Abstract:
A mechanism (16) for controlling independently the pitch of a plurality of blades (15A, 15B, 15C) of a wind turbine (10) includes: a hub (11) rotatable about an axis (x-x) relative to a nacelle (12); a plurality of blades mounted on the hub for rotation therewith about the hub axis, each blade having a shaft (21) and being mounted on the hub for rotation about its axis of elongation; a plurality of motors (34) mounted on the nacelle, each motor having an output shaft (35) and being associated with a respective one of the blades; and a coupling mechanism (37) operatively interposed between each motor and its associated blade for selectively rotating such blade about its axis to vary the pitch of the associated blade relative to the hub axis. The pitch of each blade may be controlled independently of the pitch of the others.