Abstract:
A vertical wind turbine rotatable on its vertical axis in order to capture the most direct vector of the wind, the vertical wind turbine having a horizontal inlet port in communication with a vertical air shaft within which mounted vertically, a shaft having a plurality of horizontally disposed wind turbine blades, the lower end magnetically floating to reduce friction, the lower portion of the vertical wind turbine shaft in intersecting communication with one or more horizontal shafts having a venturi design so as to draw a partial vacuum or low pressure, enhancing the downward flow of the air in the vertical wind turbine, the vertical wind turbine in communication with a generator for the production of electricity, the vertical wind turbine being rotatably but stationary mounted on a stationary object or fixedly mounted on a vehicle with the inlet port of the vertical wind turbine forwardly facing.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/211,281, filed Mar. 27, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to the field of wind turbines as an alternative energy source, and more particularly, to an aesthetically pleasing wind turbine which functions in a vertical orientation, either stationary or on a vehicle. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Wind turbines or their equivalence, have been in use for hundreds of years. The earliest wind turbine, the windmill, converted wind energy into mechanical energy, normally to pump water. The fluctuation of petroleum prices and the popular ethic of “going green” has led to the development of wind turbines for the production of electricity. Vast areas of North America and other continents have prevailing wind patterns which makes these areas suitable for the establishment of wind farms with many pedestal mounted wind turbines converting the wind energy to electricity by the wind or air pressure inducing rotation of a turbine and its associated generator, thereby providing electricity to the nearest electrical grid. 
         [0006]    Wind farms have been established in many areas of the world with many hundreds of pedestal mounted wind turbines providing electricity in the manner described. However, many view these wind farms as unsightly and not aesthetically pleasing. Still further, the very environmentalists who favor alternative energies, voice concerns at these massive wind farms with respect to the destruction or killing of migrating birds. 
         [0007]    Wind turbines have also found recent favor and some degree of success with respect to being vehicularley mounted in order to recharge the batteries of an electric car or a hybrid car while the car or vehicle is moving, thus extending the distance which the electric car or hybrid car can travel without the need of a plug in recharge. The main limitation on electric and hybrid vehicles is that the vehicles will only allow travel of a specific distance on the batteries alone before a recharge is required. Normally this recharge is accomplished by an overnight plug in of the battery system. The adaptation of wind turbines onto the vehicle allows for the operation of the wind turbine while the vehicle is moving, allowing the wind turbine and associated generator to recharge the batteries at the same time the batteries are powering the car, thus extending the distance of travel. 
         [0008]    Still further, miniature wind turbines of the pedestal mount type have found application in the boating industry, wherein a small miniature wind turbine is mounted on the top of a mast or other point on the superstructure, and which wind turbine and generator recharge the batteries of the boat while it is docked. 
         [0009]    For efficiency sake, the wind turbines need to capture as much moving air as possible, and to convert it into electricity in the most efficient manner available. The large pedestal mounted turbines of wind farms are normally unidirectional and are most efficient when the air is blowing perpendicular to the blades of the turbine, incurring lesser efficiencies when the wind is at an angle to the blades. Still further, many aesthetical objections remain to the use of pedestal mounted turbines. 
         [0010]    It is therefore the purpose of Applicant to develop a novel wind turbine which redirects the horizontal force of the wind into a vertical shaft or the like in which one or more wind turbines are mounted so as to magnetically float to reduce friction and coupled to a generator for the production of electricity, this vertical wind turbine being rotatable dependant upon the direction of the wind so as to always face the most direct vector of the wind, the turbine further being enhanced by horizontal air flow shafts proximate the lower portion of the vertical turbine so as to draw or create a venturi effect, partial vacuum or low pressure area which will further enhance the rotation of the turbine by means of the wind entering the vertical turbine. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel vertical wind turbine which is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and which is rotatable so as to always face the most direct vector of the wind. 
         [0012]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel vertical wind turbine in which the internal turbine blades are mounted so as to magnetically float to reduce friction and improve efficiency. 
         [0013]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel vertical wind turbine which is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. 
         [0014]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel vertical wind turbine which presents no danger to bird life. 
         [0015]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel vertical wind turbine which can easily be mounted in or on a single structure, such as a house or office building for the generation of electricity for the particular structure. 
