       FIG. 6  shows the main shaft  42  with a plurality of supporting arms  36  radially projecting therefrom with the distal end of each having a bearing  46  rotatively connected to a pair of fins  16 , having one on each side of the arm  36 , which rotates with the main shaft  42 . Each fin  16  has magnetic studs  50  attached proximate to two outer corners. While one said magnetic stud  50  runs along a channel in a circular track of smaller diameter than that of the arm  36 , the angle that each fin  16  rotates is controlled, in order to transfer maximum energy to the main shaft  42 . It should be noted that the track need not necessarily be circular. The shape of the track may be designed as desired to achieve the optimal fin position. 
       FIG. 7  is a detailed view of the fin  16 , arm  36  and magnetic studs  50 . This wind or water powered wheel provides pairs of radially positioned arms  36  with each having a shaft with a pair of fins  16  pivotally attached thereto via a bearing  46  in collar  48 . The fins  16  are independently movable from each other. One pair of fins  16  is driven in a vertical plane while the opposed pair of fins  16  is driven in a horizontal plane. Additionally shown is a pressure release gate  52  whereby under the incident of extreme weather, the fins  16  can pivot as shown in  FIG. 10 , to permit flow that otherwise would destroy the fin  16  if opposed. 
       FIG. 8  is a front view of the turbine and generator combination  10  with the generator  54  being shown connected to the main shaft  42 . It can be seen in this view that the pair of fins  16  at the top are in a vertical position, while the pair of fins  16  at the bottom are in a horizontal to optimize the harvesting of energy while reducing drag. 
       FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 8  but shows that the turbine may be expanded and ganged with a plurality of fins  16  and arms  36  operating on a common main shaft  42  and generator  54  as the magnets travel through the tracks  30  of the stationary plates  14 . 
       FIG. 11  is an illustrative view of the wind or water turbine having an added cover  32 . The cover  32  is placed above the wind or water turbine and prevents fluid escape.