Paul O Jacobs

US Patent:

40681319, Jan 10, 1978

Filed:

Dec 31, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/645832

Inventors:

Marcellus L. Jacobs - Fort Myers FL
Paul R. Jacobs - Fort Myers FL

International Classification:

F03D 900

US Classification:

290 55

Abstract:

A multiblade, wind-driven, variable pitch propeller is used in a wind electric plant for the generation of electrical power from wind forces, and the propeller is rotatable in a plane at an angle to the tower axis, enabling larger propellers to be used without propeller-tower interference and also reducing the distance between the propeller and gear case. A snubber arrangement is provided on the propeller blade return springs to slow the governor action and prevent abrupt pitch changes and damaging flutter of the blades, and a self-centering, double-acting pivot washer is provided between the propeller blades and the return springs to ensure free pivoting and long life of the spring connecting bolts. Adjustable positive blade stop bolts are engaged directly between the hub and the propeller blades to limit return movement thereof. The propeller hub-return spring connection includes a laterally movable spring bracket which enables the propeller blades to feather in the event one or more return springs is broken or otherwise rendered inoperative.

US Patent:

40884201, May 9, 1978

Filed:

Apr 28, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/681227

Inventors:

Marcellus L. Jacobs - Fort Myers FL
Paul R. Jacobs - Fort Myers FL

International Classification:

F03D 704

US Classification:

416 9

Abstract:

A multiblade, wind-driven, variable pitch propeller is supported on a tower for rotation by wind forces and is connected through gears to drive an electrical generator or the like to produce electrical energy. The gears include a ring and pinion arranged in a gear case so that wind forces acting on the propeller and torque forces produced in the gears are balanced, thus avoiding swinging movement of the propeller about the tower axis due to unbalanced forces and thereby keeping the propeller axis pointed into the wind. The pinion gear is engaged with the ring gear at a location spaced near the top of the ring gear and a pinion shaft sleeve is disposed around the pinion shaft and sealed to a bottom portion of the gear case to effect a gear lubricant seal therewith, thus eliminating the requirement for an oil seal between the pinion shaft and gear case, with concomitant elimination of the oil seal drag, and also eliminating friction drag of the gear lubricant itself on the pinion shaft. Further, the danger of damage to the components in the event of loss of gear lubricant from the gear case is avoided by provision of the pinion shaft sleeve.

US Patent:

40597717, Nov 22, 1977

Filed:

Nov 5, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/628952

Inventors:

Marcellus L. Jacobs - Fort Myers FL
Paul R. Jacobs - Fort Myers FL

International Classification:

H02P 904

US Classification:

290 44

Abstract:

In a wind electric plant of the type including a wind-driven propeller or the like and an alternating current alternator connected to be driven thereby to generate electrical energy for charging storage batteries or other desired use, electrical circuitry connected with the alternator and a storage battery and including controls responsive to alternator speed and battery voltage to provide a relatively constant excitation current for the field winding of the alternator from a storage battery, whereby the alternator field is fully excited at substantially all speeds of operation thereof and the need for a conventional alternator exciter is eliminated.

US Patent:

42283620, Oct 14, 1980

Filed:

Jul 3, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/921334

Inventors:

Marcellus L. Jacobs - Fort Myers FL
Paul R. Jacobs - Fort Myers FL

International Classification:

F03D 900

US Classification:

290 44

Abstract:

An improvement in a wind electric plant of the type disclosed in applicants' U. S. Pat. No. 4,059,771 and applicants' co-pending application Ser. No. 887,373, filed Mar. 16, 1978. The improvement comprises utilization of an exciter including an exciter armature and an associated permanent magnet exciter field to provide the excitation current for the field winding of a three-phase alternator. The use of permanent magnets in the exciter field, in lieu of conventional exciter field windings, eliminates the utilization of battery current as the source of excitation current for the field winding of a three-phase alternator. The improved wind electric power plant is utilized to supply A. C. power to hot water heater loads and/or auxiliary loads such as air conditioners, devices to manufacture hydrogen gas, and the like, which may be solar powered. The present invention also provides associated circuitry operable so that power can be supplied alternatively to either the hot water heater loads or to the auxiliary loads thereby maintaining a constant load on the wind electric power plant to ensure the quiet operation of that plant.

US Patent:

42283639, Oct 14, 1980

Filed:

Apr 3, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/026691

Inventors:

Marcellus L. Jacobs - Fort Myers FL
Paul R. Jacobs - Fort Myers FL

International Classification:

F03D 1104

US Classification:

290 44

Abstract:

A wind electric power plant that has the working components thereof assembled and aligned as a stub tower, then tested at the factory prior to shipment of the assembled stub tower to a use site. The power plant includes adjusting wedges for establishing and maintaining proper alignment between an alternator and a drive unit during shipment and installation.

US Patent:

42970750, Oct 27, 1981

Filed:

May 14, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/038885

Inventors:

Marcellus L. Jacobs - Fort Myers FL
Paul R. Jacobs - Fort Myers FL

International Classification:

F03D 704

US Classification:

416 14

Abstract:

A wind energy plant is protected against damage from high winds by permitting the propeller assembly thereof to fold with respect to the tail assembly of the plant when the wind velocity with respect to the plant exceeds a predetermined value. Return of the propeller assembly to a wind facing orientation is controlled to prevent oscillating or whipping in gusty or turbulent winds. A safety system is included to control plant shutdown, and automatically shuts down the plant if the plant is being subjected to excessive vibration.

US Patent:

45183120, May 21, 1985

Filed:

Mar 7, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/473150

Inventors:

Marcellus L. Jacobs - Fort Myers FL
Paul R. Jacobs - Fort Myers FL

Assignee:

Jacobs Wind Electric - Plymouth MN

International Classification:

F03D 704

US Classification:

416 13

Abstract:

An improvement of the device disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 4,297,075 permits the propeller assembly of a wind energy system to swing in two directions, both left and right with respect to wind direction. The improvement includes a snubber assembly which has a plurality of springs mounted on a central bar.

US Patent:

45352526, Aug 13, 1985

Filed:

Apr 29, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/489951

Inventors:

Marcellus L. Jacobs - Fort Myers FL
Paul R. Jacobs - Fort Myers FL

Assignee:

Jacobs Wind Electric Company - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

H02P 904
F03D 900

US Classification:

290 44

Abstract:

An improvement in a wind electric generation system of the type disclosed in Jacobs et al. U. S. Pat. Nos. 4,059,771, 4,228,361, and 4,228,362, with particular reference to U. S. Pat. No. 4,228,361. The improvement provides circuitry means for monitoring, controlling, regulating and indicating the complete operation of a wind electric generation plant for the advantageous purposes of: more accurately controlling, via the use of digital logic load detection and control circuitry, the selective switching and automatic diversion of the supply of alternator output energy to and from the loads of a wind electric system; supplying power to a fixed auxiliary load for a controlled programmable period of time; reducing the switching transients of load switching silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) devices; controlling and regulating, with digital logic circuit means, the excitation field current level of a wind-driven alternator during all operations of a wind electric system in which an advantageous and proficient manner as to prevent damage to various included components and structural parts thereof at times of varying favorable and/or adverse weather conditions and during times of load switching; and, supplying to a storage battery means of a wind electric plant a trickle-charge whenever it is fully charged and no alternator output is being supplied to any auxiliary loads in order to keep the individual battery cells of a storage battery means evenly charged.