1. A vertical axis wind turbine comprising:
a stationary circular core,
a rotor rotatably supported about the stationary core and having a radially extending rotor arm, and
a wind engaging blade located at a distal end of the radially extending rotor arm, the blade comprising at least first and second straight blade sections of which at least the first straight blade section is inclined obliquely at a first angle.
2. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein the second straight blade section is vertical.
3. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 2 further including a third straight blade section inclined obliquely at a second angle, the second angle being complementary to the first angle.
4. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein the second straight blade section is inclined obliquely at a second angle, the second angle being complementary to the first angle.
5. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein
the rotor further comprises a tubular carousel structure located and freely rotatable about the core,
the carousel has an upper end and a lower end,
the rotor extends radially from the carousel at a location between the upper and lower ends, and
the first straight blade section is affixed at a proximal end to the upper end of the carousel and is affixed at a distal end proximate the distal end of the rotor arm.
6. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein
the rotor has an upper radially extending rotor arm and a lower radially extending rotor arm, and
the first straight blade section is affixed at a proximal end to a proximal end of the upper radially extending rotor arm and is affixed at a distal end proximate a distal end of the lower radially extending rotor arm.
7. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second straight blade sections is straight between its ends and has an aerofoil shape in cross section.
8. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second straight blade sections includes a flap member extendable to disrupt airflow across the blade.
9. The shaftless wind turbine of claim 1 wherein the rotor is mechanically connected to an electric generator.
10. The shaftless wind turbine of claim 9 wherein the rotor is drivably connected to the electric generator via a pair of cooperating gears turning a torque transmission shaft, the torque transmission shaft including an axially movable splined coupling and a pivoting universal joint.
11. A vertical axis wind turbine comprising:
a stationary circular hollow core,
a rotor rotatably supported about the stationary core and having a radially extending rotor arm and a wind engaging blade located at a distal end of the radially extending rotor arm,
an electric generator set located with the stationary core, and
a torque transmission system for transferring rotational torque of the rotor to the generator set, the torque transmission system including a pair of cooperating gears driving a torque transmission shaft coupled to the generator set, wherein the torque transmission shaft includes an axially movable coupling and a pivoting coupling.
12. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 11 wherein the pair of cooperating gears comprises a ring gear surrounding the core and movable by the rotor, and a pinion gear located on an end of the torque transmission shaft.
13. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 11 wherein the torque transmission shaft is vertically disposed and biased for positive engagement of the pinion with the ring gear.
14. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 11 wherein the axially movable coupling is a splined coupling.
15. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 11 wherein the pivoting coupling is a universal or gimbal joint.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A collapsible container, comprising:
a plurality of adjacent side panels, each of said side panels having a flexible frame and a web having a perimeter secured to said frame, each of said side panels having a bottom side, a top side and two lateral sides, each of said lateral sides of each side panel being attached to the lateral side of an adjacent side panel;
a flexible floor panel having a plurality of sides, each of said floor panel sides being attached to at least one of said side panel bottom sides; and
a partition panel pivotally secured to an interior portion of said container.
2. The container of claim 1, further comprising a flexible top panel having sides, each of said top panel sides being attached to at least one of said side panel top sides, and an opening in at least one of said plurality of side panels, said top panel and said floor panel through which articles can be place in and removed from said container.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein said partition panel has an edge attached to said interior portion.
4. The container of claim 1, wherein said partition panel has an edge affixed to an intersection of sides of adjacent side panels.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein said partition panel has a size and shape substantially identical to one of said side panels.
6. The container of claim 1, wherein said partition panel has a size and shape substantially identical to said floor panel.
7. The container of claim 6, wherein said partition panel have an edge secured along an intersection of a side panel and the floor panel.
8. The container of claim 1, wherein said partition panel has a construction substantial identical to on of said side panels.
9. The collapsible container of claim 1, further comprising a storage pouch, said storage pouch being coupled to one of said side panels.
10. The container of claim 9, wherein one of said side panels defines a boundary of said storage pouch.
11. The container of claim 9, wherein said storage pouch is disposed within said container.
12. The container of claim 9, wherein said storage pouch is disposed exterior of said container.
13. The container of claim 1, further comprising at least one handle secured to at least one of said side panels.
14. The container of claim 1, in combination with an elastic band for holding said container in a collapsed condition.
15. The container of claim 1, wherein said side panels are substantially rectangular.
16. The container of claim 1, wherein said plurality of side panels consists of four.
17. The container of claim 1, wherein said plurality of side panels is an even number.
18. The container of claim 1, wherein each web of said side panels has a perimeter, an edging attached to the perimeter of the web and forming a pocket, the frame being positioned within the pocket.
19. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein said web of each of said side panels is flexible web of material.
20. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein said frame of each of said side panels is flexible.