DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a wind generator with a vertical axis.

A typical wind generator with vertical axis is made up of a wind turbine that is suitable for rotating around a shaft with a vertical rotation axis and an electrical energy generator, for example an alternator, coupled in rotation to the wind turbine so as to convert the rotation energy of the wind turbine into electrical energy,

In particular, the rotation shaft of the wind turbine is coupled in rotation, rigidly and axially, to an axial rotor that transfers the kinetic rotation energy generated by the wind incident on the blades of the wind turbine to the alternator.

More in particular, the electrical energy generator is an alternator having an outer shell or casing inside of which there is a stator with respect to which the rotor is axially , mounted in rotation.

Downstream of the generator there is an electricity conversion and transformation stage which, at the frequency and voltage required by the network, adapts the frequency and the voltage of the waveform generated by the generator.

One drawback of the wind plants for producing electrical energy is represented by the overall performance that, as known, depends on the performance of the single stages making up the plant itself, and therefore on the wind turbine, on the generator and on the conversion and transformation stage.

A further drawback of the wind plants with vertical axis is represented by the need of positioning the wind generator substantially in axis, i.e. foreseeing a base block that lies on a resting plane that is perpendicular to the rotation axis X-X of the turbine and of the alternator. Indeed, if the wind generator is fixed with the rotation axis inclined with respect to the vertical axis of the gravitational weight force, the weight force could create a rotation moment with respect to the fixing point of the wind generator to the base block, jeopardising the stability of the plant. There would moreover be fi-iction, between the components of the wind generator, with consequent reduction of its performance.

The purpose of the present invention is that of providing a wind generator with a vertical axis that makes it possible to improve its performance and having structural and functional characteristics such as to satisfy the aforementioned requirement and at the same time overcome the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the prior art.

A further purpose of the present invention is that of providing a generator with vertical axis that can be installed on a resting plane that is inclined with respect to a horizontal resting plane, Such a purpose is obtained with a wind generator with vertical axis comprising a wind turbine with a shaft with a rotation axis that projects along one direction and an electrical energy generator coupled with the shaft of the wind turbine to convert the rotation energy of the wind turbine into electrical energy, a support structure cooperating with the electrical energy generator to axially support in the direction (X- X) the wind generator (1), the support structure being fixedly connected to a base block, characterised in that said electrical energy generator comprises a central pin that projects along the rotation axis (X-X) and that defines a static part of the electrical energy generator and an outer casing that encloses said static part and that defines a mobile part of said generator; the shaft of the wind turbine being fitted on said outer casing so as to make the outer casing and the wind turbine rotate as a unit around the rotation axis (X-X);

- the central pin of the electrical energy generator being mounted fixed with respect to the support structure of the wind generator, the support structure comprising fixing members that are provided with a housing seat that projects according to the direction X-X and that comprises a resting bottom for supporting the central pin, the support structure further comprising adjustment means that cooperate with the housing seat suitable for adjusting and for fixing the orientation in space of the central pin with respect to the base block so as to ensure an axial arrangement of the central pin according to the direction X-X for an improved efficiency.

Furthermore, the support structure has the shape of a turret with resting base that is fixedly connected to the base block, the fixing members comprising a sleeve that is associated with a bushing and suitable for defining said housing seat, the sleeve projects according to the direction X-X and it is fixed to the resting base, the bushing (39) comprising the resting bottom from which a side wall that is fixedly connected to said sleeve projects, the adjustment means being associated with the resting bottom of the bushing so as to allow the support structure, for containing the central pin, to be made easily and in an optimal manner. Moreover, the adjustment means comprise mobile spacer elements according to the direction X-X which are inserted in axial holes, made in said resting bottom, and are mobile according to the direction X-X suitable for defining a gap between the end of the central pin and the resting bottom so as to obtain an easy and optimal adjustment of the axial arrangement. Moreover, the wind generator comprises balancing means that are coupled with the shaft and are suitable for defining an articulated joint that comprises a fixed part cooperating with the shaft and a part that is mobile with respect to the axial direction X-X suitable for balancing and distributing the system of the resulting gravitational weight forces (F _p ) of the wind generator with respect to the base block so as to optimise the performance in terms of energy.

