Vortex Wind Power Conversion System

Abstract

A wind energy device (100) utilizes a cone (102) to concentrate the wind. The inside of the cone (102) has rifling (110) which spirals the wind to more effectively hit the rotor blades (112) adjacent the smaller opening (108) of the cone (102). A convex screen (124) deflects objects from the larger opening (104) of the cone (102). The device has a bottom caudal fin (116) to help direct the wind into the larger opening (104) of the cone (102) as the wind changes direction. The cone (102) can have a top fin (118) as well. The device is equally weight balanced on a shaft (120) and pivots on a bearing (122) to help it rotate effortlessly. This pivot enables maximum efficiency of capturing the wind. The cone (102) can be comprised of sections (136) that open up in a strong wind by hinges (134) and a motor or spring at the front (104) of the cone (102). Solar panels (132) can be placed on the cone (102), the rotor housing (114), the generator (126), and the shaft (120) to generate additional electricity.

Claims

1. A wind energy conversion system comprising: (a) an open-ended hollow cone which has an entrance at one end of given diameter for receipt of wind and an exit of given diameter, wherein the entrance diameter is greater than that of the exit diameter; (b) spiraled rifling inside said cone to direct the wind in a specified spiral direction; (c) at least one fin attached adjacent to said cone exit; (d) a rotor with a plurality of blades positioned at the smaller end of said cone; (e) a generator coupled to said rotor; whereby the wind accelerates through the assembly horizontally, and said cone intake is configured to receive, accelerate, and direct the wind.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a mesh screen secured to said cone entrance for protecting the interior of said cone and for allowing the wind to pass through said screen, but for preventing birds, foreign objects, and debris from passing there-through.

3. The system according to claim 2 in which said mesh screen has a convex configuration.

4. The system according to claim 1 in which said cone interior has a smooth and gradual transition from its entrance to its exit.

5. The system according to claim 1 in which said cone is configured to receive the wind at an entrance wind velocity and to accelerate the received wind to an accelerated wind velocity.

6. The system according to claim 1 where said cone and said generator are operably coupled and balanced on a support structure to avoid the need for any mechanical or electric controller needed to turn said cone.

7. The system according to claim 1 further including a support column comprising a shaft supporting said cone, a base for said shaft and a pivot point whereby said base is disposed to contact the ground or a platform or a structure.

8. The system according to claim 1 further including a structure coupled to said cone and said generator for enabling their vertical rotation.

9. The system according to claim 1 further including an outer cover positioned about said rotor and wherein said fin is integrally formed at the bottom of said outer cover.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein said fin is single and is perpendicularly installed on the surface of said outer cover.

11. The system according to claim 9 wherein said cone has a side profile and said fin is large enough to compensate for the side profile of said cone to have the wind orient said cone substantially to face into the wind to obtain an optimum flow of the wind.

12. The system according to claim 9 further including a second fin as a symmetrical twin to said first named fin and to be separately perpendicularly installed on the surface of said outer cover.

13. The system according to claim 9 wherein said second fin is integrally formed with the top of said outer cover.

14. The system according to claim 1 wherein said rifling in said cone spirals in from said cone entrance towards said cone exit in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

15. The system according to claim 1 wherein said rifling in said cone runs the length of said cone from said cone entrance to said cone exit.

16. The system according to claim 1 wherein said rifling directs the wind in a cyclone-type manner.

17. The system according to claim 1 wherein said rifling is configured as one of indents and grooves into said cone or protrusions and ridges emanating from the inside of said cone.

18. The system according to claim 1 wherein the blades of the rotor are aligned with the direction of the rifling and rotate in a certain way depending on the clockwise or counterclockwise direction of the rifling.

19. The system according to claim 1 wherein said blades of the rotor are mounted in a fixed-angle way or adjustable-angle way.

20. The system according to claim 1 wherein said blades of the rotor have a rotor diameter which is less than the diameter of the passage of the small end of said cone.

21. The system according to claim 1 further including solar panels mounted on said cone, said generator, and said support structure to provide a second source of electrical power in addition to said generator.

22. The system according to claim 1 wherein said cone is divided into sections and hinges connecting said sections to said cone so that, in case of stronger wind speed, said cone opens up to resemble a cylinder.

23. The system according to claim 22 wherein said cone's lower section is not attached by hinges and does not deploy.

24. The system according to claim 22 wherein said cone's sections open and close at said hinges with the assistance of an electrical and/or mechanical attachment.

25. The system according to claim 1 wherein the wind energy conversion system is part of a wind farm comprising a plurality of the wind energy conversion systems.

