Active drag and thrust modulation system and method
First Claim
1. In a vehicle traveling through an environmental media and experiencing drag as a result thereof, a device comprising:
- a first substance dispenser for dispensing a first substance for decreasing the drag; and
a second substance dispenser for dispensing a second substance for increasing the drag.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle traveling through an environmental media such as air experiences drag. The drag is actively modulated by energy beams which may either increase or decrease the drag. The energy beams may provide either a chemical, acoustic or electromagnetic energy at a transition region between turbulent and laminar flows or at the leading edge of a laminar flow or in the direction of a crosswind in order to facilitate the respective increase or decrease in drag. If the vehicle is a sailing ship, areas of the sails are selectively roughened or widened to enhance the thrust derived from the wind. Furthermore, the keel or hull of the sailing ship may be modified to improve the hydrodynamic characteristics of the sailing ship. If the vehicle is an automobile, the tires or road surface may be selectively heated to improve the traction of the automobile. Furthermore, the energy beams may be used to facilitate atomization of the air/fuel mixture prior to combustion in an internal combustion engine thereby improving the thrust of provided to the vehicle. Energy beams may be used to generate virtual extensions of a vehicle to enhance traveling efficiency.
18 Citations
48 Claims
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1. In a vehicle traveling through an environmental media and experiencing drag as a result thereof, a device comprising:
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a first substance dispenser for dispensing a first substance for decreasing the drag; and
a second substance dispenser for dispensing a second substance for increasing the drag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a vehicle traveling through an environmental media and experiencing drag as a result thereof, a method comprising the steps of:
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dispensing a first substance for decreasing the drag in response to a drag decreasing signal; and
dispensing a second substance for increasing the drag in response to a drag increasing signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. In a vehicle traveling in a forward direction though an environmental media, moving at least partially in a cross direction perpendicular the forward direction, experiencing vehicle drag as a result of the environmental media moving in the cross direction, a method comprising the step of
transmitting an energy beam from the vehicle into the environmental media in the cross direction.
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17. A sail comprising:
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an aerodynamically rough surface on a first side of the sail; and
an aerodynamically smooth surface on a second side of the sail. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A sail comprising:
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a thin sheet portion; and
a widening portion for selectively widening the thickness of the sail. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of reducing the drag on a sailing ship having a keel comprising the step of
varying a hydrodynamic characteristic of the keel while the sailing ship is sailing.
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35. A method of enhancing atomization of a fuel spray comprising the steps of:
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injecting the fuel spray into an air environment; and
radiating the fuel spray with an energy beam for facilitating atomization of the fuel spray into the air environment. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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- 43. In a vehicle having at least a first tire a method comprising the step of selectively heating the first tire in response to a first signal.
Specification