Claims :
1. Energy generator, provided with a rectangular fra- me, that is freely rotatable, with two blades rotatable around their own axis at identical distances from the imaginary central axis.
2. Energy generator according to claim 1, characterized in that the width of the blade amounts up to a factor 2^2 times the distance from the axis of the blade to the imaginary central axis.
3. Energy generator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the blades are kept in a mutually equal position by a transmission mechanism. 4. Energy generator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blades are under a mutual angle of 90°.
5. Energy generator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a windmill. 6. Windmill according to claim 5, characterized in that it is composed of rectangular blades Dl and D2, each one provided with rotation points A in the centre of two opposing sides, in a rectangular frame of which the imaginary axiss AA form a part, said rectangular frame being provided with rotation points B in the centre of two opposing sides, corresponding with those of the rectangular blades Dl and D2, whereby the rectangular blades Dl en D2 rotate over 180° with a complete rotation of the rectangular frame over 360° by means of a transmission mechanism, that is known in itself.
7. Water mill according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that he comprises rectangular blades Dl en D2, each one in the centre of two opposing sides, provided with rotation points A, in a rectangular frame, of which the imaginary axiss AA form a part, said rectangular frame being provided with rotation points B in the centre of two opposing sides, corresponding with those of the rectangular blades Dl and D2, whereby the rectangular blades Dl en D2 rotate over 180° with a complete rotation of the rectangular frame over 360° by means of a transmission mechanism, that is known in itself.
8. Energiegenerator volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk, dat deze met de draaipunten
BB is opgenomen in een rechthoekig raam, dat op zijn beurt draaibaar is om een as CC.
9. Energy generator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two energy generators are coupled next to each other in a rectangular frame BBBB and both imaginary rotation axiss BB are coupled with a common axis CC by means of a rectangular frame BBCC.
10. Energy generator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the generator is used for pro- pulsion by rotating in opposite direction.
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ENERGY CONVERTER
Descripton FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an energy generator. Specifically the invention relates to an energy generator, which is actuated by a fluid, such as a gas, specifically air, or a liquid, specifically water. In this connection the term "energy generator" relates to a device suitable to convert input energy into another type of energy, specifically flowing medium into mechanical energy and/or electrical energy, but also the other way round.
Windmills and water mills are known since way back. While water mills have remained substantially unchanged over the centuries, windmills have been subject to developments over recent decennia. The present day windmills, often in windmill parks, usually comprise two or three propeller-like blades. Of these the multi-blades American type has a power coefficient C p of about 30%, the two- blade type a C p of about 45% while the yield for an ideal windmill with propellers would approach 60%.
They are used for generating electrical or mechanical energy. An improvement of the type that is generally used is described in RU-A- 2.164.624. It describes a windmill with a vertical central axis and two rectangular blades, each rotatable about their own axis and which are at the same distance from the vertical rotation axis. The width of each blade is equal to twice the distance between the edge of the central axis and its own axis, whereas the angle between the planes of the blades amounts to 90°. The rotation of the blades about their own axis is provided by
means of a gear and chain transmission. By means of this arrangement a substantially higher yield is obtained. The yield may be up to 67%, as the blades together always cover 2/3 of the total surface area. In practice this will be slightly less, as the blades should not touch the central axis.
The present invention provides an improvement of this latter principle. The invention relates to an energy generator with a rectangular frame, of which the upper and lower edge, or left and right edge respectively, are the axis of two rectangular blades, which are under an angle of 90° with each other and while the frame is rotating over 360° around an axis parallel with the axis of rotation of the blades, the blades rotate by means of a chain or gear transmission over 180°. In this connection the term λλ rectangular frame" is intended to represent not only an actual frame but also an imaginary frame, such as is created for example when the blades are not mounted on an axis, but are provided at opposite edges with suspension units, that fit into appropriate elements of the remaining part of the frame. This arrangement allows to obtain a maximal use of the available area for the surface of the blade that is V2 larger than is at most possible according to known arrangements, thus permitting a maximal yield of about 40% larger than the highest possible yield hitherto, in other terms a yield of about 83%.
