Abstract:
A high-efficiency wind turbine structure for providing torque to a rotary machine such as a generator. The structure embraces a flat central member arranged to rotate on an axis, and a plurality of peripheral vanes arranged so as to exhaust wind to a plurality of constrictions that exist between curved end portions of adjacent vanes. Improved efficiency and simplified construction are considered to be the advantageous characteristics.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority of my provisional application No. 61/628,164 filed Oct. 25, 2011, entitled HIGH-EFFICIENCY TURBINE CONSTRUCTION, and incorporates by specific reference thereto, all of the disclosure of said provisional application. 
     The application also claims priority of my co-pending Design patent application Ser. No. 29/395,167, filed Dec. 7, 2011, and entitled, ORNAMENTAL DESIGN FOR A TURBINE ROTOR, and the present application thus incorporates by specific reference thereto, all of the disclosure of said Design Patent application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates generally to turbine structures, and more particularly to mechanical details of an improved turbine construction adapted to be driven by a fluid medium, such as wind. 
     Wind turbines currently utilize three symmetrical thin cross-section arms. Contrary to what might be expected, it has been found that by designing these arms so that mostly the tips thereof capture the wind, optimum power is generated. The inner parts of the arms serve solely to transmit the force from the tip-like parts to the hub and driven shaft. 
     Such devices, while operable for the most part, are not believed by the inventor, to extract the full potential power from the wind, and thus are considered less than maximum efficiency. Furthermore, designing for the conversion of the wind driven shaft to generator speed presents a host of additional problems, which, however, are beyond the scope of the present disclosure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is believed to have at least some of the following objects: 
     To provide a novel and improved turbine rotor or blade construction which is both simple in its structure, and efficient in operation. 
     To provide an improved turbine rotor or blade construction as above characterized which is reliable over extended periods of use. 
     To provide an improved turbine rotor or blade construction in accordance with the foregoing, which can be readily fabricated from available materials, such as carbon fiber, aluminum, steel alloy or other metal or metallic alloy. 
     To provide an improved turbine rotor or blade construction as above set forth, which has substantial energy output and is adaptable for different wind speeds when used as a wind mill component. 
     To provide an improved turbine rotor or blade construction as above described, which can be especially rugged over extended periods of use. 
     The invention provides a turbine rotor construction, comprising in combination an expansive member having an axis of rotation, means at the axis, for mounting the member for rotation about said axis, a plurality of individual, thin upstanding vanes mounted rigidly on said expansive member and generally about the periphery of the member, each of said vanes being substantially straight and diverging outwardly from the axis along their respective lengths, at least one end portion of one vane being disposed near an end portion of at least one other adjacent vane, whereby wind impinging upon said expansive member is re-directed outwardly toward all of said vanes, and said vanes in turn re-directing said wind to spaces between said end portion of one vane and the end portion of an adjacent vane to be exhausted through the space between said end portions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, illustrating several embodiments of the invention: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective frontal view of the improved turbine rotor structure of the present invention, mounted on a shaft, and with a hub supporting the structure. 
         FIG. 2  is a view like  FIG. 1 , showing a simplified perspective view of the rotor structure of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation of the rotor. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear elevation of the rotor. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the rotor. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the rotor. 
         FIG. 7  is a left side elevation of the rotor. 
         FIG. 8  is a right side elevation of the rotor. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a modified turbine rotor, constituting another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevation of the rotor of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a rear elevation of the rotor of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the rotor of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of the rotor of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 14  is a left side elevation of the rotor of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 15  is a right side elevation of the rotor of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a further modified turbine rotor, constituting yet another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a front elevation of the rotor of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is a rear elevation of the rotor of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 19  is a top plan view of the rotor of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 20  is a bottom plan view of the rotor of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 21  is a left side elevation of the rotor of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 22  is a right side elevation of the rotor of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a further modified turbine rotor, constituting still another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 24  is a front elevation of the rotor of  FIG. 23 , and 
