Active drag and thrust modulation system and method

• US 20040084569A1
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Original Assignee: Bonutti IP LLC
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,793,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/204
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/00 Tyre parts or constructions not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/00 Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 1/34 by reducing surface friction
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2039/068 the foils having a variable cross section, e.g. a variable camber
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 9/06 Types of sail; Constructional features of sails; Arrangements thereof on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2230/02 by using acoustic waves generated by transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 23/005 by other means not covered by groups B64C23/02 - B64C23/08, e.g. by electric charges, magnetic panels, piezoelectric elements, static charges or ultrasounds
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/125 Direct injection in the combustion chamber for spark ignition engines, i.e. not in pre-combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 27/08 by sonic or ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 69/041 having vibrating means for atomizing the fuel, e.g. with sonic or ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: F15D 1/0075 comprising electromagnetic or electrostatic means for influencing the state of the fluid, e.g. for ionising the fluid or for generating a plasma
• CPC Class Codes: F15D 1/12 by influencing the boundary layer use of materials, e.g. to reduce surface friction C09K3/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/10 Drag reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/10 Measures concerning design or construction of watercraft hulls
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0391 Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/206 Flow affected by fluid contact, energy field or coanda effect [e.g., pure fluid device or system]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2191 By non-fluid energy field affecting input [e.g., transducer]

Abstract

A vehicle traveling through an environmental media such as air experiences drag. The drag is actively modulated by energy beams which may either increase or decrease the drag. The energy beams may provide either a chemical, acoustic or electromagnetic energy at a transition region between turbulent and laminar flows or at the leading edge of a laminar flow or in the direction of a crosswind in order to facilitate the respective increase or decrease in drag. If the vehicle is a sailing ship, areas of the sails are selectively roughened or widened to enhance the thrust derived from the wind. Furthermore, the keel or hull of the sailing ship may be modified to improve the hydrodynamic characteristics of the sailing ship. If the vehicle is an automobile, the tires or road surface may be selectively heated to improve the traction of the automobile. Furthermore, the energy beams may be used to facilitate atomization of the air/fuel mixture prior to combustion in an internal combustion engine thereby improving the thrust of provided to the vehicle. Energy beams may be used to generate virtual extensions of a vehicle to enhance traveling efficiency.

Claims

1. In a vehicle traveling through an environmental media and experiencing drag as a result thereof, a device comprising:

a first substance dispenser for dispensing a first substance for decreasing the drag; and

a second substance dispenser for dispensing a second substance for increasing the drag.

2. The device according to claim 1 further comprising

an active drag controller for selectively enabling dispensing of said first and second substances.

3. The device according to claim 1 further wherein the first substance further decreases the drag characteristics of the environmental media.

4. The device according to claim 1 further wherein the second substance further increases the drag characteristics of the environmental media.

5. The device according to claim 4 further wherein the first substance further decreases the drag characteristics of the environmental media.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first substance is dispensed in a first location and the second substance is dispensed in a second location.

7. The device according to claim 6 wherein the first location corresponds to a leading edge of an aerodynamic surface of the vehicle and the second location corresponds to a trailing edge of the aerodynamic surface.

8. The device according to claim 6 wherein the second location corresponds to a leading edge of an aerodynamic surface of the vehicle and the first location corresponds to a trailing edge of the aerodynamic surface.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein either the first or second substance corresponds to either a surfactant or a soap.

10. In a vehicle traveling through an environmental media and experiencing drag as a result thereof, a method comprising the steps of:

dispensing a first substance for decreasing the drag in response to a drag decreasing signal; and

dispensing a second substance for increasing the drag in response to a drag increasing signal.

11. The device according to claim 10 wherein the first substance is dispensed at a first vehicle location and the second substance is dispensed at a second vehicle location.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein the first vehicle location corresponds to a leading edge of an aerodynamic surface of the vehicle and the second vehicle location corresponds to a trailing edge of the aerodynamic surface.

13. The device according to claim 10 wherein the first and second substances are dispensed at a common vehicle location.

14. In a vehicle traveling in a forward direction though an environmental media, moving at least partially in a cross direction perpendicular the forward direction, experiencing vehicle drag as a result of the environmental media moving in the cross direction, a method comprising the step of

transmitting an energy beam from the vehicle into the environmental media in the cross direction.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein said step of transmitting further modifies the vehicle drag in the cross direction.

16. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of determining a cross velocity of the environmental media moving in the cross direction and said step of modifying further varies transmission of the energy beam in response to the determined cross velocity.

17. A sail comprising:

an aerodynamically rough surface on a first side of the sail; and

an aerodynamically smooth surface on a second side of the sail.

18. The sail according to claim 17 wherein

said aerodynamically rough surface occupies a substantial portion of the first side of the sail;

and

said aerodynamically smooth surface occupies a substantial portion of the second side of the sail.