         [0016]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel vertical wind turbine which can be mounted in or on an electric or hybrid vehicle so as to recharge the batteries of the vehicle while the vehicle is moving, thus extending the distance which the electric or hybrid vehicle can travel. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    A vertical wind turbine rotatable on its vertical axis in order to capture the most direct vector of the wind, the vertical wind turbine having a horizontal inlet port in communication with a vertical air shaft within which is mounted a vertical shaft having a plurality of horizontally disposed wind turbine blades, the lower end magnetically floating to reduce friction, the lower portion of the vertical wind turbine shaft in intersecting communication with one or more horizontal shafts having a venturi design so as to draw a partial vacuum or low pressure, enhancing the downward flow of the air in the vertical wind turbine, the vertical wind turbine in communication with a generator for the production of electricity, the vertical wind turbine being rotatably but stationary mounted on a stationary object or fixedly mounted on a vehicle with the inlet port of the vertical wind turbine forwardly facing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a vertical wind turbine of the present invention which is rotatable in reaction to the primary directional vector of the wind so as to capture the direct thrust of the wind; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional prospective view of the vertical wind turbine of the present invention illustrating an embodiment which could be utilized to mount in or on a stationary object such as a house, office building, or the like; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective cross-sectional view of a vertical wind turbine of the present invention mounted in or on an electric or hybrid vehicle; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the vertical wind tunnel in which two vertical wind turbines are mounted in or on the vehicle; and 
           [0022]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are cross-sectional alternating embodiments of the vertical air flow shaft. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is illustrative of the basic structure of the vertical wind turbine  10  of the present invention. Vertical wind turbine  10  has an upper intake manifold  12  having a generally horizontal intake port  14 . Intake manifold  12  could be characterized as L-shaped in configuration in that it transforms a horizontal wind vector into a vertical wind vector directing the wind vector downwardly into a vertical downspout or air shaft  16 , which is preferably cylindrical in cross-section, but may be formed in a truncated conical section  17  or an inverted truncated conical section  19  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ). 
         [0024]    Mounted within vertical downspout  16  are a plurality of wind turbines  18 , the blades  20  of which are mounted to a centrally disposed vertical shaft  22 , the lower end  21  of which is mounted on a magnetically supported disk  24  thereby allowing the centrally mounted rotatable shaft  22  and wind turbine blades  20  mounted thereon to float and to rotate with a minimum of friction. The upper end of shaft  22  is braced  25  to the inner wall of the upper end of vertical air shaft  16 . Positioned about the magnetically floating disk  24  are a plurality of conductive brushes  26  which in turn are in communication with a generator  28 . 
         [0025]    The horizontal vectored wind entering the intake manifold  12  is redirected downwardly into vertical downspout or air shaft  16  causing the blades  20  of the wind turbine  10  and centrally rotatably disposed shaft  22  to rotate, thereby rotating the magnetically floating disk  24  causing contact with the plurality of brushes  26  disposed thereabout, which in turn are in communication with the generator  28  for the generation of an electrical current. 
         [0026]    The performance of the vertical wind tunnel  10  can be enhanced by the addition of certain structural elements. An extended body member  30  may be disposed about the vertical downspout or air shaft  16  so as to define a passageway  32  below the vertical downspout  16  and to cause a venturi affect at location  34  below the downspout or air shaft  16  causing a low pressure venture effect or partial vacuum at this location which will further enhance the performance of the vertical wind turbine  10  and its associated rotating blades  20  and shaft by causing the wind vectored into the intake manifold  12  and downwardly in the vertical downspout or air shaft  16  to increase speed as it traverses the vertical downspout  16  thereby imparting greater rotation to the turbine blades  20 . 
         [0027]    Still further, the extended body member may be formed with a wing or fin  36  so as to react to the wind vector and cause the inlet port  14  of the intake manifold  12  to face in direction of the primary wind vector regardless of the direction from which it emanates. In this type of configuration, the intake manifold  12 , vertical downspout or air shaft  16  and the extended body member  30  would all be secured and rotate as a unitary structure. Alternatively, the intake manifold  12  may be rotatable independent of the vertical downspout  16  and extended body member  30 , and may have associated therewith, its own independent fin or wing  31  to cause the intake manifold  12  to rotate in response to the primary wind vector, thereby causing the inlet port  14  of the intake manifold  12  to always face into the primary wind vector while the vertical downspout  16  and extended body member  30  would remain stationary with the extended body member still performing its task of defining a passageway  32  beneath the vertical downspout  16  in order to create the aforesaid venturi affect and low pressure, partial vacuum area  34 . 
