Patent Publication Number: US-2023132684-A1

Title: Wing stabilizer charging system

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/912,072 filed on Jun. 25, 2020 and U.S. Provisional Application, entitled “Wing Stabilizer Charging System,” filed on Jun. 26, 2019 and having application Ser. No. 62/866,725, the entirety of said application being incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of electrically powered vehicles. More specifically, embodiments of the disclosure relate to a wing stabilizer charging system and methods for recharging onboard batteries during operation of an electrically powered vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electrically powered vehicles generally solve problems associated with the gasoline-powered vehicles, such as environmental pollution, noise and depletion of crude oil reserves due to the increasing use of gasoline-powered vehicles. As such, electrically powered vehicles are gaining in popularity and their use is becoming increasingly widespread. Unfortunately, electrically powered vehicles have certain drawbacks, including limited travel range between battery recharging and excessive time required for recharging the batteries. In generally, the average travel distance between battery recharging for currently available electrically powered vehicles is considerably less than the driving range of gasoline powered vehicles. Further, several hours may be required to recharge the batteries while the vehicle remains inoperative. 
     Increasing the driving range of electrically powered vehicles between battery recharging downtimes can significantly increase the desirability of operating electrically powered vehicles. One approach to increasing the driving range of electrically powered is by charging the batteries while the vehicle is in motion, such as by way of utilizing air currents as a motive power. Although there have been many contributions to the art of electrically powered vehicles, significant improvements are needed to solve the short travel distance problems associated with such vehicles. There is a continuing interest, therefore, in developing battery recharging systems capable of extending the driving range of electrically powered vehicles during vehicle operation. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system and methods are provided for a wing stabilizer charging system for recharging onboard batteries during operation of an electrically powered vehicle. The wing stabilizer charging system comprises a wing stabilizer configured to be coupled with a rear of the vehicle. One or more air inlets are disposed in the wing stabilizer and configured to receive an airstream during forward motion of the vehicle. Wind turbines are disposed within the wing stabilizer and configured to be turned by the airstream. A circuit box is configured to combine electricity received from the wind turbines into a useable electric current. A power cable extends from the circuit box and is configured to supply the useable electric current to any one or more electronic devices, such as any of an onboard battery for powering the vehicle, mobile phones or smart phones, portable music players, tablet computers, cameras, and the like. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a charging system for a vehicle comprises: a wing stabilizer comprising a hollow wing-shaped member including an interior chamber; one or more air inlets disposed in the wing stabilizer and configured to receive an airstream into the chamber during forward motion of the vehicle; a vertical support disposed near each end of the wing stabilizer and mounted to a rear of the vehicle; an air passage within each vertical support and in fluid communication with the chamber; a wind turbine disposed within the air passage and configured to be turned by the airstream; and a power cable configured to direct an electric current from the wind turbine to one or more electronic devices that are configured to utilize the electric current. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the one or more electronic devices comprises any of an onboard battery for powering the vehicle, mobile phones or smart phones, portable music players, tablet computers, cameras, and the like. In another exemplary embodiment, the wing stabilizer includes a shape and size suitable for being coupled with the rear of the vehicle. In another exemplary embodiment, the wing stabilizer includes multiple mounting holes for receiving hardware fasteners suitable for attaching the wing stabilizer to the rear of the vehicle. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the one or more air inlets are disposed side-by-side along the width of the wing stabilizer. In another exemplary embodiment, each pair of adjacent air inlets shares an intervening separator that is configured to contribute to the structural integrity of the wing stabilizer and to operate in combination with the one or more air inlets to reduce air turbulence. In another exemplary embodiment, one or more air outlet ports are disposed at a bottom of each vertical support and configured to allow the airstream to exit the wing stabilizer. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the wind turbine includes multiple blades coupled with a hub that is in mechanical communication with an electric generator. In another exemplary embodiment, the multiple blades generally are arranged in a cylindrical configuration. In another exemplary embodiment, each of the multiple blades includes a scooped cross-sectional shape that extends along the length of the blade. In another exemplary embodiment, the multiple blades are configured to turn the electric generator in response to the airstream entering through the one or more air inlets and exiting through one or more air outlet ports at a bottom of the vertical support. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the charging system further includes a circuit box configured to combine the electric current from one or more electric generators into a combined, useable electric current. In another exemplary embodiment, the charging system further includes a power cable extending from the circuit box and configured to direct the useable electric current to the one or more electronic devices. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a method for a charging system for a vehicle comprises: configuring a wing stabilizer comprising a hollow wing-shaped member that includes an interior chamber; disposing one or more air inlets in the wing stabilizer; configuring the one or air inlets to direct an airstream into the chamber during forward motion of the vehicle; disposing a vertical support near each end of the wing stabilizer; configuring the vertical support to be mounted to a rear of the vehicle; placing an air passage within each vertical support into fluid communication with the chamber; disposing a wind turbine within the air passage; configuring the wind turbine to be turned by the airstream; and configuring a power cable to direct an electric current from the wind turbine to one or more electronic devices that are configured to utilize the electric current. