Wind propulsion power system

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/168,443 filed on Apr. 10, 2009, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0002] This invention relates generally to power systems, and in particular to hybrid vehicle power systems utilizing hydrocarbon engines and wind power charged batteries to power the vehicle and to supply supplemental electricity to an electrical grid.

[0003] The internal combustion engine is traditionally used to power automotive vehicles. Non-polluting alternatives to traditionally vehicles have become increasingly desirable. Alternatives to traditional automotive vehicles include electric powered vehicles and hybrid electric powered vehicles. Drawbacks to electric powered vehicles include not being able to charge the vehicle while in use and not being able to drive long distances between charges. Typical hybrid electric powered vehicles are limited by the size and electric capacity of the batteries. Additionally, with the increasing costs of electricity to power one's home, alternative or supplemental sources of electricity are desirable. Accordingly, there is both a need for alternative vehicle powers systems and for systems to supplement electricity to a power grid.

[0004] Embodiments of the invention include a supplemental wind propulsion power system for a vehicle having at least one battery. The system includes an air intake duct disposed on the vehicle for intercepting turbulent airflow created by the forward motion of the vehicle, an air conduit, an air turbine disposed at the outlet of the air conduit and a generator for supplying electricity to the batteries. The system further includes an air filtration system, an air heating system and grid output terminal to provide a port for supplying supplemental electricity to the electrical grid.

[0010] Embodiments of the disclosed supplemental wind propulsion power system 10 and utilization with a vehicle 12 are shown in FIGS. 1-3. Although the supplemental wind propulsion power system 10 is shown utilizing an automobile, the system 10 is capable of being portable and mounted to or retrofitted on a variety of vehicles capable of generating an appreciable degree of wind turbulence while in motion such as trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, ships, airplanes, jets, drone aircrafts or rail vehicles such as electric high speed bullet trains. For example, a government may retrofit its fleet of aircraft, vehicles and ships with the supplemental wind propulsion power system 10, and use supplemental electricity produced for government power usage. The wind propulsion power system 10 is an environmentally friendly system producing “green” wind generated energy.

[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, vehicle 12 preferably includes a hydrocarbon engine 14 in combination with at least one battery 16 such as a lithium ion battery. The wind propulsion power system 10 includes an air intake duct 18 mounted behind or in the radiator grill 20 of the vehicle 12 to partially intercept turbulent airflow created by the forward motion of the vehicle. While the air intake duct 18 is preferably located behind the grill 20 in the forward portion of the vehicle, it is understood that the air intake duct 18 may be located on other portions of the vehicle 12 such as one or both sides, the top or bottom of the vehicle 12.

[0012] An air filtration system 22 including an air filter 24 is disposed at the entrance of the air intake duct 18 either within or behind the grill 20 to intercept airborne debris. The air filtration system 22 prevents foreign airborne impediments such as sand, grit, mud, seeds, weeds, feathers, fur or other animal or insect matter from entering the wind power system.

[0013] The air intake duct 18 has an adjustable opening 25 including, for example, louvered slats 27 (FIG. 4) allowing for changes in degree of the louvered slats 27 for allowing fluctuation in the volume of air entering the system, thus controlling the quantity of wind generated “green” energy. The louvered slats 27 may be oriented vertically or horizontally. Adjustment allows restricted, controlled air intake at high speed. The adjustable opening also allows closure of the system when batteries are fully charged, or not to be charged, and limited air intake is desired.

[0014] Turbulent air flows into the air intake duct 18 and through a penstock or narrowed air conduit 26. Disposed at the end of the narrowed air conduit opposite the air intake duct 18 is an air turbine 28.

[0015] The air intake duct 18 and narrowed air conduit 26 preferably include an air heating system 30 (FIG. 2) for heating cold air and removing moisture before entering the turbine 28. The air heating system 30 preferably includes thermostatically controlled heat coils 32 located in the air intake duct 18 and/or battery electrodes 34 or glow plugs 36 within the narrowed air conduit 26 in addition to the vehicle's manifold heater 38. The battery electrodes 34 and glow plugs 36 may be manually activated by the driver while the engine manifold heater 38 may be automatically activated by a built-in thermostat. The air heating 30 system thereby prevents freezing, icy and moist air in frigid regions around the world from negatively affecting the function of the turbine 28. If freezing, moist air were allowed to contact the turbine 28, the turbine may cease to function. An exit port 40, disposed in the narrowed air conduit 26 near the turbine 28, allows water to escape before contacting the turbine 28. The air intake duct and narrowed air conduit 26 are mounted to the vehicle 12 with attachment supports 42.

[0016] The turbine 28 includes turbine propellers 44 which are turned by the turbulent air stream flowing from the narrowed air conduit 26. A rotatable turbine shaft 46 fixed to the body of the vehicle is attached to and rotates with the turbine propellers 44. After passing the turbine 28, wind overflow exits through the exit port 40 and back into the environment.

[0017] The wind propulsion power system 10 includes an alternator generator 48 having a rotor 50 attached to the rotatable turbine shaft 46 of the turbine 28 for rotation therewith. The rotor 50 includes field poles 52. The generator 48 further includes a stator 56 having conductors 58. The turbine shaft 46 rotates the rotor 50 at varying speeds causing the field poles 52 to move past the conductors 58. This causes electricity to flow and a voltage to develop at generator output terminals 60.

[0018] Battery power lines 62 connect generator output terminals 60 of the generator 48 to the at least one vehicle battery 16 to charge or recharge the battery 16 or for supplying power to vehicle systems. The vehicle also includes a grid output terminal connector 64 which is electronically connected at home grid output terminals 65 to the generator 48 to provide a port for supplying supplemental electricity to an electrical grid 66. The grid output terminal connector 64 includes a power inverter connector port 68. The system also includes a sine wave power inverter 70 to convert direct current power from the wind propulsion power system 10 to alternating current for use in the electrical grid 66. The electrical grid 66 may be for a home or other building such as a workplace building, office building or retail building.

[0019] The wind propulsion power system 100 (FIG. 3) in another embodiment may also be used in a fuel-less drone aircraft 112. The wind power system 100 charges the aircraft's batteries 116 with wind turbulence as it is aircraft 112 is flown providing a quiet, stealth operation and extended flight times. The drone aircraft embodiment would have many of the components discussed above with the exception of the gasoline powered engine. The location of an air intake duct 118 is preferably at the forward portion of the aircraft 112 and located behind a metal grill 120. The wind propulsion power system 100 in the drone aircraft 112 also preferably includes air filtration 122 and heating systems 130. Unlike solar power, the wind propulsion power system 100 can generate power at night and in cloudy weather. The system 100 is connectable to an electrical grid such as an airport's electrical grid to provide supplemental power to the airport in the same manner as that shown in FIG. 2.

[0020] If not otherwise stated herein, any and all patents, patent publications, articles and other printed publications discussed or mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein.

[0021] It should be appreciated that the apparatus and methods of the invention may be configured and conducted as appropriate for any context at hand. The embodiments described above are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.