Abstract:
A vehicle may include a battery, a generator, a turbine and a movable member. The generator may be in communication with the battery and may be operable to charge the battery. The turbine may be mounted within a cavity formed in a body of the vehicle and may be rotatable relative to the body. The turbine may be coupled to the generator to transmit torque from the turbine to the generator. The cavity may include an inlet and an outlet. The member may be movable relative to the cavity between an open position allowing airflow through the inlet and a closed position restricting airflow through the inlet.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a wind-powered generator for a vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Vehicles typically include one or more batteries for powering various vehicle systems and accessories. Conventionally, such vehicles may include an alternator powered by an internal combustion engine of the vehicle that is operable to recharge the battery. Some vehicles include a regenerative-braking system that converts the vehicle&#39;s kinetic energy into electrical energy to recharge one or more vehicle batteries. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The present disclosure provides a vehicle that may include a battery, a generator, a turbine and a movable member. The generator may be in communication with the battery and may be operable to charge the battery. The turbine may be mounted within a cavity formed in a body of the vehicle and may be rotatable relative to the body. The turbine may be coupled to the generator to transmit torque from the turbine to the generator. The cavity may include an inlet and an outlet. The member may be movable relative to the cavity between an open position allowing airflow through the inlet and a closed position restricting airflow through the inlet. 
         [0004]    In some embodiments, the cavity may be formed in a roof of the body. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments, the member may be substantially flush with a roof of the body when the member is in the closed position and may extend outward from the roof in the open position. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the turbine may be disposed entirely below a top surface of a roof of the body. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the vehicle may include an actuator operable to move the member between the open and closed positions and a control module controlling operation of the actuator in response to deceleration of the vehicle. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the control module may control operation of the actuator based on whether the vehicle is in a highway-driving mode or a city-driving mode. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the vehicle may include a clutch coupled to the turbine and the generator and operable in an engaged mode in which rotational motion of the turbine is transmitted to the generator and a disengaged mode in which the turbine is allowed to rotate independently of the generator. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the vehicle may include a control module controlling operation of the clutch in response to deceleration of the vehicle. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, the cavity may be formed in a lateral side of the body. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the vehicle may include another turbine coupled to another generator and mounted within another cavity formed in the body of the vehicle. 
         [0013]    In another form, the present disclosure provides a generator system for a vehicle that may include a generator, a wind-powered turbine, and a clutch. The generator may be in communication with a vehicle battery and operable to charge the vehicle battery. The turbine may be rotatably in response to exposure to airflow. The clutch may be coupled to the turbine and the generator and may be operable in an engaged mode to transmit torque from the turbine to the generator and a disengaged mode in which the turbine is allowed to rotate independently of the generator. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the generator system may include a control module controlling operation of the clutch in response to deceleration of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the control module may control operation of the clutch based on whether the vehicle is in a highway-driving mode or a city-driving mode. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the generator system may include a scoop extending from a body of the vehicle that directs air toward the turbine. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the turbine may be mounted within a cavity formed in a body of the vehicle and rotatable relative to the body. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the generator system may include a member movable relative to the cavity between an open position allowing airflow through an inlet of the cavity and a closed position restricting airflow through the inlet. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the member may be substantially flush with the roof when the member is in the closed position and may extend outward from the roof in the open position. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the generator system may include an actuator operable to move the member between the open and closed positions and a control module controlling operation of the actuator in response to deceleration of the vehicle. 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, the turbine may be disposed below a top surface of a roof of the vehicle. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the turbine may rotate about an axis that is perpendicular to an axis extending through front and rear ends of a body of the vehicle. 
