USOO6838782B2

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 6,838,782 B2

(54) WIND ENERGY CAPTURING DEVICE FOR 4,423,368 A 12/1983 Bussiere ...................... 322/35
MOVING VEHICLES 4,424,452. A 1/1984 Francis .......... ... 290/55
4,753,078 A * 6/1988 Gardner, Jr. ...... ... 60/668
(76) Inventor: Thomas H. Vu, 12 Blenheim Ct., 5,280,827 A * 1/1994 Taylor et al. ..... ... 180/165
Arden, NC (US) 28704 5,287,004 A * 2/1994 Finley ......................... 290/55
D374,656 S 10/1996 Richardson ............... D13/1.15
Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 5,680,032 A * 10/1997 Pena ........................... 290/52
5,746.283 A 5/1998 Brighton .................... 180/65.2
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 5,986,429 A 11/1999 Mula, Jr. .................... 320/101
U.S.C. 154(b) by 107 days. 6,138,781 A 10/2000 Hakala ...... ... 180/2.2
6,373,145 B1 4/2002 Hamrick ...................... 290/44
(21) Appl. No.: 10/287,478 * cited by examiner
(22) Filed: Nov. 5, 2002
Primary Examiner Nicholas Ponomarenko
(65) Prior Publication Data ASSistant Examiner Julio C. Gonzalez R.
US 2004/0084908 A1 May 6, 2004 (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard C. Litman
(51) Int. Cl................................ F03D 9/00; H02P 9/04 (57) ABSTRACT
(52) U.S. Cl. ............................................ 290/55; 200/44 A wind energy capturing device for moving vehicles includ
(58) Field of Search .............................. 290/44, 55, 54, ing a wind turbine powered electrical power generator for
290/43; 417/231; 416/119, 17, 55; 41.5/285, installation on the roof of a moving vehicle Such as a truck
208; 180/2.2, 2.3, 16.5, 65.2, 65.3 cab or tractor. The invention takes advantage of the powerful
wind force generated by the vehicle moving on the road at
(56) References Cited moderate to high Speed impinging against the wind deflector
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS mounted on the truck cab or tractor. This otherwise "wasted”
wind energy is captured and directed to the face area of the
3,876,925 A 4/1975 Stoeckert ....................... 322/1 rotor blade, rotating the turbine, which, in turn, drives the
4,075,545. A 2/1978 Haberer ....................... 322/35 generator to generate electricity. The electrical energy may
4,168,759 A 9/1979 Hull et al. ................... 180/2.2 be stored in a battery system and used to drive the motors of
4,179,007 A * 12/1979 Howe ......................... 180/2.2 an electric vehicle or hybrid-electric vehicle.
4,237,384 A 12/1980 Kennon ....................... 290/55
4,254,843 A 3/1981 Han et al. ................... 180/165
4,314,160 A 2/1982 Boodman et al. ............. 290/55 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
U.S. Patent Jan. 4, 2005 Sheet 1 of 3 US 6,838,782 B2
U.S. Patent Jan. 4, 2005 Sheet 2 of 3 US 6,838,782 B2
U.S. Patent Jan. 4, 2005 Sheet 3 of 3 US 6,838,782 B2

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 US 6,838,782 B2
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WIND ENERGY CAPTURING DEVICE FOR There is a need to harneSS and convert the energy lost to
MOVING VEHICLES detrimental wind drag into a beneficial Source of energy.
There is also a need to provide an apparatus Such as a wind
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION turbine mounted on the moving vehicle to capture this
otherwise wasted energy and convert it into a useful Source
1. Field of the Invention of energy.
The present invention relates to electric power generation U.S. Design Pat. No. 374,656, issued Oct. 15, 1996, to
for Vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates Richardson, illustrates a car top wind generator.
to wind turbines mounted on moving vehicles for converting U.S. Pat. No. 3,876,925, issued Apr. 8, 1975, to Stoeckert,
the wind energy into electricity for Storage in a battery describes a wind turbine affixed to the roof of an electric car
System or use by the vehicle. and designed Such that the force of prevalent air currents is
2. Description of the Related Art converted into electricity from any direction, whether the car
Wind turbines are typically mounted on wind towers in is in motion or not.
areas known to have high wind Velocity. Various configu 15 U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,759, issued Sep. 25, 1989, to Hull,
rations of wind turbines are designed to convert wind energy deceased, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,283, issued May 5,
into electrical power for use in homes and industries. 1998, to Brighton, each describe contouring of the rooftop
The greatest challenge with wind turbines as a reliable wind turbine housing to insure smooth airflow over the
Source of energy is that they depend on the quantity and electric Vehicle.
quality of the wind. Depending on the design, wind Speed U.S. Pat. No. 5,986,429, issued Nov. 16, 1999, to Mula,
must maintain a certain minimum velocity to overcome Jr., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,781, issued Oct. 31, 2000, to
friction of moving parts. Even in the best geographical areas, Hakala, describe wind-powered systems for vehicles which
average wind Speed is only in the range of 18 to 47 kph. To are positioned longitudinally along the frame Structure of the
justify the projects, and generate adequate return on electric vehicle, thus, minimizing the drag effect associated
investment, the sizes of wind turbines are usually very large, 25
with the wind tunnel.
