Abstract:
Disclosed may be an apparatus and related methods for electric power generation for vehicles. More particularly, disclosed may be an apparatus and related methods for electric power generation using vehicle generated wind.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Prov. Pat. App. Ser. No. 61/338,253 (filed Feb. 16, 2010) and said document is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    N/A 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present disclosure relates to electric power generation for vehicles. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to wind turbines mounted on the roof top of a moving vehicle for converting the vehicle generated wind energy into electricity for storage in a battery system or use by the vehicle. 
         [0005]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0006]    Moving automobiles feature localized winds around the auto body that are the result the car&#39;s movement relative to the air. Said localized winds possess energy that is lost whenever the wind dissipates. Accordingly, there is a need for apparatus and methods of capturing the energy of the localized wind prior to its dissipation. 
         [0007]    Wind energy can be captured via its conversion to electricity. Producing electricity from wind can be accomplished by impacting the blades of a turbine with wind to turn the armature shaft of an electricity generator. For example, turbines and generators have been mounted on towers in areas known to have high winds so that the winds can turn the turbines and thereby produce electricity. One challenge of using a turbine to capture the localized winds of an automobile for producing electricity is that the production of electricity from wind impacting a turbine can be affected by the quantity and quality of the wind. For instance, a specific amount of wind must be received by a turbine at, or above, a specific velocity to overcome the friction associated with turning the turbine. Thus, wind turbines are (1) usually very large (e.g., blade or rotor diameter in the range of 100 ft. to 150 ft.) to capture a large quantity of wind at once, or (2) placed on towers in order to catch the high velocity winds which travel at high altitudes. The turbine size and high altitude placement present challenges in terms of capturing the energy of localized winds around a moving auto body. 
         [0008]    Despite the above challenges, interest in producing electricity from localized wind around an auto body remains since the captured energy could be used as a power source for the moving automobile whereby its fuel efficiency or battery life is increased. Such electricity production is particularly of interest in the United States since the U.S. government has requested that the automobile industry produce more fuel efficient plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) that can either partly or completely run on electric battery with zero emission in order to reduce greenhouse emissions and dependence on imported fossil fuels. Thus, many have tried to provide electric power to hybrid electric cars or trucks from a wind turbine. Consider the following examples: U.S. Pat. No. 6,897,575 B1, “Portable Wind Power Apparatus For Electric Vehicles” issued May 24, 2005, illustrates a car top wind generator; U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,492 B1, “Airflow Driven Electrical Generator For Moving Vehicle” issued Feb. 22, 2005, describes air intake vents mounted on the front grill and roof top of a moving vehicle for generating the electric power; U.S. Pat. No. 6,838,782 B2, “Wind Energy Capturing Device For Moving Vehicles” issued Jan. 4, 2005, describes a wind turbine affixed to the roof of truck. U.S. Pat. No. 7,135,786 B1, “Wind Driven Generator For Powered Vehicle” issued Nov. 14, 2006, describes a wind turbine affixed to the top of vehicle; U.S. Pat. No. 7,339,286 B1, “Portable Wind Power Generator” issued Mar. 4, 2008, describes a portable wind power capable of being placed in a storage case; U.S. Pat. No. 7,294,939 B1, “Folding Portable Wind-power Electricity Generating Apparatus” issued Nov. 13, 2007, describes a portable wind turbine generator at the top of car; U.S. Pat. No. 7,211,905 B1, “Vehicle-mountable Generator” issued May 1, 2007, describes a wind powered generator on top of a moving vehicle; U.S. Pat. No. 7,176,584 B1, “Wind Power Apparatus” issued Feb. 13, 2007, describes a wind powered turbine with generator to produce electricity; and, U.S. Pat. No. 7,358,623 B2, “Generator” describes a wind powered generator for producing electric current. All the above mentioned approaches to capturing localized winds about a moving auto body are inadequate because, among other things, they require wind capturing apparatus with complicated moving parts and housings. Accordingly, there is a need for portable devices for capturing the localized wind around a moving auto body that are simple and inexpensive. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present disclosure may be a wind energy capturing device for a moving vehicle. The disclosed device may preferably be mounted on the body of the vehicle and feature a turbine coupled to a generator. Operably, movement of the vehicle relative to air will create high-speed winds that may impact the turbine blades and cause a turning force momentum or torque on the turbine shaft, which is directly connected to the generator&#39;s armature shaft. Suitably, said direct connection causes both of the wind turbine shaft and generator armature shaft to rotate concurrently (e.g., at the same R.P.M. (Revolution per Minute)). The electrical power resulting from the turning of said generator armature shaft may be used as a power source for the vehicle, be stored in a battery system for later use, be used to drive an electrical vehicle (EV), or be sold to a utility company. 
