Abstract:
An application for an electrical power generator includes a set of fan blades coupled to a shaft, the fan blades are in fluid communication with an air conditioner condenser fan whereby the fan blades turn in response to air flow caused by the air conditioner condenser fan. A generator is coupled to the shaft for converting rotational energy of the shaft into electrical energy.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the field of power generation and more particularly to a system for generating electrical power from the wind energy created by an air conditioner condenser. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Air conditioners utilize a fan to cool the coils of the condenser, thereby exchanging heat with the environment. Often, the wind created by the fan is quite substantial, especially in central air conditioning systems, residential and commercial. Currently, this wind energy is lost to the atmosphere. Nowadays, the world is becoming very energy conscious and this loss of energy into the atmosphere is considered a waste, especially considering the millions of commercial and residential air conditioning systems currently deployed. 
         [0003]    It is well known how to harness natural wind energy as evidenced by early windmills and present-day wind generator farms. These wind generator farms utilize very large, expensive and heavy generators that would not be practical for the typical home owner or commercial building. Several patents exist for capturing wind or air movement created by un-natural sources and converting the wind energy into electrical or other forms of usable energy. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,788 to Berenda et al, describes recovering energy from ventilation systems, for example, ventilation from mines, tunnels, etc. This patent does not disclose generating electricity from air movement created by an air conditioner condenser system. 
         [0004]    Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,882 to Alston describes recovering energy from the exhaust stream of a jet aircraft during takeoff. Again, this patent does not disclose generating electricity from air movement created by an air conditioner condenser system. 
         [0005]    Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 7,200,005 to Gutfield et al, describes recovering energy from the exhaust of a computer server. Again, this patent does not disclose generating electricity from air movement created by an air conditioner condenser system. 
         [0006]    Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,365,985 to Cohen describes recovering energy from the exhaust of an air conditioner. This patent discloses a wind power generator mounted to an exhaust port of an air conditioner. As shown in FIG. 1 of this patent, a room air conditioner 19 has an exhaust port 18 (the port out of which the cold are is blown) and a generator in proximity to the exhaust port 18. This patent does not disclose generating electricity from air movement created by the cooling fan of an air conditioner condenser system. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a system that will extract the excess energy created by the condenser fan. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In one embodiment, an electrical power generator is disclosed including a set of fan blades coupled to a shaft, the fan blades are in fluid communication with an air conditioner condenser fan whereby the fan blades turn in response to air flow caused by the air conditioner condenser fan. A generator is coupled to the shaft for converting rotational energy of the shaft into electrical energy. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a method of generating electrical power is disclosed including situating a plurality of fan blades in proximity to an air conditioning condenser fan such that the fan blades turn in response to receiving at least some of an air movement created when the air conditioner condenser fan turns and interfacing the fan blades with a shaft, the shaft turning in response to the fan blades turning. The shaft connects to a generator for generating electrical power in response to the turning of the shaft. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, an electrical power generator is disclosed including a device for converting wind energy into rotational energy, the means for converting in fluid communication with an air conditioner condenser fan whereby the device for converting the wind energy into the rotational energy converts air flow caused by the air conditioner condenser fan into the rotational energy. The device for converting wind energy into rotational energy is interfaced to a device for converting the rotational energy into electrical energy. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a system of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side plan view of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top plan view of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a system of the present invention is shown. The air conditioner condenser  50  is an exemplary air condition condenser as known in the industry. Many such units are available and installed in many locations such as on the ground next to a home, on patios, on roofs, etc. Similarly, commercial or industrial air conditioning condensers are also well known and the present invention is not limited to any specific residential or commercial air conditioning condenser variety, make, configuration, orientation, etc. Additionally, the present invention lends itself to being integrated into the air conditioning condenser housing, thereby being an integral part of the air conditioning condenser. 
         [0017]    It is well known that air conditioning condensers  50  have an internal fan for moving air across the condenser coils (not visible) in order to condense the hot, gaseous coolant coming from the air conditioner heat exchanger into a cold, liquid coolant for return to the heat exchanger. For residential air conditioning condensers  50 , this fan typically blows air upward and out of a grill on the top of the air conditioning condenser  50  at a high rate of speed, creating upward air movement. The present invention capitalizes on this air movement by providing a propeller or fan blades  12  in a direct path of the air movement. The fan blades  12  turn in response to the air movement, in turn rotating a shaft  14  that is interfaced to a generator  16 . Although many possible configurations are possible, the embodiment shown includes a frame  18  for holding the fan blades  12 , shaft  14  and generator  16 . The generator  16  is held to the frame  18  by brackets  17 . To reduce friction, the shaft  14  interfaces with the frame  18  with one or more bearings  20 / 22 . The output electrical power from the generator is conditioned for use by a power conditioner  24  as known in the industry. The power conditioner  24  performs such tasks as (but not limited to) storing electrical power, converting the electrical power from DC to AC or from AC to DC, filtering the electrical power, adjusting the frequency and/or phase of the electrical power, etc. The resulting electrical power is then fed to a device that uses such power or fed back into the power grid as known in the industry. In some embodiments, the frame is set atop the air conditioner condenser  50 . In some embodiments, the frame is affixed to the air conditioner condenser by ways known in the industry while in other embodiments, the frame is part of the air conditioner condenser  50  and the present invention is integrated into an air conditioner condenser  50 . 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a side plan view of the present invention is shown. The present invention capitalizes on the air movement created by the air conditioning condenser  50  by providing a propeller or fan blades  12  in a direct path of the air movement. The fan blades  12  turn in response to the air movement, in turn rotating a shaft  14  that is interfaced to a generator  16 . Although many possible configurations are possible, the embodiment shown includes a frame  18  for holding the fan blades  12 , shaft  14  and generator  16 . The generator  16  is held to the frame  18  by brackets  17 . To reduce friction, the shaft  14  interfaces with the frame  18  with one or more bearings  20 / 22 . 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a top plan view of the present invention is shown. The top surface of the fan blades  12  are visible as is the top of the air conditioner compressor  50  and the frame  18 . As noted previously, the configuration, the size, style, shape and make up of the frame is anticipated to be any such frame that will position the fan blades  12  at a point where wind energy created by the air conditioner condenser  50  will cause the 
         [0020]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0021]    It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.