Apparatus for generating power

• US 5,272,378 A
• Filed: 08/06/1992
• Issued: 12/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas A. Wither
• Original Assignee: Thomas A. Wither
• Inventors: Wither, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Howard L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOOVER, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/926,778
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1 R, 290/44, 290/55, 415/2.1, 415/4.2, 416/DIG. 9
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/02 having a plurality of rotors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/0445 the shield being fixed with respect to the wind motor
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/062 characterised by their construction elements
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/12 storing kinetic energy, e.g. using flywheels
• 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: F05B 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/911 already existing for a prior purpose
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/9113 which is a roadway, rail track, or the like for recovering energy from moving vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/74 Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 416/09 Savonius

Abstract

An apparatus for generating power by utilizing the wind produced from the passage of vehicular traffic such as on a highway or freeway includes a plurality of vertical axis rotors mounted vertically within a support structure. Each of the vertical axis rotors is coupled to a generator adapted to convert rotational energy of the rotors into electrical energy. The apparatus is particularly well adapted for placement between two opposing lanes of vehicular traffic in order to provide a barrier which replaces conventional barriers with one adapted to harness a previously unused source of energy.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating power by utilizing wind produced from the passage of vehicular traffic, said apparatus comprising:

at least one rotor adapted to rotate bout a vertical axis extending therethrough for capturing said wind;

generator means coupled to said at least one rotor for converting rotational movement of said rotor into a form of energy that an be transmitted to a remote location; and

support means for rotatably supporting said at least one vertical axis rotor, said support means having first and second openings for exposing diametrically opposed sides of each of said at least one rotor;

whereby the motion of the vehicular traffic adjacent said at least one rotor generates said wind, thereby causing said rotor to rotate which in turn causes said generator to generate said energy.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flywheel coupled to said generator means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising concentrator means positioned closely adjacent said rotor for concentrating said wind produced from the passage of vehicular traffic toward said at least one rotor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for directing a spent air flow produced from said at least one rotor toward a second rotor.

5. An electric power generating system of a type adapted for use in conjunction with a motor vehicle expressway upon which travel a plurality of moving vehicles, the system comprising:

a support structure including a plurality of cavities said support structure including a first side and a second side, said first and second sides each including openings to expose diametrically opposed sides of each of said rotors;

a corresponding plurality of Savonius rotors each adapted for rotational movement about a vertical axis extending vertically therethrough, each of said rotors being rotatably mounted in one of said plurality of cavities; and

generator means mounted in said support structure, said generator means being operationally coupled to each of said plurality of rotors, said generator means adapted to convert rotational energy generated by said rotors in response to wind generated from said plurality of moving vehicles into electrical power that can be transmitted to a remote location.

6. The electric power generating system of claim 5, wherein said energy transducer means comprises an electrical generator.

7. The electric power generating system of claim 6, further comprising a flywheel coupled to said electrical generator.

8. The electric power generating system of claim 5, further comprising concentrator means for concentrating said wind produced from the passage of vehicular traffic toward said plurality of rotors.

9. The electric power generating system of claim 8 further comprising means for directing a spent air flow produced from a first rotor of said plurality of rotors toward a second rotor of said plurality of rotors.

10. The electric power generating system of claim 5, further comprising cabling means operatively coupled in between said generator means and said remote location for transmitting energy generated by said generator means to said remote location.

11. An apparatus for generating power by utilizing wind produced from the passage of vehicular traffic, said apparatus comprising:

at least first and second rotors each adapted to rotate about a vertical axis extending therethrough to generate rotational energy in response to said wind produced from said passage of vehicular traffic;

generator means operationally coupled to said first and second rotors, said generator means adapted to convert said rotational energy into a form of energy that can be transmitted to a remote location;

support means for rotatably supporting each of said first and second vertical axis rotors; and

deflector means for concentrating said wind received from said vehicular traffic towards one of said first and second rotors to thereby increase said rotational energy generated by said one of said first and second rotors.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the deflector means further operates to deliver a source of spent air from said first rotor to said second rotor.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the deflector means comprises a first deflector member having a curved portion disposed substantially adjacent the circumference of a circle on which an outer edge of said one of said rotors lies.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said first deflector member further includes a substantially linear portion integrally connected to said curved portion, said linear portion tapering slightly toward said support means and away from said curved portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said support means has first and second openings for exposing diametrically opposed sides of each of said rotors and further wherein said first deflector member is mounted substantially adjacent to said first opening.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a second deflector member substantially identical to the first deflector member, said second deflector member being mounted substantially adjacent to said second opening.