         FIG. 25  is a bottom plan view of the rotor of  FIG. 23 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is provided a turbine rotor or turbine blade construction generally designated by the numeral  10 . It comprises an expansive member  12  mounted on a drive shaft  14  secured by a nut, for rotation along an axis  18 . Only the end of this power drive shaft  14  is shown in the figure. The arrangement is such that mechanical forces or torque generated by wind are transmitted to suitable mechanical and electrical conversion equipment indicated by the numeral  20 , in the usual manner. The latter are in turn secured in place by a conventional vertical pole or support  22 ,  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The expansive member  12  is arranged to be oriented generally perpendicular to the prevailing wind; the wind thus impinges on the expansive member  12  broadside, in order to effect its turning as will be described below. 
     In accordance with the present invention and referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , mounted on the member  12  is a plurality of individual, thin upstanding vanes designated by the numerals  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30 , respectively, each vane being generally perpendicular to the surface of the member  12 , and further in  FIGS. 3-8 , each vane having a substantially straight portion  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38 , respectively, and at their extremities, curved end portions  40 ,  42 ;  44 ,  46 ;  48 ,  50 ; and  52 ,  53 , respectively. One curved end portion of each vane is immediately adjacent to a curved end portion of the next vane, and the four vanes of the present example taken together, are seen to form a modified parallelogram configuration,  FIG. 3 . For example, the curved end portion  44  of vane  26  is adjacent to the curved end portion  42  of vane  24 , and so on, with respect to the vane pair  26 - 28 , the vane pair  28 - 30  and the vane pair  30 - 24 . 
     Further by the invention, the straight portions  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  of the vanes diverge outwardly along their respective lengths, and the spacings of the ends of the vanes is arranged to define four constrictions  54 - 60 . In operation, the air flow striking the expansive member  12  broadside is first re-directed radially outwardly so as to strike the vanes  24 - 30  respectively, thereby producing torque on the expansive member in accordance with the well known action/reaction concept of physics. The wind is thereafter channelled to the four constrictions  54 - 60  between the ends of the vanes, and finally exhausted therethrough. Thus, the thrust generated by the re-directed wind striking the vanes gives rise to the turning movement of the expansive member  12  and its shaft  14 , to produce the torque necessary to run equipment involving an electric generator device  20  such as that shown in  FIG. 1 . The small arrows  62  in  FIG. 1  are believed to indicate the direction of the wind in the various areas of the vanes  24 - 30  and expansive member  12 ; the larger solid arrows  64  indicate the direction of rotation of the expansive member  12  when it is disposed broadside with respect to the wind, and the wind is considered to be in a direction into the plane of the this member. This movement is designated by the large, hollow-line arrows having the numeral designation  66 . 
     I have discovered that an arrangement of four substantially identical vanes  24 - 30  carried on a square expansive member  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 , provides optimum results, as regards the torque produced. 
     Returning now to the construction of the vanes, the curved end portions  40 - 53  present convex surfaces defining the constructions  54 - 60  noted above. It has been determined that slightly different curvatures at the opposed ends of a given vane, for example,  40  vs.  42 , operate to produce maximum torque. These same curved portions  40 - 53  of the vanes respectively present concave surfaces that face one another in any one vane. This construction is also believed to contribute to the torque realized by the expansive member  12 . 
     The assembly comprising the expansive member and vanes can be constituted of a variety of substances, among which are carbon fiber, aluminum, steel alloy or other metal or metallic alloy. Use of larger weight material for the assembly can be advantageous to the operation of the turbine, because the increased inertia produced by the larger mass tends to equalize slight wind variations that inevitably prevail in varying atmospheric conditions. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 9-15 , wherein a slightly modified construction is utilized, and wherein components corresponding to those of the first embodiment have been applied using the suffix “a”.  FIG. 9  shows the modifications, essentially concealing the drive shaft from the front of the expansive member  12   a , and utilizing an upstanding conical projection  61  at the center of this member. In addition, the latter is enlarged with edge wings, that is, areas outside of the vanes  24   a ,  26   a ,  28   a , and  30   a , respectively. The vanes are similar to those of the first mentioned embodiments, and as presently understood, the wind currents generated by the central upstanding conical projection  61  are more forcefully re-directed radially outward by this structure, as can be understood. 
