Patent Publication Number: US-2012038158-A1

Title: Wind power generating module for use with electric scooter

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to wind power generating modules, and more particularly, to a wind power generating module for use with an electric scooter. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The greenhouse effect arising from global warming, coupled with the dwindling fossil energy resources, prompt countries around the world to endeavor to develop renewable energy, especially solar energy, wind power generation, and fuel cells. Among the aforesaid forms of energy, solar energy and wind energy are inexhaustible, pollution-free, and environmentally friendly. At present, power plants, vehicles, and motorcycles worldwide are fueled mostly by burning coal and fossil fuel and therefore emit carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide thus emitted is one of the major causes of global warming. Hence, it is important to develop pollution-free and environmentally friendly energy. In this regard, electric motorcycles, a kind of low-pollution, low-noise, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly transport means, are drawing increasingly great attention from developed countries in Europe, North America, and Japan which are confronted with increasingly great pollution and a dwindling petroleum storage level. These countries believe that it is the time to develop electric vehicles. Although motorcycles nowadays still use internal combustion engines as a primary source of power, electric motorcycles will prevail in the foreseeable future due to technological advancement. Hence, it is imperative to apply wind power generation in electric motorcycles such that a wind power generating module can function as an auxiliary recharging device for use with an electric motorcycle and achieve the goal of enhancing the range and the energy-saving capacity of the motorcycle. 
     The prior art pertaining to the present invention is disclosed in Taiwan patents M279530 entitled Wind Power Generating Power Device for Use with Electric Vehicle, M367833 entitled Wind Power Recharging Device for Use with Electric Vehicle, M364014 entitled Power Replenishing Device for Use with Electric Vehicle, and M359437 entitled Multi-module Recharging Device for Use with Motorcycle. Also, the prior art pertaining to the present invention is disclosed in U.S. published patent applications 20030155464A1 entitled Device of wind electric power on transportation vehicles, 20050210858A1 entitled Scoop generator, and 20050211488A1 entitled Methods and devices to improve the electric and battery powered motorcycle. However, none of the aforesaid wind power generating devices disclosed in the prior art has a duct or features a perfect combination of blades and a power generator, thus restricting the efficiency of wind power generation. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,018,166B2, titled “Ducted Wind Turbine,” and U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,500, titled “Variable Stator, Diffuser Augmented Wind Turbine Electrical Generation System,” both have disclosed a wind turbine with duct design. However, the disclosed structure designs for wind turbines cannot be applied to a electric scooter. 
     In view of the drawbacks of the prior art pertaining to the present invention, the inventor of the present invention endeavors to improve the prior art and thus proposes a wind power generating module for use with an electric scooter. The proposed wind power generating module introduces external air thereinto while the electric scooter is moving so as for fan blades to be driven to rotate by a current of the air and comprises a duct for enhancing the rotational efficiency of the fan blades, thereby increasing the power generation capacity of a power generator. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a wind power generating module which comprises multiple blades each having a wing-shaped cross-section and an enlarged duct and thereby greatly enhances the output of electric power, and, as a result, the wind power generating module can function as an auxiliary recharging device for use with an electric scooter and achieve the goal of enhancing the range and the energy-saving capacity of the electric scooter. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a wind power generating module which is portable and thus can be installed at any appropriate position of a motorcycle, such as above the motorcycle head and thus functioning as a semi wind shield, at a motorcycle handle, outside the motorcycle front board, or inside the motorcycle front board, thereby dispensing the need for changing motorcycle structure and shape. Furthermore, in addition to motorcycles, the wind power generating module of the present invention is configured for use with any moving objects, such as bicycles or vehicles, and configured to be placed outdoors, to enable nature air feeding, thereby driving a power generator to generate electric power and functioning as a power supplying device. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a wind power generating module with a wheel hub, and the wheel hub is coupled to a disc type generator to thereby achieve modularization and cut costs. 
     In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention provides a wind power generating module for use with an electric scooter, wherein the wind power generating module is disposed in an electric scooter, comprising: at least one fan blade being driven to rotate by external air introduced into the wind power generating module while the electric scooter is moving; a disc type generator with a rotor configured to rotate in conjunction with the fan blades and generate electric power; a duct circumferentially disposed at an outermost portion of the fan blades and having an opening, the opening receiving the fan blades, wherein the opening has a front opening portion functioning as an inlet for the external air and a rear opening portion functioning as an outlet for the external air, the front opening portion being smaller than the rear opening portion; a front protective cover and a rear protective cover disposed at the inlet and the outlet, respectively. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To enable persons skilled in the art to gain insight into the structures, features, and effects of use of the present invention, the present invention is hereunder illustrated with preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a front view of a wind power generating module for use with an electric scooter according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a rear view of the wind power generating module for use with an electric scooter according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the wind power generating module for use with an electric scooter according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is a schematic view of the wind power generating module installed on an electric motorcycle according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a schematic view of the wind power generating module installed on an electric bicycle according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3C  is a schematic view of the wind power generating module installed above the head of the electric motorcycle according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a fan blade of the wind power generating module for use with an electric scooter in an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of the fan blade shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 4C  is a schematic view of the fan blade of the wind power generating module for use with an electric scooter in a variant embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of a duct of the wind power generating module for use with an electric scooter, taken along line B-B of  FIG. 2 , in an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of protruding portions additionally provided to the duct shown in  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view of the duct of the wind power generating module for use with an electric scooter in another embodiment according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of the protruding portions additionally provided to the duct shown in  FIG. 6A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A-1B ,  2 , and  3 A- 3 C, a wind power generating module  10  for use with an electric scooter according to the present invention is a portable wind power generating module and thus can be installed at any appropriate position of an electric scooter. The following description of the wind power generating module  10  is exemplified by an electric motorcycle. The wind power generating module  10  is installed above the electric motorcycle head and thus functioning as a semi wind shield, at the electric motorcycle handle, outside the electric motorcycle front board, or inside the electric motorcycle front board. External air is introduced into the wind power generating module  10  while the electric motorcycle is moving. The current of the external air drives the fan blades  101  to rotate. The rotation of the fan blades  101  drives the rotor of a disc type generator  103  to rotate. Hence, the disc type generator  103  is capable of generating electric power. According to the present invention, the wind power generating module  10  comprises at least one fan blade  101 , the disc type generator  103 , a duct  105 , a front protective cover  107   a , and a rear protective cover  107   b , which are described hereunder. 
