499results about "Air flow to electrical conversion" patented technology

Stationary and on-board battery chargers, methods of charging batteries, electric-vehicle chargers, and vehicles with chargers, including electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. Chargers may automatically charge at the correct battery voltage for various types of batteries. Chargers have variable AC power supplies controlled by digital controllers, isolation transformers, and rectifiers. Transformers may be foil-type, and may have copper foil. Power supplies may be variable-frequency generators and the controllers may control the frequency. Electric vehicle chargers may have card readers, and vehicles may have batteries and a charger. Methods of charging include identifying the battery type and gradually increasing the charging at different rates of increase while monitoring charging voltage, charging current, or both, until a current lid is reached. Charging may occur at constant current and then at constant voltage.

Stationary and on-board battery chargers, methods of charging batteries, electric-vehicle chargers, and vehicles with chargers, including electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. Chargers may automatically charge at the correct battery voltage for various types of batteries. Chargers have variable AC power supplies controlled by digital controllers, isolation transformers, and rectifiers. Transformers may be foil-type, and may have copper foil. Power supplies may be variable-frequency generators and the controllers may control the frequency. Use of the variable frequency generator supply facilitates reduced component size and weight and better battery charging performance. Electric vehicle chargers may have card readers, and vehicles may have batteries and a charger. Methods of charging include identifying the battery type and gradually increasing the charging at different rates of increase while monitoring charging voltage, charging current, or both, until a current lid is reached. Charging may occur at constant current and then at constant voltage.

A wind energy capturing device for moving vehicles including a wind turbine powered electrical power generator for installation on the roof of a moving vehicle such as a truck cab or tractor. The invention takes advantage of the powerful wind force generated by the vehicle moving on the road at moderate to high speed impinging against the wind deflector mounted on the truck cab or tractor. This otherwise “wasted” wind energy is captured and directed to the face area of the rotor blade, rotating the turbine, which, in turn, drives the generator to generate electricity. The electrical energy may be stored in a battery system and used to drive the motors of an electric vehicle or hybrid-electric vehicle.

A power system for an electric vehicle, the power system comprising at least one power generating device selected from a group consisting of a solar panel, a wind turbine capable of producing electrical power, an auxiliary generator driven by an internal combustion engine, and a generator for producing electrical power mechanically connected to, and driven by the rotational force of an axle of a vehicle. The power system being further comprised of a charging device, a battery control device, at least one battery, a motor control device, an electric drive motor electrically connected to the motor control device, and a driver interface connected to the motor control device. The electric drive motor may be used to generate power through regenerative braking. The wind turbine may be raised outside the body of a vehicle while the vehicle is not in motion. The solar panel may be disposed outside the vehicle while remaining electrically connected to the charging device.

A shutter for closing openings with pivotal shutter elements, the rotational axes of which are arranged parallel to each other. Better sealing is achieved in that the shutter elements consist of at least two wings that are solidly joined together and arranged almost parallel to each other. The wings of the shutter elements are oriented substantially parallel to an imaginary plane of the opening, thus closing it on both sides, in a first position and substantially normal to the plane of the opening, thus clearing said opening, in a second position.

A charging monitor has: a switch that is disposed between a load section having a storage battery and an external AC power supply supplying a current to the load section via a plurality of lines and interrupts the supply of the current from the external AC power supply to the load section; a current detection circuit that outputs a detection signal corresponding to a difference in level between currents flowing through the lines; a suppression circuit that suppresses a DC component contained in the detection signal; a filter circuit that filters a plurality of frequency components contained in the detection signal so that attenuation increases as a frequency becomes high; a rectifier smoothing circuit that rectifies and smoothens an output signal obtained when the detection signal passes through the filter circuit and the suppression circuit; and an electric leakage determination circuit that detects an electric leakage and shuts off the switch when the level of the signal smoothened by the rectifier smoothing circuit exceeds a preset reference level.

Stationary and on-board battery chargers, methods of charging batteries, electric-vehicle chargers, and vehicles with chargers, including electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. Chargers may automatically charge at the correct battery voltage for various types of batteries. Chargers have variable AC power supplies controlled by digital controllers, isolation transformers, and rectifiers. Transformers may be foil-type, and may have copper foil. Power supplies may be variable-frequency generators and the controllers may control the frequency. Use of the variable frequency generator supply facilitates reduced component size and weight and better battery charging performance. Electric vehicle chargers may have card readers, and vehicles may have batteries and a charger. Methods of charging include identifying the battery type and gradually increasing the charging at different rates of increase while monitoring charging voltage, charging current, or both, until a current lid is reached. Charging may occur at constant current and then at constant voltage.

