Energy storage and charging system for a vehicle

• US 8,476,863 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2010
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitchell Andrew Paasch
• Original Assignee: Mitchell Andrew Paasch
• Inventors: Paasch, Mitchell Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): PELTON, NATHANIEL R
• Application Number:
  US12/781,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20100225282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 320/152, 320/101, 180/2.2, 180/165
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 16/00 Arrangements in connection with power supply of propulsion units in vehicles from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind B60L8/00; marine propulsion by wind motors driving water-engaging propulsive elements B63H13/00; wind motors specially adapted for installation on vehicles F03D9/32
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/006 Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/04 having stationary wind-guiding means, e.g. with shrouds or channels F03D9/35 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 2240/941 which is a land vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1415 with a generator driven by a prime mover other than the motor of a vehicle
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

In a vehicle charging system, conservation of energy may be achieved by an energy-routing device that selectively routes electrical energy generated from moving air to an energy-storage device, to an energy-dissipation device, or to both. The determination of where to route the electrical energy may be based on sensor measurements of voltage, current, and temperature. A processor may use measurements of sensors within the system to determine whether the energy-storage device may safely or efficiently store additional electrical energy.

Claims

1. A method for regulating the storage of energy within a vehicle comprising:

channeling a moving volume of air through an air duct connecting an intake port to an exhaust port;

converting kinetic energy from the moving volume of air into electrical energy using an electromechanical conversion device;

determining whether to store the electrical energy with an energy-storage device, whether to dissipate the electrical energy with an energy-dissipation device, or whether to store a first amount of the electrical energy with the energy-storage device and dissipate a second amount of the electrical energy with the energy-dissipation device;

selectively routing the electrical energy to either the energy-storage device, or to an energy-dissipation device, or a first amount of electrical energy to the energy-storage device and a second amount of the electrical energy to the energy-dissipation device; and

displaying in the vehicle a status of the electrical charging system,

wherein the step of determining whether to store the electrical energy with an energy-storage device comprises determining the electrical energy requirements of an electrical system of the vehicle,

wherein the step of selectively routing electrical energy comprises routing the electrical energy according to the determined electrical energy requirements, and routing the electrical energy only to the energy-dissipating device when the energy-storage device is determined to be full,

wherein the step of channeling a moving volume of air through an air duct comprises channeling the moving volume of air into an intake port located at the front of the vehicle and facing a forward direction of travel of the vehicle, and channeling the moving volume of air out of an exhaust port located at the rear of the vehicle and facing an upward direction in reference to the forward direction of travel of the vehicle,

wherein the air duct is formed in the body of the vehicle,

wherein the step of converting kinetic energy from the moving volume of air into electrical energy using an electromechanical conversion device comprises using the electromechanical conversion device that is located within a housing between the intake port and the exhaust port,

wherein an impeller is rotatably mounted within the housing and is coupled with the electromechanical conversion device,

wherein the energy-dissipation device is an electrical device through which electrical current flows,

wherein the impeller is coupled with the electromechanical conversion device by way of an electromagnetic clutch,

wherein the energy-storage device is used in part to supply power to electric motors located in a plurality of wheels of the vehicle,

wherein the energy-dissipation device is located on an exterior underside of the vehicle,

wherein the energy-dissipation device is a resistive device, and

wherein the energy-dissipation device is configured to radiate electrical energy to inductively charge a device in proximity to the vehicle and on a roadway on which the vehicle travels.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy-dissipation device dissipates energy as heat, the heat being used to heat a portion of an interior component of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy-dissipation device is a resistor in two halves with a total surface area less than that of the underside of the vehicle and located on the underside of the vehicle.

4. An electrical charging system for a vehicle comprising:

an intake port located in a front bumper of a vehicle and an exhaust port located on a flat surface at the rear of the vehicle;

an air duct connecting the intake port to the exhaust port;

an impeller rotatably mounted within the air duct;

an electromechanical conversion device mechanically connected to the impeller by way of an electromagnetic clutch that is selectively engaged or disengaged;

an energy-storage device that stores electrical energy;

an energy-dissipation device located on an exterior underside of the vehicle, the energy-dissipation device having an electrical resistance and configured to dissipate electrical energy while electric current is flowing through the energy-dissipation device;

an energy-routing device configured to selectively make an electrical connection between the electromechanical conversion device and the energy-storage device, the energy-dissipation device, or both;

a processor controllably connected to the energy-routing device, the processor configured to control the energy-routing device by making a determination as to whether electrical energy should be routed to the energy-dissipation device, the energy-storage device, or both, based on demands of a plurality of electrical components in the vehicle, a voltage across the energy-storage device, a current flowing into the energy-storage device, and a temperature of the energy-storage device, and changing a state of the energy-routing device as a result of determining whether electrical energy should be routed to the energy-dissipating device such that an amount of electrical energy flows into the energy-dissipating device based on the determination; and

a display in communication with the processor configured to display the status of the electrical charging system,

wherein the processor is configured to route increased electrical energy to the energy-storage device via the energy-routing device at times of increased demand for electrical energy by the plurality of electrical components in a vehicle, and to route decreased electrical energy to the energy-storage device via the energy-routing device at times of decreased demand for electrical energy by the plurality of electrical components in a vehicle or at times when the voltage across the energy-storage device, the current flowing into the energy-storage device, or the temperature of the energy-storage device are outside of a predetermined range,

wherein the processor is configured to route electrical energy via the energy-routing device in excess of the demand for electrical energy by the plurality of electrical components in a vehicle to the energy-dissipation device and not to the energy-storage device,

wherein the energy-storage device is used in part to supply power to electric motors located in a plurality of wheels of the vehicle, and

wherein the energy-dissipation device is configured to radiate electrical energy to inductively charge a device in proximity to the vehicle and on a roadway on which the vehicle travels.

5. The electrical charging system of claim 4 further comprising:

a temperature sensor located adjacent to the energy-storage device and communicatively connected to the processor;

a voltage sensor communicatively connected to the processor; and

a current sensor communicatively connected to the processor.

6. The electrical charging system of claim 4 wherein the processor is controllably connected to the electromagnetic clutch to control the engagement and disengagement of the electromagnetic clutch based on the power requirements of the vehicle, or based on the demands of the plurality of electrical components in the vehicle, and measurements of voltage, current, and temperature in the vehicle.

7. The electrical charging system of claim 6 wherein the energy-dissipation device is a resistor in two halves with a total surface area less than that of the underside of the vehicle and located on the underside of the vehicle.

8. The electrical charging system of claim 4 wherein the electric motors located in the plurality of wheels of the vehicle are primary motivators of the vehicle.

9. The electrical charging system of claim 4 wherein the energy-dissipation device is substantially flat.

10. The electrical charging system of claim 4 wherein the energy-dissipation device is a resistor in two flat halves with a total surface area less than that of the underside of the vehicle.