with rotor diameter in the range of 40 to 50 meters. Typical None of the above inventions and patents, taken either
rotor speed is between 20 and 50 rpm, which must be Singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant
increased, through a gearbox, to between 1,000 and 1,500 invention as claimed. Thus, a wind energy capturing device
rpm, which is required for most types of electric generators. for moving vehicles Solving the aforementioned problems is
Despite the above challenges, interest remains very high desired.
around the World to harvest this clean, free, and inexhaust
ible energy Source, i.e., wind power. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Transportation vehicles Such as automobiles, trucks, and The present invention is a wind energy-capturing device
trains are usually moving at moderate to high Speed on an for moving vehicles having a wind turbine mounted on the
open road. This movement generates an approximately 35 roof of the moving vehicle in an area exposed to the wind
opposite and equal head wind Speed relative to the vehicle. force generate by the moving vehicle. The rotating output
This wind causes “wind drag,” and is usually detrimental to shaft of the wind turbine is connected to an electric
the overall efficiency of the vehicle. generator, either directly or by belt and pulley or other
Due to air pollution and noise concerns, electric and/or System. The wind turbine, generator, and any Storage battery
hybrid electric Vehicles are gaining popularity in States Such 40 system are preferably mounted on the roof of the tractor of
as California and New York, as well as in Europe and Japan. a trailer and underneath and to the rear of a modified wind
The advantages of electric vehicles include low cost per deflector Similar to those already in use on truck tractor roofs
kilometer of driving distance, no “engine' noise, and recov to reduce drag from the front of the trailer exposed above the
ery of energy (battery System is recharged) through regen tractor roof. The generator and battery System can be
erative braking. The greatest challenges for Such electric 45
mounted at locations other than the roof of the tractor. The
vehicles include the fact that the battery system must be truck may be hybrid-electric vehicle driven by at least one
recharged when battery System power is exhausted, and the electric motor in combination with a battery System and a
driving range is limited, due to limited Storage capacity in its gasoline or diesel engine.
battery System. Battery System power is spent very quickly The wind turbine has a forward directed deflector which
when the vehicle is moving predominately forward, without 50 penetrates the air flow over the air deflector, preferably at the
Slowing or braking to allow for recharge of the battery rear of the air deflector, thus allowing high Speed air into the
System through regenerative braking. wind turbine for generation of electricity. The electrical
In hybrid electric Vehicles, the vehicle range is extended power may be stored in a battery System for later use, used
by adding a Small gasoline or diesel engine. The engine is to drive vehicle systems, or be used in an electric or hybrid
used mainly as a backup power Source to recharge the 55 electric and fuel burning engine truck tractor. The air fed to
battery System when the charge is low, or when the vehicle the wind turbine may also be moved from a deflector
needs a power boost to climb a long hill, or pass another opening in a conventional wind deflector and directed by a
vehicle. The advantages of this System include low pollutant duct to the wind turbine.
emissions, low cost per kilometer of driving distance, low Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to
noise, the recovery of energy through regenerative braking, 60 capture energy from wind developed passing over a moving
and unlimited range from a charging Station as long as the vehicle.
vehicle is refueled with gas or diesel fuel. It is another object of the invention to provide a wind
In today's vehicles, including electric, hybrid electric, and turbine which diverts air from the slip stream of high
convention fossil fuel-powered vehicles, the faster the velocity wind diverted over the vehicle and employs the
vehicle is moving, the more wind resistance it has to 65 energy captured to drive an electric generator.
overcome. The prevailing wind force is therefore detrimen It is a further object of the invention to utilize or store the
tal to the efficiency of the moving vehicles. electric power resulting from the electric generator as above.
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Still another object of the invention is to partially or fully As seen in FIG. 2, wind deflector 12 deflects wind up and
drive the moving vehicle with the electric power Stored as back, forming a slipstream where a portion of the wind in
above. this slipstream is directed into turbine inlet 16 by turbine
Yet another object of the invention is to capture the slip wind deflector 18. Wind turbine 14 has a housing 20 through
stream from the rear of a wind diverter on the top of the cab which the deflected wind impinges on turbine blades 22,
of a truck by a diverter placed to divert high Velocity air into which in turn, rotate turbine shaft 24 and turbine pulley 26
the entrance of the wind turbine. mounted on the end thereof. Exhaust wind is allowed to
It is an object of the invention to provide improved escape at discharge opening 52.
elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes Generator pulley 28 is driven by drive belt 30 as turbine
described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effec pulley 26 rotates. Generator 32 produces electrical power
tive in accomplishing its intended purposes. which is carried to AC/DC converter 34 by converter leads
These and other objects of the present invention will 36 and 38. DC power is supplied from converter 34 to
become readily apparent upon further review of the follow Storage battery System 44 by means of battery System leads
ing Specification and drawings. 40 and 42, thus charging the battery system 44 for later use.