Wind operated electrical generating apparatus includes a housing designed to be attached to the front of a vehicle and formed to extend substantially the length of the front of the vehicle for intercepting air flow produced by movement of the vehicle. The housing is further formed with an opening designed to direct intercepted air flow into a channel. A turbine is rotatably mounted within the housing in the channel for rotation of the turbine with air flow in the channel and an electrical generator is attached to the turbine for rotation with the turbine. The housing can be attached to the front bumper of a vehicle or be attached in lieu of the front bumper.

Disclosed is a vehicle using wind force. An object of the present invention is to provide a wind force power system driven by wind is provided within a hood panel of the vehicle, whereby the vehicle continuously charge a battery with electricity while being stopped or driving. The vehicle using wind force includes a wind force power system, the Power system comprising a ventilator that is rotated by the wind flowing along the roof panel in the rear of the vehicle, a shaft connected to the ventilator, a rotary gear connected to the shaft, a follower gear engaged with the rotary gear, and an electric generator for generating electricity as the follower gear rotates, wherein the electric generator of the wind force power system is electrically connected to the battery and the battery is electrically connected to the driving motor.

A shrouded enclosure is mounted to a vehicle roof, the shrouded enclosure comprising an air intake formed by controllable shrouds, a turbine, an electricity generating device, and a discharge outlet. The turbine is interposed between the air intake and the discharge outlet, operatively connected to the electricity generating device and adapted to operate by the air passing through the shrouded enclosure when the vehicle is in motion. The turbine rotates about a turbine shaft mounted on a pair of bearing towers. The rotational energy of the turbine shaft is transferred to the electricity generating device. A base plate is interposed between the shrouded enclosure and the mounting surface of the vehicle. An electrical circuit provides electrical continuity between the electricity generating device and the battery during predetermined periods thereby generating electrical energy to charge the battery with the generated electrical energy. The controllable shrouds are opened to a predetermined position during the predetermined periods of electrical continuity and are otherwise closed to form a predetermined aerodynamic shape to reduce drag during vehicle movement.

A charge transfer apparatus having an input and an output includes: an AC / DC converter coupled to the input of the charge transfer apparatus and configured to receive AC power at a first power level; and a charge storage device coupled to the AC / DC converter, where the charge storage device is configured to receive charge at the first power level and to transfer charge to the output of the charge transfer apparatus at a second power level, and the second power level is greater than the first power level.

A power system for an electric vehicle, the power system comprising at least one power generating device selected from a group consisting of a solar panel, a wind turbine capable of producing electrical power, an auxiliary generator driven by an internal combustion engine, and a generator for producing electrical power mechanically connected to, and driven by the rotational force of an axle of a vehicle. The power system being further comprised of a charging device, a battery control device, at least one battery, a motor control device, an electric drive motor electrically connected to the motor control device, and a driver interface connected to the motor control device. The electric drive motor may be used to generate power through regenerative braking. The wind turbine may be raised outside the body of a vehicle while the vehicle is not in motion. The solar panel may be disposed outside the vehicle while remaining electrically connected to the charging device.

The invention relates to a vehicle including a body having a one or more openings. The body is configured, such as through the use of air guides, to receive an airflow through the one or more openings. An electrical generator assembly is mounted inside the vehicle and in fluid communication with a respective opening to receive the airflow, and wherein a separate electric generator assembly is associated with each of the openings. Each electrical generator assembly includes a housing, an electric generator mounted to the housing and a turbine assembly coupled to the electric generator.

The invention relates to a power charging device (10) for an electric vehicle (12) with an electric energy store (14). The power charging device (10) comprises at least one rectifier means (16) for converting a supply voltage (18) into a charging d.c. voltage (20), a contacting means (22) for contacting a plug-in connection supply point (24) of the electric vehicle (12), and a residual current monitoring device (26) for detecting a current difference in the contacting means (22) and / or the electric vehicle (12) during a charging process of the energy store (14) of the electric vehicle (12). The invention is characterised in that the residual current monitoring device (26) is designed at least for detection of a direct current difference ΔI and comprises a cutoff element (28) which can interrupt the charging process when a predeterminable direct current cutoff difference (36) is exceeded over a predeterminable cutoff time.

