Systems for modifying a fluid flow of a vehicle

• US 9,581,179 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2013
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Original Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US13/960,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20130312857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/384.1, 340/999
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/00 Tyre parts or constructions not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/00 Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 1/34 by reducing surface friction
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2039/068 the foils having a variable cross section, e.g. a variable camber
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 9/06 Types of sail; Constructional features of sails; Arrangements thereof on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2230/02 by using acoustic waves generated by transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 23/005 by other means not covered by groups B64C23/02 - B64C23/08, e.g. by electric charges, magnetic panels, piezoelectric elements, static charges or ultrasounds
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/125 Direct injection in the combustion chamber for spark ignition engines, i.e. not in pre-combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 27/08 by sonic or ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 69/041 having vibrating means for atomizing the fuel, e.g. with sonic or ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: F15D 1/0075 comprising electromagnetic or electrostatic means for influencing the state of the fluid, e.g. for ionising the fluid or for generating a plasma
• CPC Class Codes: F15D 1/12 by influencing the boundary layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/10 Drag reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/10 Measures concerning design or construction of watercraft hulls
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0391 Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/206 Flow affected by fluid contact, energy field or coanda effect [e.g., pure fluid device or system]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2191 By non-fluid energy field affecting input [e.g., transducer]

Abstract

Drag experienced by a vehicle traveling through an environmental media, such as air or water, may be modified by one or more energy beams which may increase or decrease drag. A control system may be used to actively modulate the drag of the vehicle by selectively transmitting energy beams. Energy beams may include electric pulse signals, pulsed air, piezoelectric, infrared, ultraviolet, laser, optical band, microwave, thermal other known acoustic, electric, optical, or other electromagnetic energy and any combination thereof. This could be a constant or pulsed energy beam and adjusted for the speed and/or vertical lift, frequency, density, angle, pulse and wavelengths experienced by the vehicle. Charged particles may be emitted from the vehicle itself and then utilized in front or behind the vehicle via electric current to improve the boundary layer, boundary flow.

Claims

1. A system for interacting with a structure positioned a distance from a vehicle, the system comprising:

a vehicle including a surface having a leading portion and a trailing portion;

an array of individually actuatable energy transmitters coupled to the surface of the vehicle, the array of individually actuatable energy transmitters configured to emit electrical ultrasonic away from the surface to a structure positioned a distance from the vehicle; and

a controller electrically coupled to the array of individually actuatable energy transmitters, the controller configured to selectively pulse the transmitters to interact with the structure positioned a distance from the vehicle by transmitting an ultrasonic alert signal from at least one energy transmitter of the array of the individually actuatable energy transmitters, wherein the transmitted ultrasonic alert signal is transmitted directly toward the structure positioned a distance from the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy is emitted at an angle with respect to the surface.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy is substantially perpendicular to the surface.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy is directed into a boundary layer of fluid adjacent the surface of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein electric current is emitted into the boundary layer.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein charged particles are emitted into the boundary layer.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the fluid flow is modified above or below the surface.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid flow is modified forward of the leading portion or rearward of the trailing portion.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid pressure is changed forward or rearward of the surface.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy adjusts the fluid flow adjacent a wing.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy adjusts the fluid flow forward or rearward of an engine.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy is adjustable to increase or decrease drag.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy is adjustable in response to a velocity or acceleration of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy is adjustable in response to a density, temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, or altitude of the fluid.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid substantially comprises air, water, or a combination thereof.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a pressure sensor, altimeter sensor, temperature sensor, or wind direction sensor.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy is modulated.

18. A system for modifying a fluid flow of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a vehicle including a surface having a leading portion and a trailing portion;

a first transmitter on the surface, the first transmitter being configured to emit a first electrical energy away from the surface and into the environmental media at a first angle with respect to the surface;

a second transmitter at or near the leading or trailing portion, the second transmitter being configured to emit a second electrical energy away from the surface and into the environmental media at a second angle with respect to the surface; and

a controller configured to selectively pulse the first and second transmitters to modify the fluid flow.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the first and second angles are substantially perpendicular to the surface.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the first or second energy is directed away from the surface.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the first or second energy is directed into a boundary layer of fluid adjacent the surface.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein electric current is emitted into the boundary layer.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein charged particles are emitted into the boundary layer.

24. The system of claim 18 wherein the first or second transmitters are configured so that the first and second energies merge.

25. The system of claim 18 wherein the fluid flow is modified above or below the surface.

26. The system of claim 18 wherein the fluid flow is modified forward of the leading portion or rearward of the trailing portion.

27. The system of claim 18 wherein a fluid pressure is changed forward or rearward of the surface.

28. The system of claim 18 wherein the energy adjusts the fluid flow adjacent a wing.

29. The system of claim 18 wherein the energy adjusts the fluid flow forward or rearward of an engine.

30. The system of claim 18 wherein the first or second angle is adjustable to increase or decrease drag.

31. The system of claim 18 wherein the first or second energy is adjustable in response to a velocity or acceleration of the vehicle.

32. The system of claim 18 wherein the first or second energy is adjustable in response to a density, temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, or altitude of the fluid.

33. The system of claim 18 wherein the fluid substantially comprises air, water, or a combination thereof.

34. The system of claim 18 further comprising at least one of a pressure sensor, altimeter sensor, temperature sensor, or wind direction sensor.

35. The system of claim 18 wherein the first or second energy is modulated.

36. A system for modifying a fluid flow of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a surface of the vehicle having a first portion and a second portion;

a first transmitter at the first portion, the first transmitter being configured to emit a first electrical energy away from the surface and into the environmental media to modify the fluid flow at or near the first portion;

a second transmitter at the second portion, the second transmitter being configured to emit a second electrical energy away from the surface and into the environmental media to modify the fluid flow at or near the second portion;

a controller configured to selectively actuate the first and second transmitters to modify the fluid flow at or near the first and second portions.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the first or second energy is directed away from the surface.

38. The system of claim 36 wherein the first or second energy is directed into a boundary layer of fluid adjacent the surface.

39. The system of claim 36 wherein the first and second transmitters are configured so that the first and second energies merge.