Venturi effect charging system for automobile batteries

• US 5,280,827 A
• Filed: 12/22/1992
• Issued: 01/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cletus L. Taylor
• Original Assignee: Cletus L. Taylor
• Inventors: Mueller, Walter H., Taylor, Cletus L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Application Number:
  US07/995,020
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/2.2, 180/165, 280/212, 290/54, 290/55, 320/61
• US Class Current: 180/165
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/003 solar power driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/006 Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/0454 and only with concentrating action, i.e. only increasing the airflow speed into the rotor, e.g. divergent outlets F03D3/0463 takes precedence
• 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 9/32 on moving objects, e.g. vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/2212 perpendicular to wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/941 which is a land vehicle
• 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 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof

Abstract

An electric motor-driven vehicle has a large wind turbine mounted at the rear of the vehicle that rotates about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the vehicle body. A long venturi tube extends along the upper portion of the vehicle above the passenger cab and directs air flow from the front of the vehicle and impinges it upon an upper portion of the turbine blades. A pair of elongated lower screw-type turbines are contained in separate lower venturi effect tubes extending along the lower side of the vehicle below the passenger cab. Air from the lower venturi effect tubes is impinged upon the large turbine in a direction and at a location to increase the force generated from the upper venturi tube. The turbines drive one or more electric power generators coupled to storage batteries for recharging the batteries.

Claims

1. In an electric motor-driven vehicle having a vehicle body with a front and a rear, and a passenger compartment between the front and the rear of the vehicle body, the vehicle body having a height and a width, and batteries for supplying electrical power to the motor, an improved battery charging system comprising a rotary turbine with turbine blades mounted at the rear of the vehicle body with an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, the turbine being mounted for rotation behind the passenger compartment, in which the diameter of the rotating turbine extends over most of the height and width of the vehicle body, with means for electric power generation on the vehicle body coupled to the turbine for charging the batteries in response to rotation of the turbine, at least one upper venturi effect tube with an upper air inlet opening facing toward the front of the vehicle body and connected with an extending along an upper portion of the vehicle body for directing an intake of air generated from forward motion of the vehicle body from an upper front portion of the vehicle toward an upper region of the turbine for increasing air pressure within the upper venturi tube and impinging the air under pressure on the turbine blades to rotate the turbine, and at least one lower venturi effect tube with a lower air inlet opening separate from the upper air inlet opening and facing toward the front of the vehicle body and connected with and extending along a lower portion of the vehicle body for directing a separate intake of air generated from forward motion of the vehicle body from a lower front portion of the vehicle toward the turbine for increasing air pressure within the lower venturi tube and impinging the air in a direction and at a sufficient force upon the turbine at a separate location thereon to increase the pressure applied to rotate the turbine over the force of impinging air flow from the upper venturi tube.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which a pair of the lower venturi effect tubes extend along opposite sides of the vehicle body below the passenger compartment and in which the upper venturi effect tube extends above the passenger compartment.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 including a separate elongated screw-type turbine in at least one lower venturi tube, and in which each screw type turbine rotates about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, each screw-type turbine being separately coupled to the means for electrical power generation for enhancing an electrical power output of the means for electrical power generation for recharging the batteries.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which at least one separate lower venturi effect tube has an angled end region that directs airflow up to impinge on the turbine at a location spaced below but impinging on the turbine in the same general direction as the separate flow impinging on the turbine from the upper venturi tube.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 including lower corners on the front of the vehicle, in which the vehicle body has air intakes at a top front portion of the vehicle leading to the upper venturi tube and at least two further air intakes at the two lower front corners of the vehicle body for directing air through corresponding lower venturi effect tubes.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the screw-type turbines each rotate to drive separate gear systems coupled to the means for electrical power generation.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the pair of lower venturi effect tubes are elongated void spaces directing the flow of air toward the turbine.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a means for ground effect on an upper outer portion of the vehicle body to stabilize vehicle travel at high speeds, said ground effect means projecting from opposite sides of the vehicle body and forming a portion of the upper venturi tube.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 including a combined rear bumper and a lower airfoil to stabilize the vehicle.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 including at least one vortex/vacuum members below the turbine to stabilize airflow along a lower portion of the moving vehicle and to provide drainage below the turbine.

11. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which a pair of lower venturi effect tubes extend along opposite sides of the vehicle body below the passenger compartment and in which the upper venturi effect tube extends above the passenger compartment.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the vehicle body includes a rear exhaust panel open to the exterior of the vehicle and located to the rear of the turbine for exhausting air away from the rear of the vehicle.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the rear exhaust panel has a width substantially similar to the width of the vehicle body.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the rear exhaust panel has a surface area open to the atmosphere which is greater than the combined area of the upper and lower front air inlet openings.

15. In an electric motor-driven vehicle having a vehicle body with a front and a rear, the vehicle body having height and width, and batteries for supplying electrical power to the motor, an improved battery charging system comprising a rotary turbine with turbine blades mounted at the rear of the vehicle body with an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, in which the diameter of the rotating turbine extends over most of the height and width of the vehicle body, with means for electric power-generation on the vehicle body coupled to the turbine for charging the batteries in response to rotation of the turbine, at least one upper venturi effect tube connected with and extending along an upper portion of the vehicle body for directing an intake of air from an upper portion of the vehicle toward an upper region of the turbine for impinging air under pressure toward the turbine blades to rotate the turbine, and at least one lower venturi effect tube connected with and extending along a lower portion of the vehicle body for directing a separate intake of air from a lower portion of the vehicle toward the turbine in a direction and at a sufficient force separately impinging upon the turbine to increase the pressure applied to rotate the turbine over the force of impinging air flow from the upper venturi tube, and further comprising a separate elongated screw-type turbine in at least one lower venturi tube, and in which each screw type turbine rotates about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, each screw-type turbine being separately coupled to the means for electrical power generation, for enhancing an electrical power output of the means for electrical power generation, for recharging the batteries.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 in which the screw-type turbines each rotate to drive separate gear systems coupled to the means for electrical power generation.