FIELDER MARION EDWARD (CA)
FIELDER MARION EDWARD (CA)
| US0757800A | 1904-04-19 | |||
| US6069409A | 2000-05-30 | |||
| US4678394A | 1987-07-07 | |||
| US0648442A | 1900-05-01 | |||
| US6413038B1 | 2002-07-02 |
| 1. | received by the International Bureau on 24 May 2004 (24.05. 04) original claims 1 to 15 replaced by claims 1 to 2 + Statement The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: Claim 1: A wind powered paddlewheel, that has a supported rotating horizontal center shaft with a plurality of attached paddle support frames which support partial pivot hinges that attach the paddles, is comprised of; a supported horizontal rotating center shaft having attached at least two parallel sets of paddle support frames aligned to each other; each set of paddle support frames consist of equal number of individual paddle supports, aligned to each other and distributed equally around the circumference of the said center shaft, and each individual paddle support has one end attached to the said center shaft and the second end radiating outwards such that all the second ends in the set are equally spaced to the next with bracing affixing one paddle support to the next to form a framework; 'the said paddle, when connected to the said paddle supports and when the said paddles supports are positioned at the top of it's rotation path, has; a front side which faces into the wind, a back side which faces the opposite direction, an edge closest to the center shaft and an edge farthest from the center shaft as well as two side edges parallel with the said paddle supports; the said partial pivot hinge joins the said paddle to the said paddle supports, and enables and restricts the said paddle's edge closest to the center shaft to selectively pivot between a position where the said paddle sides are predominately parallel with it's said paddle supports to a position where the said paddle sides are predominately perpendicular to the same said paddle supports. Claim 2: Dead weights added to the said paddle support frames of the wind powered paddlewheel described in Claim 1 for the purpose of increasing the inertia and stabilize the effects of wind gusts and lulls. STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19 (1) Disregard drawing Figure 3 and Figure 4 entirely and the first paragraph of the detailed description as we are no longer pursuing claims related to this material. With reference to Claim 1 (previously Claim 15), the partial pivot hinge is operated on natural forces acting on the paddles, and this includes wind, gravity, and centrifugal force. Our drawing in Figure 1 shows calm conditions. We should have drawn it in wind conditions. Referring to the paddle support (2) in the 12 o'clock position, the attached paddle (7) should have been tilted parallel with it's paddle support (2), which is what happens when the wind is blowing on it. Also, referring to the paddle support (2) in the position of about 78 o'clock, the paddle (7) should be illustrated as being in the pivoted position on the partial pivot hinge (8). This would show about a 90 degrees angle between the paddle (7) and the paddle support (2). This is the same angle as the 3,45, and 6 o'clock positions. With reference to Claim 1 (previously Claim 15), we didn't go into much detail about the partial pivot hinge and the many benefits it provides. We haven't change the hinge, we just want to explain the benefits so it is better understood. After the second last paragraph add the following statement: "The partial pivot hinge (8) serves three purposes. Firstly, it moves the wind force that is pushing on the entire paddle (7) to the point farthest on paddle support (2) from the center shaft (1). This increases the footpounds of torque because it increased the distance. Secondly, when the paddle (7) makes it's transition between moving with the wind, and moving into the wind, (9 o'clock on Figure 1) the paddle (7) starts pushing air, This causes the edge closest to the center shaft (1) to lift and the wind throws it back. The partial pivot hinge (8) stops the paddle (7) when it is in an upright position with respect to its paddle support (2). The paddle (7) catches the wind in this position, adding to the rotational torque of the center shaft (1). Thirdly, as the paddle support (2) begins ascending in its rotation, the partial pivot hinge (8) coupled with the wind shroud (4) reduces the drag of the paddle." In respect to our dead weights we are amending Claim 2 (previously Claim 13), so it doesn't include weight on the paddles. The last paragraph should read: "The dead weights (5) do not have to be used for the paddlewheel to work. The use of weight does increase the inertia of the paddlewheel, thereby reducing the effects of wind gusts and lulls. The dead weights (5) can be attached to the paddle supports (2) or the partial pivot hinge, (8). The farther the weights are attached from the center shaft the greater the inertia effects.". |
The more energy we can capture from the wind, the brighter the future of the world will be.
Generating power requires a spinning shaft. There are numerous designs for causing a shaft to spin in the wind. For example, a wind-power generator that consists of a tall structure with an airplane propeller, where the wind deflects off the face of the blades, causing them to move sideways to the wind, which then drives one generator. Although considerable propeller speed is obtainable, at any given moment the actual surface area that is being forced upon, is the area of the skinny blades. This factor limits the power output; too big of a generator and the blades won't turn. One propeller generally drives one generator. If you want to run ten generators, you need ten towers, and ten propellers to drive them. Servicing wind- power generators way up in the air like that can be a dangerous task.
Other designs of wind power generators use a vertical squirrel-cage style fan, shaped similar to fans used in household furnaces or for running the interior heating system in cars.