An electrically powered motor vehicle includes a system for recharging the on-board batteries, which system includes an air-flow conduit with an entrance at the front of the vehicle, a plurality of electric turbines mounted in tandem within a first portion of the conduit, and an additional electric turbine mounted within a second portion of the conduit, which exits at the underside of the vehicle. The tandem-mounted turbines are disposed for effective rotation, in reaction to air flow, on a generally horizontal axis, and the additional electric turbine is mounted for rotation in reaction to air flow on a second axis, generally transverse to the first axis and disposed proximate the exit end of the conduit.

A system and method to convert the ram air energy resulting from the movement of an electric vehicle through the air mass into electric energy to recharge the energy storage devices of the vehicle while minimizing the apparatus caused drag effect on the vehicle, thereby extending the driving range of the vehicle between external charging. At least one ram air driven turbine is positioned within the vehicle, the turbine driving a mechanically coupled generator to charge the battery. Ram air is ducted in the front of the vehicle to cause the turbine generator to rotate and output electrical energy to charge the battery. The effect of variation in vehicle speed on both turbine generator output and turbine caused drag is optimized by adjusting the pitch angle of the turbine blades. At least one included ultra capacitor will implement a pre-programmed charge / discharge profile to reduce charge resistance electrical loading on the turbine generator and enable continued battery charging with minimal increase of turbine caused drag.

Converting an air flow into a source of electricity by an airflow generator includes disposing the airflow generator in an air flow path of a machine for receiving the air flow to rotate a turbine bladed portion of the airflow generator that causes a plurality of permanent magnets disposed along the circumference of the bladed portion to cyclically move in close proximity to a plurality of fixed position stator coils thereby generating electrical currents in the coils that can be harvested.

An automated energy generating and energy using system is provided. The system includes at least one electric energy user, at least one electric energy source, and may also include at least one electric energy storage element. These elements are instrumented so that each electric energy user has a sensor for determining an amount of energy used, each electric energy source has a sensor for determining an amount of energy provided, and electric energy storage element has a sensor for determining an amount of energy available in the storage element. A controller is operatively connected to each energy source, energy storage element and sensor. The controller is configured to control a level of operation of the at least one source of energy based upon at least the amount of energy used and the amount of energy available in the storage element, if employed. In this way, an automated electrical energy system is provided.

Disclosed is a vehicle using wind force. An object of the present invention is to provide a wind force power system driven by wind is provided within a hood panel of the vehicle, whereby the vehicle continuously charge a battery with electricity while being stopped or driving. The vehicle using wind force includes a wind force power system, the Power system comprising a ventilator that is rotated by the wind flowing along the roof panel in the rear of the vehicle, a shaft connected to the ventilator, a rotary gear connected to the shaft, a follower gear engaged with the rotary gear, and an electric generator for generating electricity as the follower gear rotates, wherein the electric generator of the wind force power system is electrically connected to the battery and the battery is electrically connected to the driving motor.

Disclosed is a method and system for providing an energy gathering sheet to harness and provide energy to destinations, such as homes and businesses. The energy gathering sheet is configured to receive small wind energy gathering devices (e.g., in the micrometer to nanometer range), which are mounted on a single sheet for the purpose of creating efficient and clean energy to meet both small and large power demands. The single sheet of installable wind turbines may be loosely rolled or stacked to protect the integrity of the wind turbines, and are capable of being roiled out for efficient installation.

Disclosed is a method and system for providing an energy gathering sheet to harness and provide energy to homes, businesses, and / or a utility grid. The energy gathering sheet is configured to receive solar or wind energy gathering devices or any combination thereof. The very small energy gathering devices (micrometer to nanometer range) are mounted onto a single installation sheet for the purposes of creating efficient and complimentary clean energy power to meet both small and large power demands. The single sheet of installable solar panels and / or wind turbines may be loosely rolled or stacked in sheets to protect the integrity of the solar panels and wind turbines. The single sheet is capable of being rolled out for efficient installations.