26. A method for converting wind energy comprising the steps of: (a) rotating a housing for positioning a cone shaped intake windward; (b) collecting the wind into a channel having an inlet and an outlet; (c) concentrating the collected wind in the channel; (d) rifling the collected wind in the channel in a specific spiral direction; (e) converting the concentrated wind into energy via a generator, the generator having blades positioned substantially normal to the flow of the concentrated wind, the generator having an axis stationary relative to the housing, whereby the wind generator system is positioned about a horizontal axis and that the wind accelerates through the assembly horizontally, and the cone intake is configured to receive, accelerate, and direct the wind.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0082] In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.

[0083] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a prior art device and how conventionally the wind is inefficiently directed at a propeller at an angle.

[0084] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a preferred embodiment of the Wind Power Vortex device.

[0085] FIG. 3 depicts a front view of the Wind Power Vortex device embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

[0086] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the Wind Power Vortex device embodiment shown in FIG. 2 depicting the tornado/vortex effect of rifling combined with the cone structure and the effect this has on the wind as the wind moves through the cone.

[0087] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the Wind Power Vortex device embodiment shown in FIG. 2 showing the effects of the cone concentrating the wind into the vortex and the rifling causing the cyclone effect on the wind to effectively move the rotor blades more than that as depicted in FIG. 1.

[0088] FIG. 6 illustrates an additional embodiment's side view of the Wind Power Vortex device that includes solar panels on the cone, rotor housing, electric motor housing, and support structure of the wind power device.

[0089] FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of an additional or second embodiment of the Wind Power Vortex device with an additional upper fin to help direct the wind power conversion device to face into the wind.

[0090] FIG. 8 shows a side view of an additional or third embodiment of the Wind Power Vortex device showing the hinged upper and side sections of the cone in their down or collapsed position that swing open in case of high velocity winds.

[0091] FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of an additional or third embodiment of the Wind Power Vortex device as seen in FIG. 8 showing the hinged upper and side sections of the cone that have swung open and are in their deployed or expanded position due to high velocity winds.

[0092] FIG. 10 shows a back view of an additional or third embodiment of the Wind Power Vortex device as seen in FIG. 8 showing the hinged upper and side sections of the cone in their down or collapsed position.

[0093] FIG. 11 illustrates a back view of an additional or third embodiment of the Wind Power Vortex device as seen in FIGS. 8 and 10 showing the hinged upper and side sections of the cone that have swung open and are in their deployed or expanded position due to high velocity winds.

[0094] FIG. 12 shows the Wind Power Vortex device as seen in FIG. 2 deployed in a wind farm where there are multiple Wind Power Vortex devices.

DRAWINGS

[0095] The following reference numerals are used in conjunction with the drawings.

TABLE-US-00001 # PART NAME 10 Prior Art Device 12 Rotor Blade Assembly 14 Blades with Angled Formation 16 Generator 18 Wind 18A Wind Hitting Blades 14 100 Wind Power Device 102 Cone 104 Large Opening or Entrance 106 Throat 108 Small Opening or Exit 110 Rifling 112 Rotor Blades 114 Housing 116 Fin (Lower) 118 Fin (Upper) 120 Shaft 122 Pivot Bearing 124 Mesh Screen 126 Generator 128 Base 130 Wind 130A Spiraling Wind 130B Wind Hitting Blades 112 132 Solar Panels 134 Hinges with Springs and/or Motors 136 Cone Sections

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0096] System Overview:

[0097] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the prior art device 10 comprising a rotor blade assembly 12 of blades 14 having an angled formation. Rotor blade assembly 12 is coupled to a generator 16. Wind 18 is illustrated as coming from left to right in FIG. 1 and hitting rotor blades 14. Wind 18 thus directly hits rotor blades 14 as denoted by indicium 18A and glances off rotor blades 14 at an angle as influenced by their angled formation. Because no direction is provided to wind 18, this prior art formulation does not enable wind 18 to hit the maximum face of rotor blades 14.

[0098] Reference is now made to the first preferred embodiment of the inventive vortex wind power conversion system, which is illustrated in FIGS. 2-5 and which shows the side view of a wind power device 100. FIG. 2 shows a side view of wind power device 100. Wind 130 is illustrated as coming from left to right. Wind power device 100 comprises a cone 102 which is open at both ends. The ends are configured to form a large opening or entrance 104 in cone 102's front or entry end and a small opening or exit 108 in cone 102's back or exit end. As cone 102 decreases in diameter from large entrance 104 to small exit 108, there is a throat 106 which has a diameter of greater dimension than that of exit 108 and is before exit 108. The transition from entrance 104 to exit 108 is essentially smooth and gradual. Nonetheless, the inside or interior of cone 102 is provided with rifling 110 which extends and runs between openings 104 and 108. Wind 130 flows into large front opening 104 of cone 102, becomes concentrated, and builds wind pressure as it flows through cone 102 towards small back end 108 of cone 102.