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, configuring the wind turbine includes configuring multiple blades to turn an electric generator in response to the airstream entering through the one or more air inlets and exiting through the one or more air outlet ports at a bottom of the vertical support. In another exemplary embodiment, configuring the wind turbine further includes coupling the multiple blades with a hub that is in mechanical communication with the electric generator. In another exemplary embodiment, configuring the one or more air inlets includes disposing the one or more air inlets side-by-side along the width of the wing stabilizer. In another exemplary embodiment, configuring the one or more air inlets includes disposing an intervening separator between each pair of adjacent air inlets to contribute to the structural integrity of the wing stabilizer and to operate in combination with the one or more air inlets to reduce air turbulence. In another exemplary embodiment, configuring the power cable further includes configuring a circuit box to combine the electric current from one or more electric generators into a combined, useable electric current. In another exemplary embodiment, configuring the power cable further includes configuring a power cable extending from the circuit box to direct the useable electric current to the one or more electronic devices. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings refer to embodiments of the present disclosure in which: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a wing stabilizer charging system coupled with a rear of an electrically powered vehicle, in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  2    illustrates an isometric ghost-view of an exemplary embodiment of a wing stabilizer charging system configured to be coupled with a rear of an electrically-power vehicle according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     While the present disclosure is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The invention should be understood to not be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, specific numeric references such as “first battery,” may be made. However, the specific numeric reference should not be interpreted as a literal sequential order but rather interpreted that the “first battery” is different than a “second battery.” Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The term “coupled” is defined as meaning connected either directly to the component or indirectly to the component through another component. Further, as used herein, the terms “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” for any numerical values or ranges indicate a suitable dimensional tolerance that allows the part or collection of components to function for its intended purpose as described herein. 
     Electrically powered vehicles generally solve problems associated with the gasoline-powered vehicles, such as environmental pollution, noise and depletion of crude oil reserves due to the increasing use of gasoline-powered vehicles. As such, electrically powered vehicles are gaining in popularity and their use is becoming increasingly widespread. Drawbacks to electrically powered vehicles include limited travel range between battery recharging and excessive time required for recharging the batteries. Increasing the driving range of electrically powered vehicles between battery recharging downtimes can significantly increase the desirability of operating electrically powered vehicles. One approach to increasing the driving range of electrically powered is by charging the batteries while the vehicle is in motion, such as by way of utilizing air currents as a motive power. Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a wing stabilizer charging system configured to be mounted onto a vehicle for recharging an onboard battery during operation of the vehicle. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a wing stabilizer charging system  100  coupled with a rear of an electrically powered vehicle  104 , in accordance with the present disclosure. The charging system  100  is configured to be coupled with a rear  108  of the vehicle  104 , such that an airstream  112  incident during forward motion of the vehicle  104  is directed into one or more air inlets  116 . As described herein, the airstream  112  passing through the air inlets  116  operates one or more generators whereby an electric current is produced. The electric current may be used for recharging an onboard battery or powering any of various electronic devices, as desired. It is contemplated that such electronic devices may include, but are not limited to, mobile phones or smart phones, portable music players, tablet computers, cameras, and the like. 
     Although the vehicle  104  shown in  FIG.  1   , and described herein, is of an electrically powered variety, it is contemplated that the charging system  100  of the present disclosure may be coupled with a wide variety of different vehicles. For example, the vehicle  104  may be any vehicle that includes an onboard battery, such as hybrid electric vehicles, electric vehicles, as well as various fuel-powered vehicles. In some embodiments, fuel-powered vehicles may include any of automobiles, trucks, recreational vehicles, buses, various cargo moving vehicles, locomotives, airplanes, helicopters, airships, boats and ships, and the like, without limitation. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates an isometric ghost-view of the wing stabilizer charging system  100  of  FIG.  1   . The wing stabilizer charging system  100  comprises a wing stabilizer  120  that is configured to be coupled with the rear  108  of the vehicle  104 , as shown in  FIG.  1   . As such, the wing stabilizer  120  generally includes a shape and size suitable for being coupled with the vehicle  104 . As will be appreciated, the wing stabilizer  120  generally includes multiple mounting holes (not shown) for receiving hardware fasteners suitable for attaching the wing stabilizer  120  to the rear  108  of the vehicle  104 . As such, any of the hardware fasteners, the number and locations of the mounting holes, as well as the shape and size of the wing stabilizer  120 , may be varied, without limitation, so as to accommodate various makes and models of the vehicle  104 . 
