Patent ID: 7453168

Claim:
A wind-powered generator for generating electric power over a wide range of wind conditions, comprising: a vertical support member for supporting the wind-powered generator; an enclosure comprising: at least one ducted chamber sized and adapted to receive a wind turbine therein, said ducted chamber configured to guide wind driven airflow in passing through said enclosure with wind entering an air intake portion of said enclosure and exiting an air exhaust portion of said enclosure; and at least one fin secured to a top portion of said enclosure, said fin sized and adapted to urge said enclosure to rotate upon said vertical support member such that said air intake portion of said enclosure is adjusted to a position in which wind impinges upon said air intake portion of said enclosure; at least one wind turbine, each wind turbine comprising: a turbine shaft rotatably mounted into said ducted chamber; a plurality of turbine fan blades, said fan blades secured onto and about a portion of said turbine shaft; a generator having a rotor driveably coupled to said turbine shaft; a plurality of rows of magnetic irises, said magnetic irises each having an opening in a center portion of said iris, said turbine shaft passing through said opening, an adjustable diameter of said opening adjustable between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter; and a means of adjusting said adjustable diameter of said irises; wherein wind impinging upon said fan blades urges said turbine shaft to rotate, said rotating turbine shaft driveably rotating said generator rotor; and wherein said turbine converts said wind power to electrical power; a wind speed sensor secured to an exterior surface of said enclosure, said wind speed sensor configured to produce an electrical signal proportional to wind speed measured by said wind speed sensor; a microprocessor based iris control unit secured in said enclosure, said wind speed sensor and said means of adjusting said irises electrically interfaced to said iris control unit, said microprocessor based iris control unit configured and adapted to command said means of adjusting said irises to adjust said adjustable diameter of each iris so as to maximize power output of said generators according to said wind speed signal; and at least one rechargeable battery secured to said enclosure, said battery to provide continuous power to said iris control unit, said battery rechargeable by said generators.