19. The sail according to claim 17 wherein said aerodynamically rough surface produces substantially more aerodynamic friction than said aerodynamically smooth surface.

20. The sail according to claim 19 wherein said aerodynamically rough surface comprises a pebbled or grated surface.

21. The sail according to claim 17 wherein said aerodynamically rough surface is selectively provided by radiating at least a portion of the first side of the sail with an energy beam.

22. The sail according to claim 17 wherein the energy beam comprises acoustic or electromagnetic energy.

23. A sailing craft comprising a forward sail and an aft sail in accordance with claim 17 wherein the sailing craft comprises:

an aerodynamically rough surface on a back side of the forward sail;

an aerodynamically smooth surface on a front side of the forward sail;

an aerodynamically rough surface on a front side of the aft sail; and

an aerodynamically smooth surface on a back side of the aft sail.

24. A sail comprising:

a thin sheet portion; and

a widening portion for selectively widening the thickness of the sail.

25. The sail according to claim 24 wherein said widening portion includes at least one selectively inflatable billow for selectively widening the thickness of the sail.

26. The sail according to claim 24 wherein said widening portion includes at least one air pouch that selectively opens for selectively widening the thickness of the sail.

27. A sailing craft having a plurality of sails in accordance with the sail of claim 24 wherein the sailing craft comprises:

a forward sail having said thin sheet portion and said widening portion including at least one selectively inflatable billow for selectively widening the thickness of said forward sail;

an aft sail having said thin sheet portion and said widening portion including at least one air pouch that selectively opens for selectively widening the thickness of said aft sail.

28. A method of reducing the drag on a sailing ship having a keel comprising the step of

varying a hydrodynamic characteristic of the keel while the sailing ship is sailing.

29. The method according to claim 28 wherein said step of varying varies a vertical area of the keel.

30. The method according to claim 29 wherein the depth of the keel remains substantially constant while the vertical area of the keel is modified.

31. The method according to claim 28 wherein said step of varying varies a horizontal area of the keel.

32. The method according to claim 31 wherein the depth of the keel remains substantially constant while the horizontal area of the keel is modified.

33. The method according to claim 28 wherein said step of varying generates energy beams in the vicinity of the keel in order to vary the hydrodynamic characteristic of the keel.

34. The method according to claim 33 wherein the energy beams comprise acoustic or electromagnetic energy.

35. A method of enhancing atomization of a fuel spray comprising the steps of:

injecting the fuel spray into an air environment; and

radiating the fuel spray with an energy beam for facilitating atomization of the fuel spray into the air environment.

36. The method according to claim 35 wherein the fuel spray is ignited by an energy source other than the energy beam.

37. The method according to claim 35 wherein the energy beam is an ultrasonic energy beam.

38. The method according to claim 37 further comprising the steps of:

determining an amount of the fuel sprayed by said step of injecting; and

adjusting a frequency of the ultrasonic energy beam in response thereto.

39. The method according to claim 37 further comprising the steps of:

determining a velocity of air in the air environment; and

adjusting a frequency of the ultrasonic energy beam in response thereto.

40. The method according to claim 35 wherein said steps of injecting and radiating occur in an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine.

41. The method according to claim 40 wherein the intake manifold has a bend and said step of radiating radiates at least a portion of the energy beam at the bend, thereby deterring the fuel from separating from the air at the manifold bend.

42. The method according to claim 35 wherein said steps of injecting and radiating occur in a combustion chamber.

43. In a vehicle having at least a first tire a method comprising the step of selectively heating the first tire in response to a first signal.

44. The method according to claim 43 wherein the vehicle has an internal combustion engine generating heated exhaust gas and said step of selectively heating further comprises the steps of:

directing at least a portion of the heated exhaust gas within the vicinity of the tire in response to the first signal; and

directing a substantial portion of the heated exhaust gas away from the vicinity of the tire in response to an absence of the first signal.

45. The method according to claim 44 wherein the first tire is a front tire and the vehicle further has a second tire as a back tire and said step of selectively heating further comprises the steps of:

directing at least a portion of the heated exhaust gas within the vicinity of the second tire in response to a second signal; and

directing a substantial portion of the heated exhaust gas away from the vicinity of the second tire in response to an absence of the second signal.

46. The method according to claim 44 wherein the first tire engages a road surface and the method further comprises the step of

selectively heating the road surface in front of the first tire with the exhaust gas in response to a third signal.

47. The method according to claim 43 wherein the vehicle has energy beam radiators for radiating the first tire and the step of selectively heating further comprises the step of

enabling radiation of the first tire by the energy beam radiators in response to the first signal;

and

disabling radiation of the first tire by the energy beam radiators in response to an absence of the first signal.

48. The method according to claim 47 wherein the first tire engages a road surface and the method further comprises the step of

selectively enabling radiation of the road surface by the energy beam radiators in response to a second signal.