Vertical axis wind system

Abstract

A vertical axis wind system is provided including a center post assembly, a power generation system, a blade attachment assembly and a blade assembly. The center post assembly includes an outer rotor rotatably connected to an inner post. The outer rotor is connected to a generator rotor for the power generation system. The blade assembly includes a plurality of blades that are attached to the outer rotor using the blade attachment assembly.

1 . A vertical axis wind system comprising: 
 a center post assembly adapted to extend in a vertical orientation, said center post assembly including an outer rotor rotatably connected to an inner post;    a power generation system including a generator rotor rotatably connected to a generator stator, said generator rotor being driveably connected to said outer rotor; and    a blade assembly including a plurality of blades having first and second ends connected to said outer rotor.    
     
     
         2 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a blade attachment assembly having at least one blade attachment portion connected to said outer rotor, said blade attachment portion having a plurality of arms extending therefrom for attachably receiving said plurality of blades.  
     
     
         3 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said arms are disposed on said blade attachment portion in positions to permit the number of said blades attached to said blade attachment portion to be varied.  
     
     
         4 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said arms are disposed on said blade attachment portion in positions to permit a varied number of blades to be attached to said blade attachment portion in equally spaced locations relative to other of said blades.  
     
     
         5 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said blade attachment assembly is adapted to receive a varied number of blades, including an arrangement of two, three and four blades, each in equally spaced locations relative to other of said blades.  
     
     
         6 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of blades includes a forked end member for attaching said blade to said outer rotor.  
     
     
         7 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein each of said plurality of blades includes a forked end member for attaching said blade to a corresponding one of said arms.  
     
     
         8 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each of said blades includes one or more struts extending along at least a portion of the length of said blade for supporting a plurality of ribs extending along the width of said blade.  
     
     
         9 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said one or more struts and said plurality of ribs are covered by a skin to define an aerodynamic surface for each said blade.  
     
     
         10 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said inner post has an aspect ratio of width to height that is sufficient for said center post assembly to be supported without guy wires.  
     
     
         11 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said inner post has an aspect ratio of width to height of approximately 1 to 100.  
     
     
         12 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said inner post has an aspect ratio of width to height of approximately 2.5 to 150.  
     
     
         13 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a foundation for supporting said inner post.  
     
     
         14 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said foundation surrounds a portion of the length of said inner post.  
     
     
         15 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said foundation further defines a structure for housing said power generation system.  
     
     
         16 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said inner post comprises a plurality of sections having end flanges for receiving fasteners to secure adjacent sections together.  
     
     
         17 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said outer rotor comprises a plurality of sections having end flanges for receiving fasteners to secure adjacent sections together.  
     
     
         18 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said inner post is hollow and has a desired material disposed therein.  
     
     
         19 . A wind system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said generator rotor is directly connected to said outer rotor.