Rimmed turbine

1. A wind power extraction device comprising:

a rotor having,

(i) a hub, and

(ii) a rim coupled to the hub through a plurality of blades adapted to rotate the rotor about an axis of rotation passing through the hub in response to a wind moving generally parallel to the axis of rotation; and

the plurality of blades extend from the hub to the rim, and twist in orientation from root to tip;

wherein the plurality of blades are configured such that each blade only induces rotation of the rotor in one direction.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein:

a leading edge of a blade of the plurality of blades couples to the hub at a first point having a first axial position along the axis of rotation and first circumferential orientation around the axis of rotation; and

a trailing edge of the blade couples to the hub at a second point having:

(i) a second axial position displaced remotely along the axis of rotation from the first axial position; and

(ii) a second circumferential position displaced remotely around the axis of rotation from first circumferential position.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein the plurality of blades couple between the hub and the rim under tension.

4. A device as in claim 1 wherein a blade of the plurality of blades connects to at least one of the hub and rim through a tension adjusting device.

5. A device as in claim 4 wherein the tension adjusting device is a turnbuckle.

6. A device as in claim 1 wherein a blade of the plurality of blades is made of a woven material.

7. A device as in claim 1 wherein a blade of the plurality of blades includes:

a body portion made of a first woven material having a first tensile strength; and

at least one reinforcement portion each made of a second material disposed radially along the blade and having a second tensile strength greater than the first tensile strength.

8. A device as in claim 7 wherein the blade further includes a material adding stiffness to the woven material.

9. A device as in claim 1 wherein the rim includes a rotor portion of an electric generator.

10. A device as in claim 9 wherein the rotor portion of the electric generator includes a plurality of magnets disposed circumferentially around the rim.

11. A device as in claim 1 wherein the mount includes a stator portion of an electric generator.

12. A device as in claim 11 wherein the stator portion of an electric generator includes a plurality of electric coils positioned to generate electromotive force upon rotation of the rotor.

13. A device as in claim 11 wherein the mount further includes a mechanism for adjusting a radial position of the stator portion relative to the axis of rotation.

14. A device as in claim 1 wherein the mount includes:

a first portion adapted for fixed attachment to a foundation; and

a second portion adapted for attachment to the rotor and movably attached to the first portion to reconfigure the mount between a first configuration and a second configuration;

wherein in the first configuration the rotor axis of rotation is substantially horizontally relative to a ground plane, and

wherein in the second configuration the rotor axis of rotation is substantially vertically relative to the ground plane.

15. A device as in claim 14 wherein the mount further includes a forceful mechanism moving the first and second portions between the first configuration and the second configuration.

16. A device as in claim 15 wherein the forceful mechanism includes a hydraulic actuator.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blades have a first end that is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, and a second end that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation.