Air power energy transformation to electrical energy for hybrid electric vehicle applications

Abstract

A vehicle having one or more small vehicle-mounted electricity generating wind turbines located within an area of wind recirculation. The electricity generated is used to recharge vehicle batteries, partially power an auxiliary electric propulsion motor, or supply vehicle parasitic loads.

1 . A vehicle for operation on the ground, said vehicle having an area of wind recirculation when in motion, comprising: 
 at least one air turbine for extracting mechanical energy from said area of wind recirculation, said at least one air turbine being located within said area of wind recirculation;    at least one generator attached to and driven by said at least one air turbine, said at least one wind-turbine-driven generator converting said mechanical energy to electrical energy; and    means for distributing said electrical energy, said means for distributing said electrical energy being connected to said at least one wind-turbine-driven generator.    
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said means for distributing said electrical energy further comprises a system controller and a power distribution network.    
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , said vehicle further having an auxiliary electric motor for propulsion, wherein: 
 said auxiliary electric motor for propulsion is connected to said power distribution network; and    said electrical energy is at least partially used to power said auxiliary electric motor for propulsion.    
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , said vehicle further having parasitic electrical loads, wherein: 
 said parasitic electrical loads are connected to said power distribution network; and    said electrical energy is at least partially used to power said parasitic electrical loads.    
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , said vehicle further having storage batteries for the accumulation of electrical power, wherein: 
 said storage batteries for the accumulation of electrical power are connected to said power distribution network; and    said electrical energy is at least partially used to recharge said storage batteries.    
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , said vehicle further having rigid segments flexibly joined together, said rigid segments having a gap in between them, wherein: 
 said area of wind recirculation occurs within said gap between said flexibly joined rigid segments; and    said at least one air turbine is located within said gap between said flexibly joined rigid segments, and within said area of wind recirculation.    
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , said vehicle further having a chassis, chassis skirts, and deck plates, wherein: 
 said area of wind recirculation extends between said chassis skirts and below the vertical level of said deck plates; and    said at least one air turbine is attached to said chassis below the vertical level of said deck plates, and within said area of wind recirculation.    
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , said vehicle generally having a front and a rear side, wherein: 
 said area of wind recirculation occurs in an area immediately to the rear of the vehicle; and    said at least one air turbine is attached to said rear side of said vehicle and is located within said area of wind recirculation.    
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said at least one air turbine further comprises a multi-stage air turbine, said multi-stage air turbine having multiple sets of turbine blades.    
     
     
         10 . A vehicle for operation on the ground, said vehicle having an area of wind recirculation when in motion, comprising: 
 at least one air turbine for extracting mechanical energy from said area of wind recirculation, said at least one air turbine being located within said area of wind recirculation;    at least one generator attached to and driven by said at least one air turbine, said at least one air-turbine-driven generator converting said mechanical energy to electrical energy;    an engine and a primary engine-driven generator;    a system controller for controlling distribution of said electrical energy; and    a power distribution network, said power distribution network being connected to said at least one air-turbine-driven generator, to said primary engine-driven generator, and to said system controller.    
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said vehicle further having an auxiliary electric motor for propulsion;    said auxiliary electric motor for propulsion being connected to said power distribution network;    said system controller controlling the distribution of said electrical energy to and from said at least one air-turbine-driven generator, said primary engine-driven generator, and said auxiliary electric motor for propulsion; and    said electrical energy being at least partially used to power said auxiliary electric motor for propulsion.    
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said vehicle further having parasitic electrical loads;    said parasitic electrical loads being connected to said power distribution network;    said system controller controlling the distribution of said electrical energy to and from said at least one wind-turbine-driven generator, said primary engine-driven generator, and said parasitic electrical loads; and    said electrical energy being at least partially used to power said parasitic electrical loads.    
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said vehicle further having storage batteries for the accumulation of electrical power;    said storage batteries for the accumulation of electrical power being connected to said power distribution network;    said system controller controlling the distribution of said electrical energy to and from said at least one wind-turbine-driven generator, said primary engine-driven generator, and said storage batteries; and    said electrical energy being at least partially used to recharge said storage batteries.    
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , said vehicle further having rigid segments flexibly joined together, said rigid segments having a gap in between them, wherein: 
 said area of wind recirculation occurs within said gap between said flexibly joined rigid segments; and    said at least one air turbine is located within said gap between said flexibly joined rigid segments, and within said area of wind recirculation.    
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , said vehicle further having a chassis, chassis skirts, and deck plates, wherein: 
 said area of wind recirculation extends between said chassis skirts and below the vertical level of said deck plates; and    said at least one air turbine is attached to said chassis below the vertical level of said deck plates, and within said area of wind recirculation.    
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , said vehicle generally having a front and a rear side, wherein: 
 said area of wind recirculation occurs in an area immediately to the rear of the vehicle; and    said at least one air turbine is attached to said rear side of said vehicle and is located within said area of wind recirculation.    
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said at least one air turbine further comprises a multi-stage air turbine, said multi-stage air turbine having multiple sets of turbine blades.