         [0010]    It is the main object of the disclosure to provide a device for capturing wind energy when driving a vehicle on the highway. 
         [0011]    It is another object of the disclosure to provide a method for employing vehicle-caused wind energy to rotate a PGM generator of a light weight and portable device for producing electricity. 
         [0012]    It is further object of the disclosure to provide a device for inexpensively and renewably producing electricity from vehicle-caused wind in order to store the electricity or use it to drive a PHEV or EV vehicle. 
         [0013]    It is another object of the disclosure to provide a device that can help reduce the levels of carbon dioxide emission in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million (PPM) in the coming years through reduced use of gas engines. 
         [0014]    It is yet another object of the disclosure to provide a device for recharging EV batteries, without going to the public charge stations and sipping electricity from the power grid network on the road. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram for electricity generation using a wind energy capturing device disclosed by this application. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a front view showing the preferable external dimensions of a wind energy capturing device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is the front view of the wind energy capturing device. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a back view of the wind energy capturing device of  FIGS. 2 and 3   
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the wind energy capturing device of  FIGS. 2 and 3  installed on a car. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the wind energy capturing device of  FIGS. 2 and 3  installed on a truck cab or train. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a typical side view of the truck and device. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a line graph showing the relationship between the speed of vehicle (in mile per hour (MPH) and/or feet per second) versus amount of power produced. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS FROM THE DRAWINGS 
       [0023]    The drawings and figures depict and describe aspects of an embodiment of the present disclosure. Within said drawings, the reference numerals identify the following items:
         1  is a preferable galvanized metal roof with an elliptical body for improved aerodynamics;     2  is a preferable galvanized metal housing enclosure (the enclosure may be painted with green color or to match vehicle color);     3  is a preferable galvanized metal housing base;     4  is a preferable wind turbine with aluminum multi-blades;     5  is preferably an opening area in the housing  3  to allow air intake for turning the turbine with direct air impact;     6  are preferably metal grid bars to prevent flying objects, including birds and debris, from entering the opening  5 ;     7  is preferably a wind turbine shaft;     8  is preferably a rotated turbine strut support;     9  is preferably a ball bearing;     10  is preferably a fixedly positioned turbine truss;     11  is preferably a tubiform turbine support (preferably circular and metal), to which the truss  10  is fastened;     12  is preferably a generator with an armature shaft that is mechanically connected to the turbine shaft  7 , wherein the generator  12  may be housed within the turbine support  11 —(the generator  12  suitably converts the mechanical energy imparted to its armature shaft from the turbine shaft  7  into electrical energy at rotation speeds up to 3,000 RPM);     13  is suitably a protection plate for the top of the generator  12 , wherein the protection plate  13  is fastened to the turbine truss  10 ;     14  is preferably a sitting seat cushion for stabilizing and insulating the generator  12 ;     15  is suitably a protection plate for the bottom of the generator  12 , wherein the protection plate  13  may be fastened to the floor  3  of the housing  2 ;     16  are preferably output wires from the generator  12  (there are suitably depicted positive (+) and negative (−) wires);     17  is preferably a ball bearing at the bottom of the armature shaft of the generator  12 ;     18  are preferably a metal handle hook and a keyless lock on the housing  2  for security;     19  is preferably a bottom bracket for supporting the generator housing  11 ;     20  is suitably an access opening at the bottom of the housing  2  for air and heat exhaust;     21  are preferable metal grid bars and an access door;     22  are preferably drain holes (4 each) in the housing base  2 ;     23  is a preferable chassis ground—(e.g., a point connection in the electricity-generation circuit that is connected to the metal enclosure);     24  is a preferable power monitor that combines the function of the ammeter, volt meter, watt meter, amp hour and watt hour meters;     25  Voltage regulator (optional);     26  DC/AC inverter—the inverter is an electronic device that converts low voltage DC (direct current) electricity from a battery (12 volts) to 115 volts AC (alternating current) household power;     27  Serial number for security identification;     28  GPS alarm system (optional);     29  12 volts deep cycle battery banks;     30  Fastening hardware;       
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0054]    In general, this application discloses a preferable vehicle-mountable wind energy capturing device for converting vehicle-created wind into electricity. The technical contents and detailed description of the preferable device will be made with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 8 . 
