Electrial vehicle charging system

Abstract

The invention provides an alternative electrical charging system for a vehicle which is at least partially powered by electricity. The system employs a wind driven generator which produces electricity in response to air motion. When the generator is operating, electricity is communicated the battery of the vehicle. Operation of the generator involves a controller that monitors the electrical status of the battery and selectively activates a fan or opens a ducting system communicating with the generator. The controller also, in some embodiments, monitors the motion and the attitude of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A charging system for a vehicle at least partially powered by electricity comprising: a) A fan selectively generating an air motion; b) a generator producing electricity in response to the air motion, said generator, when operating, communicating electricity to a battery of the vehicle; c) a ducting system adapted to selectively communicate the air motion to the generator. d) a battery status mechanism generating electrical status data indicative of an electrical charge in the battery; e) a remotely controlled primary damper selectively allowing the air flow to enter the ducting system; and, f) a controller receiving the electrical status data from the battery status mechanism and operating the remotely controlled primary damper and the fan in response thereto.

2. The charging system according to claim 1, a) wherein the ducting system communicates with a passenger cabin of the vehicle; and, b) further including: 1) a passenger cabin temperature sensor generating temperature data indicative of a temperature of an interior of a passenger cabin in the vehicle; 2) a remotely controlled secondary damper selectively allowing the air flow to enter the passenger cabin from the ducting system; and c) wherein the controller selectively controls the remotely controlled secondary damper in response to the temperature data.

3. The charging system according to claim 2, a) further including 1) a mechanism to adjust passenger cabin temperature, and, 2) an occupancy sensor generating data on passenger occupancy of the passenger cabin; and b) wherein the controller selectively engages the mechanism to adjust cabin temperature in response to the temperature data and data from the occupancy sensor.

4. The charging system according to claim 2, a) further including an occupancy sensor generating presence data indicative of an occupant's presence in the passenger cabin; and, b) wherein the controller utilizes the presence data when the controller in adjusting the secondary damper.

5. The charging system according to claim 4, wherein the secondary damper includes: a) an incoming damper communicating between the duct system and the passenger cabin; and, b) an exhaust damper communicating between the passenger cabin and the environment external to the passenger cabin.

6. The charging system according to claim 2, a) wherein the passenger cabin includes at least one window openable to the environment; and b) wherein the controller adjusts at least one window of the passenger cabin in response to the temperature data.

7. The charging system according to claim 1, a) wherein an inlet to the ducting system communicates with a point of air compression created during movement the vehicle; b) further including a motion sensor generating motion data indicative of motion of the vehicle; and, c) wherein the controller operates the remotely controlled primary damper in response to the motion data.

8. A vehicle at least partially powered by electricity comprising: a) a fan selectively generating air motion; b) a generator producing electricity in response to the air motion; c) a ducting system having a remotely controlled primary damper adapted to selectively communicate the air flow through the ducting system to the generator and, d) a controller selectively communicating an air flow from the ducting system to the generator in response to a status of a battery within said vehicle.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, further including a battery status mechanism communicating an electrical status data to the controller.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein, a) the ducting system communicates with a passenger cabin of the vehicle; and, b) the controller selectively communicates an airflow from the ducting system to the passenger cabin.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the ducting system includes a secondary damper selectively communicating an airflow from the ducting system to the passenger cabin.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the ducting system communicates an air flow from a point of air compression of said vehicle created during movement the vehicle to the generator.

13. The vehicle according to claim 8, a) further including a vehicle motion sensor; and, b) wherein the controller selectively communicates an air flow from the ducting system to the generator in response to signals from said vehicle motion sensor.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the controller communicates an air flow to the generator only when signals from the vehicle motion sensor indicate that the vehicle is stationary.

15. The vehicle according to claim 8, a) further including a vehicle attitude sensor indicating an orientation of the vehicle to horizontal; and, b) wherein the controller selectively communicates an air flow from the ducting system to the generator in response to signals from said vehicle attitude sensor.

16. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the controller communicates an air flow to the generator only when signals from the vehicle attitude sensor indicate that the vehicle is pointed below the horizontal.

