Patent ID: 7338257
Filing Date: 2008-03-04
Classification: B60L,F03B,F03D,F05B,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A ground vehicle comprising a device for interacting with a fluid moving relative to said device, said device comprising: a body characterized by an axis of rotation and having a periphery, said body being rotatable about said axis of rotation; a plurality of vanes associated with said body, each one of said plurality of vanes being movable between an extended position relative to said periphery and a retracted position relative to said periphery; a control mechanism coupled to said plurality of vanes for selectively moving each one of said plurality of vanes between said extended position and said retracted position during rotation of said body; and a transmission mechanism associated with said body for transmitting energy associated with rotation of said body to a remote device in said ground vehicle, said remote device being operative to convert the energy associated with rotation of said body into mechanical or electrical energy.