Patent Publication Number: US-2012038159-A1

Title: Wind power generating device for use with a vehicle

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to wind power generating devices, and more particularly, to a wind power generating device disposed inside an engine chamber of a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Taiwan Utility Model Patent No. M345880, entitled “Wind Power Generating Device Using Air Flowing in Opposite Direction to an Advancing Vehicle”, discloses a wind power generating device disposed on top of a vehicle and configured to use air flowing in opposite direction to the vehicle, wherein the device comprises: a vehicle; a horizontal wind power generator and/or a vertical wind power generator; a first driving device composed of a vehicle engine, a clutch, a speed-change device, and a transmission spindle; and a second driving device composed of a horizontal wind power generator rotated by stator duct blades, a vertical wind power generator with an axis rotated and driven by a vane, an energy storing device, an electrical energy indicating device, and a stepless speed-change motor. The device further comprises a tapered gradient board, a first concave slanted tank, a second concave slanted tank, a first supporting rod, a second supporting rod, a first supporting board, a second supporting board, a first connecting rod, and a second connecting rod. The tapered gradient board is transversely fixed to a top portion of the vehicle and positioned before the longitudinal middle line of the vehicle body, and covers the horizontal wind power generator from above and from the front, by means of the first supporting rod, the second supporting rod, the first supporting board, the second supporting board, the first connecting rod, and the second connecting rod. The first concave slanted tank and the second concave slanted tank are fixed to the two sides of the vehicle, respectively, positioned before the longitudinal middle line of the vehicle body, and fixed to the front of the vertical wind power generator. Nonetheless, the prior art is likely to increase the height of the vehicle body, require the reinforcement of the vehicle structure, face with safety-related problems, and increased air resistance. 
     Taiwan Utility Model Patent No. M355843, entitled “Motor-driven Vehicle Power System with Wind-dependent Double Energy Sources”, discloses a motor-driven vehicle power system with wind-dependent double energy sources, wherein the motor-driven vehicle power system is disposed inside an engine chamber. The motor-driven vehicle power system comprises a wind mechanism and a power supplying mechanism. The wind mechanism and the power supplying mechanism are connected to an electrical energy accessing device via a clutch. The electrical energy accessing device has a power generating module and at least two rechargeable batteries. The motor-driven vehicle power system further comprises a main controller for receiving a wind speed signal generated by a wind speed sensing unit. Under the control of the main controller, the clutch switches and becomes coupled to the power supplying mechanism whenever the wind speed signal level is lower than a predetermined wind speed, such that the power generated by another power source drives the power supplying mechanism so as for the power generating module to generate power and recharge the rechargeable batteries. When the wind speed signal level is higher than the predetermined wind speed, the main controller makes the clutch switch and be coupled to the wind mechanism, so as for the wind mechanism to drive the power generating module for power generation and recharge the rechargeable batteries. The electrical energy accessing device supplies electric power to a displacement transmission device for driving the displacement transmission device. However, the prior art does not disclose a duct. 
     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 design for wind turbines is difficult to be mounted and configured within an engine room of a car. 
     Furthermore, in published US patent application publication No. 2008/0041643A1, titled “Wind-Power Vehicle (AKV WPV)”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,781, titled “System For Generating Electricity In A Vehicle”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,127, titled “Propeller Wind Charging System For Electrical Vehicle”, U.S. Pat. No. 7,147,069B2, titled “Wind Turbine Driven Generator System For A Motor Vehicle”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,700,215B2, titled “Multiple Installation Varie Gated Generators For Fossil Fuel-And Electric-Powered Vehicles”, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,897,575B1, titled “Portable Wind Power Apparatus For Electric Vehicles,” the wind power generators disclosed in above-listed US patents are placed and mounted on car top, hood, chassis, or even within the exhaust pipe, respectively, so as to result in a few problems, such as the car body is raised, the car structure needs to be strengthened, safety issues, and also increasing the air resistance of the car. On the other hand, for the wind power generators disclosed in above-listed US patents, because the blades of the wind power generators have no improved design, the electricity power generated by the wind power generators cannot cause substantial benefits for charging of a car. 
     The inventor of the present invention is concerned about the drawbacks of the prior art and thus engaged in the improvement of the prior art. As a result, the inventor proposes a wind power generating device disposed in an engine chamber of a vehicle and configured to treat incoming air current, which is introduced into the engine chamber of the vehicle in a manner of natural feeding, as a wind source for wind power generation, and a duct for enhancing the rotational efficiency of the fan blades to thereby increase 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 device for treating incoming air current, which is introduced into the engine chamber of the vehicle in a manner of natural feeding, as a wind source for wind power generation. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a wind power generating device that comprises a duct for enhancing the rotational efficiency of the fan blades to thereby increase the power generation capacity of a power generator. 
     In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention provides a wind power generating device for use with a vehicle, wherein the wind power generating device being disposed in a front side of an engine chamber of the vehicle, comprising: at least one fan blade being driven to rotate by a current of external air introduced into the engine chamber by natural feeding while the vehicle is moving; a power generator for operating in conjunction with the fan blades and generating electric power; and 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, and the front opening portion being smaller than the rear opening portion. 
    