         [0028]    The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  could be used in conjunction with similar spaced apart vertical wind tunnels to form a wind tunnel farm similar to those identified in the prior art, but with the elimination of the pedestals and the vertical plane oriented blades of such wind farms. Still further, by incorporated a mesh  33  covering of the inlet port  14  of the intake manifold  12 , Applicant&#39;s vertical wind tunnel  10  eliminates any danger to migrating birds. Still further, while the extended body member  30  of the independent vertical wind turbine of  FIG. 1  enhances the performance of the vertical wind turbine by creating a venturi affect and thus a low pressure, partial vacuum area which will further accelerate the primary wind vector directed downwardly through the downspout or shaft  16 , the vertical wind turbine  10  will still perform and generate electricity without such extended body member  30  as long as there is a passageway beneath the vertical downspout  16  for the egress of air from the vertical downspout. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is illustrative of the manner in which the vertical wind turbine  10  of  FIG. 1  could be applied to a stationary structure. In this configuration, the structure  50  would have a vertical downspout or air shaft  16  and associated centrally rotative disposed shaft  24  and turbine blades  20  mounted in or on the structure  50 , such as the roof. The intake manifold  12  in this embodiment would be rotatable independently of the vertical downspout  16  to allow the horizontal intake port to face the direct vector of the wind depending upon the direction from which it was blowing. Since the structure is stationary, and the vertical downspout  16  is stationary, the passageways  32  beneath the vertical downspout  16  in order to create the venturi, low pressure, partial vacuum affect must be fixed within the structure and therefore would not operate as optimally as the structure illustrated in  FIG. 1  since the passageways  32  would not always be facing the primary vector of the wind, but nevertheless, airflow to the bottom portion of the vertical downspout  16  and its concomitant venturi affect can be partially achieved. The centrally disposed rotatable shaft  22  and wind turbine blades  20  would be mounted on the magnetically floating disk  24  in the same manner as illustrated in  FIG. 1  with a plurality of brushes  26  in electrical communication with a generator  28  for the generation of an electric current. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are illustrative of the adaption of the vertical wind turbine  10  of the present invention to a vehicle.  FIG. 3  is illustrative of a single vertical wind turbine and  FIG. 4  illustrates the possibility of incorporating two vertical wind turbines in or on the same vehicle. In the illustration of  FIG. 3 , an electric or hybrid vehicle  60  is disclosed having a body  62 , supported on a plurality of wheels  64 , the wheels being powered by electric motors which in turn are in communication with a bank of batteries (not shown) for powering the vehicle. Under normal operation, with the batteries fully charged, the operator would have knowledge of the maximum distance that the vehicle could travel on that battery charge without recharging the batteries. Such limitations greatly limit the use of an electric or hybrid vehicle and also limit the public&#39;s enthusiasm for such vehicles. However, with the incorporation of Applicant&#39;s vertical wind turbine, it is possible to use the forward force of the vehicle while traveling to generate electric current to recharge the batteries thereby extending the distance which the vehicle may travel. 
         [0031]    A vertical wind turbine of the type described with respect to  FIGS. 1 and 2  would be positioned within or on the vehicle with the intake manifold  12  and horizontal intake port  14  extending upwardly above the body of the vehicle. In this configuration, the horizontal intake port  14  and intake manifold  12  may be rotatable independently of the vertical downspout of the vertical wind turbine, but since the vehicle will be charging primarily when moving, the intake manifold  12  and horizontal intake port  14  may be fixedly secured to the vertical downspout  16  so as to direct the horizontal intake port  14  towards the forward end of the vehicle. 
         [0032]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a horizontal air shaft  66  would extend from the front  68  of the vehicle  60  to the rear  70  of the vehicle allowing air or wind to pass through the shaft and through the venturi area  34  caused by a narrowing of the shaft  66  below the vertical downspout  16 . A low pressure area or partial vacuum in the venturi area is thus created thereby increasing the speed of the wind directed downwardly through the vertical downspout  16  and past the plurality of wind turbine blades  20  so as to enhance the performance of the vertical wind turbine  10 . The wind turbine mounting on a magnetically floating disk  24  with associated brushes  26  and electrical connections would be the same as that illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the current generated being utilized to recharge the vehicles battery bank while the vehicle is moving. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a perspective partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the vertical wind tunnel of the present invention incorporated in or on a vehicle. The mounting method and operation would be identical to that as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The difference in  FIG. 4  is that for further efficiency, two vertical wind turbines  10  would be mounted in or on the vehicle, but would share a common central passageway  66  in order to establish the venturi affect. 
         [0034]    The vertical wind turbine of the present invention has been described thus far with respect to a cylindrical vertical downspout or airshaft  16 . However, the shape of the vertical downspout or air shaft may vary without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate alternative embodiments of the vertical air shaft  16 .  FIG. 5  illustrates a truncated conical section  17  which diverges from top to bottom and in which the blades  20  increase in diameter to match the diverging conical section.  FIG. 6  illustrates an inverted truncated conical section which converges from top to bottom and in which the blades  20  decrease in diameter. The centrally disposed vertical mounting shaft and magnetically floating disk  24 , as well as the other elements of the vertical wind turbine would remain the same. 
         [0035]    Therefore, while the present invention has been disclosed with respect to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalence thereof.