US5287004A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automobile air and ground effects power package
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-09-04
•
Granted: 1994-02-15
•
Expires: 2012-09-04
Abstract
Abstract This invention consists of two parts, an air dam attached to the lower front end of a motor vehicle and a spoiler attached to the upper rear end of the vehicle, with rotors and generators integrated into each of these parts. The rotors have horizontal axes and fixed blades running the length of the axes and extending symmetrically no more than a few inches from the axes, each blade being curved in the same direction. Two electric generators are attached to each rotor by short rods at both ends. Air current passing around the vehicle turns the rotors and generates electricity, while the air dam and spoiler counteract the drag created by the rotors and improve the overall drag coefficient of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D. Finley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:20
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03D; F03D9/00; F03D9/30; F03D9/32; B; B60; B60L; B60L8/00; F03D13/00; F03D13/20; F03D3/00; F03D3/04; F03D3/0436; F03D3/0445; F03D9/20; F03D9/25; F05; F05B; F05B2240/00; F05B2240/20; F05B2240/21; F05B2240/221; F05B2240/2212; F05B2240/90; F05B2240/94; F05B2240/941; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/70; Y02E10/728; Y02E10/74; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/7072; Y02T10/80; Y02T10/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A horizontal-axis fixed-blade rotor with several horizontal blades running the length of the axis and extending symmetrically no more than a few inches from the axis, each blade being curved in the same direction, and the rotor being attached by short rods at both ends to electrical generators, embedded within an air dam attached to the lower front end of a motor vehicle to prevent the formation of an air pocket beneath the vehicle, with a portion of the rotor exposed to the flow of air current or wind through a small horizontal vent at the bottom of which a gently sloping ramp directs the air current or wind to cool the engine or ventilate the passenger compartment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A horizontal-axis fixed-blade rotor with several horizontal blades running the length of the axis and extending symmetrically no more than a few inches from the axis, each blade being curved in the same direction, and the rotor being attached by short rods at both ends to electrical generators, embedded within an air dam attached to the lower front end of a motor vehicle to prevent the formation of an air pocket beneath the vehicle, with a portion of the rotor exposed to the flow of air current or wind through a small horizontal vent at the bottom of which a gently sloping ramp directs the air current or wind to cool the engine or ventilate the passenger compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
181 words
A horizontal-axis fixed-blade rotor with several horizontal blades running the length of the axis and extending symmetrically no more than a few inches from the axis, each blade being curved in the same direction, and the rotor being attached by short rods at both ends to electrical generators, embedded within a spoiler unit attached to the upper rear end of a motor vehicle, about one-third or one-fourth of the rotor being exposed to the flow of wind across the small, gently sloping deflector plate in front of the rotor (to guide and lift the flow of air current into the rotor's blades) and the spoiler located behind the rotor (to break up post-rotor turbulence and prevent the formation of a pocket of air behind the vehicle), and an opening at the lower rear of the spoiler unit exposing about one-third or one-fourth of the rotor in order to prevent the formation of a vacuum around the rotor and to allow wind blowing toward the rear of the vehicle to turn the rotor when the vehicle is parked or driving very slowly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
181 words
A horizontal-axis fixed-blade rotor with several horizontal blades running the length of the axis and extending symmetrically no more than a few inches from the axis, each blade being curved in the same direction, and the rotor being attached by short rods at both ends to electrical generators, embedded within a spoiler unit attached to the upper rear end of a motor vehicle, about one-third or one-fourth of the rotor being exposed to the flow of wind across the small, gently sloping deflector plate in front of the rotor (to guide and lift the flow of air current into the rotor's blades) and the spoiler located behind the rotor (to break up post-rotor turbulence and prevent the formation of a pocket of air behind the vehicle), and an opening at the lower rear of the spoiler unit exposing about one-third or one-fourth of the rotor in order to prevent the formation of a vacuum around the rotor and to allow wind blowing toward the rear of the vehicle to turn the rotor when the vehicle is parked or driving very slowly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
An integral air dam and rotor unit in accordance with claim 1 and an integral spoiler and rotor unit in accordance with claim 2 attached to a motor vehicle and operating together to generate electricity to recharge the vehicle's battery or batteries and to reduce the vehicle's overall drag, thereby improving the driveable distance and/or mileage of the motor vehicle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB190722578A
Cited
US1903307A
Cited
US3878913A
Cited
US4141425A
Cited
DE3226381A1
Cited
US4632205A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-02-14 | 1997-08-16 | 1998-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-14 | 2001-08-16 | 2002-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-14 | 2005-08-16 | 2006-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |