Abstract:
A moving-air energy recovery system including an air horn having serially disposed segments of differing flare rates, which intercepts a large area of moving air to channel and transform the flow of moving air into a more concentrated, higher velocity of air flow. This higher velocity air flow is applied to turbine vanes which are connected to an armature that provides a mechanical energy output from the incident air flow on a rotating shaft. In one embodiment, the shaft is connected to a electric generator to generate electric power, which may be applied to stationary applications such as emergency home power, and to mobile applications such as augmenting automobile propulsion.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to air compression systems providing energy recovery therefrom, in particular to passive air compression systems providing an output converted into mechanical and electrical energy. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Often in emergencies, conventional power sources and nearby alternative sources of power are unavailable and nearby alternative sources of power are unavailable or unable to be operated continuously during the emergency for simple reasons, e.g. lack of fuel. More commonly, there are many power consuming applications in which it is desirable to reduce the power consumption from the utilities or in general, enhance economy and efficiency of the application. Often, the application exists in an environment having a significant amount of air motion, and in some instances, further energy may instead be expended to dissipate the ambient air motion or to isolate the application from such air motion, thus wasting any energy which is a part of that air motion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a high speed air compression system (HSACS) that includes an air horn which intercepts a large area of moving air to channel and transform the flow of moving air into a more concentrated, higher velocity of air flow. This higher velocity air flow is applied to turbine vanes which are connected to an armature that provides a mechanical energy output from the incident air flow on a rotating shaft. In one embodiment, the shaft is connected to an electric generator to generate electric power, which may be applied to stationary applications such as emergency home power, and to mobile applications such as augmenting automobile propulsion. 
     It is an object of the present invention to recover the energy from moving air into a form of usable mechanical and/or electrical power. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a source of energy available to remote, emergency and mobile applications. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a source of energy to assist conventionally powered applications to increase the apparent efficiencies thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar part throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-section of an alternate embodiment of an air horn according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-section of an air horn inlet portion of a further alternate embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a simplified elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention as applied to a stationary application of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a simplified elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention as applied to a mobile application of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention, as illustrated by exemplary embodiment  50  of  FIG. 1 , typically comprises an air horn  52  having an inlet  54  and relatively smaller outlet  56  providing a flow of air  58  to a turbine  80  which provide mechanical output, such as via a rotating shaft  82 . Typically, the turbine comprises an armature  84  rotatable on a shaft  82  and having vanes  86  extending substantially radially from the armature  84 . The relatively large inlet  54  opening gathers as much air as possible to be compressed by the air horn  50  and delivered to the turbine  80  with an increased pressure gradient (relative to ambient) to propel the turbine vanes  86 , which in turn rotates the shaft to provide a mechanical energy output to power an electric generator or the application directly or via suitable mechanical linkages or connections. The inlet  54  may comprise an opening of various shapes and dimensions, e.g. rectangle, circle, etc., and may further include screening thereover to restrain debris and birds from entering the system. 
     In the particular embodiment  50  of  FIG. 1 , the air horn  52  includes discrete contiguous segments  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 , and  68  which are disposed along an air path  58  that extends from the inlet  54  to the outlet  56 . The air horn  52  has a generally decreasing flare, with a flare defined as the change in cross-sectional area (as measured substantially perpendicular to the air path) of the air horn along the air path from inlet to outlet, and the flare rate defined as the rate of change of that flare over the length of the air path. In the particular embodiment  50 , at least one segment, e.g.  62  may have a substantially zero flare rate, that is, the cross-sectional area of the beginning and end of section  62  is substantially the same, while adjacent segments have a significant flare rate. In the exemplary embodiment  50 , the first segment comprises a beginning opening of 9 feet and an ending opening of 4 feet over a running length of 3 feet, the second segment  62  comprises a beginning opening of 4 feet and a substantially similar ending opening over a running length of 3 feet. The third segment  64  comprises a beginning opening equal to the ending opening of the prior contiguous segment  62  and an ending opening of 2 feet tapering over a running length of 3 feet. The fourth segment  66  comprises a beginning opening of 2 feet and an ending opening of 1 foot tapering over a running length of 3 feet. The fifth segment  68  comprises a beginning opening of 1 foot and an ending opening of ½ to 1 inch, which comprises the outlet of the air horn  52 . The representation of a change in dimension along a single axis is made solely to facilitate understanding, and alternate embodiments having changes in other planes or plural planes simultaneously are within the scope of the present invention. 