An electric powered vehicle has a rechargeable power source coupled to at least one electric motor through a controller. The motor(s) are coupled to a drive train for converting the rotational movement of the motor(s) into linear motion of the vehicle. At least one generator is coupled to the motor(s) for generating a first electric potential for recharging the power source. On the front surface of the vehicle is an air passage that channels air movement to a fan when moving in a forward motion. The fan rotates in response to the air movement and is coupled to a fan generator that turns in response, generating a second electric potential for recharging the power source. The tips of the fan blades are equipped with magnetic material and a series of electro-magnets are configured in proximity of the blades so they can be sequentially energized in absence of air movement to rotate the fan and generating the second electric potential in absence of air movement. The motor(s) and generators will function as a braking system to slow the vehicle when needed and generate electric potentials for charging the power source.

Provided is a power generating system that includes at least one power generator connected to a first rotating shaft having at least one of a first gear, a first pulley, a first crankshaft, or a first eccentric shaft, the first rotating shaft connected to a second rotating shaft of at least one of a moving object or a rotating machine producing wasting mechanical energy and having at least one rotating wheel, the second rotating shaft having a second gear, a second pulley, a second crankshaft, or a second eccentric shaft.

A wind-driven power generation device for an electric vehicle comprising a wind-driven power generation modules, a rectifier and an electronic switch. The wind-driven power generation module is installed inside the body of the electric vehicle and includes a flat body shell, multiple air channels and multiple small wind-driven power generators installed inside the air channels. When the electric vehicle is moving, an air current moving through the multiple air channels activates the multiple small wind-driven power generators to generate power. The generated electrical power will flow through the rectifier and the electronic switch to be supplied to the electric engine module of the electric vehicle. When the power supplied by the wind-driven power generation module is insufficient, it will be supplemented by power of a battery set. When the power generated by the wind-driven power generation module is too much, the additional power can be used to charge the battery set.

An all electric vehicle that produces zero CO2 emissions and capable of traveling an unlimited amount of mileage is presented. This vehicle is considered air and electric because it uses a wind turbine generator, compressed air and a high voltage battery to generate electricity to power the DC motors that drive this vehicle. Therefore this vehicle is called the Wind Turbine Generator Air Electric Vehicle (WTGAEV). There exists an integrated system that enables this vehicle to maintain a consistent energy supply to automatically recharge the high voltage battery. This integrated system consists of a wind turbine generator (WTG), air motor, air compressor, air tank, and battery. The power train receives its energy from the motion of the vehicle. When the vehicle is in forward motion the air flow from the nose of the vehicle is collected and directed toward the blades of the WTG which generates electric.

A charging system and method for charging a battery of a vehicle is disclosed. The charging system includes a movable member, such as a wind-driven element. The charging system also includes means for exposing the wind-driven element during vehicle deceleration and for covering the wind-driven element during vehicle acceleration and coasting. The charging system further includes electrical power generating means operably associated with the wind-driven element and the battery such that the electrical power generating means provides electrical power for recharging the battery when the electrical power generating means receives mechanical power from the wind-driven element. Alternative embodiments can include a drop-wheel as a movable member.

Wheels may be equipped with a stator and rotor to induce current to generate electricity as the wheels rotate or to slow down the wheels in response to the application of a brake of the vehicle. Air may be sucked through the wheels through mesh screens to create air flow that passes through ductwork to reach a turbine generator, which generates electricity in response to blade rotation from air flow. A roof mounted solar energy conversion system may generate electricity. A vehicle power supply boosts its energy from all the electricity generated.

A power system for powering a vehicle having an airflow or waterflow channeling device mounted on the vehicle, a laterally mounted fan unit, and an electric alternator connected to the fan unit, in which airflow or waterflow spins the laterally mounted fan thus generating electricity via the electric alternator to power the vehicle.

An all electric vehicle that produces zero CO2 emissions and capable of traveling an unlimited amount of mileage is presented. This vehicle is considered air and electric because it uses a wind turbine generator, compressed air and a high voltage battery to generate electricity to power the DC motors that drive this vehicle. Therefore this vehicle is called the Wind Turbine Generator Air Electric Vehicle (WTGAEV). There exists an integrated system that enables this vehicle to maintain a consistent energy supply to automatically recharge the high voltage battery. This integrated system consists of a wind turbine generator (WTG), air motor, air compressor, air tank, and battery. The power train receives its energy from the motion of the vehicle. When the vehicle is in forward motion the air flow from the nose of the vehicle is collected and directed toward the blades of the WTG which generates electric.