Segmented wind turbine airfoil/blade

Abstract

A wind foil blade/airfoil for a wind turbine wherein the airfoil includes a series of vertical segments having unique offset shapes to provide openings between segments enabling the segments to function as wind sails when moving downwind to thrust the blade forward and to act as an airfoil when the blade is moving into and upwind, wherein the wind foil blade has a high forward thrust.

1 . An airfoil/wind foil for a wind turbine formed of a thin housing with the airfoil being is hollow and having a leading edge, two contoured sides and a trailing edge, said airfoils length being longer than the dimensions of its chord, and said airfoil being mountable to rotate about a central vertical axis of a wind turbine when said turbine is subject to wind airflow, said airfoil comprising
 a) a series of vane segments forming a section of the sides of said airfoil housing and extending normal to the chord of the airfoil;   b) said segments being mounted in spaced contiguous relation to one another to form openings between said to provide airflow paths into the interior of said airfoil to enable said airfoil to function as a wind sail when moving downwind to thrust the blade forward; and   d) said segments being positioned to conform to the external configuration of an airfoil to provide an airfoil effect when the blade is moving upwind.   
     
     
         2 . An airfoil/wind foil for a wind turbine wherein the airfoil is hollow and has a rounded leading edge, two contoured sides and a trailing edge, said airfoils length being longer than the dimensions of its chord, an said airfoil being mountable to rotate about a central vertical axis of a wind turbine, said airfoil comprising
 a) a series of vane segments extending normal to the chord of the airfoil;   b) said segments being formed to be of a zigzag shape in cross section in the general form of a broad backward “S”;   c) said segments being mounted in spaced contiguous relation to one another to provide openings between segments to provide airflow paths through said openings into the interior of said blade to enable said airfoil to function as a wind sail to when moving downwind to thrust the blade forward; and   d) said segments being positioned to conform to the external configuration of an airfoil to provide an airfoil effect when the blade is moving upwind.   
     
     
         3 . An airfoil as in  claim 1  further including
 a) a pair of flat vertically extending segments mounted in relative spaced relation on the trailing edge of said air foil; and 
 b) a fin extending back from and along the vertical edge one of said flat segments; 
 c) said fin providing an extended surface for creating positive torque when the turbine blade is in the cross wind portion of its rotation. 
 
     
     
         4 . An airfoils as in  claim 1  further including
 a) a pair of flat vertically extending segments mounted in relative spaced relation on the trailing edge of said air foil; and 
 b) a fin extending back from and along the vertical edge one of said flat segments; 
 c) said fin providing an extended surface for creating positive torque when the turbine blade is in the cross wind portion of its rotation. 
 
     
     
         5 . An airfoil as in  claim 1  further including
 a) a pair of flat vertically extending segments mounted in relative spaced relation on the trailing edge of said air foil; and 
 b) a fin extending back from and along the vertical edge one of said flat segments; said fin comprising a first section mounted in parallel to the plane of said flat segments and an end section formed at an angle to said first section, said angle being in the range of five to ten degrees angled inwardly toward the axis of said wind turbine; 
 c) said fin providing an extended surface for creating positive torque when the turbine blade is in the cross wind portion of its rotation. 
 
     
     
         6 . An airfoil as in  claim 1  wherein
 a) said segments are mounted in spaced contiguous relation to one another to form said openings there between whereby airflow paths are provided extending from openings on one side of said airfoil into the interior of said airfoil and to openings on said other side of said airfoils to enable said airfoil to function as a wind sail when moving downwind to thrust said blade forward; and 
 d) said segments being positioned to conform to the external configuration of an airfoil to provide an airfoil effect when the blade is moving upwind. 
 
     
     
         7 . An airfoil/wind foil for a wind turbine wherein the airfoil is hollow and has a rounded leading edge, two contoured sides and a trailing edge, said blade's length being longer than the dimensions of its chord, and said airfoil being mountable to rotate about a central vertical axis, said blade comprising
 a) a series of plate segments extending normal to the chord of the airfoil;   b) said segments being formed with an offset shape of first, second and third plate surfaces joined in series, said second surface having one side joined to said first surface at an angle, and said second surface having a side opposite to said first side joined to said third surface at an angle wherein said first and third surface are in parallel spaced relation;   c) said segments being mounted spaced contiguous relation to one another to provide openings between segments to provide an air paths through said openings into the interior of said blade to enable said airfoil to function as a wind sail to when moving downwind to thrust the blade forward; and   d) said segments being positioned to accommodate the external configuration of an airfoil to provide an airfoil lift effect when the blade is moving upwind.   
     
     
         8 . A airfoil as in  claim 2  wherein
 a) said first and third surfaces of said segments are in parallel spaced relation; 
 b) said trailing edge of said inverted “S” of a segment being positioned adjacent, but spaced from, the leading edge of an adjacent segment; 
 c) said positioning of said segments forming a gap or spacing between said to adjacent segments in an orientation essentially perpendicular to the chord of said airfoil; 
 
     
     
         9 . A airfoil as in  claim 1  wherein said airfoil includes
 a) an elongated slit constructed between the sides of the trailing edge of said airfoil; 
 b) said slit forming an inlet port entry for air when the airfoil is moving downwind; and 
 c) said slit forming an outlet port for air when the airfoil is moving upwind. 
 
     
     
         10 . An airfoil as in  claim 1  which is symmetrical and of relatively wide thickness in relation to its chord dimension to provide maximum volume for wind input into said hollow airfoil. 
     
     
         11 . An airfoil as in  claim 1  wherein top and bottom cover plates are mounted on said segmented vanes. 
     
     
         12 . An airfoil as in  claim 1  wherein said individual vane segments are in the form of an arc of a circle.