         [0022]    Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, claims and drawings provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the summary and detailed description, including the disclosed embodiments and drawings, are merely exemplary in nature intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, its application or use. Thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a vehicle including a generator system having a wind-powered turbine according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a partially cross-sectioned, partial side view of the vehicle including the wind-powered turbine and a deployable flap in a closed position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a partially cross-sectioned, partial side view of the vehicle with the deployable flap in an open position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of components of the generator system in communication with a vehicle battery; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a partially cross-sectioned, partial side view of another vehicle having another wind-powered generator according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a side view of yet another vehicle having wind-powered generators according to the principles of the present disclosure; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is a partial top view of the vehicle and wind-powered generators of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    In an exemplary embodiment and with reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , a vehicle  10  is provided that may include a generator system  12  configured to charge or recharge one or more batteries  14  of the vehicle  10 . The generator system  12  may include a wind-powered generator  16  and a deployable flap  18 . While the vehicle  10  is in motion, the generator system  12  may be selectively operable to convert kinetic energy of the vehicle  10  to electrical energy to charge the one or more batteries  14 . As will be subsequently described, the flap  18  may be movable between a closed position ( FIG. 2 ) in which the wind-powered generator  16  is shielded from wind during forward motion of the vehicle  10  and an open position ( FIG. 3 ) in which the wind-powered generator  16  is exposed to wind during forward motion of the vehicle  10 . When the vehicle  10  is moving forward and the flap  18  is in the open position, wind may drive the wind-powered generator  16 . 
         [0031]    The wind-powered generator  16  may include a turbine  20 , a clutch  22  and a generator  24  (as shown schematically in  FIG. 1 ). The turbine  20  may be an axial turbine, for example, and may be disposed within a cavity  26  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) in a body  28  of the vehicle  10 . The cavity  26  may include an inlet  30  and an outlet  32 . The turbine  20  and cavity  26  may extend horizontally across at least a portion of a width of a roof  34  of the vehicle  10 . When the flap  18  is in the closed position ( FIG. 2 ), wind may be restricted or prevented from flowing through the inlet  30  and may bypass the cavity  26 . When the flap  18  is in the open position ( FIG. 3 ), wind may flow through the inlet  30 , rotate the turbine  20  and exit through the outlet  32 . 
         [0032]    While the cavity  26  is described above as being formed in the roof  34  of the vehicle  10  proximate a rear window  36  of the vehicle  10 , it will be appreciated that the cavity  26  could be disposed at any other suitable location on the body  28  of the vehicle  10 . The location of the cavity  26  may be chosen based on one or more of a variety of factors, such as, for example, availability of packaging space, aesthetic design considerations, and/or aerodynamic properties of the vehicle  10  (e.g., flow-separation locations, locations of high or low turbulent flow, etc.). 
         [0033]    The clutch  22  may be any suitable type of clutch, such as a friction clutch, for example. The clutch  22  may be connected to the turbine  20  and the generator  24  and may be operable in an engaged mode to transmit rotational motion of the turbine  20  to the generator  24  and a disengaged mode that allows the turbine  20  to rotate independently of the generator  24 . The generator  24  may be in electrical communication with the one or more batteries  14  and may be configured to produce electrical energy and charge the one or more batteries  14  when driven by the turbine  20 . The generator  24  may be an induction generator, an alternator or any other type of generator. 
         [0034]    The flap  18  may be moved between the open and closed positions by a flap actuator  38  (shown schematically in  FIGS. 1-4 ). The flap actuator  38  can include any suitable type of mechanism such as a hydraulically and/or electromechanically actuated mechanism, for example. In some configurations, the flap  18  may be rotatable between the open and closed positions about a hinge  40  (shown schematically in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the flap  18  is in the closed position, all or most of the generator system  12  may be hidden from view from the outside of the vehicle  10 . In the particular configuration shown, the turbine  20  may be disposed entirely below a top surface  41  of the roof  34 . Therefore, when the flap  18  is closed, the generator system  12  may have little or no effect on the aesthetic styling of the vehicle  10  or the aerodynamic profile of the vehicle  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the flap  18 , the cavity  26  and the rest of the generator system  12  add little or no wind resistance to the profile of the vehicle  10  when the flap is in the closed position. 