When capturing power from the wind, the more torque you capture, the more power you can create. With high torque of one shaft and by using gears you can create speed for a second shaft, capable of driving one or several generators when the winds are right. If you have more torque than one generator requires, you can engage a second generator. The more torque you have, the more generators you can engage. As the wind velocity changes, you engage and disengage generators, so that you are drawing maximum power from the wind.
Overview of Our Invention Our invention is designed to maximize the torque of the center shaft. Increasing torque is done through a combination of: Maximizing the surface area the wind is pushing on at any instant in time Maximum speed of rotation of the center shaft Minimizing the drag of paddles moving towards the wind Our invention is A wind paddlewheel for generating high torque energy capable of powering multiple electric generators and/or mechanical devices.
The paddiewheel consists of a supported center shaft with attached paddles.
Dead weight loads can be attached to the paddles to increase the inertia distributed by the center shaft.
Paddles that are moving towards the wind are shrouded from the force of the wind. The wind presses on the exposed paddles, causing the wheel to rotate.
In front of the paddlewheel can be a wind-acceleration tunnel, for accelerating and stabilizing the wind.
Our search found no other wind paddlewheels were ever patented. Patent number CA 2070987 describes a vertical axis wind powered generator. The axis is vertical not horizontal With respect to the wind-acceleration tunnel portion described in our application for patent, there are a couple of inventions that are similar, however both have significant differences from our design.
CA 2292456 Hosoda CA 2330700 Stanton CA2292456 is designed to steer the wind into a desired direction of flow to turn a fan-like rotor. The apparatus does have a wide opening and a small exit. The inside of the apparatus has deflectors. These deflectors would draw energy out of the wind, costing energy. Our wind-accelerator is empty, therefore more efficient.
CA2330700 contains a funnel designed for a tower, and used to drive a rotor.
Our wind-accelerator is designed for a ground-level paddlewheel.
The following drawing form a part of this specification: 1. Figure 1 is a side-view of a wind paddlewheel apparatus.
2. Figure 2 is a front view of the same wind paddlewheel apparatus.
3. Figure 3 is a top view of the wind-acceleration tunnel.
4. Figure 4 is a side view of the wind-acceleration tunnel.
Detailed Description of the Invention The process for accelerating and stabilizing the wind in a target area is to place a wind-acceleration tunnel (9) upwind from the target area. The wind-acceleration tunnel, (9), has a wide opening for the wind to enter, (10) and tapers in size as it approaches the exit port, (11). The material the wind-acceleration tunnel (9) is made from can be solid, like metal, plastic, fiberglass or wood, or it can be a frame and with a fabric cover. The exit port, (11) of the wind-acceleration tunnel (9), is where the target area is. The wind-acceleration tunnel (9) does not need to be attached to the target apparatus for it to do its job. The exit port (11) can be adjustable in size, through the use of doors or shutters to adjust the overall air movement within the wind-acceleration tunnel (9). Wind that enters the wind-acceleration tunnel (9) does not necessarily have to pass through the paddlewheel apparatus to get out again. By keeping the air moving through, you maximize the momentum of the air. A plural number of tunnels can be used at a wind power station, thereby taking into account, winds from different directions.
The paddlewheel is what creates the torque energy. It is comprised of a center shaft, (1), supported horizontally by bearings, (6), which are mounted on support stands, (3). Attached to the center shaft (1), between the support stands (3), are paddle supports, (2), for attaching the partial pivot hinge (s), (8), which attaches paddle (s), (7). At the end of the paddle supports (2) and parallel to the center shaft (1) is attached dead weight, (5), for increasing the inertia of the center shaft (1). When the paddles are moving towards the wind, they can pivot part of a turn on hinge, (8), to reduce wind drag. A wind shroud (4) shields paddles moving towards the wind from the wind.
The number of bearings (6) and support stands (3) required will depend on the length and size of the center shaft (1), which is dependent on the volume of power you wish to create at one time, and under what wind conditions. Wherever there is a support stand, there needs to be a break in the paddles so that they don't hit the stand and stop the rotation.
The paddles (7) are attached at the outmost edge of the paddle supports (2) using a partial pivot hinge (8). If there is more than one paddle (7) per paddle support (2) then the paddles (7) are attached at their outermost edge using additional partial pivot hinges (8). The paddle (7) edge that is closest and parallel to the center shaft (1) does not have to be in contact with the center shaft (1). There can be a space for the air to flow between the innermost edge of the paddle (7) and the center shaft (1).
The paddles (7) are plurality in number, equally distributed around the circumference of the center shaft (1).
The dead weights (5) do not have to be used for the paddiewheel to work. The use of weight does increase the inertia of the paddles. The farther the weights are situated from the center shaft, the more inertia they create when spinning. The dead weight (5) can be attached directly to the paddle (7), to the paddle supports (2), or to the partial pivot hinge (8) or built right into the paddle. The material the dead weights (5) are made of can be solid, granular within a containment means, or fluid within a container.