     The fan blades  101  rotate when driven by the flowing external air current. The fan blades  101  consist of a plurality of the fan blades  101 . The fan blades  101  each have a wing-shaped cross-section. Referring to  FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a fan blade of the wind power generating module for use with an electric scooter in an embodiment according to the present invention.  FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of the fan blade shown in  FIG. 4A . Referring to  FIG. 4C , which is a schematic view of the fan blade of the wind power generating module for use with an electric scooter in a variant embodiment according to the present invention, the fan blades  101  each have a twist angle. In practice, the fan blades  101  can also be conventional fan blades. Of course, the fan blades  101  of the present invention are not limited to those shown in  FIG. 4A  through  FIG. 4C ; instead, all equivalent changes made by persons skilled in the art to the aforesaid embodiments of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention. 
     The disc type generator  103  and a wheel hub  101   a  of the fan blades  101  are coupled together. Once the fan blades  101  start to rotate, the rotation of the fan blades  101  will drive the rotor of the disc type generator  103  to rotate, thereby causing the disc type generator  103  to generate electric power. In practice, the disc type generator  103  can also be a conventional disc type generator. In addition, the disc type generator  103  can be replaced by any other type of power generators. 
     The duct  105  is circumferentially disposed at an outermost portion of the fan blades  101 , and has an opening  105   a . The opening  105   a  receives the fan blades  101 . The duct  105  is spaced apart from the outermost portion of the fan blades  101  by a gap. The fan blades  101  can rotate within the opening  105   a  freely. Referring to  FIG. 5A  through  FIG. 6B , the opening  105   a  has a front opening portion  1051  functioning as an inlet for the external air, and a rear opening portion  1053  functioning as an outlet for the external air. Hence, a wind-incoming plane of the fan blades  101  is provided by the front opening portion  1051 , and a wind-outgoing plane of the fan blades  101  is provided by the rear opening portion  1053 . The front opening portion  1051  is smaller than the rear opening portion  1053 . The duct  105  has a hollow core, for example. 
     With the front opening portion  1051  being smaller than the rear opening portion  1053 , air current moves into the front opening portion  1051  and out of the rear opening portion  1053  fast to thereby enhance the rotational efficiency of the fan blades  101 , thereby increasing the power generation capacity of the disc type generator  103 . 
       FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of a duct of the wind power generating module for use with an electric scooter, taken along line B-B of  FIG. 2 , in an embodiment according to the present invention.  FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line A-A of  FIG. 2 , of protruding portions additionally provided to the duct  105  shown in  FIG. 5A . The cross-section of the duct  105  is wing-shaped or arc-shaped. Referring to  FIG. 5B , the external edge of the duct  105  is further provided with protruding portions  1055 , and the protruding portions  1055  protrude outward from the external edge of the duct  105 . 
       FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view of the duct of the wind power generating module for use with an electric scooter in another embodiment according to the present invention.  FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of the protruding portions additionally provided to the duct shown in  FIG. 6A . The duct  105  has a trapezoidal hollow core. Furthermore, the external edge of the duct  105  is further provided with the protruding portions  1055 . The protruding portions  1055  protrude outward from the external edge of the duct  105 . 
     Of course, the duct  105  of the present invention is not limited to those shown in  FIG. 5A  through  FIG. 6B ; instead, all equivalent changes made by persons skilled in the art to the aforesaid embodiments of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention. 
     The front protective cover  107   a  and the rear protective cover  107   b  are disposed at the inlet of the front opening portion  1051  and the outlet of the rear opening portion  1053 , respectively. 
     The wind power generating module  10  of the present invention further comprises a rechargeable battery  109 . The rechargeable battery  109  is electrically connected to the disc type generator  103 . The purpose of the s rechargeable battery  109  is to store the electric power generated by the disc type generator  109 . In practice, the rechargeable battery  109  is a built-in rechargeable battery disposed in an electric scooter. 
     The electric scooter of the present invention is exemplified by an electric motorcycle, an electric bicycle, an electric  3  wheel scooter, an electric  4  wheel scooter, or an electric recreational scooter. 
     In addition to an electric scooter, the wind power generating module  10  of the present invention is configured for use with any moving vehicle, such as a bicycle, a motorcycle, or a car, and is also configured to be placed outdoors as appropriate, so as to drive a power generator to generate electric power by natural air feeding and thus function as a power supplying device. 
     According to the present invention, external air is introduced into the wind power generating module while the electric scooter is moving, the current of the external air drives the fan blades to rotate. Also, the wind power generating module has a duct for enhancing the rotational efficiency of the fan blades to thereby increase the power generation capacity of a disc type generator, which are the marked improvements in the present invention in comparison with the prior art. 
     The foregoing descriptions of the detailed embodiments are provided to illustrate and disclose the features and functions of the present invention and are not intended to be restrictive of the scope of the present invention. All obvious and equivalent changes and modifications made in the above embodiments of the present invention by persons skilled in the art shall be interpreted as not departing from the substantive contents of the present invention.