Vehical wind operated generator

• US 6,882,059 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Depaoli
• Original Assignee: Michael Depaoli
• Inventors: DePaoli, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US10/424,674
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 290/43, 290/44, 290/54, 290/55, 180/165, 180/65
• US Class Current: 290/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/006 Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/0463 with converging inlets, i.e. the shield intercepting an area greater than the effective rotor area
• 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 2240/941 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: 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

Wind operated electrical generating apparatus includes a housing designed to be attached to the front of a vehicle and formed to extend substantially the length of the front of the vehicle for intercepting air flow produced by movement of the vehicle. The housing is further formed with an opening designed to direct intercepted air flow into a channel. A turbine is rotatably mounted within the housing in the channel for rotation of the turbine with air flow in the channel and an electrical generator is attached to the turbine for rotation with the turbine. The housing can be attached to the front bumper of a vehicle or be attached in lieu of the front bumper.

Claims

1. Wind operated electrical generating apparatus comprising:

a housing designed to be attached to the front of a vehicle and formed to extend substantially the length of the front of the vehicle for intercepting air flow produced by movement of the vehicle, the housing being further formed with an opening designed to direct intercepted air flow into a channel;

a turbine rotatably mounted within the housing in the channel for rotation of the turbine with air flow in the channel; and

an electrical generator attached to the turbine for rotation with the turbine.

2. Wind operated electrical generating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the turbine includes an axle with a plurality of radially extending blades.

3. Wind operated electrical generating apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the channel is elongated and extends horizontally approximately the length of the front of the vehicle.

4. Wind operated electrical generating apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the plurality of radially extending blades of the turbine are elongated and extend horizontally approximately the length of the front of the vehicle.

5. Wind operated electrical generating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrical generator includes a rotor and a stator and the turbine is connected to the rotor.

6. Wind operated electrical generating apparatus as claimed in claim 5 including an electrical generator on each end of the axle of the turbine.

7. Wind operated electrical generating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing is constructed to attach to a front bumper of the vehicle.

8. Wind operated electrical generating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing is constructed to replace a front bumper of the vehicle.

9. Wind operated electrical generating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of radially extending blades of the turbine are elongated and extend horizontally less than the length of the front of the vehicle.

10. Wind operated electrical generating apparatus comprising:

a housing designed to be attached to a front bumper of a powered vehicle and formed to extend substantially the length of the front bumper for intercepting air flow produced by movement of the powered vehicle, the housing being further formed with an opening designed to direct intercepted air flow into an elongated channel substantially the length of the front bumper;

a turbine including an elongated axle with a plurality of radially extending blades rotatably mounted in the channel within the housing for rotation of the turbine with air flow in the channel, the blades having a length substantially equal to the length of the channel; and

an electrical generator attached to the axle of the turbine for rotation with the turbine, an electrical output of the electrical generator being attachable to an electrical system of the powered vehicle.

11. Wind operated electrical generating apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the electrical generator includes a rotor and a stator and the turbine is connected to the rotor.

12. Wind operated electrical generating apparatus as claimed in claim 11 including an electrical generator on each end of the axle of the turbine.

13. Wind operated electrical generating apparatus on a powered vehicle comprising:

a powered vehicle having a front end and an electrical system;

a housing attached to the front end of the vehicle and formed to extend a horizontal length equal to a horizontal length of the front end of the vehicle for intercepting air flow produced by movement of the vehicle, the housing being further formed with an opening designed to direct intercepted air flow into a channel, the channel having a horizontal length smaller than the horizontal length of the housing;

a turbine rotatably mounted within the housing in the channel for rotation of the turbine with air flow in the channel; and

an electrical generator attached to the turbine for rotation with the turbine, the electrical generator having electrical output leads attached to the electrical system of the powered vehicle.