Patent ID: 7186083

Claim:
A wind energy conversion apparatus, comprising: a rotor defining a rotor axis; at least two propeller blades, each said blade defining a respective blade axis extending at least partially radially from said rotor axis, said propeller blades for rotation about said rotor axis in response to wind flow, each said propeller blade including a first blade section fixedly attached to said rotor and a second blade section at least about 33% of the length of said first blade section, wherein said first blade sections and said second blade sections are formed by injection molding, wherein said second blade sections are mounted for pivoting about respective pivot axes between normal operating positions thereof and governing positions in which said second blade sections transfer reduced levels of wind power to said rotor; and a biasing structure for biasing said second blade sections toward said normal operating positions while urging said second blade sections toward said governing positions in response to centrifugal force produced by rotation of said propeller blades about said rotor axis, the apparatus further comprising an electrical generator stator assembly including an annular stator outer rim and an annular stator inner rim, a stator winding comprising an electrical conductor supported by said stator outer rim, and one or more stator frame members extending between said stator outer rim and said stator inner rim, wherein said one or more stator frame members are spaced apart from one another to provide first open regions allowing passage of the wind between said stator outer rim and said stator inner rim; and an electrical generator rotor assembly including an annular rotor outer rim and an annular rotor inner rim, a permanent magnet array supported by said rotor outer rim, and one or more rotor frame members extending between said rotor outer rim and said rotor inner rim, wherein said one or more rotor frame members are spaced apart from one another to provide second open regions allowing passage of the wind between said rotor outer rim and said rotor inner rim, said rotor outer rim and said stator outer rim being concentrically disposed with respect to each other such that said permanent magnet array is disposed in close radial proximity to said stator winding, said stator outer rim and said rotor outer rim being adapted for rotation relative to each other in response to rotation of said at least two propeller blades about said rotor axis.