A vehicle wheel supporting rolling bearing unit includes a bearing part having a stationary side bearing ring member which is supported and fixed to a suspension device and non-rotatable in a use state and a rotation side bearing ring member which is coupled and fixed to a vehicle wheel and rotate together with the vehicle wheel, an electric generator which generates electric power to be supplied to a sensor provided on the vehicle wheel, a battery which stores the electric power generated by the electric generator, and a wireless communication device which wirelessly communicates an output signal of the sensor with an electronic equipment arranged on a vehicle body side. The stator is supported and fixed to the stationary side bearing ring member, and the rotor, the battery and the wireless communication device are supported and fixed to the rotation side bearing ring member.

A solar-thermal powered recreational vehicle featuring a solar-thermal air conditioning system integrated with a solar clean energy system to provide a recreational vehicle having improved energy efficiency. In an embodiment employing the principles of the present invention, the solar-thermal powered recreational vehicle can comprise a clean energy system for providing electrical power to the recreational vehicle, whereby the clean energy system features one or more solar photovoltaic panels, a batter bank, and a generator operatively coupled to a hybrid inverter. The solar-thermal air conditioning system is powered by the clean energy system, with the solar-thermal air conditioning system featuring a solar-thermal collector panel functioning to superheat compressed refrigerant prior to the compressed refrigerant being transmitted to the condenser. Because the compressor is the most energy-intensive component in the traditional direct expansion AC system, the use of free solar energy by the present invention to reduce the work load on the compressor significantly reduces the overall energy requirements of the recreational vehicle, thereby providing a recreational vehicle capable of operating on solar and battery power alone for significant periods of time.

A vehicle is provided capable of minimizing inconvenience due to power limitation. The vehicle includes a generator that generates power, a plurality of electric components that receive the power from the generator, and a battery that stores part of the power generated by the generator. A body control module calculates power availability from an amount of power generation of the generator, an amount of charge of the battery, and an amount of power consumption of the plurality of electric components, and limits the operations of the plurality of electric components in a first order when the power availability is less than predetermined reference availability.

Methods and systems for providing power from an energy supply source having a limited charge to one or more self-contained climate controlled storage units are disclosed. The power is provided from an energy supply source having a limited charge to one or more self-contained climate controlled storage units in a transport unit. The method includes determining whether to supply power from the enemy supply source to the one or more self-contained climate controlled storage units; supplying power in response to the determining indicating that power is to be supplied; determining whether to continue supplying power from the energy supply source to the one or more self-contained climate controlled storage units; and stopping supplying power in response to the determining whether to continue indicating that power is no longer to be supplied.

A ram air turbine is provided that utilizes a one-piece strut. The strut includes an integral gearbox section and an integral drive section. Within the strut, a turbine shaft and a bevel gear engages a driveshaft and a pinion gear, which transfers rotation from the turbine to a generator. The strut may be machined from a single piece of metal, such as aluminum.

A vehicle is provided capable of minimizing inconvenience due to power limitation. The vehicle includes a generator that generates power, a plurality of electric components that receive the power from the generator, and a battery that stores part of the power generated by the generator. A body control module calculates power availability from an amount of power generation of the generator, an amount of charge of the battery, and an amount of power consumption of the plurality of electric components, and limits the operations of the plurality of electric components in a first order when the power availability is less than predetermined reference availability.

A renewable energy power module can power a blind spot monitoring system for alerting a driver when a vehicle is positioned in a blind spot. The power module can power side-view mirror mounted ultrasonic and thermal infrared blind spot sensors. The renewable energy power system can also power side-view mirror mounted miniature first person view (FPV) cameras that wireless transmit the blind spot video data to a dash-mounted FPV receiver and video monitor. Lastly, the renewable energy power module can be used to power and charge the rechargeable batteries of other low voltage devices that may be used on motorized and human powered vehicles.

A power generation system is provided configured for installation within a wheel of a vehicle. The system includes a stator having a plurality of face-mounted permanent magnets; and a rotor having a plurality of windings configured to rotate, with rotation of the wheel, in proximity to the permanent magnets thereby generating a current. The stator is mounted to a brake caliper of the vehicle. Also provided is a wheel-based vehicle display system including a light emitting diode (LED) array arranged on or within a wheel of a vehicle; a power source connected thereto; and a controller connected to the LED array. The display system is configured to display at least one of: textual information, visual images or full-motion video.

The retractable mud flap system comprises two tracks, a chute, and a flap carrier. The invention is used to retract and extend a mud flap on a truck and is commonly used in pairs of two so that a mud flap on each side of the truck may be retracted. The retractable mud flap system attaches to the underside of a truck's dump bed or to extensions of the truck frame above the rear wheel. The flap carrier comprises two roller assemblies and a flap clip. A mud flap is coupled to the flap clip and passes through the chute. The roller assemblies move on the tracks with the flap clip mounted between them. A control located within the cab activates a motor on one roller assembly, moving the roller assemblies and the mud flap. A remote control embodiment is also described.

A power supply system in a vehicle having an idling stop function for executing an automatic stop and an automatic restart on an engine has a power generator, a first storage unit that can be charged with and can discharge generated power generated by the power generator, a second storage unit that can be charged with and can discharge the generated power, two paths connecting the first storage unit and the second storage unit, a switching unit including a first switch for switching one path of the two paths between a conductive condition and a non-conductive condition, and a second switch for switching another path of the two paths between a conductive condition and a non-conductive condition, and an engine restarter connected to either the first storage unit side or the second storage unit side of the switching unit in order to start the engine during the automatic restart.