Further characteristics and advantages of the wind generator with vertical axis according to the present invention shall become clearer from the rest of the description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given as an indication and not for limiting purposes, with reference to the attached figures, in which: - figure 1 shows a perspective schematic view of a wind generator with vertical axis according to the present invention;

- figure 2 shows the wind generator of fig 1 together with its outer casing for protecting the electrical energy generator;

- figure 3 shows an exploded schematic view of the generator of figure 2;

accordance with the present invention;

- figure 6 show, in a side plan view, a further embodiment of the wind generator according to the present invention;

- figure 7 shows a detail of figure 6 in greater detail;

- figure 8 shows, in a schematic side plan view, the wind generator of figure 6 installed in a plane Q that is inclined by an angle a with respect to a horizontal plane P .

- figures 9-12 show, schematically, in side views, two different embodiments of a support stmcture for the wind generator according to the present invention.

With reference to the attached figures, reference numeral 1 wholly indicates a wind generator with vertical axis that projects according to a direction X-X, in accordance with the present invention.

The wind generator 1 comprises a wind turbine 10 having a shaft 11 that is suitable for rotating around a rotation axis that projects according to the direction X-X and wing- shaped profiles 12 that are fitted on the shaft 11 and are shaped so that the wind incident on them generates a rotary motion of the shaft 11 around the rotation axis X- X.

In accordance with one embodiment, the wing-shaped profiles 12 comprise a plurality of blades, three of them in the example shown in the figures, and a body 13 that projecting has a substantially rectangular shape that projects in the direction of said axis X-X and that in the operating position are curved, with a substantially C-shaped profile in plan.

The wind generator 1 also comprises an electrical energy generator 20 that is coupled with the shaft 1 1 of the wind turbine 10 for converting the rotation energy of the wind turbine 10 into electrical energy.

In the following description we shall refer, in a non limiting manner, to a wind generator 1 with a vertical axis in which the rotation shaft 11 of the wind turbine 10 and the rotation axis of the electrical energy generator 20 project according to the same direction X-X, with it being understood that the wind generator 1 with vertical axis, in an embodiment of the present invention, can be installed on a plane that is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane,

In particular in the embodiments illustrated in figures 1-3 and 6, the wind generator 1 with vertical axis has the direction X-X that corresponds to the direction of the gravitational weight force, in the example embodiment illustrated in figure 8, the wind generator 1 with vertical axis has the direction X-X inclined with respect to the direction of the gravitational weight force F _p .

The electrical energy generator 20 is an alternator inside which there is a stator (not shown in the figures) that projects along the axial direction X-X and with respect to which a rotor (also not illustrated in the figures) is mounted in rotation for converting the rotation energy of the wind turbine 10 into electrical energy.

The electrical energy generator 20 comprises a central pin 22 that projects along the rotation axis X-X and that defines a static part of the electrical energy generator 20. The stator is fixedly mounted on the central pin 22.

Moreover, the electrical energy generator 20 comprises an outer casing 21 that encloses the electrical energy generator 20 and that defines a mobile part of the electrical energy generator 20. The rotor of the alternator is rigidly and internally coupled with the outer casing 21. The shaft 11 of the wind turbine 10 is fitted on the outer casing 21 so as to make the rotor associated with the outer casing 21 and the shaft 11 of the wind turbine 10 rotate as a unit around the rotation axis X-X for converting the rotation energy of the wind turbine 10 into electrical energy.

The central pin 22, associated with the stator of the electrical energy generator 20, is mounted fixed on a support structure 30 that in turn is fixedly connected to a base block 31 for supporting the wind generator 1 , In particular, the base block 31 lies on a horizontal plane P which is perpendicular to the axial direction X-X,

The outer casing 21 is coupled with the shaft 11 through an upper coupling flange 23 that is associated with and rotates as a unit with the shaft 11 through fixing means 27. The upper coupling flange 23 is arranged perpendicular to the rotation axis X-X and it is fitted on the lower end of the shaft 11 through for example a screw-bolt connection. In one embodiment, the upper flange 23 has a portion of tube 37, which projects in the direction X-X, suitable for containing and for allowing the fixing of the end part of the shaft 11.