    
     
       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. 1  is a front view of a wind power generating device for use with a vehicle according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view for the assembly of a duct, fan blades, and a power generator of the wind power generating device for use with a vehicle according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the wind power generating device disposed in an engine chamber of a vehicle according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a structure of a fan blade of the wind power generating device for use with a vehicle in an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of the fan blade shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of a duct taken along line B-B of  FIG. 2 , wherein the duct is configured to be applied to the wind power generating device for use with a vehicle in an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of a protruding portion of the duct shown in  FIG. 5A  and which is taken along line A-A of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view of the duct configured to be applied to the wind power generating device for use with a vehicle in another embodiment according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of the protruding portion of the duct shown in  FIG. 6A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , a wind power generating device  10  for use with a vehicle of the present invention is disposed in the engine chamber of a vehicle. For example, the wind power generating device  10  is disposed between a water tank protective cover  2  and a water tank  3  at the front side of the engine chamber of the vehicle. External air is introduced into the engine chamber of the vehicle in the manner of natural feeding while the vehicle is moving. The air introduced into the engine chamber of the moving vehicle becomes a feeding air current. The feeding air current drives a plurality of fan blades  101  of the wind power generating device  10  to rotate, and thus a rotor of a power generator  103  is driven to rotate. As a result, the power generator  103  generates electric power. According to the present invention, the wind power generating device  10  for use with a vehicle comprises at least one fan blade  101 , the power generator  103 , and a duct  105 , which are described hereunder. 
     The fan blades  101  rotate when they are driven by the flowing feeding air current. The fan blades  101  are composed of a plurality of said fan blades  101  each having a wing-like cross-section.  FIG. 4A  illustrates a structure of a fan blade of the wind power generating device for use with a vehicle in an embodiment according to the present invention.  FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of the fan blade shown in  FIG. 4A . It is also feasible for the fan blades  101  to be any other conventional fan blades. The fan blades  101  of the present invention are not limited to the ones shown in  FIG. 4A  through  FIG. 4B ; instead, equivalent changes made to the fan blades  101  of the present invention by persons skilled in the art should fall within the scope of the present invention. 
     The power generator  103  operates in conjunction with the fan blades  101 . Once the fan blades  101  start to rotate, the rotation of the fan blades  101  drives the rotor of the power generator  103 ; as a result, the power generator  103  generates electric power. Means for transmission between the fan blades  101  and the power generator  103  according to the present invention abounds. For example, the axle of the fan blades  101  directly drives the rotor of the power generator  103  located at a rear position. Alternatively, the aforesaid transmission is effectuated by a conveyor belt or a gear train. The rotational movement of the fan blades  101  is transmitted, by the conveyor belt or the gear train, to the power generator  103  located in the vicinity of the fan blades  101 . It is feasible for the power generator  103  to be a conventional power generator. 
     The duct  105  circumferentially encloses the fan blades  101  by being disposed at the rim thereof. The duct  105  has an opening  105   a . The fan blades  101  are received in the opening  105   a . The duct  105  is spaced apart from the outermost portion of the fan blades  101  by a gap. The fan blades  101  rotate freely within the opening  105   a . Referring to  FIG. 5A  through  FIG. 6B , a front opening portion  1051  of the opening  105   a  functions as an inlet of the aforesaid external air, and a rear opening portion  1053  of the opening  105   a  functions as an outlet of the aforesaid external air. That is to say, 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 . It shall be noted that the front opening portion  1051  is smaller than the rear opening portion  1053 . It is feasible that the duct  105 , for example, has a hollow core. 
     With the front opening portion  1051  being smaller than the rear opening portion  1053 , the 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 , and further increase the power generation capacity of the power generator  103 . 
       FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of a duct taken along line B-B of  FIG. 2 , wherein the duct is configured to be applied to the wind power generating device for use with a vehicle in an embodiment according to the present invention.  FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of a protruding portion of the duct  105  shown in  FIG. 5A  and which is taken along line A-A of  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 5A , the duct  105  has a wing-like cross-section or arc-shaped cross-section. As shown in  FIG. 5B , the external edge of the duct  105  is further provided with a protruding portion  1055 . The protruding portion  1055  protrudes outward from the external edge of the duct  105 . 
       FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view of the duct configured to be applied to the wind power generating device for use with a vehicle in another embodiment according to the present invention.  FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of the protruding portion of the duct shown in  FIG. 6A . It is feasible that the duct  105  has a trapezoidal and hollow core. Furthermore, the external edge of the duct  105  is further provided with the protruding portion  1055 . The protruding portion  1055  protrudes outward from the external edge of the duct  105 . 
     The duct  105  of the present invention is not limited by  FIG. 5A  through  FIG. 6B ; instead, all equivalent changes made by persons skilled in the art to the duct  105  of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention. 
     Also, the wind power generating device  10  of the present invention further comprises a rechargeable battery  107 . The rechargeable battery  107  is electrically connected to the power generator  103 . The function of the rechargeable battery  107  is to store the electric power generated by the power generator  103 . 
     With a wind power generating device of the present invention, a feeding air current introduced into an engine chamber of a vehicle in the manner of natural feeding can function as a wind source of wind power generation, and a duct of the wind power generating device enhances the rotational efficiency of the fan blades to thereby increase the power generation capacity of a power generator, which are attributed to the obvious advantages of the present invention. 
     Although the present invention is illustrated with the preferred embodiments above, the scope of implementation of the present invention shall not be limited to the above embodiments. Persons skilled in the art shall understand all obvious and equivalent changes and modifications made in the above embodiments of the present invention shall be interpreted as not departing from the substantive contents of the present invention.