17. A charging system for a vehicle comprising: a) a battery storing electrical energy; b) a generator producing electricity in response to air motion, said generator, when operating, communicating electricity to a battery of the vehicle; c) a ducting system adapted to selectively communicate an air flow to the generator; and, d) a controller selectively communicating an air flow to the generator via said ducting system in response to a status of said battery.

18. The charging system according to claim 17, wherein, a) an inlet to the ducting system communicates with a point of air compression created during movement the vehicle; b) wherein the controller operates the remotely controlled primary damper in response a magnitude of the air compression.

19. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the controller selectively communicates an air flow from the ducting system to the generator in response to motion of the vehicle.

20. The vehicle according to claim 17, further including a fan for selective creation of the air motion.

Description

DRAWINGS IN BRIEF

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic of the component interactions for the preferred embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates and embodiment of the invention employing the fluid dynamics of the vehicle.

DRAWINGS IN DETAIL

[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic of the component interactions for the preferred embodiment.

[0025] Central Processing Unit (CPU) 100 is positioned to receive data signals and produce control signals to operate remote apparatus. In this function, CPU 100 receives data from: the Occupancy Sensor 107 which generates a signal on if a passenger is in the passenger compartment of the vehicle; the Temperature Sensor 108 which generates a signal on the temperature with the passenger compartment of the vehicle; the Attitude Sensor 109 which indicates the relationship of the vehicle relative to the horizontal; the Motion Sensor 110 which generates data indicating if the vehicle is in motion; Battery Sensor 111 indicating the charge status of the battery; and environmental control mechanism 116 (air conditioning and heating) used to control the temperature of the interior vehicle compartment.

[0026] CPU 100 uses the data from these different sensors to control different operations within the vehicle.

[0027] Using data from the Occupancy Sensor 107 and the Temperature Sensor 108, CPU 100 adjusts damper 105 to open/close which causes either return air 112 or outside air 114 to be communicated to fan 103. As example, if the vehicle is occupied (as indicated by Occupancy sensor 107) and the temperature is above an upper limit (as indicated by Temperature Sensor 108) the outside air 114 is drawn by fan 103 to ventilate the interior of the vehicle as indicated by arrow 113.

[0028] Alternatively, CPU 100 causes the environmental control 116 to be activated to maintain a desired temperature within the internal vehicle compartment.

[0029] In like fashion, tempered air 113 is stopped when CPU 100 operates damper 104 to pass the air to exhaust port 115.

[0030] The airflow passing through the duct from fan 103, passes over generator 101 which generates electricity communicated to charging relay 102. CPU 100 utilizes the data from the battery sensor 111 in determining if charging relay 102 should be closed allowing the electricity from generator 101 to pass to the electric engine 106.

[0031] Additionally, fan 103 is operated by CPU 100 to activate generator 101.

[0032] In some embodiments of the invention, CPU 100 will close/open the charging relay 102 based upon data from the attitude sensor 109 (indicating if the vehicle is going up/down hill) and motion sensor 110 indicating if the vehicle at rest or in motion. When moving downhill, the generator is engaged and the battery is charged.

[0033] In this manner, the vehicle's battery is provided with additional electrical charging to assist in the overall efficiency of the vehicle.

[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates and embodiment of the invention employing the fluid dynamics of the vehicle.

[0035] In this illustration, vehicle 201 is moving as indicated by arrow 203. This motion causes a high pressure situation to exist at the front of the vehicle 201 (compression) while at the rear of the vehicle drag (suction) is created. These two factors, if left unchecked, reduce the overall efficiency of the vehicle. This embodiment of the invention reduces the compression force and decreases the suction force.

[0036] Duct 204 has an opening at the front of vehicle 201 where compression occurs in this illustration. In another embodiment of the invention, the duct's opening is near the front windshield where compression also occurs. Duct 204 directs the high pressure airflow to pass by generator 101A which generates electricity as discussed above to charge the battery of the vehicle 201. This assists in reducing the high pressure at the front of the vehicle.

[0037] Duct 204 exhausts the airflow as indicated by arrow 205 into an area of the vehicle where traditionally there is a suction force. This exhaust airflow helps to reduce the suction or drag on the vehicle.

[0038] In this manner, the fluid dynamics of the vehicle are improved while providing an additional source of electrical energy for the vehicle.

[0039] It is clear that the present invention provides for an efficient method for charging the battery system of an electrical vehicle.