- Application for
patent filed in 2003 Laminar flow, suction driven, wind energy conversion
- Application for
patent filed in 2008 Integrally Ribbed Rogallo Wing Array This
has been approved:
US08358027
INTEGRALLY RIBBED ROGALLO WING ARRAY
Angus J. Tocher, Calgary (Canada)
Assigned to Slingshot Wind Energy Systems Inc., Calgary, Alberta (Canada)
Filed by Angus J. Tocher, Calgary (Canada)
Filed on Jul. 28, 2008, as Appl. No. 12/181,095.
Prior Publication US 2010/0019099 A1, Jan. 28, 2010
Int. Cl. F03D 9/00 (2006.01)
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Commentary over the tech:
JoeF,
Its awkward for us to socially welcome and soundly critique marginal players at
the same time, so let's figure out a less cruel but still rigorous induction
process. In our Age-of-Crisis reality, more than manners, we need to be astute
as to what we see as viable AWE concepts, otherwise endless mistaken ideas will
bury us.
Even on towers, Angus Tocher's patents hardly promise to compete in any way
against highly refined and amazing modern HAWTs. As Doug taught us, you beat any
folk-contraption on a pole with a slightly bigger conventional rotor. These
designs are no exception, nor is any historic inventive leap apparent in them to
offer some hope. He should promptly build small working models to endurance test
alongside a standard equivalent turbine, rather than accept or reject "expert"
pessimism untested.
It is hard to see any real Rogallo thinking in the Scott-sled style
(parallel-battened) surfaces. There is scant evidence of known venturi design
principles (angles and proportions). We know that venturis as such (rigid
framed) and complex ducting do not ever seem to pay in WECS, nor will they
scale. The older vacuum-based patent ignores the low maximum
pressure-differential available, of only 15 psi. These are even less promising
as flying machines, with poor power-to-weight, high static drag, and hardly any
feature applied optimally for flight. I hope Tocher did not go broke on patent
expenses and can build rationally on the fine direct lessons that testing his
ideas offers. He and his team are always invited to transition into hotter AWES
design paths, when they are ready.
It is no fun (unless you are Doug :) ) to take on the job to pop this sort of
Gipe-warned bubble, but we do, lest we drive away our elite engineering talents
by an unrestrained social-promotion dynamic.
Sorry for the "bad news,"
daveS |
