EXPLOITATION OF WIND AT AN ALTITUDE

The present invention refers to an improved system for generating energy by exploiting wind at an altitude using rotor devices .

Rotors for the generation of electrical energy similar to the one described in the present invention and its generation cycle are not known in the art .

Obj ect of the present invention is solving the aforementioned prior art problems of energy generation by providing an improved system capable of determining a li ft higher than gravity and of alternating cycles of elevation to an altitude with recovery cycles through the use of cables that allow the rotor constraint point and the consequent flight attitude to be modi fied .

The above and other obj ects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are achieved with an improved system such as that described in claim 1 . Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention form the subj ect matter of the dependent claims .

It is understood that all attached claims form an integral part of the present description .

It will be immediately obvious that countless variations and modi fications can be made to what i s described ( for example relating to shape , dimensions , arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) without departing from the scope of the invention as appears from the attached claims .

The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof , provided as a non-limiting example , with reference to the enclosed drawings , in which :

- Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of the system of the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of an implementation of the improved system with a rotor rising to an altitude for energy production; and

Figure 3 shows the movement of the constraint element or point which determines a di f ferent flight attitude according to the present invention .

Referring to the Figures , the improved system 1 for the generation of energy through the exploitation of wind at an altitude of the present invention includes at least one generator 12 placed on the ground and operationally connected to at least one device 7 for the collection of energy through at least one constraint element or point 9 designed to transmit energy in the form of mechanical traction from the device 7 to the generator 12 .

The device 7 is usually a rotor designed for the conversion of wind energy at an altitude through rotation of wing profiles and consequent li ft which determines a traction force having an intermediate direction between the wind axis and the vertical to the ground .

For controlling its flight , the system is equipped with at least three cables 20 ; 22 , 24 which connect the device 7 and the constraint element 9 to each other : these cables 20 ; 22 , 24 are designed to determine a movement of the constraint element 9 with respect to the system 1 through their lengthening/ shortening, a function which, depending on the solutions adopted, can be obtained with other simple measures always aimed at modi fying the constraint point which is an essential element for flight control ( in the twinrotor a sliding of the attachment point is suf ficient ) .

In an innovative way, flight control occurs by moving the mobile constraint element 9 which can be implemented by the action of the cables 20 ; 22 , 24 or through the action of mechanical actuators .

The movement of the constraint element 9 along the longitudinal axis from the point of cable 20 to the point of cable 22 determines a di f ferent flight attitude of the system 1 .

Changing the position of the constraint element 9 is important to determine the behaviour of the rotor device 7 , which must alternate traction steps on the constraint cable to the generator 12 placed on the ground with fast recovery steps .

Furthermore , in the event that the device 7 is a single rotor, it is also necessary to compensate for the li ft asymmetry of the rotor 7 which, on one of its sides , has a greater ef ficiency since its blades move against the wind due to the rotation ef fect .

A commercially available inertial platform allows veri fying and maintaining a correct flight attitude of the device 7 even i f its rotor disk has li ft asymmetries typical of rotors : therefore , it is essential that the movement of the constraint element 9 is also possible laterally .

Preferably, the generator 12 is designed to be driven by at least one cable reel 11 suitable for allowing the production of energy .

The invention also relates to a process for the generation of energy through the exploitation of the wind at a altitude using the system 1 described above , in which the process comprises the steps of :

- achieving the maximum expected operating quota o f the system 1 ;

- alternating short return steps to the cycle start level of the device 7 , with low energy expenditure ; returning to the initial altitude of the generation cycle due to a change in flight attitude determined by the movement of the constraint element 9 and any modi fication of the aerodynamic surfaces .