         [0036]    A control module  42  ( FIGS. 1 and 4 ) may be in communication with and control operation of the clutch  22  and the flap actuator  38 . The control module  42  may selectively move the clutch  22  into the engaged mode and cause the flap actuator  38  to open the flap  18  to allow the wind into the cavity  26  to drive the turbine  20  and power the generator  24 . The control module  42  may include or be part of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated or group) and/or memory (shared, dedicated or group) that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. The control module  42  may be a part of or include a control unit controlling one or more other vehicle systems. Alternatively, the control module  42  may be a control unit dedicated to the generator system  12 . 
         [0037]    In some configurations, the control module  42  may move the clutch  22  into the engaged mode and move the flap  18  into the open position in response to a driver depressing a brake pedal of the vehicle  10 . Additionally or alternatively, the control module  42  may move the clutch  22  in the engaged mode and move the flap  18  into the open position in response to the driver removing his or her foot from the accelerator pedal (i.e., the gas pedal) of the vehicle  10 . In some configurations, the control module  42  may close the flap  18  when the vehicle  10  is stationary and/or traveling below a predetermined speed. 
         [0038]    In some configurations, the control module  42  may maintain the flap  18  in the closed position when the control module  42  determines that the vehicle  10  is operating in a highway-driving mode (e.g., cruising at relatively high speed). In such configurations, the flap  18  may remain in the closed position, even if the driver has momentarily removed his or her foot from the accelerator pedal. When the control module  42  determines that the vehicle  10  is operating in a city-driving mode (e.g., the vehicle  10  is accelerating and braking relatively frequently), the control module  42  may move the clutch  22  into the engaged mode and move the flap  18  into the open position in response to removal of the driver&#39;s foot from the accelerator pedal and/or depression of the brake pedal, as described above. 
         [0039]    In some configurations, the wind-powered generator  16  may not include the clutch  22 . In such configurations, the turbine  20  may be permanently rotationally coupled to the generator  24 . 
         [0040]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , another vehicle  110  is provided that may include a generator system  112 . The generator system  112  may include a wind-powered generator  116  that may be similar or identical to the wind-powered generator  16  described above, apart from any exceptions noted below and/or shown in the figures. The wind-powered generator  116  may include a turbine  120  coupled to a generator (not shown) by a clutch (not shown). The clutch and generator of the wind-powered generator  116  may be similar or identical to the clutch  22  and generator  24  of the wind-powered generator  16  described above. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the turbine  120  may be disposed within a cavity  126  in a body  128  of the vehicle  110 . The cavity  126  may be defined by a scoop  129  fixed to a roof  134  of the vehicle  110 . The scoop  129  may include an inlet  130  and an outlet  132 . The inlet  130  may be fixed in an open position. A control module (not shown) (which may be substantially similar to the control module  42 ) may control operation of the clutch according to any of the criteria described above. 
         [0042]    With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , another vehicle  210  is provided that may include a plurality of generator systems  212 , each having a turbine  220 , a clutch  222  and a generator  224 . The turbines  220 , clutches  222  and generators  224  may be similar or identical to the turbine  20 , clutch  22  and generator  24  described above, and therefore, will not be described again in detail. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , each of the turbines  220  may be disposed within a corresponding cavity  226  formed in a body  228  of the vehicle  210 . In the particular configuration shown, the turbines  220  and cavities  226  may extend vertically in a location rearward of a passenger compartment of the vehicle  10 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 7 , the cavities  226  are partially defined by fixed scoops  229  that extend laterally outward from the body  228  and have permanently open inlets  230  and outlets  232 . In some configurations, the vehicle  210  could include deployable flaps in addition to or instead of the scoops  229  that are movable to selectively allow and prevent airflow through the inlets  230 . In some configurations, the deployable flaps may be substantially flush with the body  228  in the closed position and may extend laterally outward from the body  228  in the open position. 
         [0044]    As described above, a control module  242  may control operation of the clutches  222  to selectively transmit rotational motion of the turbines  220  to the generators  224 . The control module  242  may be substantially similar to the control module  42  described above and may move the clutches  222  and/or flaps between the engaged and disengaged modes according to according to any of the criteria described above.