Patent ID: 8598724

Claim:
A wind-driven electric power plant comprising: a generator in a nacelle; a windwheel coupled to the generator; a mast comprising: a first end coupled to the nacelle; a second end; a set of sections pivotally connected with each other such that the mast has a capability of folding and spreading; and at each pivotal connection location between the sections, a circular hydraulic actuator coupled to each of the sections at the pivotal connection location and configured to rotate one of the sections at the pivotal connection location with respect to the other section at the pivotal connection location; a shielding chamber comprising a base, a sidewall, and a cover connected to the sidewall; a mast mount rigidly connected to the second end of the mast and pivotally connected to the base of the shielding chamber; a mast transfer mechanism coupled to the mast mount and configured to move the mast between an operating position with the windwheel outside of the chamber and a stored position with the windwheel inside of the chamber; a motor connected to the mast transfer mechanism, a controller connected to the motor, and a sensor connected to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to control the motor to operate the mast transfer mechanism in response to an output from the sensor.