Thus the invention relates to an energy generator provided with a freely rotatable rectangular frame, provided with two blades, each rotatable around its own axis at the same distance from the imaginary central axis.
More in particular, this invention relates such an energy generator, whereby the maximal width of each blade for a distance λλ a" of the axis of the blade to the imagi-
nary axis of the rectangular frame amounts to 2a^2.
The invention further relates to such an energy generator, wherein the blades are kept under a mutually equal angle, preferably an angle of 90° by means of a transmis- sion mechanism.
The energy generator may be used for generating electric or mechanic energy, for example as a windmill or water mill, but in reverse may also be powered mechanically or by electrical current, whereby the blades serve to dis- place a gas or liquid, for example for propulsion of a ship.
In such an energy generator the blades are not only kept in a mutually identical position by a suitable, in itself known transmission mechanism (not shown in the drawings) , but also the ratio of the number of rotations of the rectangular frame around its imaginary axis to the number of rotations of the blades around their own axis is 2:1.
Preferably the energy generator according to the in- vention is used as a windmill. Optionally two or more of such units may be combined, thus allowing to generate more energy at a restricted surface than would be possible otherwise.
The invention will be illustrated in detail with ref- erence to the appending drawings, wherein
Fig.l shows a position of the blades with inflowing medium (air, water) in the direction of the arrows,
Fig.2 a position of the blades rotated over about 22,5° with respect to the position in Fig.l, Fig.3 a position of the blades rotated over about 45° with respect to the position in Fig.l,
Fig.4 a position of the blades rotated over about 67,5° with respect to the position in Fig.l,
Fig.5 a mounting of a unit as shown in Figs.1-4, whereby the unit is turned away somewhat from the direction of flow on exceeding of a specific velocity in order to prevent an overload, and Fig.6 presents a combined mounting of two units, which independently adopts position in the wind automatically.
Fig.l presents the blades Dl and D2 in the initial position. Blade Dl is pushed away anticlockwise under pressure of the wind. Both blades are incorporated in a rectangular frame with rotation points as shown in detail in Fig.5, while the frame by itself also has rotation points as shown in more detail Fig.5,
Fig.2 presents both blades Dl and D2 in a position wherein the rectangular frame has rotated over about 45° and the blades each over about 22,5° with respect to the respective positions in Fig.l,
Fig.3 presents both blades Dl and D2 in a position wherein the rectangular frame has rotated over about 90° and the blades each over about 45° with respect to the respective positions in Fig.l, wherein they are substantially perpendicular to each other, and
Fig.4 presents both blades Dl and D2 in a position wherein the rectangular frame has rotated over about 135° and the blades each over about 67,5° with respect to the respective positions in Fig.l.
Fig.5 presents an energy generator with rectangular blades Dl and D2, which in the points A are part of a rectangle with rotation points B. The rotation points B are optionally part of a rectangle, which may rotate in the rotation points C to turn the energy generator out of the wind at too high winds to such an extend that the optimal yield is still obtained.
Fig.6 presents a combination of two energy generators as presented in Fig.5 whereby the rotation points B are incorporated in on the one hand a rectangle BBBB and on the other hand two rectangles BBCC. The rotation point CC allows the combination to adopt the optimal position with respect to the inflowing wind.
By making use of rotation points instead of mounting on a rigid axis, it is made very simple to exchange parts between rotation points if desired. Thus the energy gen- erator according to the invention is equally suitable for hydrodynamic applications, such as for example generating electric current by means of tidal energy.
The rectangular blades each may consist of sufficiently persistent material. Preferably a suitable metal, suitable metal alloy or suitable plastic is used. If desired the rectangle may also be covered with a substantially for wind impervious fabric, such as canvas.
The energy generator may rotate in a vertical but also in a horizontal plane, but if desired also in an inter- mediate position. The horizontal position is preferred as it causes the least external limitations.
It will be obvious to the expert in this field that all kinds of variations to the above can be conceived without departing from the gist of the invention.