     As further shown in  FIG.  2   , the wing stabilizer  120  includes multiple air inlets  116  configured to receive the airstream  112  during forward motion of the vehicle  104 . In the illustrated embodiment, six air inlets  116  are disposed, side by side, along the width of the wing stabilizer  120 . It is contemplated, however, that in some embodiments, more than or less than six air inlets  116  may be incorporated into the wing stabilizer  120  without limitation. Further, each pair of adjacent air inlets  116  shares an intervening separator  128 . The separators  128  generally are configured to contribute to the structural integrity of the wing stabilizer  120  and to operate in combination with the air inlets  116  to reduce air turbulence. It is contemplated that, in some embodiments, any of various aerodynamic shapes or features may be incorporated into wing stabilizer  120  so as to improve entry of the airstream  112  into the air inlets  116 , without limitation. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG.  2   , the wing stabilizer  120  generally is a hollow, wing-shaped member that is coupled with the vehicle  104  by way of vertical supports  124  disposed on opposite ends of the wing stabilizer  120 . The wing stabilizer  120  includes an interior chamber  126  that receives the airstream  112  entering through the multiple air inlets  116 . The vertical supports  124  each includes an interior air passage  130  that is in fluid communication with the chamber  126 . A wind turbine  132  is housed within each vertical support  124 , such that the airstream  112  is communicated from the chamber  126 , through the air passages  130  to each of two wind turbines  132 . As such, during forward motion of the vehicle  104 , the airstream  112  enters through the air inlets  116  and turns the wind turbines  132  before exiting at a bottom of the vertical supports  124 . One or more air outlet ports  148  may be disposed at the bottom of the vertical supports  124  and configured to allow the airstream  112  to exit the air passages  130  after turning the wind turbines  132 . While being turned, the wind turbines  132  produce electricity that may be used to recharge an onboard battery and/or power one or more portable electronic devices, as described herein. 
     The wind turbines  132  each includes multiple blades  136  coupled with a hub  140  that is generally concentric with an electric generator  144 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , one or more mounts  146  may be configured to support the hub  140  and the electric generator  144  within the air passage  130 . Any of various suitable bearings (not shown) may be employed, without limitation, to allow free rotation of the hub  140  and the electric generator  144  in response to the airstream  112  within the air passage  130 . 
     It is contemplated that any suitable number of blades  136  may be coupled with the hub  140 , without limitation. Each of the blades  136  includes a scooped cross-sectional shape that extends along the length of the blade  136 . As such, the blades  136  are configured to turn the electric generator  144  in response to the airstream  112  flowing through the air passage  130 . The blades  136  are configured, in some embodiments, to rotate the electric generator  144  in a clockwise direction for the purpose of producing electricity. It should be recognized, however, that the blades  136  may be configured, in some embodiments, to rotate the electric generator  144  in a counterclockwise direction, as may be desired. As such, the specific configuration of the blades  136  shown in  FIG.  2    is not to be construed as limiting in nature, and thus the blades  136  may be altered to accommodate a wide variety of makes and models of the electric generator  144 , without limitation. 
     In general, during forward motion of the vehicle  104  the airstream  112  passes through the air inlets  116  into the chamber  126 . The airstream  112  then passes through the vertical supports  124  by way of the air passages  130 , wherein the airstream  112  advantageously causes the blades  136  and the electric generators  144  to rotate. As mentioned hereinabove, the electric generators  144  are configured to produce an electric current during rotating. Each electric generator  144  includes a power cable  152  that is configured to convey an electric current  156  (see  FIG.  1   ) from the electric generator  144  to one or more electronic devices configured to utilize the electric current  156 , such as an onboard battery configured to power the vehicle  104 . 
     In some embodiments, wherein the wing stabilizer charging system  100  includes multiple electric generators  144 , such as the embodiment illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the electric currents  156  may be directed from the electric generators  144  to a circuit box that includes electric circuitry configured to combine the electric currents  156  into a combined, useable electric current. In some embodiments, the circuit box may be configured to synchronize AC electric currents received from the electric generators  144  to form the useable electric current. In some embodiments, the circuit box may include at least one rectifier configured to convert AC electricity received from the electric generators  144  into DC electricity in the form of the useable electric current. Further, in some embodiments, wherein the electric generators  144  are configured to generate DC currents, the circuit box may be configured to combine the received DC currents to form the useable electric current. 
     Embodiments of the wing stabilizer charging system  100  that include the circuit box, as described above, may include a power cable that is configured to carry the useable electric current from the circuit box to any one or more electronic devices that are configured to utilize the current. It is contemplated that the useable electric current may be used for recharging an onboard battery or powering any of various electronic accessory devices, including, but not limited to, mobile phones or smart phones, portable music players, tablet computers, cameras, and the like. It is contemplated that the power cable and the circuit box may be implemented in a wide variety of configurations other than those specifically described herein, without limitation, and without deviating beyond the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of particular variations and illustrative figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the variations or figures described. In addition, where methods and steps described above indicate certain events occurring in certain order, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the ordering of certain steps may be modified and that such modifications are in accordance with the variations of the invention. Additionally, certain of the steps may be performed concurrently in a parallel process when possible, as well as performed sequentially as described above. To the extent there are variations of the invention, which are within the spirit of the disclosure or equivalent to the inventions found in the claims, it is the intent that this patent will cover those variations as well. Therefore, the present disclosure is to be understood as not limited by the specific embodiments described herein, but only by scope of the appended claims.