At 0º the front blade is shaped like an upright airfoil. This creates a lift force and moment which rotates the wheel clockwise. The rear blade with opposite curvature creates a downward lift force and moment arm which rotates the wheel clockwise. These combine to drive the wheel clockwise.

At 45º the blades remain parallel to the ground due to the internal gear interaction. The curvature of each blade is less severe as the wheel turns, but both still maintain partial lift forces. The induced moments continue to drive the wheel clockwise toward the midpoint.

90º is the blade’s midpoint, which remains parallel to the ground due to its connection to the gear chain which rotates around the central static gear. There is only drag, but the momentum from previous motion carries the wheel through this point until a curvature change creates lift forces again.

This diagram illustrates the aerodynamic forces induced at each point and the overall equations that govern the moment/torque on the wheel. This torque must then be multiplied by 4 to obtain the driving force the wind creates on the blades.

I created a small scale K’NEX model of the proposed design to ensure the gear interactions in my concept performed as I conceived. The four positions pictured show that the model confirmed my theory. The angle between the white pieces and ground remain fixed through the rotation of the wheel.