US5280827A — Venturi effect charging system for automobile bat…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 342 words

In an electric motor-driven vehicle having a vehicle body with a front and a rear, and a passenger compartment between the front and the rear of the vehicle body, the vehicle body having a height and a width, and batteries for supplying electrical power to the motor, an improved battery charging system comprising a rotary turbine with turbine blades mounted at the rear of the vehicle body with an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, the turbine being mounted for rotation behind the passenger compartment, in which the diameter of the rotating turbine extends over most of the height and width of the vehicle body, with means for electric power generation on the vehicle body coupled to the turbine for charging the batteries in response to rotation of the turbine, at least one upper venturi effect tube with an upper air inlet opening facing toward the front of the vehicle body and connected with an extending along an upper portion of the vehicle body for directing an intake of air generated from forward motion of the vehicle body from an upper front portion of the vehicle toward an upper region of the turbine for increasing air pressure within the upper venturi tube and impinging the air under pressure on the turbine blades to rotate the turbine, and at least one lower venturi effect tube with a lower air inlet opening separate from the upper air inlet opening and facing toward the front of the vehicle body and connected with and extending along a lower portion of the vehicle body for directing a separate intake of air generated from forward motion of the vehicle body from a lower front portion of the vehicle toward the turbine for increasing air pressure within the lower venturi tube and impinging the air in a direction and at a sufficient force upon the turbine at a separate location thereon to increase the pressure applied to rotate the turbine over the force of impinging air flow from the upper venturi tube.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 342 words

In an electric motor-driven vehicle having a vehicle body with a front and a rear, and a passenger compartment between the front and the rear of the vehicle body, the vehicle body having a height and a width, and batteries for supplying electrical power to the motor, an improved battery charging system comprising a rotary turbine with turbine blades mounted at the rear of the vehicle body with an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, the turbine being mounted for rotation behind the passenger compartment, in which the diameter of the rotating turbine extends over most of the height and width of the vehicle body, with means for electric power generation on the vehicle body coupled to the turbine for charging the batteries in response to rotation of the turbine, at least one upper venturi effect tube with an upper air inlet opening facing toward the front of the vehicle body and connected with an extending along an upper portion of the vehicle body for directing an intake of air generated from forward motion of the vehicle body from an upper front portion of the vehicle toward an upper region of the turbine for increasing air pressure within the upper venturi tube and impinging the air under pressure on the turbine blades to rotate the turbine, and at least one lower venturi effect tube with a lower air inlet opening separate from the upper air inlet opening and facing toward the front of the vehicle body and connected with and extending along a lower portion of the vehicle body for directing a separate intake of air generated from forward motion of the vehicle body from a lower front portion of the vehicle toward the turbine for increasing air pressure within the lower venturi tube and impinging the air in a direction and at a sufficient force upon the turbine at a separate location thereon to increase the pressure applied to rotate the turbine over the force of impinging air flow from the upper venturi tube.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

An apparatus according to claim 1 in which a pair of the lower venturi effect tubes extend along opposite sides of the vehicle body below the passenger compartment and in which the upper venturi effect tube extends above the passenger compartment.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 70 words

An apparatus according to claim 1 including a separate elongated screw-type turbine in at least one lower venturi tube, and in which each screw type turbine rotates about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, each screw-type turbine being separately coupled to the means for electrical power generation for enhancing an electrical power output of the means for electrical power generation for recharging the batteries.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 57 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which at least one separate lower venturi effect tube has an angled end region that directs airflow up to impinge on the turbine at a location spaced below but impinging on the turbine in the same general direction as the separate flow impinging on the turbine from the upper venturi tube.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 62 words