[0099] As wind 130 flows through cone 102 and gets closer to the small exit 108 of cone 102, the wind pressure decreases as the wind speed increases. Rifling 110 runs along the inside of cone 102 from the large front 104 to the small back 108 of cone 102. Rifling 110 can either be indents in the inside of cone 102 like the barrel of a rifle or can be raised ridges along the inside of cone 102. The rotor blades 112 are positioned adjacent to the small exit opening 108 and are housed within a housing 114. A fin 116 located at the lower back end of cone 102 acts like a caudal fin on a fish or like a weather vane. Cone 102 is supported on a shaft 120 having a pivot bearing 122. Shaft 120 has a base 128 to enable it to contact the ground or a platform or a structure. A protective convex screen 124 is secured to cone 102 at its large opening 104 and preferably is selected as to be environmentally friendly. Rotor blades 112 are attached to a generator 126 for conversion into electricity.

[0100] In the operation as presently described in FIGS. 2-5, wind (as designated by indicium 130) flows into large opening 104 of cone 102 and becomes concentrated as it flows through cone 102 toward small back end 108 of cone 102. Wind 130 enters into cone 102 and builds pressure. As wind 130 flows through cone 102 from large opening 104 to small opening 108, the wind pressure deceases as the wind speed increases. Rifling 110, which runs along the inside of cone 102, causes wind 130 to move in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction (i.e. as shown by indicium 130A) and to spiral to resemble a cyclone/tornado.

[0101] FIGS. 4 and 5 display the effect on wind 130 by rifling 110 inside cone 102 which concentrates and cyclones wind 130 so that wind 130 more effectively hits the maximum surface of rotor blades 112. Rifling 110 spirals wind 130 to spin like a tornado so that wind 130 hits the maximum surface of rotor blade 112 straight on as distinguished from the prior art where, as depicted in FIG. 1, the wind glances off rotor blades 14 at an angle. Accordingly with reference to FIG. 5, wind 130 enters cone 102 and rifling 110 forces wind 130 to rotate in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. As shown in FIG. 5, this causes wind 130 to hit the wider part of rotor blades 112.

[0102] The diameter of rotor blades 112 are slightly smaller than the diameter of small end 108 of cone 102. This is to ensure the maximum force of wind 130 exiting cone 102 is directed at rotor blades 112. If rotor blades 112's diameter is too small, wind 130 would rush past the tops of rotor blades 112 and the wind power conversion would not be as efficient. If rotor blades 112's diameter was larger than small exit 108's diameter, wind 130 would hit only part of rotor blades 112 and the wind power conversion also would not be as efficient.

[0103] In addition the fact that the diameter of rotor blades 112 are slightly smaller than the diameter of small end 108 of cone 102 is to prevent rotor blades 112 from coming into contact with the inside of small end 108 of cone 102 and causing any damage or reducing the efficiency of rotor blades 112. Alternately expressed, rifling 110 causes wind 130 (as depicted by indicia 130B in FIG. 5) to hit more of the surface of each rotor blade 112 in rotor housing 114 adjacent to cone small back end 108 than if wind 130 were coming straight into the rotor blades as in the prior art, e.g., as shown in FIG. 1.

[0104] Accordingly, as rotor blades 112 are caused to rotate when struck by wind 130, their rotation is transmitted to generator 126, thereby enabling the wind power to be better converted into electricity. Given the same volume and speed of wind 130, the present invention is more effective and efficient than the prior art.

[0105] Rotor blades 112 are mounted as fixed-angle or adjustable-angle on the rotor. This enables rotor blades 112 to modify their angle of incidence to adjust to wind pressure and speed in cone 102 so as to get the maximum efficiency of wind 130.

[0106] Mesh screen 124 is visible to flying creatures such as birds. If an object flies into mesh screen 124, the object will strike mesh screen 124 and roll off away from larger front opening 104 of cone 102.

[0107] Fin 116, as previously described as located at the lower back end of cone 102, acts like a caudal fin on a fish or like a weather vane. Accordingly, as the direction of the wind changes, fin 116 will cause cone 102 to rotate and change direction and, thereby, have large front end 104 of cone 102 face into the direction of oncoming wind 130. The rotation of cone 102, about pivot bearing 122, provides wind power device 100 with a maximum efficiency for capturing the wind.

