Vehicle air turbine

• US 8,967,302 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2011
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Don Tran
• Original Assignee: Don Tran
• Inventors: Tran, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeffrey J
• Application Number:
  US13/210,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20130043082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 180/2.2
• US Class Current: 180/2.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/006 wind power driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/14 Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/145 Haulage vehicles, trailing trucks
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/10 Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/0481 and only with concentrating action, i.e. only increasing the airflow speed into the rotor, e.g. divergent outlets F03D3/049 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/32 on moving objects, e.g. vehicles
• 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 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof

Abstract

A vehicle air turbine has a vehicle body and an air turbine assembly includes an air turbine blade mounted on a turbine frame. The turbine frame is mounted on a rotating axle, and the rotating axle is mounted to the vehicle body. An air inlet is mounted in front of the air turbine with an air outlet behind the air turbine. A front wing is connected to a wing frame to form an airfoil for directing air through the turbine. The front wing is movable relative to the wing frame, and the airfoil is inverted to draw air into the air inlet. A turbine inlet deflector directs air flow towards a turbine inlet portion. A generator can be mounted to the rotating axle for generating electricity.

Claims

1. A vehicle air turbine comprising:

a. a vehicle body;

b. an air turbine assembly including an air turbine blade mounted on a turbine frame, wherein the turbine frame is mounted on a rotating axle, wherein the rotating axle is mounted to the vehicle body;

c. an air inlet in front of the air turbine;

d. an air outlet behind the air turbine;

e. a front wing connected to a wing frame to form an airfoil for directing air through the turbine, wherein the front wing is movable relative to the wing frame, wherein the airfoil is inverted to draw air into the air inlet; and

a rear wing mounted on the wing frame at a rear wing hinge.

2. The vehicle air turbine of claim 1, further comprising:

a rear wing cable connection formed on a rear wing and receiving a connection to a rear wing cable.

3. The vehicle air turbine of claim 1, further comprising:

a front wing coiled spring mounted in a front wing spring hinge, wherein the front coiled spring biases the front wing to a front wing closed position from a front wing airfoil position.

4. The vehicle air turbine of claim 1, further comprising:

a rear wing coiled spring mounted in the rear wing spring hinge, wherein the rear coiled spring biases the rear wing to a rear wing closed position from a rear wing airfoil position.

5. The vehicle air turbine of claim 1, further comprising:

a turbine inlet deflector directing air flow towards a turbine inlet portion;

a generator mounted to the rotating axle for generating electricity; and

a wing controller mechanically connected to the front wing.

6. A vehicle air turbine comprising:

a. a vehicle body;

b. an air turbine assembly including an air turbine blade mounted on a turbine frame, wherein the turbine frame is mounted on a rotating axle, wherein the rotating axle is mounted to the vehicle body;

c. an air inlet in front of the air turbine;

d. an air outlet behind the air turbine;

e. a front wing connected to a wing frame to form an airfoil for directing air through the turbine, wherein the front wing is movable relative to the wing frame, wherein the airfoil is inverted to draw air into the air inlet; and

a front concave formed on the front wing, wherein the front wing has a profile which is concave so that the front wing bends upward.

7. The vehicle air turbine of claim 6, further comprising:

a turbine inlet deflector directing air flow towards a turbine inlet portion;

a generator mounted to the rotating axle for generating electricity; and

a wing controller mechanically connected to the front wing.

8. A vehicle air turbine comprising:

a. a vehicle body;

b. an air turbine assembly including an air turbine blade mounted on a turbine frame, wherein the turbine frame is mounted on a rotating axle, wherein the rotating axle is mounted to the vehicle body;

c. an air inlet in front of the air turbine;

d. an air outlet behind the air turbine;

e. a front wing connected to a wing frame to form an airfoil for directing air through the turbine, wherein the front wing is movable relative to the wing frame, wherein the airfoil is inverted to draw air into the air inlet; and

a rear concave formed on the rear wing, wherein the rear wing has a profile which is concave so that the rear wing bends upward.

9. The vehicle air turbine of claim 8, further comprising:

a turbine inlet deflector directing air flow towards a turbine inlet portion;

a generator mounted to the rotating axle for generating electricity; and

a wing controller mechanically connected to the front wing.