Systems and/or methods for using air/wind power to charge/re-charge vehicle batteries

• US 8,710,789 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2009
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patents Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Patents Innovations LLC
• Inventors: Mardirossian, Aris
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORRES RUIZ, JOHALI ALEJANDRA
• Application Number:
  US12/588,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20100090643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/101, 180/2.2
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/06 with air cooling
• 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 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/52 Wind-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/006 Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0307 using generators driven by a machine different from the vehicle motor
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/02 having a plurality of rotors
• 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 9/32 on moving objects, e.g. vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/13 to collect or cause flow towards or away from turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/133 with a convergent-divergent guiding structure, e.g. a Venturi conduit
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/941 which is a land vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• 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 10/728 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 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 : Electrical device making

Abstract

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to techniques that harness air/wind power to charge and/or re-charge a battery of a vehicle that is at least partially electrically powered. In certain example embodiments, air/wind enters into a channel formed in a vehicle and turns a turbine which, in turn, generates electricity that may be used to charge and/or re-charge a battery of the vehicle. In certain example embodiments, the velocity of the air/wind may be increased within the channel by virtue of features including, for example, retractable and/or directional vanes and/or side wall elements that help create constricting locations (or choke points). In certain example embodiments, the velocity of the air/wind may be increased within the channel by virtue of features that produce the Coanda effect. Thus, for instance, both the Venturi effect and the Coanda effect may be used to increase the efficiency of the overall system.

Claims

1. A system for charging and/or re-charging a battery in a vehicle, comprising:

a channel having a body into which wind/air can flow;

a plurality of turbines located in the body of the channel, each said turbine being rotatable by the wind/air flowing through the channel;

a plurality of vanes located in the body of the channel upstream of the turbines, wherein constricting locations are created between adjacent vanes, the constricting locations being located so as to increase velocity of the wind/air flowing through the channel upstream of the turbines, wherein the turbines are retractable;

a computer-based control system configured to cause the each of said vanes to retract when the vehicle reaches a predetermined speed threshold associated with the vanes; and

an electric power subsystem configured to harness energy generated by the turbines and charge and/or re-charge the battery in the vehicle using the harnessed energy.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a feature mounted to the side wall of the channel substantially in line with the plurality of vanes.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one substantially columnar feature located in the channel so as to increase velocity of the wind/air flowing through the channel upstream of the turbines.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one substantially columnar feature is located upstream of the plurality of vanes.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of substantially columnar features.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein each said substantially columnar feature is located downstream of the chokepoints created by the vanes.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured to regulate current of harnessed energy.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of backup batteries configured to temporarily store the harnessed energy.

9. A vehicle comprising the system of claim 1.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the channel vents into the tailpipe.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the channel is connected to the engine such that the wind/air exits the channel and is fed into the engine.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the channel is located behind a front grille of the vehicle.

13. A system for charging and/or re-charging a battery in a vehicle, comprising:

a channel having a body into which wind/air can flow;

at least one turbine located in the body of the channel, each said turbine being rotatable by the wind/air flowing through the channel;

a plurality of vanes located in the body of the channel upstream of the turbines, wherein constricting locations are created between adjacent vanes, the constricting locations being located so as to increase velocity of the wind/air flowing through the channel upstream of the turbines, wherein the turbines are retractable;

a computer-based control system configured to cause the each of said vanes to retract when the vehicle reaches a predetermined speed threshold associated with the vanes; and

an electric power subsystem configured to harness energy generated by the turbines and charge and/or re-charge the battery in the vehicle using the harnessed energy.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising at least one substantially columnar feature located in the channel so as to increase velocity of the wind/air flowing through the channel upstream of the turbines.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of backup batteries configured to temporarily store the harnessed energy.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the channel is disposed in the vehicle so that wind/air exiting therefrom flows to an area proximate to the battery such that, in operation, the battery is cooled via the wind/air.

17. A vehicle comprising the system of claim 13.

18. A method of making a system for charging and/or re-charging a battery in a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a channel having a body into which wind/air can flow;

providing a plurality of turbines in the body of the channel, each said turbine being rotatable by the wind/air flowing through the channel;

providing a plurality of vanes located in the body of the channel upstream of the turbines, wherein constricting locations are created between adjacent vanes, the constricting locations being located so as to increase velocity of the wind/air flowing through the channel upstream of the turbines as the vehicle moves, wherein the turbines are retractable;

providing a computer-based control system configured to cause the each of said vanes to retract when the vehicle reaches a predetermined speed threshold associated with the vanes; and

providing an electric power subsystem configured to harness energy generated by the turbines and charge and/or re-charge the battery in the vehicle using the harnessed energy as the vehicle moves.