...it's been a long road so far.... I hope to have a functioning prototype within a few months...of course that's what
I said a year ago
....LOL, but I've enhanced the design significantly since then. I'm glad I can work out the bugs on computer....it sure is cheaper than mocking up several physical designs and then altering them...Most of the "proprietary stuff" will be concealed in the base of the unit, by design. Of course the actual design of the vanes will be visible and thus be able to be copied. I have one last trick I might pull out of my hat that involves something I've never seen done on any design (yet) which would go a long way to helping me in the area of having a viable business model in the production / sale / service of this design. One important aspect of my design is that it might not be necessary for the end user to actually "buy" the unit(s).I am toying with the idea of leasing them.....and of course if you lived off the grid, how kewl would it be to pay a low monthly fee for the production of energy as well as a guarantee of timely replacement / repair of the unit should it go offline. You would not have to cough up $$$ thousands up front for the purchase of the unit.