Wheel-hub driven wind turbines

1. A wheel-hub driven wind turbine apparatus, comprising:

a body;

at least one vertical-axis wind turbine blade mounted on the body and configured to translate wind forces exerting on the at least one vertical-axis wind turbine blade to the body, causing the body to move;

at least one wheel-hub attached to the body and configured to rotate when driven by the movement of the body;

at least one generator disposed next to the at least one wheel-hub and configured to generate electrical power when driven by the rotation of the at least one wheel-hub, the at least one generator comprising a rotor, a first generator, and a second generator,

wherein

the at least one wheel-hub is separated from the rotor while being magnetically coupled to the rotor, and

the at least one wheel-hub is configured to magnetically drive the rotor;

a detector unit on the body configured to detect wind speeds; and

a control unit on the body coupled to the detector unit, the first generator, and the second generator, the control unit being configured to:

operate the first generator when the detector detects a first wind speed, and

operate the second generator when the detector detects a second wind speed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the at least one wheel-hub comprises a central shaft; and

the rotor aligned with the central shaft.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the rotor rotates coaxially with the at least one wheel-hub.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the at least one generator is disposed on an inner side of the body with respect to the at least one wheel-hub.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wheel-hub magnetically drives the at least one generator to generate electrical power.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one generator is suspended from the body.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wheel-hub moves along a circular or elliptical track.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the track is a monorail track.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the track is a dual-rail track.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wheel-hub is a hub of a wheel with a tire.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the at least one generator comprises a first generator and a second generator; and

the apparatus further comprises:

a detector unit configured to detect wind directions; and

a control unit coupled to the detector unit, the first generator, and the second generator, the controller being configured to:

operate the first generator when the detector detects a first wind direction, and

operate the second generator when the detector detects a second wind direction.

12. A wheel-hub driven wind turbine apparatus, comprising:

a body;

at least one vertical-axis wind turbine blade mounted on the body and configured to translate wind forces exerting on the at least one vertical-axis wind turbine blade to the body, causing the body to move;

a first wheel-hub attached to a first side of the body, the first wheel-hub being mounted on a first rail;

a second wheel-hub attached to a second side of the body, the second wheel-hub being mounted on a second rail parallel to the first rail, the second side being opposite to the first side;

a central shaft coupled to the first wheel-hub and the second wheel-hub;

a transmission coupled to the central shaft; and

at least one generator coupled to the transmission comprising a cardan shaft, the at least one generator including a first generator and a second generator,

wherein

the first wheel-hub and the second wheel-hub are configured to rotate when driven by the movement of the body;

a detector unit on the body configured to detect wind speeds; and

a control unit on the body coupled to the detector unit, the first generator, and the second generator, the control unit being configured to:

operate the first generator when the detector detects a first wind speed, and

operate the second generator when the detector detects a second wind speed.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the generator comprises a rotor indirectly coupled to the first wheel-hub and the second wheel-hub through the transmission.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein

the central shaft is coupled to the transmission with a low-speed input shaft; and

the transmission is coupled to the rotor with a high-speed output shaft.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the high-speed output shaft is coupled to the rotor via the cardan shaft.

16. A wheel-hub driven wind turbine apparatus, comprising:

a body;

a plurality of vertical-axis wind turbine blades mounted on the body and configured to translate wind forces exerting on the plurality of vertical-axis wind turbine blades to the body, causing the body to move;

at least four wheel-hubs attached to the body;

at least four generators, each generator being coupled with at least one of the at least four wheel-hubs;

wherein

the at least four wheel-hubs are configured to rotate when driven by the movement of the body, and

the at least four generators comprise a first generator and a second generator;

a detector unit on the body configured to detect wind speeds; and

a control unit on the body coupled to the detector unit, the first generator, and the second generator, the control unit being configured to:

operate the first generator when the detector detects a first wind speed, and

operate the second generator when the detector detects a second wind speed.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein each one of the at least four generators is disposed inside one of the at least four wheel-hubs.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein each one of the at least four generators comprises a rotor, each rotor being formed integrally with the at least one of the at least four wheel-hubs.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein each one of the at least four wheel-hubs comprises a central shaft, each central shaft being fixed to a corresponding rotor of one of the at least four generators.