Aerial wind power generation system

Abstract

An aerial power generation system includes wind driven elements that are in the form of rectangular sails. The sails are configured and shaped to provide maximum force from both lift and drag during the downwind phase of operation and minimum force during the upwind phase. Guide lines, support elements such as kites or blimps, and/or radio controlled airfoils add stability to the system and provide better control over angular orientation and direction of motion. Power transfer is through one or more cables connected from the wind driven elements to various electromechanical devices on the ground. Another embodiment of the aerial power generation system includes a revolving apparatus and two or more wind powered driven elements connected by tow lines to the revolving apparatus.

1 . An aerial power generation system for generation of power from the wind, comprising: 
 a first guide line extending skywardly at a selected elevation angle from a first end to a spaced second end,    a first support body attached to said second end of said first guide line for supporting said first guide line,    a wind powered driven element slidably mounted on said first guide line,    a first tow line connected to said driven element, and    means, connected to said first tow line opposite said driven element and driven by said first tow line, for generating power,    whereby the wind pushes said driven element away from said means for generating, said driven element slides along said first guide line and pulls said first tow line, and said first tow line drives said means for generating power.    
   
   
       2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  including: 
 means for changing said driven element between high force and low force configurations,    whereby said means for changing moves said driven element to a said high force configuration to generate power, and said means for changing moves said driven element to a said low force configuration for pulling said driven element towards said means for generating power.    
   
   
       3 . The system as set forth in  claim 2:   including a second tow line connected to said driven element, and    wherein said means for changing shortens and lengthens said second tow line relative to said first tow line to move said driven element between high force and low force configurations.    
   
   
       4 . The system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said second tow line connects to said means for generating power opposite said driven element, 
 whereby said second tow line, with said first tow line, drives said means for generating power.    
   
   
       5 . The system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said driven element has an angle of attack relative to the wind, and said means for changing changes said angle of attack to move said driven element between high force and low force configurations.  
   
   
       6 . The system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said driven element has variable shape and said means for changing changes said shape to move said driven element between high force and low force configurations.  
   
   
       7 . The system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said driven element has an angle of attack relative to the wind and a variable shape, and said means for changing changes at least one of said angle of attack and said shape to move said driven element between high force and low force configurations.  
   
   
       8 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein driven element includes an upper spar, a lower spar spaced from said upper spar, a sail portion extending between said upper and lower spars and a pulley connected to said upper spar for slidably mounting said driven element on said first guide line.  
   
   
       9 . The system as set forth in  claim 8:   wherein said first tow line attaches to said pulley, and    including:    a second tow line attached to said lower spar and to said means for generating power opposite said driven element, and    means for shortening and lengthening said second tow line relative to said first tow line,    whereby shortening and lengthening said second tow line relative to said first tow line changes at least one of the shape and the angle relative to the wind of said driven element to change said driven element between high force and low force configurations.    
   
   
       10 . The system as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said driven element includes spaced first and second airfoils attached to said lower spar.  
   
   
       11 . The system as set forth in  claim 1;   wherein said support body has lift, and    including means for varying said lift of said first support body whereby said support body maintains said selected elevation angle.    
   
   
       12 . The system as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said support body includes a kite and a bridle, said bridle having a plurality of bridle lines extending from said kite to first guide line and said means for varying lift includes means for varying the length of at least one of said bridle lines to vary the angle of said kite relative to the wind.  
   
   
       13 . The system as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said means for varying the length includes a remote control winch connected to at least one of said bridle lines between said first guide line and said kite.  
   
   
       14 . The system as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said first support body includes a lighter than air aircraft containing a lighter than air gas.  
   
   
       15 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  including a second guide line extending skywardly, spaced from and parallel to said first guide line, at said selected elevation angle from a first end to a spaced second end, said driven element being slidably mounted on said second guide line.  
   
   
       16 . The system as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said second end of said second guide line is attached to said first support body in a spaced relationship to said second end of said first guide line.  
   
   
       17 . The system as set forth in  claim 15  including a second support body spaced from said first support body, with the said second end of said second guide line being attached to said second support body.  
   
   
       18 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said means for generating power is an electrical generator having a shaft with a reel that is rotated by said first tow line.  
   
   
       19 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said means for generating power is a rotary fluid pump with a shaft that is rotated by said first tow line.  
   