The outer casing 21 is substantially a sleeve projecting along the direction of the axis X-X closed by an upper cover 24 and by a lower cover 25 and suitable for defining a housing volume 26 for the inner stator. The rotor has the permanent magnets (not illustrated in the figures) fixed inside the sleeve of the outer casing 21.

The upper coupling flange 23 is fixed to the upper cover 24 of the outer casing 21 through said fixing means, defined for example by screw-bolt coupling.

It is worth noting that, the outer casing 21, the rotor, the upper coupling flange 23 and the shaft 11 define a single block, rotating as a unit according to the rotation axis X-X according to the intensity of the wind incident on the wing-shaped profiles 12.

The electrical energy generator 20 has the central in 22, which is fixed with respect to the shaft 11, projecting axially in the direction X-X and at the bottom of the lower cover 25 of the rotor 21 , The support structure 30 makes it possible to keep the wind generator 1 in position by axially locking, according to the direction X-X, the lower end of the central pin 22 of the electrical energy generator 20. Advantageously, the support structure 30 is provided with fixing members 33, 39 comprising a housing seat that has a resting bottom 35 and projects according to the direction X-X for supporting the central pin 22, Moreover, the support structure 30 comprises adjustment means 37, 38 that cooperate with the housing seat and ai'e suitable for adjusting and fixing the orientation in space of the central pin 22 with respect to the base block 31.

In one embodiment, the support structure 30 is turret-shaped with a resting base 50, which is fixedly connected to the base block 31, which is suitable for supporting the fixing members 33, 39. The fixing members comprise a sleeve 33 that is associated with a bushing 39 suitable for defining the housing seat. The sleeve 33 projects according to the direction X-X and is fixed to the resting base 50, whereas the bushing 39, screwed with a side wall to the sleeve 33, comprises the resting bottom 35 and defines the housing seat.

The adjustment means 37, 38 are associated with the resting bottom 35 of the bushing 39 and comprise adjustable spacer elements 37 or stop rods which are inserted in axial holes 38 arranged in said resting bottom 35. The spacer elements 37 being mobile according to the axis X-X and being suitable for defining a gap between the end of the central pin 22 and the resting bottom 35 of the bushing 39. In particular, the spacer elements 37 are in a number of three, preferably four and can be adjusted separately from one another for a minimal axial adjustment of the central pin 22.

The central pin 22, near to the free end inserted in said bushing 39, comprises an elastic stop ring of, for example, the Seeger or Segger type which is housed in an annular seat.

The bushing 39 is associated with the sleeve 33 and they are suitable for containing, supporting and fixing in the direction X-X, the central pin 22. The sleeve 33 has an internal diameter such that when the electrical energy generator 20 is associated with the support structure 30, the central pin 22 is inserted axially into the sleeve 33 with the elastic stop ring projecting from it and fixed in its orientation in space through said spacer elements 37, Possible locking gaskets and suitable O-rings are used to support and contrast the vibrations that arise during the rotation of wing-shaped profiles 12. The sleeve 33 or the bushing 39 can comprise further lateral fixing elements. Of course, other alternative embodiments of the support structure 30 can be made, which make it possible to fix and adjust the orientation in space according to the direction X- X of the central pin 22 keeping it raised and perpendicular with respect to the resting plane P in which the fixing structure 30 is fixedly connected. Two different examples are illustrated in figures 9-11 and 12.

Advantageously, according xo one embodiment, the electrical energy generator 20 and the support structure 30 are housed inside a protective container 48, which comprises a lower plate 45, an upper plate 46 and a cylindrical body 47 that projects between the lower plate 45 and the upper plate 46 to protect the electrical energy generator 20 and the support structure 30. Advantageously, a guiding element is arranged coaxially and above the lower plate 45 so as to cooperate with the lower end of the shaft 11. The resting base 50 is suitably fixed to the lower plate 45 which is in turn locked, through a screw-bolt lock or analogous locking system, to the base block 31. In accordance with one embodiment illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 11 , the wing-shaped profiles 12 have a body 13 comprising a central portion 13a, which is fitted on the shaft 11 and joined at opposite portions of the upper body 13b and lower body 13c. Advantageously, the body 13 has a greater length than the length of the shaft 11 in the direction X-X.

