| 摘要 |
A hide-away windmill is exposed to the wind for use and covered or hidden for storage. In one version, the windmill has a support tower that is extendable and retractable within another housing, In another version, the windmill is inside another housing, and the walls or portions of the housing are movable to open up the housing to expose the windmill to the wind, for example, in a cupola-style housing with louvers or doors. In yet another version, the windmill is surrounded by an extendable and retractable housing, wherein, when the housing is fully retracted, the windmill extends beyond the housing to be exposed to the air and whatever wind is available, and, when the housing is fully extended, the windmill including its turbine blades is entirely or nearly entirely enclosed within the housing. The windmill may be repeatedly exposed to become operable, and repeatedly covered or hidden, not only to become inoperable, but also to be not visible, and protected from high winds, when not in use. The hide-away feature may be for aesthetic reasons, and/or for safety, security and structural reasons. |
