Patent ID: 8362637

Claim:
A wind capturing apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of wind catching segments disposed in a circumferential direction around a center position, each segment comprising: an exterior opening configured to receive wind; an interior opening disposed between the exterior opening and the center position, the interior opening facing the exterior opening; a top wall; a bottom wall; a pair of sidewalls connecting the top wall and the bottom wall to define a channel between the openings, the channel being configured to direct substantially all of a volume of air entering the exterior opening to the interior opening to thereby accelerate a velocity of the air between the exterior opening and the interior opening; and a power generating apparatus configured to receive wind passing through the interior opening to drive a rotor for power generation, wherein the pair of sidewalls extend toward the interior opening in a direction so as to taper inwardly toward a centerline of the channel at an angle to a radial line extending between an edge of the exterior opening in the circumferential direction and the center position.