Wind power generating system

A wind power generating system for generating electricity from wind generated by moving vehicles. The wind power generating system includes at least one generating assembly being designed for being positioned proximate the road. The generating assembly is designed for being engaged by the wind generated by vehicles on the road whereby the generating assembly produces electricity when the generating assemblies are engaged by the wind. The generating assembly is operationally coupled to a substation whereby electricity produced by the generating assembly is transferred to the substation for distribution. A frame assembly is coupled to the generating assemblies. The frame assembly is positioned proximate the road whereby the frame assembly is for supporting the generating assemblies in a position optimizing engagement of the generating assembly by the wind when vehicles are traveling along the road.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wind-generated power systems and more particularly pertains to a new wind power generating system for generating electricity from wind generated by moving vehicles.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of wind-generated power systems is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,467 describes a system for harnessing wind produced by a vehicle to generate supplemental electrical power. Another type of wind-generated power system is U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,593 having a plurality of impellers that are operationally coupled to a generator for harnessing wind to generate electrical power. U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,378 has a plurality of vertically mounted rotors that are rotated by the wind generated by the passage of vehicles to generate electrical power.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a new wind power generating system that positions the generating assemblies above the vehicles to harness the wind from all the vehicles on the road.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new wind power generating system that provides a shield member for each of the generating assemblies to minimize contact to moisture, such as rain and snow, to inhibit the generating assemblies being shorted out by the moisture.

To this end, the present invention generally comprises at least one generating assembly being designed for being positioned proximate the road. The generating assembly is designed for being engaged by the wind generated by vehicles on the road whereby the generating assembly produces electricity when the generating assemblies arc engaged by the wind. The generating assembly is operationally coupled to a substation whereby electricity produced by the generating assembly is transferred to the substation for distribution. A frame assembly is coupled to the generating assemblies. The frame assembly is positioned proximate the road whereby the frame assembly is for supporting the generating assemblies in a position optimizing engagement of the generating assembly by the wind when vehicles are traveling along the road.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, a new wind power generating system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 , the wind power generating system 10 generally comprises a plurality of generating assemblies 12 being designed for being positioned proximate the road. Each of the generating assemblies 12 is designed for being engaged by the wind generated by vehicles on the road whereby each of the generating assemblies 12 produces electricity when the generating assemblies 12 are engaged by the wind. Each of the generating assemblies 12 is operationally coupled to a substation whereby electricity produced by the generating assembly is transferred to the substation for distribution.

A frame assembly 14 is coupled to the generating assemblies 12 . The frame assembly 14 is positioned proximate the road whereby the frame assembly 14 is for supporting the generating assemblies 12 in a position optimizing engagement of the generating assembly by the wind when vehicles are traveling along the road.

Each of the generating assemblies 12 comprises a generator assembly 16 and a harnessing assembly 18 . The harnessing assembly 18 is operationally coupled to the generator assembly 16 of the associated one of the generating assemblies 12 whereby the harnessing assembly 18 actuates the generator assembly 16 when the harnessing assembly 18 is engaged by the wind. The generator assembly 16 is designed for being operationally coupled to the substation whereby the generator assembly 16 is for generating electricity to be transferred to the substation when the generator assembly 16 is actuated by the harnessing assembly 18 .

The harnessing assembly 18 comprises a drive shaft 20 and a plurality of cup members 22 . The drive shaft 20 is operationally coupled to the generator assembly 16 . The cup members 22 are coupled to the drive shaft 20 whereby the cup members 22 are designed for being engaged by the wind to rotate the drive shaft 20 to actuate the generator assembly 16 .

Each of the cup members 22 comprises a connector portion 24 and a blade portion 26 . The connector portion 24 of each of the cup members 22 is coupled to the drive shaft 20 . The blade portion 26 of each of the cup members 22 is coupled to the connector portion 24 of the associated one of the cup members 22 opposite the drive shaft 20 . The blade portion 26 of each of the cup members 22 is designed for being engaged by the wind whereby the blade member of each of the cup members 22 is pushed by the wind in a circle around the drive shaft 20 to rotate the drive shaft 20 .

