Supplemental propulsion system for vehicles
OwnerLi Liinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A supplemental propulsion system for a vehicle may include a Flettner rotor. The Flettner rotor includes a rotatable cylinder mounted on a vehicle, e.g., either horizontally or vertically. An airflow deflector is located on the vehicle behind (i.e., downwind of) the Flettner rotor, and the airflow deflector is configured to redirect a vehicle headwind to generate an airflow past the cylinder in a direction transverse to the headwind. An electronic controller may be configured to control a motor to rotate the cylinder. In some examples, the rotational speed of the cylinder is maintained at a selected multiple of a speed of the airflow past the cylinder.
Claims28
A supplemental propulsion system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a Flettner rotor including a rotatable cylinder mounted to a vehicle, such that a length of the cylinder is oriented transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle;
- and
- an airflow deflector disposed on the vehicle behind the Flettner rotor, wherein the airflow deflector is configured to redirect a vehicle headwind to generate an airflow past the cylinder in a direction transverse to the direction of travel at a cost of additional air drag to the vehicle;
- wherein the rotor and the airflow deflector are disposed on the vehicle such that the rotor and the airflow deflector collectively generate a propulsion force in the direction of travel of the vehicle when the cylinder is back-spinning in the generated airflow.
A method for providing supplemental propulsion to a vehicle, the method comprising:
- redirecting a headwind of a vehicle to generate a redirected airflow transverse to the headwind at a cost of additional air drag to the vehicle, using an airflow deflector coupled to the vehicle;
- and
- generating a Magnus force on the vehicle by back-spinning a cylinder disposed in the redirected airflow;
- wherein the airflow deflector and the cylinder are disposed such that the rotor and the airflow deflector collectively generate a propulsion force in the direction of travel of the vehicle.
A method for providing supplemental propulsion to a vehicle, the method comprising:
- redirecting a headwind of a vehicle to generate a redirected airflow transverse to the headwind, using an airflow deflector coupled to the vehicle;
- and
- generating a Magnus force on the vehicle by spinning a cylinder disposed in the redirected airflow;
- wherein the airflow deflector comprises a planar expanse having a face oriented transverse to the headwind.
A method for providing supplemental propulsion to a vehicle, the method comprising:
- redirecting a headwind of a vehicle to generate a redirected airflow transverse to the headwind, using an airflow deflector coupled to the vehicle;
- and
- generating a Magnus force on the vehicle by spinning a cylinder disposed in the redirected airflow;
- wherein the airflow deflector has an angle of attack of at least 5 degrees.
A method for providing supplemental propulsion to a vehicle, the method comprising:
- redirecting a headwind of a vehicle to generate a redirected airflow transverse to the headwind, using an airflow deflector coupled to the vehicle;
- generating a Magnus force on the vehicle by spinning a cylinder disposed in the redirected airflow;
- and
- controlling a speed of the spinning cylinder using an electronic controller coupled to an electric motor, wherein controlling the speed is based at least in part on an airflow speed input from an anemometer.
A supplemental propulsion system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a Flettner rotor including a rotatable cylinder mounted to a vehicle, such that a length of the cylinder is oriented transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle;
- and
- an airflow deflector disposed on the vehicle behind the Flettner rotor, wherein the airflow deflector comprises a planar expanse configured to redirect a vehicle headwind to generate an airflow past the cylinder in a direction transverse to the direction of travel.
A supplemental propulsion system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a Flettner rotor including a rotatable cylinder mounted to a vehicle, such that a length of the cylinder is oriented transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle;
- and
- an airflow deflector disposed on the vehicle behind the Flettner rotor, wherein the airflow deflector is configured to redirect a vehicle headwind to generate an airflow past the cylinder in a direction transverse to the direction of travel;
- wherein the airflow deflector has an angle of attack equal to or greater than 5 degrees.
A supplemental propulsion system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a Flettner rotor including a rotatable cylinder mounted to a vehicle, such that a length of the cylinder is oriented transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle;
- an airflow deflector disposed on the vehicle behind the Flettner rotor, wherein the airflow deflector is configured to redirect a vehicle headwind to generate an airflow past the cylinder in a direction transverse to the direction of travel;
- a hub motor configured to rotate the cylinder;
- and
- an electronic controller configured to control the motor such that a rotational speed of the cylinder is maintained at a selected multiple of a speed of the airflow past the cylinder.
A supplemental propulsion system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a Flettner rotor including a rotatable cylinder mounted to a vehicle, such that a length of the cylinder is oriented transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle;
- an airflow deflector disposed on the vehicle behind the Flettner rotor, wherein the airflow deflector is configured to redirect a vehicle headwind to generate an airflow past the cylinder in a direction transverse to the direction of travel;
- a motor configured to rotate the cylinder;
- an electronic controller configured to control the motor such that a rotational speed of the cylinder is maintained at a selected multiple of a speed of the airflow past the cylinder;
- and
- an anemometer in communication with the electronic controller, wherein the anemometer is configured to measure the speed of the airflow past the cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.