A vertical axis windmill system for interacting with ground level winds has a plurality of vertical windmill units. Each vertical windmill unit includes a rotation unit and outer rings. The rings are secured to the vertical support columns. The rotation unit has a plurality of blades equally spaced around a rotatable center shaft. Each blade has a plate extending from the central shaft to an outer end. The plate has a curvature from an upper edge to the lower edge. Each of the blades has a plurality of openings. A plurality of flaps are pivotably mounted to the blade to move from an open position allowing air through the plurality of openings to a closed position limiting air through the plurality of openings. The system has a generator for converting the rotation motion of the rotatable central shaft to electrical energy.

A vertical axis windmill turbine includes a support structure for supporting the vertical axis windmill turbine above ground level. At least one rotor rotates upon the support structure. The at least one rotor comprises a horizontal structure having a rotational axis perpendicular to the ground level. A plurality of blades positioned within each of the at least one rotor cause the at least one rotor to rotate on the support structure responsive to wind force. A plurality of vanes are located on each of the plurality of blades and rotate between an open position to limit drag on the at least one rotor and a closed position that provides a rotational force to the at least one rotor. The plurality of vanes rotate between the open position and the closed position responsive to a wind force. A plurality of vane stops each associated with a vane of the plurality of vanes stops the rotation of the vane when the vane reaches the closed position. A vane control mechanism associated with each vane/vane stop lessens a force with which the vane impacts the vane stop when moving to the closed position.

This disclosure provides a vertical-axis windmill including a rotating vertical shaft and at least one vane assembly mounted to the rotating vertical shaft. The vertical-axis windmill rotates around a vertical axis when wind impinges upon the vane assembly. During rotation, a planar sail of the vane assembly moves along an oscillatory arc of about 90°, with the planar sail assuming each of a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation once during each 360° rotation of the vertical shaft. As described below, this configuration advantageously allows the windmill to be self-starting and suited for operation at low wind-speed.

A vertical axis windmill system for interacting with ground level winds has a plurality of vertical windmill units. Each vertical windmill unit includes a rotation unit and outer rings. The rings are secured to the vertical support columns. The rotation unit has a plurality of blades equally spaced around a rotatable center shaft. Each blade has a plate extending from the central shaft to an outer end. The plate has a curvature from an upper edge to the lower edge. Each of the blades has a plurality of openings. A plurality of flaps are pivotably mounted to the blade to move from an open position allowing air through the plurality of openings to a closed position limiting air through the plurality of openings. The system has a generator for converting the rotation motion of the rotatable central shaft to electrical energy.

A fluid turbine apparatus includes a fixed structure and a rotating structure supported by the fixed structure. The rotating structure includes a central shaft, and at least two wings connected to the central shaft. Each of the wings includes a wing frame, at least one door and a respective at least one door stopper. Each of the doors pivots relative to the respective wing frame between closed and open positions. In use, the door located at one side of the central shaft facing a flow of fluid is in the closed position with fluid force transferred to the door, while the door located at the opposite side of the shaft is in the open position with fluid passing through the respective wing frame. The fluid force creates a torque that rotates the central shaft. Apparatuses can extract power from wind or water current.

A vertical axis windmill system for interacting with ground level winds has a plurality of vertical windmill units. Each vertical windmill unit includes a rotation unit and outer rings. The rings are secured to the vertical support columns. The rotation unit has a plurality of blades equally spaced around a rotatable center shaft. Each blade has a plate extending from the central shaft to an outer end. The plate has a curvature from an upper edge to the lower edge. Each of the blades has a plurality of openings. A plurality of flaps are pivotably mounted to the blade to move from an open position allowing air through the plurality of openings to a closed position limiting air through the plurality of openings. The system has a generator for converting the rotation motion of the rotatable central shaft to electrical energy.

A system for generating electric energy from wind or hydraulic energy includes a turbine, and an electric energy generating device to which the turbine is connected through a shaft along a first axis. The turbine includes at least one blade, configured to perform a first rotary movement with respect to the first axis, and a second rotary movement with respect to a second axis, coinciding with the axis of the blade itself. This provides a system with structural features allowing high efficiency, facilitating installation in various environmental contexts, without risk of damage for the respective operational and structural integrity, at the same time. Additionally, the system has an essentially reduced environmental impact, as well as a low noise level so that it can be installed in an urban context or in any case close to built-up areas, i.e. near houses or buildings.

A vane device includes a rotary shaft and a plurality of vane units angularly spaced apart from each other relative to the rotary shaft. Each of the vane units includes a grid frame that has grid spaces, and a plurality of vanes respectively disposed adjacent to the grid spaces. Each vane is swingable between a cover position and an open position. The size of the vanes decreases along a radial direction from a vicinity of the rotary shaft to a distance away from the rotary shaft.

A vertical axis turbine is disclosed, having a vertically oriented rotor shaft, a plurality of radially extended arms rotatably mounted on the rotor shaft, and a chassis at the distal end of each. For each chassis, an upper blade set is on an upper portion, having upper blade panels interconnected pivotally by upper guide links, and a lower blade set is on a lower portion, having lower blade panels interconnected pivotally by lower guide links. Each chassis has an upper shaft with an upper gear, coupled to the upper guide links, and a lower shaft with a lower gear coupled to the lower guide links. The upper gear and the lower gear mesh, limiting rotation of the upper shaft and lower shaft to opposite directions with similar rotational speeds.

This invention has to do with generating electricity by converting kinetic energy embedded in the water in motion such as ocean waves, or river flow, or wind pressure into rotational energy which is to be used to rotate the electricity generator spin axis to generate electricity. To achieve this goal, Moving Window Frame with multiple Vertical Windows and with or without a Horizontal Window is invented.