BELA-Mark city-type frost-resistant windmill with stable revolutions

[0001] The matter is that most of the cities require additional electric power supply periodically. For this purpose it would be expedient to locate the generators of electric power as close to the customer as possible having arranged them within the limits of the city. Such multi-generator power supply would be feasable by converting the energy of the wind into electric power and deliver it to the customer through the existing electric power networks. To perform such a task, it would be necessary to have such a design of a wind motor which would satisfy the following features and qualities:

[0002] (a) The outer appearance of the windmill should inscribe into the architectural outline of the city (without spoiling it);

[0003] (b) The construction of the windmill should allow it to be used at any time of the year, i.e. it must be frost-resistant;

[0004] (c) The windmill should have a speed governor for the driven mechanism to provide smooth running at various wind conditions.

[0005] The Mark BELA windmill represents a cylinder without any protruding parts, i.e. it could be used directly within the city limits, and besides:

[0006] (1) An important feature of the windmill design is the possibility to protect all its moving parts from icing;

[0007] (2) The windmill incorporates a device enabling gusts of wind (surges) to be smoothed down;

[0008] (3) The windmill is fitted with a rotation speed stabilizer for the driven mechanism during rotation by the force of the wind;

[0009] (4) The windmill is equipped with an arrangement creating some rarefaction if the air at the rear (leeward) side of the vanes, which decreases the resistance to movement;

[0010] (5) The construction of the windmill allows operation to be carried out with a number of driven mechanisms.

[0011] It is preferable that installed on the BELA windmill set be a wind-electric unit for a system of multi-generator power supply in big cities. The set of mechanisms for the wind-electric unit consists of:

[0012] (1) BELA windmill;

[0013] (2) High-pressure air compressor;

[0014] (3) Buffer vessel for accumulating compressed air;

[0015] (4) Air turbine;

[0016] (5) Electric power generator with a circuit breaker, which will switch on the windmill generator into the service power network only at the time of absence of resultant voltage (U) in both the power systems.

[0017] The construction of the BELA windmill system (FIG. 2) is as follows:

[0018] It is mainly a cylinder the outer side of which represents a large-cell grill. The lower base (25) is fitted circumferentially with vertical posts (5) mounted on which is the upper plate (18). Installed on ball bearings at the center of the cylinder is the main vertical shaft (1) of the windmill. Each wing (26) of the windmill is a rectangular frame which is divided by the main vertical shaft into two identical vanes (27). The vertical shaft and, partially, the wing frames are made of hollow elements (such as pipes). Inside each vane there are stationary vertical posts (2) which are also made hollow. The wing frame consists if intermittent hollow (3) and solid (4) elements. The hollow elements of the wing frame and the hollow posts (2) of the vanes are interconnected in series, thus forming a continuous air duct. This air duct is provided for hot air to be pumped through it by an electric fan when there are freezing temperatures outside. Hinged on the vertical posts are rigid vertical plates called Scales (28), because the plates of a vane are set so as to overlap one another. The plates of various vanes of one and the same wing are free to swing only in different directions within 90. In a closed position the plates (scales) bear only on the hollow horizontal elements (3) of the wing frame. Each scale has an air intake slit (29) and a guiding visor on the rear (leeward) side. For connecting the windmill with a mechanism to convert the force of the wind into any other kind of energy there is a friction drive. The driving element of the friction drive is a flywheel (20) which is connected with the main vertical shaft through a splined joint (24) fitted on the lower end of the vertical shaft (1). The vertical shaft itself runs in a thrust bearing which is mounted in a stationary casing (30) located under the flywheel. The lower end of the vertical shaft is free. Mounted on bearings of stands (22) of baseplate (25) are radially-disposed horizontal shafts (6) for driving the secondary mechanisms. These shafts are provided with a longitudinal through spline (33). Moving along the shafts on key (11) within the flywheel radius is the driven wheel of the friction drive (8), whereby the shaft is rotated at any radii of the flywheel. To adjust the number of revolutions of the lower horizontal shafts, there are hollow upper pipe elements (16) rigidly mounted on the uppermost parts of the vane casing and connected with the main vertical shaft. Inside each pipe there is a freely movable weight (17), which, through wire rope (13) and the hollow of the main shaft is connected with the key (11) located inside the horizontal shaft (6). The movement of the wire rope is changed from horizontal to vertical and back by means of rollers (14) and hinges (10). Such a centrifugal governor allows the number of revolutions of the horizontal shafts to be maintained within the required range. This is achieved by means of a device incorporating, for instance, a spring (12) housed within the horizontal shaft itself. The spring strives to counteract the weight, thus keeping the driven wheel on the required radius of the flywheel. Smooth shifting of the driven wheel of the friction drive being engaged with the driving flywheel (20) along the lower horizontal shaft (6) is provided through a chain of so-called beads which are set around the outer rim, each roller (31, FIG. 1) of which and the bead having a rotation axle (32, FIG. 1) at right angle with the horizontal axis of the horizontal shaft.