BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of wind powered devices, commonly referred to as wind machines. More particularly the invention relates to wind machines used to provide energy, typically electrical energy. Even more particularly, the invention relates to wind machines that are mounted to floating structures, such that wind farms comprising multiple wind machines can be situated in bodies of water.

Wind machines comprising bladed rotor members are well known and have been around for hundreds of years. The rotating blade assemblies are positioned on towers or other static structures and the rotational energy is used to drive a generator, air compressor, water pump, grinding mill or other equipment. In recent times interest in wind machines has increased as a viable alternative energy source to replace the reliance on fossil fuels. Generating large amounts of energy require large numbers of wind machines, and such collections are referred to as wind farms. Problems with wind farms are that they occupy a large area and are not aesthetically pleasing. A solution to these problems is to locate the wind machines offshore, which create additional problems, such as the need for underwater support structures. To address this problem, floating wind machines have been developed, wherein single or multiple wind machine towers are supported by a floating platform.

The known floating wind machines are electrical generators and the electricity generated by the wind machine is transferred to shore using cables. Such systems complicate the delivery and storage of the generated power, and the wind machines may be non-productive for extended periods of time if the winds are not steady. It is an object of this invention to provide an a plurality of wind machines supported by a floating platform, thereby defining a wind farm, wherein known problems of traditional floating wind farms are addressed by ulitizing the wind machines to compress air which is then stored in the floating platform, the compressed air then being released at a steady- state pressure to drive one or more generators to produce the electricity, thereby providing power at a steady rate even when the wind is intermittent. Other objects of the invention are to provide optimal configurations for the floating platform such that production is maximized, maintenance and repair of the wind machines is simplified, and transport and anchoring of the wind farm is more easily accomplished.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a floating wind farm in various embodiments. The floating wind farm comprises a plurality of wind machines positioned on a generally V-shaped floating platform member, the platform member being tethered to an anchor such that the platform member is free to be repositioned by the wind for optimum production. The wind machines power air compressors and the floating platform itself comprises a large storage tank for the compressed air, the compressed air being used to power electrical generators or the like. In one embodiment, the wind machines are mounted on collapsible or folding towers such that the blade assemblies can be lowered to the level of the floating platform member for repair or maintenance, or to protect them when excessive winds are expected. In another possible embodiment, the V-shaped floating platform is provided with a hinged connection such that the legs of the V can be brought together for easier transport on the water. In another possible embodiment, the V-shaped floating platform is provided with a detachable bow anchor member, the anchor member comprising a ballast chamber that can be filled with air from the surface in order to raise the anchor member. In another embodiment, underwater turbine machines can be provided beneath the floating platform member, with or without wind machines, to provide energy from currents or tides. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a front view of a V-shaped floating wind farm.

Figure 2 is a top view of the floating wind farm of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial top view of an alternative embodiment of a V-shaped floating wind farm showing a hinged connection and cross brace member.

Figure 4 is a partial top view of the embodiment of Figure 3 with the cross brace member removed and the legs of the floating platform member brought together for transport.

Figure 5 is a side view of an embodiment of a collapsible wind machine in the operational position.

Figure 6 is a side view of the wind machine of Figure 5 in the collapsed position.

Figure 7 is a top view of an embodiment of the floating wind farm having a detachable bow anchor.

Figure 8 is a view of the bow anchor as deployed from the floating platform member.

Figure 9 is a partial view of an embodiment of the floating wind farm comprising both wind machines and hydro-turbines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, the various embodiments will now be described in detail with regard for the best mode and preferred embodiments.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the wind farm comprises a plurality of wind machines 10 positioned on a generally V-shaped floating platform member 20. The wind machines 10 may be of known structure and each wind machine 10 comprises in general a rotating blade assembly 1 1 mounted onto a tower member or similar structural support member 12. The rotational energy resulting from the wind turning the blade assemblies 1 1 is transferred in known manner, such as for example hydraulically, to one or more air compressors 17 which may be mounted internally to the wind machine 10 or the floating platform 20 to minimize exposure to the elements. The wind machines 10 are positioned in offset manner such that a more forward wind machine 10 does not interfere with or reduce the wind striking a more rearward wind machine 10. The V- shaped floating platform 20 is anchored or tethered to the bottom or shore from the apex of the V-shape in a manner that allows the floating platform 20 to reorient its positional alignment whenever the wind direction changes, such that the bow 22 of the platform member 20 will always face into the wind, thus optimizing rotation of the wind machines 10 at all times.

The floating platform member 20 is comprised of a pair of generally tubular members that form legs 26, the legs 26 comprising and defining large compressed air accumulators or storage chambers 21 , such that the compressed air produced by the wind machines 10 is stored within the floating platform member 20. The size and number of the chambers 21 may vary, but the total cumulative volume of the chambers 21 will comprise the majority of the volume of the legs 26. When the floating wind farm is set in the desired location and becomes operational, the air storage chambers 21 are charged by the wind machines 10 forcing air into the chambers 21. Once a minimal operational pressure is attained, the compressed air within the storage chambers 21 can be used to operate one or more electrical generators 50, which may be provided internally or externally on the floating platform 20, on a ship or separate floating platform, or on shore if the distance is not prohibitive. By over-pressurizing the compressed air storage chambers 21 well above the minimum pressure required to run the generators, and because of the large volume of compressed air stored within the storage chambers 21 , the compressed air can be released in a regulated and controlled manner at the pressure needed to operate the electrical generators in a steady-state manner. Thus, even in long periods of no wind, there will usually be a sufficient reserve of compressed air within the storage chambers 21 to provide continuing power. Furthermore, because the wind machines 10 are providing compressed air into the storage chambers 21 rather than directly powering the electrical generators, compressed air will be delivered into the storage chambers 21 even in relatively low wind conditions that would be insufficient for the wind machines 10 to drive the electrical generators directly. In this manner the storage chambers 21 will usually remain fully charged regardless of the changes in wind.

