Patent ID: 8604635

Claim:
A vertical axis wind turbine for storing energy, said wind turbine comprising: (a) a turbine rotor with a support platform, a rotatable vertical shaft extending from said platform, at least one bearing for said vertical shaft, and at least three rotor vanes disposed for rotation about the vertical shaft, each rotor vane being substantially box-shaped with four solid sides and a front and rear side disposed in a radial vertical plane, the front side being substantially open faced and the rear side having an opening covered by a flap that can be moved with a directional passage of wind through the rotor vane; (b) means for attaching each rotor vane to said vertical shaft so that the front side of each vane lies in the same rotational direction around said vertical shaft; (c) a plurality of braces, each brace affixed at one end to said rotor vane and at an opposite end to a circular spoked wheel on the support platform, and (d) an electric generator situated adjacent the spoked wheel, said spoked wheel having means for connecting to said generator and turning said generator to store energy with wind rotation of said vertical shaft.