[0108] FIG. 2 shows the preferred embodiment's side view of cone 102. As is depicted in FIG. 2, cone 102 is equally weight balanced on shaft 120 so that the weight of the front half of cone 102 including mesh screen 124 are equal to the combined weight of the back half of cone 102, fin 116, rotor blades 112, and generator 126 for electricity conversion. This equal balance on shaft 120 reduces the need for any extra support or a bigger structure, which in turn makes the device more cost effective. This equal balancing avoids the need for any mechanical or electric controller to turn cone 102.

[0109] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the wind power device embodiment's cone 102 depicting larger front 104 of cone 102, looking from front to back of cone 102. Wind 130 enters larger front 104 of cone 102. The air flow is modified by rifling 110 to move wind 130 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction and resemble a cyclone/tornado. In FIG. 3, rifling 110 directs wind 130 in a clockwise direction although a similar wind movement would occur if the rifling were constructed so as to move the wind in a counterclockwise direction.

[0110] Wind 130 is concentrated as it flows from larger front 104 of cone 102 to smaller back end 108 of cone 102. Because of the design of cone 102, the wind concentration (indicium 130 in FIGS. 4 and 5) initially increases the wind pressure and then subsequently the wind speed as wind 130 flows from large front 104 of cone 102 and then out of small exit 108 of cone 102. The wind concentration, along with rifling 110 of wind 130 in cone 102, causes the vortex and cyclone effects on wind 130. Rifling 110 thus causes wind 130 to hit more of the surface of rotor blades 112 than if the wind was coming straight into rotor blades 112. In this example, the large surface of rotor blades 112 are aligned to the direction of rifling 110 for maximum efficiency.

[0111] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the wind power device embodiment displaying the effect on the wind of rifling 110 inside cone 102. The wind direction is coming from left to right in FIG. 4. Note the illustration of FIG. 4 has hidden rifling 110 in cone 102 in order to reveal the effect on wind 130A by rifling 110. Cone 102 causes an increase in wind pressure and then subsequently an increase in wind speed as wind 130 moves to small back exit 108 of cone 102. As wind 130 enters cone 102, rifling 110 forces wind 130A to rotate in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, depending on the orientation of rifling 110. This causes wind 130A to hit the widest part of rotor blades 112.

[0112] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the wind power device embodiment's cone 102 and the effects of cone 102 and rifling 110 on the wind. The wind direction is coming from left to right in FIG. 5. The combination of cone 102 and rifling 110 concentrates and cyclones wind 130 so that wind 130B more effectively hits the maximum surface of rotor blades 112. Rifling 110 spirals the wind so that the wind hits the maximum surface of rotor blades 112 straight on versus the prior art where the wind ineffectively glances off rotor blades 112 at an angle. Given the same volume and speed of the wind, the proposed combination of cone 102 and rifling 110 is more effective and efficient than the prior art.

[0113] Reference is now made to an additional embodiment of the present invention with regard to FIG. 6 showing a side view of the wind power device embodiment that includes solar panels on its components such as cone 102, rotor housing 114, electric generator housing 126, and shaft structure 120. The wind direction is coming from left to right in FIG. 6. If wind 130 was not producing enough force to drive rotor blades 112 positioned at back end 108 of cone 102 or if there was the need for additional electrical power, a solar panel or solar panels 132 can be on the top and sides of cone 102, the outside of rotor housing 114, the outside of electric generator housing 126, and shaft 120. Solar panels 132 would provide additional electric power in case of very low wind or non-existent wind.

[0114] Reference is now made to an additional embodiment of the present invention with regard to FIG. 7 showing a side view of the wind power device embodiment that includes a top fin 118 at the top of cone 102 to help wind 130 guide cone 102 into the direction of wind 130. The wind direction is coming from left to right in FIG. 7. Top fin 118 at the top of cone 102 would help align large front opening 104 of cone 102 into the direction of the wind. Wind 130 would push top fin 118 and subsequently align cone 102 into the direction of the wind to get the maximum wind force to go into large front opening 104 of cone 102. Top fin 118 would be in addition to or instead of bottom fin 116.

[0115] Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11, these figures show an additional embodiment disclosing a wind power device 100 (essentially similar to previously described device 100) where cone 102 is provided with a plurality of sections or petals 136. Petals or sections 136 extend only partially about the periphery of cone 102 rather than over 360 degrees. The reason for this is that the bottom or lower section of cone 102 is attached to shaft 120 as well as to rotor housing 114 and mesh screen 124 and therefore does not deploy. Each petal section 136 is hinged by a pair of hinges 134 (as disclosed in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11) to move in case of the occurrence of a high wind speed that is above the recommended speed for the wind power device.

