System and method for creating a portable networked vehicle infrastructure distribution platform of small wind gathering devices

• US 7,498,684 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tamiras Per Pte Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Genedics, LLC
• Inventors: Merritt, Edward, Fein, Gene S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko; Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US11/674,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20080150284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 290/1.A, 290/43, 290/44, 290/54, 290/55, 180/2.2, 180/65.3
• US Class Current: 290/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/003 solar power driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/006 wind power driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/00 Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/006 Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines
• 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: F05B 2220/61 for hydrogen and/or oxygen production
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/212 of the Darrieus type
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/9113 which is a roadway, rail track, or the like for recovering energy from moving vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/941 which is a land vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/25 helical
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/82 Micromachines
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/10 with circulation of working fluids through underground channels, the working fluids not coming into direct contact with the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/10 Geothermal energy
• 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 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• 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

Creating a large fleet of vehicles to gather wind energy and generate wind generated energy, such as electricity, is impeded by the cost to an individual vehicle owner. Accordingly, a portable system and corresponding method to gather wind energy and deposit stored wind generated energy for system credit is provided. The present invention includes a wind energy gathering device, an energy storage system, means for depositing stored wind generated energy for system credit, and a configuration of any one or combination of the aforementioned, the configuration adapted to at least be movable from a first vehicle to a second vehicle. As such, there is an incentive for individual vehicle owners to participate in gathering wind energy and depositing wind generated energy. By taking advantage of potentially millions of participants and participating vehicles, the present invention creates a format for generating energy from multiple forms of wind energy on a wide-scale.

Claims

1. A portable wind energy gathering system to gather wind energy and deposit wind generated energy for system credit, the system comprising:

a wind energy gathering device to gather wind energy and generate wind generated energy;

a energy storage system, electrically coupled to the wind energy gathering device, to store wind generated energy;

means for depositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit; and

a configuration of any one or combination of the wind energy gathering device, the energy storage system, and the means for depositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit, the configuration adapted to at least be movable from a first location to a second location.

2. The portable system of claim 1 wherein the configuration is provided to a participant of the portable wind energy gathering system at substantially no cost.

3. The portable system of claim 1 wherein the configuration is adapted to be installed and removed by a participant of the portable wind energy gathering system with no technical skill or training.

4. The portable system of claim 1 wherein the configuration is adapted to be installed and removed by a participant of the portable wind energy gathering system with common tools or no tools.

5. The portable system of claim 1 wherein the configuration is dimensioned to be movable from the first location to the second location by a participant of typical build and strength.

6. The portable system of claim 1 wherein the configuration is constructed to withstand being moved from the first location to the second location.

7. The portable system of claim 1 further comprising means for removably affixing the configuration to a vehicle participating in the portable wind energy gathering system.

8. The portable system of claim 1 wherein the wind energy gathering device is at least one small helix wind turbine.

9. The portable system of claim 8 wherein the at least one small helix wind turbine is secured to a small helix wind turbine installation sheet.

10. The portable system of claim 1 wherein the wind energy gathering device is adapted to gather wind energy created by any combination of:

atmospheric wind, air movement caused by other vehicles or objects, and air movement caused by a moving vehicle to which the portable wind energy gathering system is removably affixed.

11. The portable system of claim 1 wherein the wind energy gathering device is adapted to gather wind energy from incident wind striking the wind energy gathering device or some portion of the wind energy gathering device.

12. The portable system of claim 1 wherein the energy storage system is any one or combination of:

a dry cell battery, a wet cell battery, a gel cell battery, a fuel cell battery, a thin film battery, and a nanobattery.

13. The portable system of claim 1 wherein the means for depositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit is a first battery adapted to be readily exchanged with a second battery.

14. The portable system of claim 1 wherein the means for depositing the stored wind generated energy is any one or combination of an electrical connector of type:

plug, socket and paddle.

15. The portable system of claim 1 further comprising means for distributing deposited wind generated energy.

16. The portable system of claim 15 wherein the means for distributing the deposited wind generated energy is a roadway system electricity grid.

17. The portable system of claim 1 further comprising an inverter to power condition the wind generated energy.

18. A method for gathering wind energy and depositing wind generated energy for system credit, the method comprising:

gathering wind energy and generating wind generated energy using a wind energy gathering device;

storing the generated wind generated energy in an energy storage system; and

depositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit in a portable wind energy gathering system.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein gathering wind energy includes gathering any combination of:

atmospheric wind, air movement caused by other vehicles or objects, and air movement caused by a moving vehicle to which the wind energy gathering device is removably affixed.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein gathering wind energy includes gathering wind energy from incident wind striking the wind energy gathering device or some portion of the wind energy gathering device.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein depositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit includes exchanging a first battery for a second battery.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein depositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit includes crediting a participant according to an amount of stored wind generated energy deposited.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein crediting the participant includes crediting the participant with any type of a toll fee credit, cash payment, credit at a participating business, and combinations thereof.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein depositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit includes crediting a participant according to an amount of stored wind generated energy used to power elements of a participating vehicle.

25. The method of claim 18 further comprising configuring any one or combination of the wind energy gathering device, the energy storage system, and means for depositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit into a configuration, the configuration adapted to at least be movable from a first location to a second location.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein configuring includes adapting the configuration to be installed and removed by a participant of the portable wind energy gathering system with no technical skill or training.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein configuring includes adapting the configuration to be installed and removed by a participant of the portable wind energy gathering system with common tools or no tools.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein configuring includes dimensioning the configuration to be moved from the first location to the second location by a participant of typical build and strength.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein configuring includes constructing the configuration to withstand being moved from the first location to the second location.

30. A portable apparatus for gathering wind energy and depositing wind generated energy for system credit, the apparatus comprising:

means for gathering wind energy and generating wind generated energy;

means for storing the generated wind generated energy; and

means for depositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit in a portable wind energy gathering system.

31. The portable apparatus of claim 30 further comprising means for configuring any one or combination of the means for gathering wind energy and generating wind generated energy, the means for storing the generated wind generated energy, and the means for depositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit, the means for configuring adapted to be at least movable from a first location to a second location.