Patent Publication Number: US-2005121242-A1

Title: Motor vehicle energy recovery system

Description:
FIELD  
      The present invention relates to a system for recovering energy from the air moving past a moving vehicle when the latter is in motion.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Fuel economy in moveable vehicles such as trucks and automobiles is becoming increasingly important given the rise in usage of energy and its resultant increasing cost. One way of saving on the cost of energy is energy recovery. On motor vehicles there are various ways of recovering energy such as utilizing the heat generated from braking or the energy imparted to a vehicle when it is going downhill. Such devices have failed to become established in the marketplace due to their capital cost and complexity of installation. In addition, the amount of power generated is intermittent depending on the number of hills and the amount of braking.  
      Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an energy recovery system that is substantially continuously operative and can produce an amount of energy that is larger than conventional energy recovery systems.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to the invention there is provided a moveable vehicle energy recovery apparatus, which comprises an air capture unit having a mounting assembly for mounting the air capture unit on the moveable vehicle in a position to capture oncoming air when the moveable vehicle is in motion, a fan rotatably mounted in the air capture unit, a generator coupled to the fan and operative to rotate in response to rotation of the fan and to generate power, and an electrical conduction line for conducting power from the generator to a destination electrical load on the moveable vehicle.  
      Preferably, the fan has a horizontally disposed axis.  
      Advantageously, there may be a plurality of fans rotatably mounted in the air capture unit.  
      The fans may be mounted in a row on vertically disposed axes.  
      In another aspect of the invention there is provided a moveable vehicle having an energy recovery apparatus, which includes an air capture unit mounted on the moveable vehicle in a position to capture oncoming air when the moveable vehicle is in motion, a fan rotatably mounted in the air capture unit, a generator coupled to the fan and operative to rotate in response to rotation of the fan and to generate power and a line coupled at one end to the generator and at another end to a destination on the moveable vehicle.  
      Preferably, there are a plurality of fans rotatably mounted in the air capture unit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Further features and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description, given by way of example, of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a set of horizontally oriented fans and enclosure of a type suitable for use in the energy recovery system;  
       FIG. 2  is a front view of a set of horizontally oriented fans and enclosure of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a truck with an installed energy recovery system installed both on a trailer and behind the grill;  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of an automobile with an energy recovery system installed behind the grill or under the hood;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a set of vertically oriented fan blades aligned in a row and an enclosure of a type suitable for use in the energy recovery system;  
       FIG. 6  is a top view of a set of vertically aligned fan blades, spaced apart and aligned in a row;  
       FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of an alternative fan which discharges air at an angle of more than 90 degrees relative to the direction of the incoming air; and  
       FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a duct used to direct incoming air to a remotely located fan and generator. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the air capture unit  15 , which is mounted on an exposed position facing upwind on a movable vehicle (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ), consists of a square enclosure  10  having four square compartments  11 . In each compartment  11  there is centrally positioned a fan  12  rigidly affixed to a rotatable shaft  13 . The shaft  13  couples to a generator  14  an armature of which (not shown), rotates in response to rotation of shaft  13 . Power generated by the generator  14  is taken off and used on the vehicle to reduce fuel consumption.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , a truck  16  has the air capture unit  15  mounted either on the front of a trailer (not shown) carried by the truck  16  where it can intercept oncoming wind  20  and  21  or in the front of the truck  16  behind the grill (not shown) facing wind  23 . On an automobile  33  the air capture unit  15  is mounted either behind the grill  24  or under the hood where it is provided with induction scoops (not shown) in order to channel the oncoming wind into the unit  15 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 a  set of fans  27  are made up of vertically oriented fan blades  30  are mounted in a row on rotatable rods  28  in rectangular enclosure  29 . The enclosure  29  is combined with three other similar enclosures  29  to make an air capture unit  31 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , four air capture units  31  are mounted together spaced apart as shown. Each unit  31  has a plurality of induction scoops  36  to intercept oncoming air into the unit  31  and a plurality of internal air deflectors  34  to block air from hitting both sides of each fan  27 . Air leaves the unit through the end wall  26 , which is permeable.  
      In operation, with truck  16  or automobile  33  in motion, oncoming air enters the air capture unit  15  or  31  and causes the fans  12  or  27  to rotate. The rotation of the fans is coupled to a generator  14  and causes the generator  14  to rotate. Rotation of the generator generates power, which is taken off and used by the vehicle. Obviously, there are many different fan designs which could work. Additionally, by combining a greater number of fans  12  or  27  into a compartment  11  or enclosure  29  a greater amount of power will be generated for a given wind velocity. It is also obvious that the speed of rotation of the fans  12  and  27  will vary according to speed. The energy recovery apparatus can be used on any moveable vehicle that generates sufficient speed including boats, trains, airplanes and the like.  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , an alternative fan  40  takes in air at mouth  41  directs it upwardly (as seen in the drawing) where it impacts the fan blades  42  and moves counterclockwise until it is discharged out of exhaust  44  at an angle of about 120 degrees to the direction of the incoming air. The advantage of such an alternative fan  40  is that it can discharge air in a direction not in-line with the incoming air that may be convenient given the geometry of its location.  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 a  long duct  46  receives incoming air at its moutn  48  which it directs to a remotely located fan  50 . Fan  50  drives a generator  52 . Using such ducting one can locate the fan and generator at the most convenient location on the vehicle. One can also use multiple ducts to increase the volume of air received in order to increase the fan speed and hence the power generated by the generator  52 .  
      Accordingly, while this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to this description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as fall within the true scope of the invention.