     Still another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 16-22 , wherein the components similar to those of the second embodiment are similarly labelled, with the addition of the suffix, “b”. As previously explained, the expansive member is enlarged by wings lying outside the vanes, and the central upstanding conical projection of  FIG. 9  has been replaced by an upstanding pyramidal projection  63 . As presently understood, the action of the pyramidal projection on the wind results in a rapid re-direction of the air flow, outwardly toward the vanes, as with the first embodiment. In other respects the structure of  FIGS. 16-22 , and resultant operation are believed to be similar to the corresponding structures set forth above in connection with the first two embodiments. One of ordinary skill will be able to understand these modifications from a study of the drawings and associated text. 
     Yet another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 23-25 , wherein the components similar to those of the second embodiment are similarly labelled, with the addition of the suffix, “c”. The structure of  FIGS. 23-25 , and resultant operation are believed to be similar to the corresponding structures set forth above in connection with the first three embodiments. However, it has been discovered that additional torque can be realized by re-forming the vanes  24   c - 30   c  to consist essentially of straight sections of material, without the curved ends that characterized the prior arrangements. The solid arrows  64  indicate the direction of rotation. Power generated by the wind is transferred to equipment  20  involved with electrical generating apparati, not shown in detail. 
     Specifically, the expansive member  12   c  is provided with straight, divergent vanes  24   c ,  26   c ,  28   c , and  30   c . In addition, the back face of the member  12   c  is also provided with vanes that correspond to vanes  24   c - 30   c . Two of these corresponding vanes are shown in  FIG. 25 , namely those corresponding to Nos.  24   c  and  30   c , and in  FIG. 23 , vanes  26   c  and  28   c . The vanes on the back face are labelled  68  and  70 , for purposes of explanation. 
     The small arrows in  FIG. 24  are believed by the inventor, to represent the directions of the individual wind gusts that result from an front side wind gust impinging on face  12   c . In other respects the operation of this embodiment are similar to that of the prior embodiments. 
     However, it appears to the instant applicant, that the use of straight vanes, as in  FIG. 23 , produces even higher torque than that available with the previous, curved vanes. Accordingly this embodiment is considered to be an especially valuable contribution to the surprisingly good operation of the rotors already discussed. 
     It is considered that the success of the invention lies in the combination of the expansive member broadside to the wind, coupled with the attached peripheral vanes having the straight portions and double curved ends which channel the wind flow. The resulting force on the skewed vanes produces, by the action/reaction phenomena, a powerful and highly efficient torque on the expansive member&#39;s support shaft, which is in turn coupled to the generating equipment. 
     From the above it can be seen that I have provided novel and improved, high-efficiency wind turbine structures which are simple in their makeup, and powerful in their application and use. 
     Each and every one of the appended claims defines an aspect of the invention which is separate and distinct from all others, and accordingly it is intended that they be considered as such when examined in the light of the prior art, in any determination of novelty or validity. 
     Variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the claims, and certain portions of the improvement can be used without others in accordance with the scope of the appended claims. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 List of reference numerals: 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 10 
                 Turbine rotor 
               
               
                 12 
                 Expansive member 
               
               
                 14 
                 Driven shaft 
               
               
                 18 
                 Axis of rotation 
               
               
                 20 
                 Equipment 
               
               
                 22 
                 Pole or support 
               
               
                 24 
                 Vane 
               
               
                 26 
                 Vane 
               
               
                 28 
                 Vane 
               
               
                 30 
                 Vane 
               
               
                 32 
                 Straight portion of vane 
               
               
                 34 
                 Straight portion of vane 
               
               
                 36 
                 Straight portion of vane 
               
               
                 38 
                 Straight portion of vane 
               
               
                    40, 42 
                 Curved end portion 
               
               
                    44, 46 
                 Curved end portion 
               
               
                    48, 50 
                 Curved end portion 
               
               
                    52, 53 
                 Curved end portion 
               
               
                 54 
                 Constriction 
               
               
                 56 
                 Constriction 
               
               
                 58 
                 Constriction 
               
               
                 60 
                 Constriction 
               
               
                 61 
                 Conical projection 
               
               
                 62 
                 Small arrows 
               
               
                 63 
                 Pyramid Projection 
               
               
                 64 
                 Larger solid arrows 
               
               
                 66 
                 Large hollow-outline arrows