Vertical Axle Windmill Torque Ring Isolates Blades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vertical axis wind turbines face inefficiencies due to direct blade-to-blade bracing, which leads to stress misalignment and increased drag, making blade removal and reinstallation cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Torque Ring that redistributes torque forces and isolates each blade, reducing the need for direct bracing and allowing for easier blade connection and disconnection, while minimizing drag by enabling a larger, weaker blade frame design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If direct blade-to-blade bracing is used, then structural stability is maintained, but stress misalignment occurs and drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Torque Ring as an intermediary component between blades. This Torque Ring carries the aggregate torque load and redistributes it to individual blades, eliminating the need for direct blade-to-blade bracing. The Torque Ring acts as a mediator that maintains structural stability while reducing drag by allowing each blade to be independently connected to the ring rather than being directly braced against adjacent blades.
2Strength
If direct blade-to-blade bracing is used, then structural support is provided, but blade removal and reinstallation becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the structural support function by introducing a separate Torque Ring that independently carries the aggregate torque load. This segmentation allows each blade to be independently connected to and disconnected from the Torque Ring via connection members, facilitating easy removal and reinstallation of individual blades without affecting the structural integrity of the entire rotor assembly.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If blade frame cross sectional area is reduced, then drag is decreased, but stress carrying capacity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The Torque Ring serves as an intermediary structure that carries the aggregate torque load, allowing the blade frame to be designed with reduced cross-sectional area. The Torque Ring compensates for the reduced stress carrying capacity of the thinner blade frame by assuming the primary structural load, thereby enabling drag reduction while maintaining overall structural integrity.
4Stability of the object's composition
If interconnecting braces carry compression and tension forces, then blade connection is maintained, but misalignment and gap spacing issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The Torque Ring acts as an intermediary that maintains blade connection while accommodating misalignment and gap spacing variations. By distributing the aggregate torque load through the ring structure, the system can accommodate small misalignments between blades without compromising connection stability, as each blade connects independently to the Torque Ring rather than being rigidly braced to adjacent blades.
Data Source
AI summary
A vertical axis windmill turbine includes a support structure for supporting the vertical axis windmill turbine above ground level. At least one rotor rotates upon the support structure. The at least one rotor has a horizontal structure having a rotational axis perpendicular to the ground level. The support structure further comprises at least one circular torque ring member extending around the rotational axis of the at least one rotor. A plurality of blades positioned within each of the at least one rotor causes the at least one rotor to rotate on the support structure responsive to wind force. A plurality of torque ring mounting connectors associated with each of the plurality of blades interconnect the at least one circular torque ring to the plurality of blades. A plurality of vanes are located on each of the plurality of blades and rotate between an open position to limit drag on the at least one rotor and a closed position that provides a rotational force to the at least one rotor. The plurality of vanes rotating between the open position and the closed position responsive to a wind force.