Wind turbine for electric car
First Claim
1. A system for charging an electric storage battery of a motor vehicle, comprising:
- an internal wind turbine mountable to the roof of the vehicle and contained within a housing formed from a closeable lid and bottom panel;
an air flow corridor formed within the housing to communicate air between an air inlet opening in the front of the housing, through a central portion, and an air outlet opening in the rear of the housing, the air flow corridor having an entryway portion in communication with the air inlet opening, wherein the entryway portion is contoured to conduct air entering the inlet opening toward the central portion which is further contoured to conduct air rotationally around the internal wind turbine;
a turbine blade assembly having turbine blades with weighted tips, the assembly disposed within the central portion of the air corridor and operative to rotate in response to air moving through the central portion; and
an electric generator coupled to the turbine blade assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for harnessing wind energy to charge the electric storage battery of a vehicle, whether the vehicle is parked or in motion. While the vehicle is being driven, a roof-mounted, internal wind turbine harnesses wind energy and causes rotation of the shaft of an electric generator mounted to an interior surface of the roof. For charging the battery while the vehicle is parked, an external wind turbine is storable in the vehicle when not in use and attaches to the internal wind turbine. Cups of the kind used in cup anemometers are attached to radial arms that extend from an external shaft of the external wind turbine and catch ambient wind currents while the vehicle is parked, causing the external shaft and the generator shaft to rotate.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for charging an electric storage battery of a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an internal wind turbine mountable to the roof of the vehicle and contained within a housing formed from a closeable lid and bottom panel; an air flow corridor formed within the housing to communicate air between an air inlet opening in the front of the housing, through a central portion, and an air outlet opening in the rear of the housing, the air flow corridor having an entryway portion in communication with the air inlet opening, wherein the entryway portion is contoured to conduct air entering the inlet opening toward the central portion which is further contoured to conduct air rotationally around the internal wind turbine; a turbine blade assembly having turbine blades with weighted tips, the assembly disposed within the central portion of the air corridor and operative to rotate in response to air moving through the central portion; and an electric generator coupled to the turbine blade assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
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11. An electric storage battery charging system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an internal wind turbine mountable to a roof of the vehicle and contained within a housing formed from a closeable lid and bottom panel, wherein the bottom panel is releasably attachable to a roof of the motor vehicle; an air flow corridor formed within the housing to communicate air between an air inlet opening in the front of the housing and an air outlet opening in the rear of the housing, the air flow corridor having an entryway portion in communication with the air inlet opening, wherein the entryway portion is contoured to conduct air entering the inlet opening toward a central portion that is further contoured to conduct air rotationally around the internal wind turbine; a turbine blade assembly forming the internal wind turbine and having turbine blades with weighted tips, the assembly disposed within a central portion of the air corridor and operative to rotate in response to air moving through the central portion; wherein the lid in combination with the corridor and bottom panel forms a closed compartment substantially surrounding the turbine blade assembly; and an electric generator coupled to the turbine blade assembly. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for charging an electric storage battery of a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an internal wind turbine mountable to a roof of the vehicle and contained within a housing formed from a closeable lid and bottom panel; an air flow corridor formed within the housing to communicate air between an air inlet opening in the front of the housing, through a central portion, and to an air outlet opening in the rear of the housing, the air flow corridor being attached to the bottom panel and having an entryway portion in communication with the air inlet opening, the central portion, and a discharge portion in communication with the air outlet opening, wherein the entryway portion is contoured to conduct air entering the inlet opening toward the central portion which is further contoured to conduct air rotationally around the internal wind turbine; a turbine blade assembly forming the internal wind turbine and having turbine blades with weighted tips, the assembly disposed within the central portion and operative to rotate in response to air moving through the central portion, the turbine blade assembly including a hub rotatable about a turbine shaft axis; and an electric generator coupled to the turbine blade assembly. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification