Generation and Management of Mass Air Flow
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for generating a high velocity mass air flow comprising:
- an air charging effector housing;
an inlet allowing an air inflow to enter said housing;
an outlet allowing an air outflow to exit said housing;
an air charging effector subassembly rotatably disposed in said air charging effector housing and connected to said output shaft of said air charging motor;
a power module subassembly that controls said air charging effector subassembly;
an intelligent control apparatus subassembly that controls operation of said apparatus;
wherein said apparatus generates a high velocity mass air flow.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for generating high velocity mass air flows are disclosed. High velocity mass air flow (air charging) devices are needed in a variety of research, industrial, commercial, and consumer applications. The exemplary systems and apparatus described incorporate an electric motor subassembly, an air effector subassembly, a highly intelligent apparatus controller subassembly (and interfaces), and linked sensors, connectors, and wiring. The exemplary method described includes the operational apparatus controller subassembly (e.g., elements, logic, and behavior) that controls the entire apparatus'"'"' functions and interactions.
61 Citations
55 Claims
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1. An apparatus for generating a high velocity mass air flow comprising:
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an air charging effector housing; an inlet allowing an air inflow to enter said housing; an outlet allowing an air outflow to exit said housing; an air charging effector subassembly rotatably disposed in said air charging effector housing and connected to said output shaft of said air charging motor; a power module subassembly that controls said air charging effector subassembly; an intelligent control apparatus subassembly that controls operation of said apparatus; wherein said apparatus generates a high velocity mass air flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of generating a high velocity mass air flow comprising:
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receiving a flow of air intake through an air inlet; controlling said air intake using an intake control valve subassembly; sensing said air intake using an intake sensor subassembly; charging said air intake to form a high velocity mass air outflow using an air charging effector subassembly driven by an air charging motor subassembly; powering said air charging motor subassembly from a power source module; sensing said high velocity mass air flow exiting said air charging effector subassembly using an outflow sensor subassembly; controlling said air outflow using an outflow control valve subassembly; expelling said high velocity mass air outflow through an air outlet; controlling one or more of said intake control valve subassembly, said intake sensor subassembly, said air charging motor subassembly, said power source module;
said outflow sensor subassembly, and said outflow control valve subassembly using an apparatus controller subassembly. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A hybrid electrical and combustion engine comprising:
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an air intake receiving a flow of air; an intake control valve subassembly in fluid communication with said air intake and controlling said flow of intake air; an intake sensor subassembly in fluid communication with said air intake and sensing said intake air; an air charging effector subassembly in fluid communication with said air intake, said air charging effector subassembly generating an outflow of air; an outflow sensor subassembly in fluid communication with said air charging effector subassembly and sensing said outflow of air; an outflow control valve subassembly in fluid communication with said air charging effector subassembly and controlling said outflow of air; an air intake manifold in fluid communication with said air charging effector subassembly; a combustion engine in fluid communication with said air intake manifold; a hybrid motor/generator coupled to said combustion engine, wherein torque produced by said combustion engine is passed to said hybrid motor/generator; a power storage component electrically coupled to said hybrid motor/generator, said power storage component storing electric power created by said hybrid motor/generator; an apparatus power storage component electrically coupled to said power storage component; an air charging motor subassembly electrically coupled to said apparatus power storage component, wherein said stored electrical power is deliver to said air charging motor subassembly via a power source module; wherein said air charging motor subassembly is coupled to and powers said air charging effector subassembly; and a controller subassembly for controlling one or more of;
said intake control valve subassembly, said intake sensor subassembly, said outflow sensor subassembly, said outflow control valve subassembly, said combustion engine, and said power source module. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for generating a high velocity air flow comprising:
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an air charging effector housing; an inlet allowing an air inflow to enter said housing; an outlet allowing an air outflow to exit said housing; an air charging effector rotatably disposed in said air charging effector housing; a power module that controls power to said air charging effector; a control apparatus that controls operation of said air charging effector to condition the output air of said air charging effector into said high velocity air flow in accordance with a desired operating profile and controls operation of said power module to manage power consumption of said air charging effector in accordance with said desired operating profile. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of generating a high velocity air flow comprising:
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receiving a flow of air intake through an air inlet; controlling said air intake using an intake control valve; sensing said air intake using an intake sensor; charging said air intake to form a high velocity air outflow using an air charging effector driven by an air charging motor; sensing said high velocity air flow exiting said air charging effector subassembly using an outflow sensor; controlling said air outflow using an outflow control valve; expelling said high velocity air outflow through an air outlet; and controlling one or more of said intake control valve, said intake sensor, said air charging motor said outflow sensor, and said outflow control valve so as to condition said air outflow in accordance with a desired operating profile.
