Energy conversion device, associated systems and methods

1. An energy conversion device comprising:

a shaft including a first portion and a second portion wherein the first portion of the shaft is configured to rotate relative to the second portion of the shaft;

a rotor coupled to the first portion of the shaft;

a stator coupled to the second portion of the shaft;

a first one-way bearing coupled to the first portion of the shaft configured to transfer rotational input to the first portion of the shaft in a first direction; and

a second one-way bearing coupled to the second portion of the shaft configured to transfer rotational input to the second portion of the shaft in a second direction opposite the first direction.

2. The energy conversion device of claim 1 , further comprising an input arm coupled to the first one-way bearing and the second one-way bearing.

3. The energy conversion device of claim 2 , further comprising a second input arm coupled to a third one-way bearing and a fourth one-way bearing, wherein the third one-way bearing is coupled to the first portion of the shaft configured to transfer rotational input to the first portion of the shaft in the first direction and the fourth one-way bearing is coupled to the second portion of the shaft configured to transfer rotational input to the second portion of the shaft in the second direction.

4. The energy conversion device of claim 1 , wherein the rotor includes a plurality of magnets arranged radially about the rotor.

5. The energy conversion device of claim 1 , wherein the stator includes a plurality of windings arranged radially about the stator.

6. The energy conversion device of claim 1 , further comprising an input assembly coupled to the first one-way bearing.

7. The energy conversion device of claim 6 , wherein the input assembly includes a gearing mechanism operatively coupled to an input arm.

8. The energy conversion device of claim 7 , wherein the gearing mechanism includes a planetary gear set including a ring gear, one or more planet gears, and a sun gear, wherein the sun gear is coupled to the first one-way bearing and the one or more planet gears are coupled to the input arm.

9. An energy conversion assembly comprising:

a drive shaft, the drive shaft including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to rotate relative to the second portion;

a first input arm coupled to the drive shaft through at least two one-way bearings, wherein a first one-way bearing is coupled to the first portion of the drive shaft and positioned in a first direction and a second one-way bearing is coupled to the second portion of the drive shaft in a second direction opposite the first direction; and

a generator coupled to the drive shaft, the generator comprising a rotor and a stator, wherein the rotor is coupled to the first portion of the drive shaft and the stator is coupled to the second portion of the drive shaft.

10. The energy conversion assembly of claim 9 , further comprising at least one gearing mechanism coupling the first input arm to the drive shaft through the at least two one-way bearings.

11. The energy conversion assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least one gearing mechanism comprises a planetary gear set including a ring gear, one or more planet gears, and a sun gear.

12. The energy conversion assembly of claim 11 , wherein the sun gear is coupled to at least one of the at least two one-way bearings and the one or more planet gears are coupled to the first input arm.

13. The energy conversion assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a second input arm coupled to the drive shaft through a second set of at least two one-way bearings, wherein a third one-way bearing is coupled to the first portion of the drive shaft and positioned in a first direction and a fourth one-way bearing is coupled to the second portion of the drive shaft in a second direction opposite the first direction.

14. A wind generator comprising:

a drive shaft, the drive shaft including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to rotate relative to the second portion;

a first wind turbine configured to rotate in a first direction, the first wind turbine operatively coupled to the first portion of the drive shaft;

a second wind turbine configured to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction, the second wind turbine operatively coupled to the second portion of the drive shaft; and

a generator coupled to the drive shaft, the generator comprising a rotor and a stator, wherein the rotor is coupled to the first portion of the drive shaft and the stator is coupled to the second portion of the drive shaft.

15. The wind generator of claim 14 , wherein the first wind turbine and the second wind turbine are substantially coaxial.

16. The wind generator of claim 14 , wherein the first wind turbine and the second wind turbine are laterally offset from one another and the drive shaft is positioned laterally between the first wind turbine and the second wind turbine.

17. The wind generator of claim 16 , further comprising a first connecting band coupling an output of the first wind turbine to the first portion of the drive shaft and a second connecting band coupling an output of the second wind turbine to the second portion of the drive shaft.

18. The wind generator of claim 14 , further comprising a deflector configured to direct airflow to a front side of vanes of the first wind turbine and the second wind turbine and to substantially prevent airflow over a back side of the vanes of the first wind turbine and the second wind turbine.

19. The wind generator of claim 14 , further comprising an extendable mounting structure configured to move the wind generator between an operating position and a transporting position.

20. The wind generator of claim 19 , wherein the extendable mounting structure is coupled between the wind generator and a transportation platform.