Wind powered generators are manufactured in two configurations: with a tail vane and without a tail vane. Generators without a vane pivot on an off-center support point so that the force of the wind keeps them oriented toward the wind on the downwind side of the pivot. in heavy winds the generator shown with a vane has weights on each propeller shaft that run outward like governor weights and “feather” the blades. Feathered blades are edged into the wind; in this way they lose their propulsive power and keep the unit from over speeding. The wind spoilers on the downwind generator serve the same purpose, but instead of feathering the blades, the spoilers spread centrifugally outward in rising winds to act as a brake.
Darrieus rotor resembles a two- or three-bladed eggbeater. Because it spins on a vertical axis, it does not have to swivel into the wind to catch it every time the wind shifts direction. It does not start by itself, however, so a small motor is usually buil;t on to get the unit going after each spell of no wind.
Variable pitch blades on a Darrieus rotor give the unit a means to start by itself. A small wind vane on top of teh rotor shaft makes starting possible by sensing any new direction from which the wind may be rising and altering teh angle that the blades make with respect to the new direction.
Sail-wing Windmills use blades made of nylon. The cloth is kept taut by framework of aluminum poles and takes on the airfoil profile of a sail on a sailboat whenever the wind blows. Since the cloth is flexible, the blades bend with the wind and so are less likely than solid blades to break.
Bycycle wheel rotors are a modern cousin to the old multi bladed windmills. the rotors weigh very little. To operate a generator, the rotor perimeter is employed as a drive wheel in pulley system with a large step-up ration. Fair amounts of power can be produced in this way in the low wind-speed range within which these mills are most effective.
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