GB2414106A

GB2414106A - Changing display device comprising rotating vanes.

Info

Publication number: GB2414106A
Application number: GB0410687A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Lewin Kerr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-05-13
Filing date: 2004-05-13
Publication date: 2005-11-16
Also published as: GB0410687D0

Abstract

The display device comprises an array of vanes 1 upon which graphics are applied and which are capable of synchronous rotation to form a changing display. The vanes are arranged into sets each set being attached to an axle 2, 3, 4. Each axle rotates about its own axis and is connected to a central gearbox 5 to ensure synchronous rotation. The axles may be perpendicular to each other and each axle may support a set of 4 vanes. Each quarter turn of an axle brings a new array of vanes into the display position to form a coherent image. The vanes may be wind or motor powered and may include lights.

Description

DISPLAY WINDMILL

This invention relates to a display windmill of the type, which includes wind driven vanes onto which graphics may be applied, producing a changing graphic display.

Windmills used for display have the disadvantage that they present changing graphics to a restricted range of viewing angles. If a viewer is perpendicular to an optimal viewing plane the graphics may not be seen.

An object of this invention is to provide a wind driven display, which will present changing graphics to all viewing angles.

Accordingly, this invention provides synchronized rotating sets of wind driven vanes upon which graphics may be applied so that a set of changing coherent images may be seen from any unobstructed viewing angle. The wind driven motion of the vanes are co-ordinated through rotating axles connected via a central gear box in order to synchronise the repeated making and breaking of coherent graphical images.

The gearbox may be mounted on a post, which may be mounted on a base such that the vanes of the windmill display are exposed to airflow. To supplement or replace power provided by airflow, an alternative source of power may be applied to turn the vanes. The windmill display can be constructed at different scales, where suitable materials are utilised as appropriate. A large-scale example may be made of metals, plastics and composites such as carbon fibre, engineering materials such as lubricants, constructional materials such as concrete. The post on a large-scale version can be permanently fixed to foundations. A small-scale version may be hand-held and may be made in plastics.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an elevation of the whole display; Figure 2 shows a plan of the whole display; Figure 3 is an oblique drawing showing a possible arrangement for a set of vanes attached to a single axle; Figure 4 shows a vertical section through the whole display; Figure 5 shows a vertical section through the gearbox; Figure 6 is an oblique drawing showing the arrangement of axles with respect to the gearbox, where the vanes and base have been omitted for clarity; Figure 7 is an oblique drawing showing the direction of rotation of axles relative to each other, where the vanes and base have been omitted for clarity; Figures 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4 and 8.5 show a possible elevation of the display in sequence over a period of time; Figure 8.1 shows an elevation of the whole display where vanes are coplanar; Figure 8.2 shows an elevation of the whole display where vanes are not coplanar; Figure 8.3 shows an elevation of the whole display where vanes are not coplanar; Figure 8.4 shows an elevation of the whole display where vanes are not coplanar; Figure 8.5 shows an elevation of the whole display where vanes are coplanar; As shown in figure 1 and figure 27 the display device can comprise an array of vanes 1.

The vanes are arranged into sets where each set is attached to an axle 2 or an axle 3 or an axle 4. Figure 3 shows how a set of vanes may be attached to an axle. Each axle can rotate about its own axis and is attached at one end to a central gearbox 5 as shown in figure 4.

Axles 2 may have their axes in a horizontal plane where one end is attached to the central gearbox 5. Axle 3 may have a vertical axis and its lower end is attached to the gearbox 5. Axle 4 may have a vertical axis and its top end is attached to the central gearbox 5. The lower end of axle 4 is rotationally attached to a base 6 as shown in figure 4.

Axles 2 may be arranged in pairs such that each pair shares an axis A as shown in figure 6. The axes A are in the same plane and each axis A intersects each other at the same point X. Axles 3 and 4 may be coaxial on axis B. Axis B may be perpendicular to the plane that axes A form and intersects this plane at point X as shown in figure 6.

As shown in figure 3, vanes are fixed to an axle 2 or an axle 3 or an axle 4. Each vane is profiled so that airflow with a component of velocity perpendicular to the axis of the axle may cause the axle to rotate in a predetermined direction.