         [0055]      FIGS. 2 and 3  depict the front view of a preferable vehicle-mountable wind energy capturing device.  FIG. 4  depicts the back view of the preferable vehicle-mountable wind-energy capturing device. As seen in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , the device generally comprises a housing  2 , a turbine  4 , and a generator  12 . The more specific aspects of the general components are best disclosed with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 . 
         [0056]    The features of a preferable housing  2  are best depicted in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 . As generally depicted in said figures, the housing  2  is preferably small and not cubical so that it may be more aerodynamic. Qualitatively, the housing  2 : is generally cylindrical while preferably being pointed at its top and around its mid-section for improved aerodynamics, including drag minimization; features an opening  5  below its roof  2  and above its pointed mid-section; features drainage holes  22  in its base  3 ; and features a backside exhaust opening  20  above its base  3  but below its pointed mid-section. Quantitatively, the preferable housing  2  is dimensioned as follows: twenty-three inches in total height (i.e., from its base  3  to the point of its roof  1 ; twenty-two inches in crown height (i.e., from its base  3  to the start of the roof  1 ); eleven inches in height from its base to the pointed mid-section; seventeen inches in diameter at its base  3  and crown; and, nineteen inches in diameter at its pointed mid-section. Suitably, the opening  5  is preferably defined by a cut-away in the housing  2  side-wall for more than ninety, but less than three-hundred and sixty, degrees around the axis of the housing  2 . Additionally, the exhaust opening  20  is preferably defined by a cut-away in the housing side-wall for less than three-hundred and sixty, degrees around the axis of the housing  2 . Any number of preferable three-dimensional aerodynamic shapes and sizes could define the shape of the housing  2  and such shapes will be known to one of skill in the art. 
         [0057]    The preferable turbine  4  and generator  12  are best depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . As seen in the figures, the turbine  4  is preferably of the vertical axis variety which typically comprises a plurality of blades which radially extend from a shaft  7  that defines an axis of rotation for the turbine blades. The generator  12  is preferably of the PMG (permanent magnet generator) variety and features an armature shaft that is mechanically connected to the shaft  7  of the turbine  4 . Operably, rotation of the turbine shaft  7  via wind impacting at least one of the turbine  4  blades correspondingly rotates the armature shaft of the generator  12  whereby electricity is suitably generated. Structurally, the turbine  4  and the generator  12  are preferably vertically situated as depicted in the drawings so that the turbine shaft  7  also defines the armature shaft of the generator  12 . Suitably, the generator  12  features output electrical wires  16  so that the generated electricity may be extracted therefrom (e.g., positive and negative wires may be connected to the terminals of a 12 volt deep cycle battery  29  so that the battery may be recharged). 
         [0058]    Still referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the turbine  4  and generator  12  are preferably situated within the housing so that the central axis of the cylindrical housing  2  generally aligns with the turbine/armature shaft  7  and so that the turbine  4  blades are positioned behind the opening  5 . Suitably, the shaft  7  is rotatably mounted on ball bearings ( 9  and  17 ) at the roof  1  and base  3  of the housing  2 . Ideally, the turbine  4  is supported in said preferable position above the generator  12  and behind the opening  5  by a truss  10  inside the housing  2  (the truss  10  may preferably positioned about at the mid-section of the housing  2 ). In the depicted preferable embodiment, the truss  10  is supported at the housing midsection by a tubiform structure  11  wherein the truss  10  sets atop the tubiform  11  across its bore. Preferably the turbine  4  is affixed to the truss  10  via a strut  8 . As also depicted in the drawings, the generator  12  is preferably positioned between protector plates ( 13  and  15 ) and on top of a cushion/insulator  14  beneath the truss  10  and within the tubiform  11 . Suitably, the generator  12  is supported in its position by (1) attachment to the upper protection plate  13  and the truss  10 , and (2) a bracket and its protector plate  15  that are secured to the base  3  of the housing  2 . 