The blade portion 26 of each of the cup members 22 comprises a perimeter wall 30 . The perimeter wall 30 defines a cavity 32 of the blade portion 26 . The cavity 32 of blade portion 26 is designed for catching the wind to rotate the drive shaft 20 when the blade portion 26 of each of the cup members 22 is engaged by the wind. The cavity 32 of the blade portion 26 of each of the cup members 22 is concave. The cavity 32 is designed for directing the force from the wind into forward movement of the associated one of the cup members 22 when the wind enters the cavity 32 of the blade portion 26 from any angle.

An exterior surface 34 of the blade portion 26 of each of the cup members 22 is arcuate. The exterior surface 34 is designed for permitting the wind to pass over the exterior surface 34 of the blade portion 26 to minimize wind resistance when the exterior surface 34 of the blade portion 26 is directed into the wind.

Each of the generating assemblies 12 comprises a transfer assembly 36 . The transfer assembly 36 is operationally coupled between the drive shaft 20 and the generator assembly 16 of the associated one of the generating assemblies 12 . The transfer assembly 36 is actuated by the drive shaft 20 whereby the transfer assembly 36 increases a rotational speed used to actuate the generator assembly 16 from a rotational speed of the drive shaft 20 .

The transfer assembly 36 comprises a gearbox 38 and a transfer shaft 40 . The gearbox 38 is operationally coupled to the drive shaft 20 . The transfer shaft 40 is operationally coupled between the gearbox 38 and the generator assembly 16 . The gearbox 38 is actuated by rotation of the drive shaft 20 whereby the gearbox 38 rotates the transfer shaft 40 at a rotational speed greater than the rotational speed of the drive shaft 20 to actuate the generator assembly 16 to produce electricity.

Each of a plurality of shield members 42 is coupled to one of the generating assemblies 12 . Each of the shield members 42 is positioned over and extending outwardly from the associated one of the generating assemblies 12 . Each of the shield members 42 is designed for deflecting rain and snow away from the associated one of the generating assemblies 12 to inhibit the rain and snow from shorting out the associated one of the generating assemblies 12 .

The frame assembly 14 comprises a canopy member 44 and a plurality of stanchion members 46 . The stanchion members 46 are coupled to the canopy member 44 whereby the canopy member 44 extends between the stanchion members 46 . The stanchion members 46 are designed for being positioned along side the road whereby the canopy member 44 is positioned over the road. The generating assemblies 12 are coupled to the canopy member 44 whereby the generating assemblies 12 is positioned over the road.

The frame assembly 14 comprises a plurality of screen members 48 . Each of the screen members 48 is coupled to the canopy member 44 whereby each of the screen members 48 is designed for permitting exhaust fumes from the vehicles to pass through the canopy member 44 to inhibit the accumulation of exhaust gases under the canopy member 44 .

In use, the frame assembly 14 is constructed and positioned proximate the road whereby the canopy member 44 is positioned over the road. The generating assemblies 12 are coupled to the canopy member 44 of the frame assembly 14 so that the generating assemblies 12 are positioned over the road. As vehicle pass travel over the road the wind generated by the vehicle engages the generating assemblies 12 as the vehicle pass under the canopy member 44 . The wind engages the cavity 32 of the blade portion 26 of each of the cup members 22 and rotates the drive shaft 20 . The rotation of the drive shaft 20 actuates the gearbox 38 which rotates the transfer shaft 40 at higher rate of speed that the drive shaft 20 . The transfer shaft 40 actuates the generator assembly 16 to produce electricity which is transferred to the substation. The faster that the transfer shaft 40 is rotated the greater amount of electricity that is produced by the generator assembly 16 .