As shown in figures 4 and 5, axles 2 and axle 3 and axle 4 may be structurally supported via rotational bearings 9 by gearbox casing 5. The rotations of the axles 2 are mechanically linked to each other and to axle 3 and axle 4. This mechanical linkage is via gear wheels housed in gearbox 5. The arrangement of gears may be such that the rotations of the axles are synchronized as follows: As shown in figure 7, one complete rotation of an axle 2 relative to gearbox case 5 occurs synchronously with one complete rotation of another axle 2 relative to the gearbox case 5. The rotations may be in a clockwise direction when viewed in elevation.

As shown in figure 7, one complete rotation of an axle 2 relative to gearbox case 5 occurs synchronously with one complete rotation of axle 3 relative to the gearbox case 5. Axle 3 may rotate in an anti-clockwise direction when viewed in plan.

As shown in figure 7, one complete rotation of an axle 2 relative to gearbox case 5 occurs synchronously with one complete rotation of axle 4 relative to the gearbox case 5. Axle 4 may rotate in a clockwise direction when viewed in plan.

Figure 5 shows a vertical section through the gearbox case 5. Axles 2 and axle 3 and axle 4 are mounted onto the gearbox case 5 via bearings 7. Bearings 7 may allow axles 2 and axle 3 and axle 4 to rotate about their respective axes and may prevent any other displacement relative to gearbox case 5. Within gearbox case 5 planet gears 8 are fixed to the ends of axles 2. Gearwheels 9 are fixed to the bottom and top of axles 3 and 4 respectively. The teeth of the gearwheels 9 mesh with the teeth of the planet gears 8 synchronizing the motion of the axles 2 and the axle 3 and the axle 4.

The rotations of all axles may be synchronized so that at some point in time some of the vanes are in the same plane and therefore forms a coplanar set of surfaces upon which graphics may be displayed. At the point in time where some of the vanes are co-planar, all of the planes may be part of some co-planar set onto which graphics may be applied.

At this point in time any applied graphics may said to be coherent. This point in time may be referred to as a synchronization point as shown figure 8.1 As the axles rotate the vanes are no longer coplanar as shown in figure 8.2 and figure 8.3 and figure 8.4. When the vanes are no longer coplanar the applied graphics are no longer coherent. After a quarter rotation relative to the gearbox case of all axles from a synchronization point, the vanes will again be co-planer and a set of coherent graphics may formed as shown in figure 8.5.

As shown in figures 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4 and 8.5, there is an angle between each axle and its nearest neighbor. The bisector of this angle is demarked by the lines C. The physical perimeter of a vane on an axle may not cross over the line C. This is to prevent vanes impacting upon each other during the normal operation of the display.

Claims

1. A display device including synchronized rotating sets of vanes upon which graphics may be applied so that a set of changing coherent images may be viewed from any unobstructed viewing angle.

2. A display as claimed in claim 1 where the sets of vanes may be wind driven or powered by some other external or onboard power source or any combination of these.

3. A display as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 where a set of vanes includes one or more vanes.

4. A display as claimed in any preceding claim where each set of vanes is mounted onto an axle.

5. A display as claimed in any preceding claim where there are two or more axles radiating from a centre.

6. A display as claimed in any preceding claim where a mechanical linkage, electrical linkage or electromechanical linkage causes the axles to rotate at a pre-determined rate relative to each other in a predetermined direction relative to each other.

7. A display as claimed in any preceding claim where the axes of the axles are mechanically held in a fixed position relative to each other by a structure.

8. A display as claimed in any preceding claim where the axle supporting structure includes a gearbox casing with bearing.

9. A display as claimed in any preceding claim where a post or arm supports the axle supporting structure

10.A display as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8 where an axle acts as a supporting arm or post.

11 A display as claimed in any preceding claim where the post or supporting arm is attached to a permanent structure or a moveable base

12.A display as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10 where the post or supporting arm may be held by or secured to a living or inanimate thing.

13.A display as claimed in any preceding claim including light emitters e. g. light bulbs, light reflectors e.g. paint, light filters, light absorbers, light refractors, light defectors or any combination of these which may be of electrical, organic, chemical, physical or mechanical type as part or all of the display graphics.

14. A display as claimed in all preceding claims where the materiality of the display constitutes part or all of the display graphics.

1 5.A display as claimed in any preceding claim which is made from metals, plastics materials, composite materials, resins, fibre materials, woven materials, wood, minerals or any combinations of these.

16.A display substantially as herein described above and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.