A wind turbine comprising a support structure for supporting a rotatable, substantially vertical hub wherein at least one substantially horizontal support arm is connected to the hub. At least one wind trap is connected to each of the at least one support arm, and each of the at least one wind trap supports at least one petal that may move between an open position, wherein wind is not blocked by the at least one petal, and a closed position, wherein the at least one petal blocks the wind thereby causing the wind to move the at least one wind trap and rotate the hub.

A wind turbine system to provide electrical power in areas not connected to the electrical power grid. The wind turbine system includes a frame and a rotatable shaft supported by the frame. A ring and idler gear assembly is coupled to the rotatable shaft. An upper rotor assembly is coupled to the rotatable shaft. The upper rotor assembly is configured to rotate in a first direction and thereby to rotate the rotatable shaft in a first direction. A lower rotor assembly is coupled to the ring and idler gear assembly. The lower rotor assembly is configured to rotate in a second direction which is opposite of the first direction and thereby to rotate the rotatable shaft in the first direction via the ring and idler gear assembly.

Turbine systems comprising at least one blade that (i) has a pocket to receive wind and (ii) a closed edge that cuts through the wind with greater efficiency are disclosed. The blades can be stacked along a central hub to increase the effective area of the turbine blade system. When stacked, the blades are spaced apart in an amount sufficient to allow wind to pass between the blades as the closed edge of the blade cuts through the wind thereby decreasing wind resistance.

A system for harnessing wind energy to charge the electric storage battery of a vehicle, whether the vehicle is parked or in motion. While the vehicle is being driven, a roof-mounted, internal wind turbine harnesses wind energy and causes rotation of the shaft of an electric generator mounted to an interior surface of the roof. For charging the battery while the vehicle is parked, an external wind turbine is storable in the vehicle when not in use and attaches to the internal wind turbine. Cups of the kind used in cup anemometers are attached to radial arms that extend from an external shaft of the external wind turbine and catch ambient wind currents while the vehicle is parked, causing the external shaft and the generator shaft to rotate.

The present invention is a wind generator system particularly suitable for small wind applications that harnesses low velocity wind effectively. The wind generator system comprises a drive shaft; one or more retreating blades and one or more advancing blades attached to the drive shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom; a generator assembly coupled to the drive shaft and effective for generating electrical power; and a energy storage system comprising a mechanical bellows.

Turbine systems comprising at least one blade that (i) has a pocket to receive wind and (ii) a closed edge that cuts through the wind with greater efficiency are disclosed. The blades can be stacked along a central hub to increase the effective area of the turbine blade system. When stacked, the blades are spaced apart in an amount sufficient to allow wind to pass between the blades as the closed edge of the blade cuts through the wind thereby decreasing wind resistance.

A vane device is adapted for use in a turbine apparatus, and includes a rotary shaft and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart vane units. The rotary shaft is rotatable in a rotational direction. The vane units are connected to the rotary shaft. Each of the vane units includes a grid frame and a plurality of spaced-apart cup members. The grid frame is connected to the rotary shaft. The cup members are arranged in an array and are connected to the grid frame. Each of the cup members has an inner surface that defines a receiving space, and an outer surface that is opposite to the inner surface and that faces toward the rotational direction.

The present invention is an energy storage system comprising a mechanical bellows having an outer flexible material casing with one or more functional elements that operate as actuators for expanding and contracting the outer flexible material casing to store or deliver energy.