         [0059]      FIGS. 5 through 7  are environmental or contextual views of the vehicle-mountable wind energy capturing device. More specifically,  FIG. 5  shows the device mounted on the luggage rack of a car and  FIGS. 6 and 7  show the device mounted on the cab of a truck. Operably, localized wind from the movement of the vehicle relative to air may pass through the opening  5 , impact the blades of the turbine  4  so that the shaft  7  rotates, and escape the housing through the exhaust opening  20 . It should be noted that a grid  6  of metal bars may be placed in front of the opening  5  in order to prevent flying objects, including birds or other debris, from passing into the wind intake opening  5  or impacting the turbine blades while continuing to permit air flow therethrough. As alluded to above, the wind caused rotation of the shaft  7  correspondingly produces electricity at the generator  12 . Suitably, the generator  12  is configured to convert the mechanical energy of rotation into electrical energy at up to three-thousand revolutions per minute (RPMs). 
         [0060]    It should be noted that, even though  FIGS. 5 through 7  depict the vehicle-mountable wind energy capturing device installed on the luggage rack of a car or cab of a truck, the device is mountable at any wind exposed location on a vehicle. Furthermore, cars and trucks are not the only vehicles suitable for installation of the wind energy capturing device. Other suitable vehicles include, but should not be limited to, trains and boats. Finally, any number of wind-energy capturing devices may be placed on a car or truck. 
         [0061]      FIG. 8  is an exemplary power produced versus vehicle speed plot. The depicted plot illustrates power capable of being produced by a preferable vehicle-mountable wind energy capturing device at a given vehicle speed. As seen in the figure, power is plotted in KW (kilowatt) on the vertical coordinate axis and vehicle speed is plotted in ft/sec (feet per second) or MPH (miles per hour) on the horizontal coordinate axis. As further seen in the figure, the subject vehicle-mountable wind energy capturing device may not produce power until the vehicle travels at a minimum speed, the Cut-In speed. Suitably, the Cut-in speed is the vehicle speed necessary to produce enough wind to turn the turbine blades of the wind energy capturing device. Suitably, the wind energy capturing device will shut down its turbine when the vehicle speed produces wind that turns the turbine at an unsafe rate, the Cut-Out speed. At vehicle speeds between the Cut-in and Cut-Out speeds, the wind energy capturing device is capable of producing power, the plot of which is identified in  FIG. 8  as the power curve. Typically, the power curve can be expressed by P=(6.28*f(v)*T(v))*E, where: “P” is the power output of the wind energy capturing device; “f” is the turbine shaft  7  rotation (in hertz (divide by 60 for RPM)) as a function of vehicle velocity “v”; “T” is the torque (in Newton-meter (NM)) on the shaft  7  as a function of vehicle velocity “v” (bearing friction and windage on the commutator and ammeter may add significantly to the torque required to produce a specific amount of power); and “E” is the efficiency (in percent) of the energy generator  12 . The efficiency of a PMG generator  12  can be influenced by several independent factors, so a single efficiency is not available. Instead, PMG generators  12  operate at a range of efficiencies between seventy-five percent and ninety-five percent, with the average efficiency being eighty five percent. Suitably, the preferable wind energy capturing device will produce 5 KW of power with a torque of 26.5 NM (19.5 lb. ft.). 
         [0062]      FIG. 1  depicts a simple block diagram showing the steps of using the disclosed device for converting wind to electricity. First, wind may be received in the wind intake  5  of the housing  2 . Second, the received wind may impact at least one blade of a turbine  4  to cause rotation of the turbine shaft  7 . Third, the rotation of the turbine shaft  7  suitably results in rotation of the generator  12  armature shaft. The electricity generated by said rotation of the generator  12  armature shaft is provided through the power diode and voltage regulator  25  or power monitor  24  to a battery charger, preferably for recharging a PHEV or EV deep cycle battery  29 . Suitably, a monitor with an audible alarm tracks the produced electricity and sounds before any damage to the system can occur during the electricity production or transfer process. Finally, the battery charger is electrically connected to an inverter  26  which will convert the DC electricity to an AC electricity output. 
         [0063]    The preferable vehicle-mountable wind energy capturing device has efficiency increasing features, including but not limited to: a turbine  4  that shares a shaft  7  with a PMG generator  12  so that transmission losses are reduced; and lubricated bearings ( 9  and  17 ). Furthermore, the preferable embodiment may be comprised of materials that are light weight and durable, said materials being known to those of skill in the art. It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but can encompass any and all embodiment within the scope of the following claims.