William L Stepp

US Patent:

42037077, May 20, 1980

Filed:

Sep 28, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/727352

Inventors:

William J. Stepp - Lake Station IN

International Classification:

F03D 706

US Classification:

416119

Abstract:

A windmill of the vertical axis type having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced rotatably-mounted vanes wherein means are provided for controlling the feathering of the vanes so that, upon feathering they rotate in a direction opposite to that rotation of the windmill assembly, wherein means are provided to assure that the entire assembly heads up into the wind, and wherein means are provided for disengaging of the entire vane assembly when the wind velocity reaches a predetermined value.

US Patent:

44065841, Sep 27, 1983

Filed:

Aug 7, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/166125

Inventors:

William J. Stepp - Lake Station IN

International Classification:

F03D 706

US Classification:

416 41

Abstract:

A windmill of the vertical axis type having a plurality of circumferentially and radially outwardly spaced rotatably mounted vanes vertically parallel to the axis shaft wherein means are provided for controlling multistage feathering of the vanes in conjunction with said vanes feathering to rotate on their individual axes in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the windmill assembly in increments of 45 degrees twice for each blade before finally feathering a final half rotation completing the rotation of 360 degrees on its individual axis while the windmill makes one revolution, thus repeatedly repositioning the blades to the most optimum resistance angle to the wind as the windmill rotates increasing the power angle to near seventy-five percent of the circle of the windmill rotation, a construction option prevailing to routinely cause all the blades to feather when near a zero angular position to the wind, and having associated therewith a conglomerate of mechanical phenomena to perform said functions and to release all blades in the event of a wind velocity exceeding a safe speed for the structure, bringing the windmill to a stop until the wind velocity recedes to a safe precalculated speed causing the windmill to automatically resume operation, characteristic of the total and complete automatism of this windmill.