VEHICLE MOVEMENT ACTIVATED ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATOR, AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ELECTRICAL POWER FOR ROADSIDE APPLICATIONS

• US 20130300132A1
• Filed: 05/11/2012
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bader Abdullah Almalki
• Original Assignee: Bader Abdullah Almalki
• Inventors: ALMALKI, Bader Abdullah
• Granted Patent: US 8,872,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/4.R
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/00 Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations hybrid wind-photovoltaic energy systems for the generation of electric power H02S10/12
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/11 storing electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/46 Tunnels or streets
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/9113 which is a roadway, rail track, or the like for recovering energy from moving vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

Electrical power generation from vehicle movement where there is limited or no access to a power grid. A turbine disposed alongside, above, or under the road, harnesses the wind currents generated by a vehicle to drive an electrical power generator connected to a local electrical power system providing electrical power for roadside devices on the road ahead. Alternatively, pedals may be disposed on the road such that when a vehicle runs over them, the vertical motion of the pedals is translated into a rotational motion to drive an electrical power generator. The local electrical power system is used to supply power for roadside LEDs placed along the road ahead of the vehicle to illuminate the boundaries and perimeter, or for a roadside sign, camera, or deer whistle. The activation of the roadside devices is controlled based on whether it is day or night and the remaining charge of a battery.

Claims

1. A vehicle movement activated electrical power system comprising:

a turbine that harnesses wind currents generated by a movement of a vehicle on a road, said movement of said vehicle causing said turbine to rotate;

a generator coupled to the turbine, said generator configured to generate electricity from a rotation of the turbine;

a local electrical power network driven by the generator and extending along the road ahead of the turbine and the vehicle;

a plurality of electrical devices connected to the local electrical power network and disposed on or adjacent to the road ahead of the turbine and the vehicle;

a battery connected to the turbine and to the local electrical power network, said battery configured to be charged by the turbine and to provide primary or supplementary power for the local electrical power network; and

a controller connected to said local electrical power network, said battery, and at least one electrical device from among the plurality of electrical devices, said controller including a static data storage device and configured to control an activation state of at least one electrical device from among the plurality of electrical devices according to a look up table stored on said static data storage device of said controller, said look up table including activation information for the at least one electrical device from among the plurality of electrical devices, said activation information including at least one of a time of the day and a remaining charge level of said battery.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein

the turbine is disposed on, alongside, above, or under the road.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein

the plurality of electrical devices includes at least one of an LED disposed on, in, or next to the road, a roadside sign, a camera, and a deer whistle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein

the plurality of electrical devices includes at least an LED disposed on, in, or next to the road, a roadside sign, and a deer whistle.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein

when the time of the day is day time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than a first threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign and the roadside LED to OFF and the deer whistle to ON;

when the time of the day is night time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than the first threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign, the roadside LED, and the deer whistle to ON;

when the time of the day is day time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than a second threshold and less than the first threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign and the roadside LED to OFF and the deer whistle to ON;

when the time of the day is night time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than the second threshold and less than the first threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign to OFF, and the roadside LED and the deer whistle to ON;

when the time of the day is day time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than a third threshold and less than the second threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign and the roadside LED to OFF and the deer whistle to ON;

when the time of the day is night time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than the third threshold and less than the second threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign and the deer whistle to OFF, and the roadside LED to ON; and

when the remaining charge level of said battery is less than the third threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign, the roadside LED, and the deer whistle to OFF.

6. A vehicle movement activated electrical power system comprising:

a pedal disposed on a road, said pedal moving vertically when a vehicle passes over the pedal;

a motion conversion mechanism connected to the pedal to translate a vertical motion of the pedal into a rotational motion;

a generator coupled with said rotational motion of said motion conversion mechanism, said generator configured to generate electricity from said rotational motion;

a local electrical power network driven by the generator and extending along the road ahead of the pedal and the vehicle;

a plurality of electrical devices connected to the local electrical power network and disposed on or adjacent to the road ahead of the pedal and the vehicle;

a battery connected to the turbine and to the local electrical power network, said battery configured to be charged by the turbine and to provide primary or supplementary power for the local electrical power network; and

a controller connected to said local electrical power network, said battery, and at least one electrical device from among the plurality of electrical devices, said controller including a static data storage device and configured to control an activation state of at least one electrical device from among the plurality of electrical devices according to a look up table stored on said static data storage device of said controller, said look up table including activation information for at least one electrical device from among the plurality of electrical devices, said activation information including at least one of a time of the day and a remaining charge level of said battery.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein

the plurality of electrical devices includes at least one of an LED disposed on, in, or next to the road, a roadside sign, a camera, and a deer whistle.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein

the plurality of electrical devices includes at least an LED disposed on, in, or next to the road, a roadside sign, and a deer whistle.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein

when the time of the day is day time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than a first threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign and the roadside LED to OFF and the deer whistle to ON;

when the time of the day is night time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than the first threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign, the roadside LED, and the deer whistle to ON;

when the time of the day is day time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than a second threshold and less than the first threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign and the roadside LED to OFF and the deer whistle to ON;

when the time of the day is night time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than the second threshold and less than the first threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign to OFF, and the roadside LED and the deer whistle to ON;

when the time of the day is day time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than a third threshold and less than the second threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign and the roadside LED to OFF and the deer whistle to ON;

when the time of the day is night time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than the third threshold and less than the second threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign and the deer whistle to OFF, and the roadside LED to ON; and

when the remaining charge level of said battery is less than the third threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign, the roadside LED, and the deer whistle to OFF.

10. A method of electrical power generation from vehicle movement and application control, the method comprising:

generating electrical power by harnessing wind currents generated by a movement of a vehicle that drives a rotation of a turbine exposed to the wind currents, the turbine being coupled to a generator, the generator generating electricity from the rotation of the turbine;

distributing the generated electrical power along, in, or on the road ahead of the turbine by a local electrical power network connected to the generator, the local electrical power network being connected to a plurality of electrical devices along, in, or on the road ahead of the vehicle;

charging a battery with the electrical power generated by the generator;

controlling with a controller the local electrical power network, the battery, and at least one electrical device from among the plurality of electrical devices, said controller accessing a static data storage device and controlling an activation state of at least one electrical device from among the plurality of electrical devices according to a look up table stored on said static data storage device, said look up table including activation information for at least one electrical device from among the plurality of electrical devices, said activation information being including at least one of a time of the day and a remaining charge level of said battery.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein

the turbine is disposed on, alongside, above, or under the road.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein

the plurality of electrical devices includes at least one of an LED disposed on, in, or next to the road, a roadside sign, a camera, and a deer whistle.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein

the plurality of electrical devices includes at least an LED disposed on, in, or next to the road, a roadside sign, and a deer whistle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein

when the time of the day is day time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than a first threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign and the roadside LED to OFF and the deer whistle to ON;

when the time of the day is night time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than the first threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign, the roadside LED, and the deer whistle to ON;

when the time of the day is day time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than a second threshold and less than the first threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign and the roadside LED to OFF and the deer whistle to ON;

when the time of the day is night time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than the second threshold and less than the first threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign to OFF, and the roadside LED and the deer whistle to ON;

when the time of the day is day time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than a third threshold and less than the second threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign and the roadside LED to OFF and the deer whistle to ON;

when the time of the day is night time and the remaining charge level of said battery is more than the third threshold and less than the second threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign and the deer whistle to OFF, and the roadside LED to ON; and

when the remaining charge level of said battery is less than the third threshold, the controller sets the roadside sign, the roadside LED, and the deer whistle to OFF.