| 20110309631 | FLEXIBLE SHAFT WIND TURBINE - A horizontal-axis wind turbine of a rotor-support design is provided in which the structural load of the wind turbine rotor is carried by the wind turbine tower itself. The turbine uses a composite shaft to transfer torque from the wind turbine rotor to the generator, the shaft having high torsional strength but being flexible in bending. This prevents the transmission of bending moments from the rotor hub to the generator system. Accordingly, the components of the turbine can be rigidly mounted to the turbine main frame, removing the need for vibration damping elements. The result is a wind turbine of reduced weight, which can be modeled and designed for improved efficiency and performance. Furthermore, as the turbine components do not have to be load-balanced, the turbine can be of a modular construction for relatively easy servicing and/or upgrading. | 12-22-2011 |