The central portion 13a comprises an appendage 14 projecting laterally with respect to the body 1 and projecting according to the direction X-X. The appendage 14 is suitable for being fitted on the shaft 11. In particular, the appendage 14 is fixed in a counter-shaped hooking profile 11a which projects radially from the shaft 11 and that projects according to the direction X-X in the length of the shaft 1 1, with a substantially U-shaped section. The appendage 14 is inserted in the hooking profile 1 la and is fixed through suitable rivets or with a screw-bolt type lock. When the body 13 of the wing-shaped profile 12 is fitted on the shaft 1 1 it has the upper portion 13b that projects from the top of the shaft 11 in the direction X-X and the lower portion 13c that is arranged adjacent to the electrical energy generator 20.

The particular shape of the wing-shaped profiles 12 and in particular the presence of the upper portion 13b and of the lower portion 13c makes it possible to increase the surface of incidence of the wind on the wing-shaped profiles 12 increasing the rotary motion of the shaft 11 around the rotation axis X-X thus improving the efficiency of the wind generator 1.

In some particular embodiments of the wind generator 1, the body 13 of the wing- shaped profile 12 can be without the lower portion 13c comprising the central portion 13a joined to the upper portion 13b.

In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in figures 6 and 8, the wind generator 1 further comprises balancing means 60 that are suitable for balancing possible friction due to forces that are created by the eccentricity generated by a non-uniformity between the wing-shaped profiles 12 of the wind generator 1. Such balancing means 60 also make it possible to balance possible unbalanced gravitational weight forces F _p that are generated for example by an installation on a base block 31 that lies on a plane Q that is inclined by an angle a with respect to the horizontal plane P, as illustrated in figure 8. In both cases _} the resulting unbalanced weight force F _P generates a rotation moment MF _, with respect to the lower plate 45, which is locked to the base block 31, that negatively affects the performance and the stability of the wind generator 1.

In one embodiment, the balancing means 60 are associated with the shaft 11 of axial rotation X-X and create a moment that is substantially equal and opposite to the rotating moment MF.

Tn the example illustrated in figure 7, the shaft 11 is fitted on the outer casing 21 of the electrical energy generator 20 through a hooking element. The hooking element comprises the upper flange 23 and the portion of tube 37 projecting axially and above the flange 23. The portion of tube 37 is suitably fitted on the upper flange 23 itself forming a single body. The shaft 11 and the portion of tube 37 are coaxial according to the axis X-X, axially spaced apart and separate from one another by a gap 70, The shaft 11 and the portion of tube 37 are kinematically connected by balancing means 60 so as to rotate as a unit, according to said axis X-X, with the wind turbine 10,

In one embodiment, the balancing means 60 are arranged near to the electrical energy generator 20.

The balancing means 60 are made through an articulated joint, which comprises a fixed part cooperating with the shaft 11 and a part that is mobile with respect to the axial direction X-X, so as to balance and distribute the rotation MF.

The fixed part of the articulated joint 60 comprises a first plate 61 and a second plate 71 which are fixed with the ends to the shaft 1 1 and to the portion of tube 37, respectively. The first plate 61 and the second plate 71 cooperate with the shaft 1 1 and with the portion of tube 37 defining the gap 70. The first plate 61 and the second plate 71 are arranged facing one another and have their ends fixed for example through welding.

The mobile part of the articulated joint 60 comprises a first connecting rod 62 and a second connecting rod 72 arranged facing the first plate 61 and the second plate 71 , from the opposite side with respect to the shaft 1 1.