Apparatus according to claim 2 including lower corners on the front of the vehicle, in which the vehicle body has air intakes at a top front portion of the vehicle leading to the upper venturi tube and at least two further air intakes at the two lower front corners of the vehicle body for directing air through corresponding lower venturi effect tubes.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the screw-type turbines each rotate to drive separate gear systems coupled to the means for electrical power generation.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the pair of lower venturi effect tubes are elongated void spaces directing the flow of air toward the turbine.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 48 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 including a means for ground effect on an upper outer portion of the vehicle body to stabilize vehicle travel at high speeds, said ground effect means projecting from opposite sides of the vehicle body and forming a portion of the upper venturi tube.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus according to claim 8 including a combined rear bumper and a lower airfoil to stabilize the vehicle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 32 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 including at least one vortex/vacuum members below the turbine to stabilize airflow along a lower portion of the moving vehicle and to provide drainage below the turbine.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus according to claim 4 in which a pair of lower venturi effect tubes extend along opposite sides of the vehicle body below the passenger compartment and in which the upper venturi effect tube extends above the passenger compartment.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 40 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the vehicle body includes a rear exhaust panel open to the exterior of the vehicle and located to the rear of the turbine for exhausting air away from the rear of the vehicle.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the rear exhaust panel has a width substantially similar to the width of the vehicle body.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 35 words

Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the rear exhaust panel has a surface area open to the atmosphere which is greater than the combined area of the upper and lower front air inlet openings.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 299 words

In an electric motor-driven vehicle having a vehicle body with a front and a rear, the vehicle body having height and width, and batteries for supplying electrical power to the motor, an improved battery charging system comprising a rotary turbine with turbine blades mounted at the rear of the vehicle body with an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, in which the diameter of the rotating turbine extends over most of the height and width of the vehicle body, with means for electric power-generation on the vehicle body coupled to the turbine for charging the batteries in response to rotation of the turbine, at least one upper venturi effect tube connected with and extending along an upper portion of the vehicle body for directing an intake of air from an upper portion of the vehicle toward an upper region of the turbine for impinging air under pressure toward the turbine blades to rotate the turbine, and at least one lower venturi effect tube connected with and extending along a lower portion of the vehicle body for directing a separate intake of air from a lower portion of the vehicle toward the turbine in a direction and at a sufficient force separately impinging upon the turbine to increase the pressure applied to rotate the turbine over the force of impinging air flow from the upper venturi tube, and further comprising a separate elongated screw-type turbine in at least one lower venturi tube, and in which each screw type turbine rotates about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, each screw-type turbine being separately coupled to the means for electrical power generation, for enhancing an electrical power output of the means for electrical power generation, for recharging the batteries.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 299 words

In an electric motor-driven vehicle having a vehicle body with a front and a rear, the vehicle body having height and width, and batteries for supplying electrical power to the motor, an improved battery charging system comprising a rotary turbine with turbine blades mounted at the rear of the vehicle body with an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, in which the diameter of the rotating turbine extends over most of the height and width of the vehicle body, with means for electric power-generation on the vehicle body coupled to the turbine for charging the batteries in response to rotation of the turbine, at least one upper venturi effect tube connected with and extending along an upper portion of the vehicle body for directing an intake of air from an upper portion of the vehicle toward an upper region of the turbine for impinging air under pressure toward the turbine blades to rotate the turbine, and at least one lower venturi effect tube connected with and extending along a lower portion of the vehicle body for directing a separate intake of air from a lower portion of the vehicle toward the turbine in a direction and at a sufficient force separately impinging upon the turbine to increase the pressure applied to rotate the turbine over the force of impinging air flow from the upper venturi tube, and further comprising a separate elongated screw-type turbine in at least one lower venturi tube, and in which each screw type turbine rotates about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, each screw-type turbine being separately coupled to the means for electrical power generation, for enhancing an electrical power output of the means for electrical power generation, for recharging the batteries.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus according to claim 15 in which the screw-type turbines each rotate to drive separate gear systems coupled to the means for electrical power generation.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-01-24	1997-07-26	1998-01-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-01-24	2001-07-26	2002-01-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-01-24	2005-07-26	2006-01-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Venturi effect charging system for automobile batteries

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