alt.energy.renewable

On Apr 6, 9:46 pm, "Solar Flare" wrote:
> Or add an extra "take up the slack" wild arm.
>
> "daestrom" wrote in message
>
> news:47f67d0d$0$17349$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
>
>
> > "Daniel Who Wants to Know" wrote in
> > messagenews:t0ZIj.50278$TT4.47474@attbi_s22...
>
> >> "Glenn Jensen" wrote in message
> >>news:p92dnTpnmIBO2WnanZ2dnUVZ_ryqnZ2d@sasktel...
> >>>I realize it seems inefficient to convert from circular motion at the top
> >>>of the windmill, to "up and down", back to circular motion on the ground,
> >>>but this is what I have to work with. Unless I redesign the entire old
> >>>style windmill, this would be the simplest for me to convert back to
> >>>rotary motion on the ground. Just curious if anyone has done this
> >>>before. The idea of a Crankshaft on the bottom, with a flywheel to
> >>>maintain the momentum of the "up and down" motion was an idea of mine as
> >>>well.
>
> >>> Thanks everyone for their help.
>
> >> The problem with using a crank at the bottom to convert back to rotary is
> >> what happens if the wind dies down and the windmill stops with the crank
> >> at either TDC or BDC. When it tried to move again it would either be
> >> pulling straight up or pushing straight down and with no sideways force
> >> to get the bottom crank turning again it would try to hold the windmill
> >> blades still which could break something if the wind got strong enough.
> >> If the rod moves in a circular motion with the top crank instead of
> >> straight up and down you could add a sliding pivot point halfway between
> >> the 2 cranks which would provide the necessary sideways force and would
> >> prevent the stalled condition I described.
>
> > Or, like the old-fashioned steam locomotives, put another crank at the top
> > and bottom and arrange them so their 90 degrees shifted from the first
> > (obviously both the top and bottom have to be shifted the same amount).
> > So when one is TDC or BDC, the second crank on the same shaft is 90
> > degrees from TDC/BDC.
>
> > But you have to be careful to quarter the cranks precisely the same or
> > you'll get binding and ruined crank-pin bearings.
>
> > daestrom

Several farmers used their windmills to generate power before the
"power lines" were extended out to the country. The two I have seen
that were still in existence used an upside down bicycle. The bar that
goes up and down was attached to the pedal. The rear tire was removed
and a automotive belt was attached to that and on the other end was a
6 volt generator. The generator charged a bank of 6 volt batteries.
The bar was attached to the pedal with a long bolt that allowed and
inch or so of movement which took care of the possible stall of TDC or
BDC. The generators were not put at the top of the windmill because
climbing the tower to do maintenance was not a fun task. Yes I suspect
this was not the most efficient design, but I was inexpensive, it used
common items of the day, and it worked.