Cable-stayed rotor for wind and water turbines

Abstract

A rotor system for a fluid flow turbine includes a hub assembly which is mounted on a shaft coupled with a power transmitting device and a plurality of rotor blades. Each rotor blade includes an inner blade section and an outer blade section, wherein the inner blade section is supported by and extends outwardly from the hub assembly and the outer blade section extends outward from the inner blade section. Each of the rotor blades includes a collar to accommodate the inner blade section and/or the outer blade section such that the inner blade section and the outer blade section are rotatable for pitch control. Pitch motors are located at the hub assembly and dependently or independently pitch the inner blade sections and the outer blade sections.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A rotor system for a fluid-flow turbine, comprising:
 a hub assembly which is mounted on a shaft coupled with a power-transmitting device,   a plurality of rotor blades, each of which comprises an inner blade section and an outer blade section,   wherein the inner blade section is supported by and extends outward from the hub assembly, and   wherein the outer blade section extends outward from the inner blade section,   wherein each of said rotor blades includes a collar with a hole to accommodate said inner blade section and/or said outer blade section such that the inner blade section and the outer blade section are rotatable for pitch control, and   wherein pitch motors are located at the hub assembly and dependently or independently pitch the inner blade sections and outer blade sections.   
     
     
         14 . The rotor system of  claim 13 , wherein the outer blade section is rotatable dependently in relation to the respective inner blade section. 
     
     
         15 . The rotor system of  claim 13 , wherein the outer blade section is rotatable independently in relation to the respective inner blade section. 
     
     
         16 . The rotor system according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the collars has an airfoil shape fairing with a leading edge and a trailing edge. 
     
     
         17 . The rotor system according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the collars is connected to the hub by tension stays that constrain the inner blade sections in at least two dimensions such that the inner blade section of each rotor blade is in compression. 
     
     
         18 . The rotor system according to  claim 13 , wherein the rotor blades are constrained by blade-to-blade tension stays connecting the collars together laterally. 
     
     
         19 . The rotor system according to  claim 13 , wherein each collar comprises a compression ring, each inner blade section includes a fixed compression beam with a pitchable aerodynamic shell that pitches with the outer blade section coupled with the respective compression beam. 
     
     
         20 . The rotor system according to  claim 13 , wherein each collar includes a wheel, and each inner blade section is free to rotate within a respective one of the collars. 
     
     
         21 . The rotor system according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the rotor blades operates with an independent blade pitch control. 
     
     
         22 . The rotor system according to  claim 13 , wherein said hole of the collar receives or accommodates an attachment element of the inner blade section and/or an attachment element of the outer blade section. 
     
     
         23 . The rotor system according to  claim 22 , wherein said inner blade section includes a thrust bearing serving to maintain the blade longitudinally in the hole in the collar, while permitting rotation of the blade for pitch control. 
     
     
         24 . The rotor system according to  claim 22 , wherein said outer blade section includes a thrust bearing serving to maintain the blade longitudinally in the hole in the collar, while permitting rotation of the blade for pitch control. 
     
     
         25 . The rotor system according to  claim 23 , wherein said outer blade section includes a thrust bearing serving to maintain the blade longitudinally in the hole in the collar, while permitting rotation of the blade for pitch control.