     Alternate air horn embodiments  52 A and  52 B are shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , respectively. In  FIG. 2 , the exemplary configuration of segments  90  and  92  illustrates an embodiment having sequence of relatively shorter and longer segments rates from air horn  52 A inlet  54 A to outlet  56 A, as shown in relation to a turbine  80 A. A different sequence of relatively longer and successively shorter segments  94 ,  96  and  98  from inlet  54 B to outlet  56 B is shown in the air horn  52 B of  FIG. 3 . Furthermore, the taper of the air horn segments may vary from an equal taper of the air horn sides as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , to include an asymmetric taper having less or no taper on one side and the majority or all of the change in air horn dimension reflected in a change in the opposite side, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Moreover, according to alternate embodiments of the present invention, the flare rate need not be constant (flat sides) but may vary, resulting in curved sides. Further alternate embodiments comprise an air horn having a flare rate with discontinuities which (non-smooth transitions between flare rates along the length of the air horn) includes but is not limited to the examples shown herein. 
     The turbine  80  may be enclosed in a baffle or housing  87  having a vent or other outlet  88  through which the air applied to the turbine may exhaust. Although shown in two dimensions, the embodiments of the turbine, as well as the air horn, extends in a third dimension understood as extending out of the plane of the illustrations. Moreover, in embodiments where the vanes  86  extend from the armature at an angle less than normal from the surface of the armature at the point of connection thereto as shown in  FIG. 1 , the vanes may have sides  85  attached to the vane  86  and the armature  84 , typically at ends of the vane of which 1 is visible in  FIG. 1 . 
     A further feature of the present invention relates to the enhanced capture of air flow  104  not perpendicular to the air horn inlet, as provided by one or more air louvers  100  placed at and at least partially out of the air horn inlet toward the source of the incident airflow. The embodiment  50  of  FIG. 1  shows the louver having a generally straight or uninterrupted side toward the middle of the air path, while having an outer surface including a greater dimension distal from the air horn  52  inlet  54  tapering to a lesser dimension at the louver end proximal to, the air horn  54 , wherein air flow  104  from side directions (increasingly parallel to the inlet  54  opening) is redirected into the air horn  54  to further increase the effectiveness of the present invention. Furthermore in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the centrally located (relative to the center of the inlet  54 ) louvers are disposed with a further distance from the air horn than are the peripheral louvers. 
     A further embodiment  120  of the louvers according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4 , wherein the louvers  100 A,  100 B and  100 C include non-planar opposing surfaces which together form a louver having a greater thickness distal from the opening  122  of the first segment  60 A tapering to a thinner portion toward the opening  122 , followed by a thin tail, e.g.  124 , continuing toward the opening  122 . In particular, the tail  128  of peripherally disposed louvers  100 C may optionally be directed toward the segment  60 A. Also, the tail  126  of the centrally located louver(s)  100 B may optionally increase in thickness, such as provided by 2 diverging tail members. 
     A typical application  140  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 5  wherein the air horn  52 C, turbine  80 B and exhaust vent  88 A as provided according to the present invention, are located in a building  142  to intercept an airflow  144  into the air horn  52 C and provide an exhaust vent  146  to the atmosphere. The turbine is connected to apply power to further applications within the building, such as pumps, generators, etc. 
     A typical mobile application  160  (trunk of car) according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 6 , wherein an air horn  162  with an opening  164  for air intake, is placed on an automobile surface (e.g. top) appropriate to capture a stream of air flowing over the hybrid automobile  166 , compress and direct the captured air into a turbine  80 C to power a generator  150 . The generator  150  is connected to battery  152  which together or alone provide electric power to the automobile and automobile systems. The turbine  80 C air (and rain or other material received into the air horn  162 ) is returned to the atmosphere by vent  168 . The air horn  162  width (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing) diminishes as the air path extends rearwardly, and may optionally be divided to power 2 or more turbines, with each having a generator or output application to power. Alternately, the thickness of the air horn may also vary along the length of the air horn  162  air path. 
     It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to one classification of automobile, instead, it should be appreciated that the invention can be used in hybrids and other traditional fuel based automobiles. Nor is the present invention confined to the object of transportation. The invention can be utilized in many different locations for many different purposes. This includes home energy, commercial energy, and city energy. Specifically, the present invention is ideal for high wind areas such as mountain tops, or used to replace large expensive propellers with smaller more efficient units. The invention can also be used for energy generating in areas struck by storms as an emergency measure. 
     Further modifications and substitutions made according to the present invention by one of ordinary skill in the art are within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the claims which follow.