   
       20 . An aerial power generation system for generation of power from the wind, comprising: 
 a guide line extending skywardly at a selected elevation angle from a first end to a spaced second end,    a kite,    a bridle having a plurality of bridle lines extending from said kite to said guide lines    a remote control winch connected between a said bridle line and said guide line for varying the length of said bridle line to vary the angle of said kite relative to the wind,    a wind powered driven element having an upper spar, a spaced lower spar, a sail portion extending between said upper and lower spars and a pulley connected to said upper spar that slidably mounts said driven element on said guide line,    a first tow line connected to said upper spar,    a second tow line connected to said lower spar,    means for shortening and lengthening said second tow line relative to said first tow line, and    an electrical generator with a shaft and a reel on said shaft that is are rotated by said first tow line,    whereby the wind pushes said driven element away from said generator, said driven element slides along said first guide line and pulls said first tow line, and said first tow line rotates said reel and said shaft to generate power, and    whereby when said means for shortening and lengthening changes said driven element to a low force configuration, said driven element can be pulled towards said generator with low power.    
   
   
       21 . An aerial power generation system for generation of power from the wind, comprising: 
 a plurality of aerial wind powered driven elements,    a tow line for each said driven element, each said tow line having an upper end attached to a said driven element and a spaced lower end,    means for changing each said driven element individually between high force and low force configurations,    revolving apparatus with a center and having a tow line attachment point for each said driven element, said lower end of each said tow line being attached to a separate tow line attachment point, said tow line attachment points being linked together, spaced from said center and spaced from each other, and    means, linked to said revolving apparatus and driven thereby, for generating power,    whereby said means for changing changes each said driven element to high force configurations when the respective said tow line attachment point is moving downwind and changes each said driven element to low force configurations when the respective said tow line attachment point is moving upwind, so that downwind moving said tow line attachment points pull upwind moving said tow line attachment points, causing said revolving apparatus to revolve and thereby driving said means for generating power.    
   
   
       22 . The system as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said means for changing includes a control line for each said driven element, each said control line having an upper end attached to a said driven element and a spaced lower end.  
   
   
       23 . The system as set forth in  claim 22  wherein said means for changing includes a remote control winch for each said driven element, each said winch connecting to the respective said tow line and to said lower end of the respective said control line.  
   
   
       24 . The system as set forth in  claim 22  wherein said revolving apparatus includes a control line attachment point for each said driven element, each said control line attachment point being spaced at a selected distance and angle from the respective said tow line attachment point, each said control line attachment point connecting to said lower end of the respective said control line.  
   
   
       25 . The system as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said revolving apparatus includes a plurality of cross bars with a said cross bar for each said driven element, said cross bars extending radially from said center and each having the respective said tow line attachment point opposite said center.  
   
   
       26 . The system as set forth in  claim 25  wherein: 
 said revolving apparatus includes a plurality of wheels attached to and supporting said cross bars, said wheels being spaced from said center, and    said means for generating power includes a plurality of electrical generators, said generators being carried by, linked to and driven by said wheels.    
   
   
       27 . The system as set forth in  claim 21  wherein: 
 said revolving apparatus includes a closed loop track and a plurality of linked cars, said cars having wheels guided by said track, and    said means for generating power includes at least one electrical generator linked to and driven by a said wheel.    
   
   
       28 . The system as set forth in  claim 21  wherein: 
 each said driven element has an azimuth angle relative to the wind, and    including, for each said driven element, means, connected to said driven element, for adjusting said azimuth angle of said driven element.    
   
   
       29 . An aerial power generation system for generation of power from the wind, comprising: 
 a plurality of aerial wind powered driven elements,    a tow line for each said driven element, each said tow line having an upper end attached to a said driven element and a spaced lower end,    a control line for each said driven element, each said control line having an upper end attached to a said driven element and a spaced lower end,    a revolving apparatus having a center and a plurality of angularly spaced cross bars projecting horizontally from said center, said cross bars rotating about said center, said cross bars each having a tow line attachment point for a said driven element spaced from said center, with said lower end of each said tow line being attached to the respective said tow line attachment point, said cross bars each having a control line attachment point for a said driven element with said lower end of each said control line being attached to the respective said control line attachment point, each said control line attachment point being spaced at a selected distance and angle from the respective said tow line attachment point, and    an electrical generator linked to and driven by said revolving apparatus,    whereby each said control line changes the respective said driven element to high force configurations when the respective said tow line attachment point is moving downwind and changes the respective said driven element to low force configurations when the respective said tow line attachment point is moving upwind, so that downwind moving said tow line attachment points pull with higher force than upwind moving said tow line attachment points, causing said revolving apparatus to revolve and thereby driving said generator.