Another advantage of the V-shaped platform member 20 is that it provides a relatively calm berthing area for ships between the legs 26 of the platform 20 downwind of the wind machines 10, since the platform 20 will block surface waves and the wind machines 10 will disrupt air currents. The floating platform member 20 and wind machines 10 are not restricted to any particular size, and the structure of the wind farm allows the platform 20 and wind machines 10 to be relatively large. The length of the legs 26 of the platform 20 can be changed by adding or removing tubular segments to the free ends, such that the compressed air storage capacity can be increased or decreased and the number of wind machines 10 can be increased or decreased. For exemplary purposes only, with no desire to limit the size and dimensions of the wind farm, a suitable representative wind farm may comprise a floating platform member 20 having legs 26 approximately 4 feet in diameter and approximately 85 feet in length, with five wind machines 10 having blade assemblies approximately 25 feet in diameter positioned on towers approximately 28 feet tall. Alternatively, wind farms much smaller or larger in size can be constructed.

An alternative embodiment for the floating wind platform 20 is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. In this embodiment, the two leg members 26 forming the V-shape are each capped with a sealing connection flange 25 and are joined to each other by a hinged connector 23. With this structure, the legs 26 can be folded together to present a narrower profile when the platform 20 is being towed into position, as shown in Figure 4. Once at the desired site, the legs 26 are pivoted outward and the connection flanges 25 are secured together. Preferably, a cross brace member 24 is provided, the cross brace member 24 being provided with sealing connection flanges 25 for connection to the sealing connection flanges 25 of the brace mounts 27 positioned on the legs 26 after the legs 26 have been pivoted apart. The forward-most wind machine 10 may be mounted onto the cross brace member 24 so that it is centered relative to the floating platform 20.

In a preferred embodiment shown best in Figures 5 and 6, the wind machines 10 are constructed so as to be collapsible or foldable. This provides for a lower profile when the wind farm is being transported into position, easier access to the blade assemblies 1 1 for repair or maintenance, as well as providing a means for protecting the blade assemblies 1 1 during high wind events such as storms or hurricanes. In the embodiment shown, the tower 12 comprises the combination of a lower fixed tower segment 13 that is mounted onto the floating platform member 20 and an upper hinged tower segment 14 that is joined by a hinged mount 15 to the fixed tower segment 13. With this structure each blade assembly 1 1 can be lowered utilizing a winch line 16 operated by a winch (not shown) from a vertical orientation as seen in Figure 5 to a horizontal orientation at approximately the same height as the deck surface of the floating platform member 20 as seen in Figure 6. The hinge mount 15 is preferably oriented such that a portion of the blade assembly 1 1 is reachable from the floating platform 20, thereby allowing repairs or maintenance of the blade assembly 1 1 without requiring a floating barge or ship.

In another alternative embodiment, the floating platform 20 is provided with a detachable bow anchor 30, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. The bow anchor 30 as shown is preferably an elongated tubular member removably mounted to the bow 22 of the platform 20 using sealing connection flanges 25. The bow anchor 30 comprises a ballast chamber 31 with a relatively large interior space. If needed for submersion or securing purposes, the bow anchor 30 may further comprise permanent ballast material 32, such as for example cured concrete or the like. The bow anchor 30 is structured such that water is allowed to enter the ballast chamber 31 so that when the anchor 30 is detached from the floating platform 20 it is sufficiently heavy to sink to the bottom. The bow anchor 30 is tethered to the floating platform by a winch line 34 for retrieval of the bow anchor 30 if needed. An air conduit 35 also extends from the floating platform member 20 to the bow anchor 30. If the anchor 30 needs to be retrieved, compressed air is delivered through the air conduit 35 into the ballast chamber 31 to displace the water through a release valve 33 or similar member in order to lighten the bow anchor 30. This makes retrieval of the anchor 30 easier, and the anchor 30 may be designed such that the quantity of air is sufficient to float the anchor.

In still another alternative embodiment as shown in Figure 9, the wind farm may be provided with hydro-turbines 40 comprising submerged mounting members 41 and rotor assemblies 42, the hydro-turbines 40 being mounted beneath the floating platform member 20 to supplement the wind machines 10, the hydro-turbines 40 driving a second set of air compressors 17 in response to water currents or tidal flow to deliver air to the storage chambers 21. Any suitable type of hydro-turbine capable of producing compressed air may be utilized, such as for example the hydro-turbine shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,729,840, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

It is understood that equivalents and substitutions of certain elements and structures set forth above may be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art, and therefore the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as set forth in the following claims.