Road sheltering and optimization

Abstract

A structure for sheltering and optimizing highway systems includes an arcuate structure extending over a highway and a cover over the structure to create an enclosure. The enclosure protects the highway and users of the highway from rain, snow and sun while the surrounding scenery remains visible to drivers. A number of different additions optimize use of the highway. For example, a plurality of solar panels are layered on the cover and wind turbines are used to create usable energy, an air current generation system reduces wind resistance on vehicles to increase gas mileage, and an elevated rail system transports many persons great distances along the highway.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 262,398 which was filed on Nov. 18, 2009, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, including all drawings and formal papers.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a road shelter structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a road shelter for enclosing a portion of a road and for optimizing and collecting energy and transferring the energy into electricity and fuel sources.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]The federal highway system has tens of thousands of miles of roadway stretched throughout the United States. Millions of vehicles travel these labyrinths of road each day producing emissions harmful to the environment and contributing to global warming. Each year, inclement weather and poor road conditions such as wet or icy roads cause accidents resulting in t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]In a further embodiment hereof, the structure further includes a plurality of wind turbines wherein at least one of the wind turbines is located beneath the cover adjacent to at least one of a side of the road and / or the median of the road. The structure can optionally include wherein at least one of the wind turbines is positioned atop the cover at a position proximal to the peak of the structure. The plurality of wind turbines are driven by air traveling through or over the road shelter. The air flow across and about the road shelter is increased by the geometry and features of the road structure to maximize the speed of the wind driving the wind turbines. The wind turbines each have a tower, a rotor attached to the tower having a plurality of blades (or vanes), and an electrical generator.

[0019]The present invention can further comprise a method for sheltering and optimizing the use of a road comprising: (a) covering a road with an enclosed structure spanning over the road; (b) coupling a solar panel to the structure to convert sunlight to usable power; (c) coupling a wind turbine to the structure to convert wind energy to usable power; and (d) providing a vertical wind turbine within the structure to collect energy and redirect the flow of air exiting the vertical wind turbine with the flow of traffic on the road to decrease air resistance against the traffic.

[0020]Critical to the design of the road shelter is that the velocity of the air current increases substantially as it flows over, across, and through the road shelter, thereby maximizing the energy drawn from the air by the wind turbines. As air approaches the road shelter from the side, the arcuate shape of the road shelter forces the air upward, and the air accelerates much like the design of an airplane wing. The accelerated air is then redirected toward and through wind turbines to capitalize on the increased wind speeds.

[0021]It is believed that wind turbines are not otherwise suitable for use in areas that do not have a sufficient average constant wind velocity to make the wind turbines an economically viable solution. However, the road shelter's inherent design can increase the ambient wind speed by 20% or more, thereby making wind turbines a realistic solution for many more locations than was previously known. In addition, the efficiency of a wind turbine increases exponentially as the wind speed increases. Therefore, the design of the road shelter creates an increase in wind speed which it is able to collect and maximize.

Problems solved by technology

Millions of vehicles travel these labyrinths of road each day producing emissions harmful to the environment and contributing to global warming.

Each year, inclement weather and poor road conditions such as wet or icy roads cause accidents resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries.

No system yet exists for sheltering a road while efficiently using surrounding natural resources.

Thus, air current provided by traffic is not constant, and simply using air flow from vehicles to drive wind turbines is not a viable solution in many areas.

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