[0116] FIG. 8 illustrates a side view where the wind power device embodiment's cone 102's side and upper sections 136 are hinged to move in case of high wind speed that is above the recommended speed for the wind power device. The wind direction is coming from left to right in FIG. 8. As a way to reduce the wind pressure and prevent damage to wind power device 100 if there is a very strong wind, the side and upper sections 136 of cone 102 would each have at least two hinges 134 that are positioned towards large front end 104 of cone 102.

[0117] Hinges 134 are powered by a motor and/or spring to enable the unfolding and folding of sections 136 of cone 102 so that when cone 102's sections 136 are fully deployed, like a flower opening its petals, cone 102 would more resemble a cylinder than a conical shape. It would be a partial cylinder as the lower section of cone 102 would not deploy as this bottom or lower section is connected to shaft 120 and housing 114.

[0118] Strong wind 130 would pass through cone 102 which would resemble a cylinder shape without damaging either cone 102's structure or rotor blades 112 or generator 126. With strong wind 130, cone 102's side and upper sections 136 would open up where hinges 134 are located, releasing the excess wind pressure on cone 102 so that cone 102 would not be structurally compromised. When strong wind 130 recedes below a certain wind speed, side and upper sections 136 of cone 102 would move back down into place at hinges 134 with the assistance of a motor and/or spring, and cone 102's shape would be restored to its original conical shape.

[0119] Referencing the additional embodiment depicted in FIG. 8, FIG. 9 shows a side view where the wind power device embodiment's cone 102's side and upper sections 136 that are hinged at hinges 134 are deployed like flower petals due to high wind speed that is above the recommended speed for the wind power device. The wind direction is coming from left to right in FIG. 9. Upper sections 136 attached at hinges 134 deploy outward away from back end 108 of cone 102 and side sections 136 attached at hinges 134 deploy outward away from back end 108 of cone 102.

[0120] Referencing the additional embodiment depicted in FIG. 8, FIG. 10 shows the back view of the wind power device embodiment's cone 102 with side and upper sections 136 where the wind power device embodiment's cone 102's side and upper sections 136 are hinged at hinges 134 to move in case of high wind speed that is above the recommended speed for the wind power device. Sections 136 are sloped from large end 104 of cone 102 to small back end 108 of cone 102 as would be seen under normal wind conditions. The conical shape of cone 102 is intact and cone 102 resembles a cone as seen in FIG. 8.

[0121] Referencing the additional embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, FIG. 11 shows the back view of the wind power device embodiment's cone 102 with side and upper sections 136 where the wind power device embodiment's cone 102's side and upper sections 136 are hinged at hinges 134 and are deployed like flower petals due to high wind speed that is above the recommended speed for the wind power device. Upper sections 136 attached at hinges 134 deploy outward away from back end 108 of cone 102 and side sections 136 attached at hinges 134 deploy outward away from back end 108 of cone 102.

[0122] FIG. 12 depicts a wind farm utilizing multiple wind power devices 100 in location 128. The wind direction is coming from left to right in FIG. 12. To more efficiently generate electricity from wind, an array of wind power devices 100 would be set up in location 128. These could be positioned in hills, valleys, sides or tops of buildings, or flat land regions.

[0123] From the above, several conclusions, ramifications, and scope of the present invention can be understood.

[0124] The vortex wind power conversion device can be used in a variety of settings and made in a variety of sizes. The device can be used in large scale industrial applications such as on wind farms. Multiple devices spread along a high wind area could capture the wind power and convert it to electricity. It can be attached to commercial buildings and apartment buildings to capture the wind power for those structures. The device can also be attached to or set up close to residential homes to provide electricity for the homes.

[0125] Because the device is more wind efficient and effective than the prior art, it does not need to be set up on high structures like the prior art, but can be lower to the ground. This lower stance also reduces the environmental damage to birds and does not adversely affect the esthetic views of the landscape.

[0126] In windy areas such as in-between buildings or in high wind areas where wind can adversely affect the landscape (i.e. farms and other agricultural areas), these projects can help turn the wind into energy and reduce the adverse affects of the wind on the land (i.e. help prevent top soil erosion due to wind) and help prevent dust bowls like those in the 1920's and 1930's.

[0127] The project can be a toy or used for educational purposes to show how wind power works and how electricity works.

[0128] The device can be scaled to be large or small to be applied in a variety of settings. The cone device can be large size for wind farms, medium size for commercial uses, or smaller to be attached to or close to residential homes.

[0129] The cone and rotor can be made from carbon fiber, plastics, or fiberglass, aluminum, titanium, or some other lightweight material.

[0130] Although the invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, it should be realized that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.