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40. A hybrid electrical and combustion engine comprising:
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an air intake receiving a flow of intake air; an intake control valve in fluid communication with said air intake and controlling said flow of intake air; an intake sensor in fluid communication with said air intake and sensing said intake air; an air charging effector in fluid communication with said air intake, said air charging effector generating an outflow of air; an outflow sensor in fluid communication with said air charging effector and sensing said outflow of air; an outflow control valve in fluid communication with said air charging effector and controlling said outflow of air; an air intake manifold in fluid communication with said air charging effector; a combustion engine in fluid communication with said air intake manifold; a hybrid motor/generator coupled to said combustion engine, wherein torque produced by said combustion engine is passed to said hybrid motor/generator; a power storage component electrically coupled to said hybrid motor/generator, said power storage component storing electric power created by said hybrid motor/generator; an apparatus power storage component electrically coupled to said power storage component; an air charging motor electrically coupled to said apparatus power storage component, wherein said stored electrical power is deliver to said air charging motor, wherein said air charging motor is coupled to and powers said air charging effector; and a controller for controlling one or more of;
said intake control valve, said intake sensor, said outflow sensor y, said outflow control valve, and said combustion engine in accordance with a desired operating profile. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A method of generating a conditioned air flow, comprising:
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receiving a flow of intake air through an air inlet; sensing said flow of intake air using an intake flow sensor; adjusting said flow of intake air upstream of said intake flow sensor whereby a volumetric flow rate of said flow of intake air is set by an air intake control signal received from a control apparatus; charging an adjusted flow of intake air to form a conditioned air outflow using an air charging effector driven by an air charging motor; controlling the air charging motor with a motor control signal derived from a desired operating profile by the control apparatus so as to manage the speed of said air charging motor to condition the air outflow; powering said air charging motor from a power source module that manages power consumption by the air charging motor based on a power control signal received from the control apparatus; sensing the conditioned air outflow exiting said air charging effector using an outflow sensor; controlling said conditioned air outflow using an outflow control valve controlled by a valve control signal derived from said desired operating profile by the control apparatus in response to outputs of said outflow sensor.
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44. An apparatus for controlling the generation of a conditioned air flow comprising:
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an air inlet for receiving a flow of intake air; an intake flow sensor that senses said flow of intake air and provides a first sensing output; an intake control valve that adjusts the volumetric flow rate of intake air upstream of said intake flow sensor, in response to an air intake control signal to form an adjusted flow of intake air; an air charging effector that conditions said adjusted flow of intake air to form a conditioned air outflow; an air charging motor that drives the air charging effector in response to a motor control signal so as to manage the speed of said air charging motor to condition the air outflow; a power source module that powers said air charging motor and manages power consumption by the air charging motor based on a power control signal; an outflow sensor that senses the conditioned air outflow exiting said air charging effector and provides a second sensing output; an outflow control valve that controls said conditioned air outflow in response to a valve control signal; and a control apparatus that generates said air intake control signal, said motor control signal, said power control signal, and said valve control signal based on a desired operating profile and said first and second sensing outputs.
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45. An apparatus for controlling the generation of a high density air flow comprising:
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an air inlet for receiving a flow of intake air; an intake flow sensor that senses said flow of intake air and provides a first sensing output; an intake control valve that adjusts the volumetric flow rate of intake air upstream of said intake flow sensor, in response to an air intake control signal to form an adjusted flow of intake air; an air charging effector that pressurizes said adjusted flow of intake air to form a compressed air outflow; an air charging motor that drives the air charging effector in response to a motor control signal so as to manage the speed of said air charging motor to condition the air outflow; a power source module that powers said air charging motor and manages power consumption by the air charging motor based on a power control signal; an outflow sensor that senses the compressed air outflow exiting said air charging effector and provides a second sensing output; an outflow control valve that controls said compressed air outflow in response to a valve control signal; and a control apparatus that generates said air intake control signal, said motor control signal, said power control signal, and said valve control signal based on a desired operating profile and said first and second sensing outputs. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. An air charging device for inflating or deflating a flexible membrane comprising:
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an air inlet for receiving a flow of intake air; an air charging effector that increases the volumetric flow rate of intake air to form a high velocity air outflow; an air charging motor that drives the air charging effector in response to a motor control signal; a control apparatus that generates said motor control signal so as to manage the speed of said air charging motor; and an air outlet that provides said high velocity air outflow to said flexible membrane. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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Specification