Technical Field

The invention relates to a lighter-than-air, inflatable, shaft-based torque converter (collector).

Prior Art

Today, there are different methods to collect wind energy as renewable green energy. Three- bladed windmills are the most common. Although the efficiency of windmills is not bad, they have problems such as making noise (driving away birds and negatively affecting bees), material fatigue of the blades, unsuitability for mobile platforms, construction and maintenance difficulties, and these problems pose serious obstacles to the industry.

A less costly, more durable, more efficient wind energy collecting method is only possible with creative approaches. The most efficient of these creative approaches are the systems that provide fluid dynamics such as water and air as motion energy of vibrating leaf structures in two directions (forward and backward) and collect them in the form of unidirectional torque. The best example of these works was realized by Oztiirk (TR2018/21246A).

Objectives of the Invention

The objective of the present invention is the development of a lighter-than-air, inflatable, shaft-based torque converter.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The torque converter realized to achieve the objects of the present invention is shown in the accompanying figures.

Figure 1 Structural description of lighter-than-air, inflatable, shaft-based torque converters according to the invention. A) Schematic view of some of the possible leaf structures. B) Schematic side view of the leaf structure in different positions during the vibrating motion. C) A schematic view of leaf structures arranged in a single plane on different shafts. D) Schematic view of leaf structures placed in a single plane on the same shaft.

Figure 2 Description and steering function of a lighter-than-air, inflatable, shaft-based torque converter on a mobile platform A) Schematic side view of leaf structures placed in the same plane on different shafts on a mobile platform. B) Top schematic view of lighter- than-air leaf structures placed in parallel on the mobile platform. C) Top schematic view of lighter-than-air leaf structures placed in parallel on the mobile platform, angled according to the wind direction.

The parts in the figures are numbered one by one and the equivalents of these numbers are given below.

1. Leaf structure

2. Shaft

3. Mobile platform

In this system, the leaf structure (1), which has a significant weight, is moved by the wind in such a way that its center of gravity is above the horizon and this energy movement against gravity is collected as a unidirectional torque on a shaft (2). The heavy weight of the leaf (1) panels and the high cost of production may prevent this method from reaching its full potential in the future. In mobile platforms such as ships and boats (3), the effect of gravity poses serious problems.

The present invention aims to collect the power generated by the vibration of the leaf structures (1) against the wind as a unidirectional torque, without depending on gravity. Instead of heavy, costly leaf panels swinging under the unidirectional torque shaft (2), the proposed invention works with leaf structures (1) that can be inflated with lighter-than-air gases and swing on the torque shaft (2) instead of swinging under it. Inflatable leaf structures (1) are cheaper in terms of surface area and are easier to transport as mobile and to inflate and make functional. The fact that gravity is not effective allows the system to work on mobile platforms (3) such as a rocking ship. The fact that the system can be inflated, pressurized and deflated by artificial intelligence allows it to be controlled in conditions such as storms, extreme heat, extreme cold.

Lighter-than-air inflatable leaf structures (1) have larger wind-receiving areas. The leaf structures (1) can also take many different forms. Right and left vibrations are converted into torque. Shaft (2) is unidirectional and transmits torque in one direction.

The invention provides a green energy collector with a leaf structure (1), mounted on a torque shaft (2), which can be inflated with lighter-than-air gas. In one embodiment of the invention, the leaf structure (1) can be inflated with lighter-than-air gas and deflated and deflated when necessary. In an optional embodiment of the invention, the leaf structure (1) balloon may be provided with supports which are preferably lightweight and can be opened to form a tree (antenna-like) structure. In an optional embodiment of the invention, the inflatable leaf structure (1) may be covered with a sheath made of materials such as carbon-fiber, textile, fine metallic mesh, etc., and extensions of this sheath may be connected to the torque shaft (2). In one embodiment of the invention, the leaf structure (1) faces the wind and vibrates. In an embodiment of the invention, the reciprocating vibration of the leaf structure (1) can be transmitted to the shaft (2) as a unidirectional torque. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the angle of attack of the shaft (2) and the structure on it can be adjusted according to the wind direction by rotating around a vertical axis passing through its center. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, more than one leaf structure (1) can synchronously rotate a single shaft (2). In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the plurality of leaf structures (1) and their separate shafts (2) can be organized in alignment by rotating them separately or together. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the inflatable leaf structure (1) can be covered with a thin, flexible solar panel.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the system may be mounted on fixed platforms on land and sea. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the system can be mounted on mobile platforms (3) such as ships and boats, solar panels and torque-based energy generation can be stored for mobilization and daily use of mobile platforms (3), ships and boats, and the adjustable rotation of the leaf structure (1) around the axis can be used for steering and additional propulsion of mobile platforms (3), ships and boats according to the wind direction. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the central artificial intelligence system optimizes the angle of rotation around the axis in fixed platforms according to instantaneous wind direction and weather reports and torque synchronization. On mobile platforms (3), ships and boats, the optimization is done by taking into account ship steering. Central artificial intelligence protects the leaf structure (1) by deflating it in storm conditions and adjusts the gas pressure according to the temperature. In an embodiment of the invention, an inflatable lighter-than-air leaf structure (1) vibrating upwards, i.e. above a horizontal plane accommodating the shaft (2), may be synchronized on the same shaft (2) with a heavy leaf structure vibrating downwards, i.e. below said plane. The wind vibrations of the lighter-than-air leaf structure (1) over the sea can be synchronized on the same shaft (2) with the vibrations of a heavy leaf structure under the sea.