Wind turbine

Abstract

In a wind turbine (1) with a rotating, vertical shaft (2) the shaft has at least one horizontal through-bore, wherein an axis (6,7) is rotatably trapped in the through-bore and in which rigid wings (15-18) are connected in mutually perpendicular planes to the sections (10-13) of the axis (6,7) separated by the shaft (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a wind turbine with a rotating, vertical shaft.

[0002] Wind turbines are well-known and proven in a wide variety of designs. These turbines are usually designed like a windmill, with a nacelle housing atop a tower. Designed as a lift rotor, the nacelle houses a horizontal shaft bearing a rotor in a vertical plane. For performance-optimized operation, such wind turbines now reach heights of more than 200 meters and are therefore correspondingly expensive.

[0003] Alternative designs feature a rotating, vertical shaft. The advantage is the comparatively simple bearing arrangement and the base-mounted arrangement of heavy components such as the generator. However, the design of the rotor, which usually has a complex geometry, often proves problematic, as is the case with the wind turbine known from DE 10 2013 011 454 A1.

[0004] Against this background, the invention aims to provide a cost-effective wind turbine that can be operated economically even in small versions.

[0005] This technical problem is solved by a wind turbine with the features of claim 1.

[0006] The rotating vertical shaft offers the advantages discussed above. The shaft can be constructed cost-effectively, for example, using a tube. The shaft is structurally simple, with horizontal through-holes traversing it. These through-holes accommodate the axes, which are rotatably supported in simple designs without bearings, but preferably for smooth running in conventional bearings of common designs.

[0007] Rigid, largely flat, wings are attached to the sections of the axle separated by the shaft. These wings are connected in mutually perpendicular planes. The wings can be made of sheet metal, canvas stretched in a frame, or similar materials.

[0008] In an initial position, a first wing hangs vertically downward, while the second wing extends horizontally. When the vertically oriented wing is blown vertically by the wind, the force of the wind causes the shaft to rotate. At the same time, the axis twists, and the first wing is raised until it reaches a horizontal position. At the same time, the second wing is turned into the wind and points downward, beginning a new cycle.

[0009] For reasons of symmetry, it is preferable for the rotational axes of the shaft and the axle to intersect at a right angle. This ensures a balanced moment load on the shaft.

[0010] Practical tests have shown, particularly for small wind turbines, that flat blades are sufficient for driving the shaft. It has also proven advantageous for a section to have several blades with the same spatial orientation. This makes it easy to create a comparatively large surface area for the wind load.

[0011] The efficiency of the wind turbine according to the invention can be further increased by arranging axes at different levels in a plan view at regular intervals. The design requires that the length of the blades at the sections be dimensioned in such a way that the free rotation of the blades is ensured. This ensures the free rotation of the blades with the axis. For example, blades arranged radially inward in a section can be shorter than those located radially outward.

[0012] For shafts of appropriate height, one end of the shaft is conveniently held in an upper bearing, which largely prevents the shaft from drifting from the vertical. Typically, a frame-like enclosure is provided for this purpose, the upper cross member of which is fitted with the upper bearing.

[0013] The invention is further explained with reference to the drawing, which shows only one embodiment schematically and not to scale. The drawing shows: Fig. 1: a side view and Fig. 2: a plan view of a wind turbine according to the invention.

[0014] Fig. 1 shows a side view of a wind turbine 1 according to the invention with a vertical shaft 2, which is mounted on the underside in a conventional manner in a machine house 3, which also serves to accommodate, for example, a generator, a gearbox or the like.

[0015] In the exemplary embodiment, the vertical shaft 2 has through holes in two planes 4, 5, in which axes 6, 7 are rotatably held. The axes of rotation of the shaft 2 and the axes 6, 7 are perpendicular to each other and are the axes 6, 7, as shown in particular. Fig. 2 shows, arranged in a uniform division over the circumference, here of 90°.

[0016] At the sections 10-13 of the axes 6,7 separated by the shaft 2, a wing 15-18 is arranged in each case, each extending in a plane, wherein the wings 15,16 and 17,18 of the sections 10,11 and 12,13 are connected in mutually perpendicular planes.

[0017] If necessary, several wings can be provided on one section.

[0018] The distances and dimensions are selected in such a way that the free rotation of the axes 6,7 with the wings 16-18 is ensured.

[0019] For small lengths of shaft 2, the lower bearing will usually be sufficient. Above a certain length and load on shaft 2, such as in this case with wings 15-18 in two planes 4, 5, a top bearing is also appropriate. As an example, a frame 20 is shown whose upper cross struts 21, 22 are equipped with such an upper bearing. List of reference symbols: 1 wind turbine 2nd wave 3 Engine house 4 levels 5 Level 6 axis 7 Axis 8 9 10 Section Section 11 Section 12 Section 13 14 15 wings 16 wings 17 wings 18 wings 19 20 frames 21 Cross brace 22 Cross brace QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2013 011 454 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Wind turbine (1), with a rotating, vertical shaft (2), characterized by that the shaft (2) has at least one horizontal through-bore, that an axis (6,7) is rotatably captured in the through-bore and that rigid wings (15-18) are connected in mutually perpendicular planes to the sections (10-13) of the axis (6,7) separated by the shaft (2). [2] Wind turbine according to claim 1, characterized by that the axes of rotation of the shaft (2) and the axis (6,7) intersect at a right angle. [3] Wind turbine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by that the wings (15-18) are flat. [4] Wind turbine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by that a section has several wings with the same spatial orientation. [5] Wind turbine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized bythat axes (6,7) are arranged in different planes (4,5) in a plan view in a regular division. [6] Wind turbine according to claim 5, characterized by that the length of the wings at the sections is dimensioned in such a way that the free rotation of the wings is guaranteed. [7] Wind turbine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by that an upper end of the shaft (2) is held in an upper bearing. [8] Wind turbine according to claim 7, characterized by that a frame-like enclosure is provided, the upper cross strut (21,22) of which is provided with the upper bearing.

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