15 The electrical power from generator 30 or battery system 44
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS may also be directed for use to run accessories or to power
FIG. 1 is an environmental, side elevational view of a an electric or hybrid electric power System (not shown) for
wind energy capturing device for moving vehicles according the truck tractor T.
to the present invention as installed on the roof of a truck The turbine shaft 24 is rotatably mounted on a bearings 60
tractOr. at each end thereof. Bearings 60 and turbine housing 20 are
FIG. 2 is a detail view of the turbine system of FIG. 1. supported by turbine Support 46 having a base 48 fastened
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the turbine system of FIG. 1 to the tractor cab top T by fasteners 50 such as bolts.
taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2. Generator 32 includes generator Support 54 having Support
Similar reference characters denote corresponding fea 25
base 56 fastened to tractor cab top T by generator Support
tures consistently throughout the attached drawings. base fasteners 58. As seen in FIG. 3, generator 32 has an
input pulley shaft 62 to which generator pulley 28 is secured
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE for rotation.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The diverted wind from other commonly used truck wind
The present invention is a wind turbine powered electrical diverter designs may be carried through a duct opening (not
power generator for installation on the roof of a moving shown) along the frontal portion and carrying the wind to the
vehicle Such as a truck cab or tractor. The invention takes wind turbine 14 for conversion and storage of electric power
advantage of the powerful wind force generated by the in a manner similar to that described above. The wind
vehicle moving on the road at moderate to high Speed turbine may be connected with the electric generator by
impinging against the wind deflector mounted on the truck 35 other equivalent Structure Such as by a gear train or chain
cab or tractor. This otherwise “wasted’ wind energy is drive. The wind turbine and electric generator may also be
captured and directed to the face area of a rotor blade, designed as a Single unit.
rotating a turbine, which, in turn, drives a generator to The electric generator and/or battery Stem can be mounted
generate electricity. The truck may be hybrid-electric Vehicle at any convenient location on the truck tractor.
driven by at least one electric motor in combination with a 40 The electric generator and/or battery System of the inven
battery System and a gasoline or diesel engine. tion can be the same as, or a replacement for, the previously
To generate the same amount of energy, the rotor-blade existing electric generator and/or battery System of the truck
diameter of the wind turbine of the present invention can be power or electrical System.
of much Smaller size, due to the prevailing high wind
Velocity, and fairly constant wind Speed developed in the Slip It is to be understood that the present invention is not
45 limited to the embodiment described above, but encom
Stream of a moving vehicle as compared to convention passes any and all embodiments within the Scope of the
Stationary wind turbines which must depend on naturally following claims.
low and variable wind force to rotate its turbine.
I claim:
To turn the drag force caused by the air against the 1. A wind energy capturing System for moving truckS
moving vehicle frontal area into productive electrical energy 50 having a roofed cab comprising:
provides a Source of energy useful in various ways in place a truck wind deflector mounted on the roof of said truck
of energy that normally would have to come from the engine
or other Sources. cab at a point forward of Said wind turbine, Said truck
Taking further advantage of the aerodynamic shape of wind deflector being configured to deflect wind in a slip
today's vehicles, the proposed wind turbine can be mounted 55
Stream upward and over Said truck cab;
in various areas with optimal wind Speed, while presenting a wind turbine having a plurality of blades, Said wind
the least wind resistance. turbine being mounted to Said truck cab roof;
Taking further advantage of the aerodynamic shape of a Said wind turbine having an inlet located in the Slip Stream
wind deflector commonly used on a truck cab, the wind of said wind deflector for receiving wind deflected by
turbine of the present invention can be mounted So as to 60 Said wind deflector at maximum velocity;
divert optimal wind Speed while presenting the least wind Said inlet including a turbine wind deflector projecting
resistance. into the Slip Stream So as to deflect the maximum
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown an environmental, velocity wind into said turbine;
Side elevation view, a detail View, and a Sectional view of the said turbine wind deflector being located above and
present invention wherein wind energy capturing System 10 65 immediately behind said truck wind deflector so as to
is mounted on the roof R of truck tractor T, pulling trailer receive maximum velocity wind from Said truck wind
TR. deflector; and
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an electric generator mounted on Said truck and connected 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said truck is electrically
with Said wind turbine So as to generate electricity upon driven in part by the electric power Stored in Said battery
the turning of Said wind turbine; System as generated by Said generator.
whereby, upon forward movement of Said truck, wind 5. The system of claim 1, wherein each said wind turbine
deflected by said deflector enters said wind turbine inlet and Said generator have rotating shafts, each shaft having a
and turns said wind turbine, generating electric power pulley located thereon, and a belt connected therebetween
by Said generator for Storage or use to operate acces for turning Said generator Shaft upon rotation of Said wind
Sories on Said truck. turbine shaft; whereby upon rotation of said wind turbine,
2. The System of claim 1, further comprising a converter electric power is generated by Said generator.
electrically connected with Said generator So as to generate 6. The system of claim 5, wherein said wind turbine and
desired electrical current. Said generator are located Substantially beneath Said truck
3. The System of claim 2, further comprising a battery wind deflector.
System having at least one battery electrically connected
with Said converter for Storing generated electric power.