The first connecting rod 62 and the second connecting rod 72 comprise the lower ends that are fixedly connected through a first pin 81 passing at a first hole that is transverse to the portion of tube 37. The first pin 81 is arranged according to a direction Y-Y that is perpendicular to the axial direction X-X. The first connecting rod 62 and the second connecting rod 72 have a length that is shorter than the length of the first plate 61 and of the second plate 71 and are arranged inclined with respect to the axis X-X on the same side with respect to the shaft 1 1. The first connecting rod 62 and the second connecting rod 72 are joined together at the front through a stmt 75. In particular, the stmt 75 is fixedly connected with the upper end to the shaft 11. Even more in particular, the upper end of the strut 75 is welded and is arranged between the first plate 61 and the second plate 71. A second pin 82, arranged in a direction that is parallel to the direction Y-Y, makes it possible to join the upper end of the first connecting rod 62, and the second connecting rod 72 and the lower end of the strut 75 to one another.

It is worth noting that, the first connecting rod 62, the second connecting rod 72 and the stmt 75 define a knee of the articulated joint 60. In one embodiment, the knee of the articulated joint has a fixed and predefined arrangement.

In a different embodiment, the first connecting rod 62 and the second connecting rod 72 which are the same as one another have fixed dimensions whereas the strut 75 can have an angular adjustment with respect to the axis X-X so as to allow a variation of the transverse distance of the knee, according to a direction parallel to the direction Y- Y, In such a way the second pin 82 has a projection from the axis X-X that can be adjusted, indeed adjusting the moment generated by the articulated joint 60.

When the wind generator 1 is arranged on the plane Q inclined by an angle a with respect to a horizontal plane P, as illustrated in figure 8, the gravitational weight force Fp creates, with respect to the lower plate 45 fixed to the base block 31, the rotation moment F and the balancing means 60, and in particular the mobile part of the articulated joint, create a moment MB that contrasts and substantially nullifies the moment Mp,

In other words, the articulated joint 60 makes it possible to balance the system of forces of the wind generator 1 allowing the balanced arrangement on planes Q that are inclined by angles . The angle a is preferably comprised in the range ± [20°-30°],

In one arrangement of the wind generator 1 with vertical axis according to the direction X-X, the balancing means 60, on the other hand, make it possible to balance possible eccentricity or friction forces that can occur due to the non-uniformity between the wing-shaped profiles 12 or between components of the wind generator 1.

Tests earned out by the Applicant, which can be obtained with certified reports, have highlighted how the performance obtained by the wind generator according to the present invention, in the embodiment with an outer casing of the electrical energy generator rotating as a unit with the wind turbine and with central axis of the fixed electrical energy generator, makes it possible to increase by 15-20% the overall performance with respect to .the performance obtained by wind generators of the prior art and in particular with respect to the performance obtained with wind generators in which the central axis of the electrical energy generator rotates as a unit with the rotor and with the shaft of the wind turbine.

Advantageously, it was also found that there was a substantial increase in the energy efficiency of the electrical energy generator with the support structure according to the present invention which makes it possible to arrange and adjust the axial arrangement of the central pin according to the direction X-X in a simple and rapid manner so as to optimise the energy efficiency, with respect to the prior art for each revolution of rotation of the blades of the wind turbine. A further improvement of the efficiency is due to the increase in the rotating surface of the electrical energy generator that foresees the rotor associated with the outer casing fitted on the shaft of the wind turbine.

A further advantage of the present invention is the lower wearing of the components of the electrical energy generator. Indeed, since the central pin of the electrical energy generator is fixed, there are no intermediate bearings, which are on the other hand necessary in a solution of the prior art with rotating central axis. This of course makes it possible to obtain an increase in the functionality of the wind energy generator according to the present invention.

A further advantage of the present invention is given by the possibility, through the balancing means, of balancing possible moments which could occur due to imperfections caused by the non-uriiformity of the wing-shaped profiles. Moreover, the adjustment of the balancing means makes it possible to optimise the efficiency of the electrical energy generator. As can be appreciated from what has been described, the wind generator with vertical axis according to the present invention makes it possible to satisfy the requirements and to overcome the drawbacks referred to in the introduction of the present description with reference to the prior art.

Of cou se) a man skilled in the art, with the purpose of satisfying contingent and specific requirements, can carry out numerous modifications and variants to the aforementioned wind generator according to the invention, all moreover covered by the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims.