# US 2014/0196446 A1 · Generation of renewable energy from mass air flow

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- Number: US 2014/0196446 A1
- Document ID: US20140196446A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/215,845
- Filed: 2014-03-17
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-12
- Inventors: Norman Holley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196446A1

## CPC

- F03D 9/00: Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations (hybrid wind-photovoltaic energy systems for the generation of electric power H02S10/12)
- F03D 9/46: Tunnels or streets
- F03D 1/02: having a plurality of rotors
- F03D 9/25: the apparatus being an electrical generator (F03D9/22 takes precedence)
- F03D 9/255: {connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor}
- F03D 13/20: Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
- F03D 80/70: Bearing or lubricating arrangements
- F03D 9/11: storing electrical energy
- F05B 2240/9113: which is a roadway, rail track, or the like for recovering energy from moving vehicles
- Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
- Y02E 10/728: Onshore wind turbines
- F03D: WIND MOTORS
- F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Systems and methods for generating reliable renewable energy using mass airflow generated from the vertical and/or horizontal movement of transport equipment, such as elevator cars. For example, elevator cars inside an elevator shaft may be used to generate renewable and reliable energy. Micro wind turbine devices strategically placed in the elevator shafts may be used to generate AC or DC power from the mass air flow created by the movement of the elevator cars. The electricity generated from the micro wind turbines can then be used, for example, for propulsion power to reduce the amount of electricity provided by the local utility company, thereby reducing demand on power generation from non-renewable sources.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for generating renewable energy from mass airflow power, comprising:
a plurality of horizontal axis rotors attached at spaced intervals along an elongated drive shaft for harnessing the mass airflow power;
one or more mounting brackets for mounting to a surface wall in a shaft for transport equipment, the elongated drive shaft secured to the one or more mounting brackets; and
a generator secured to at least one end of the elongated drive shaft for converting the mass airflow power to energy;
wherein each of the one or more mounting brackets comprise:
a base plate having a first end and a second end;
a support member, having a first side portion and a second side portion, fixedly secured to and extending upwardly from the base plate;
a first side member, having a first inner surface and a first outer surface, integrally connected to and extending upwardly from the first end of the base plate to the first side portion of the support member;
a second side member, having a second inner surface and a second outer surface, integrally connected to and extending upwardly from the second end of the base plate to the second side portion of the support member; and
an upper plate parallel to the base plate and integrally connected to the first side portion of the support member and the second side portion of the support member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
one or more ball bearings mounted to the one or more mounting brackets, the elongated drive shaft extending through the one or more ball bearings.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the support member has a generally circular configuration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the each one of the one or more mounting brackets further comprise:
a first side bracket having a first side bracket member and a first bottom bracket member, the first bottom bracket member integrally connected to and extending outward from the first side bracket member, and where the first side bracket member of the first side bracket is connected to the outer surface of the first side member below the upper plate; and
a second side bracket having a second side bracket member and a second bottom bracket member, the second bottom bracket member integrally connected to and extending outward from the second side bracket member, and where the second side bracket member of the second side bracket is connected to the outer surface of the second side member below the upper plate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, further comprising:
a first elongated member secured to the first bottom bracket member of each of the one or more mounting brackets; and
a second elongated member secured to the second bottom bracket member of the each of the one or more mounting brackets;
wherein the first and second elongated members are affixed to the surface wall in the shaft for transport equipment.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a first plurality of mesh screens secured to the first side portion of the support member of the each one of the one more mounting brackets; and
a second plurality of mesh screens secured to the second side portion of the support member of the each one of the one more mounting brackets; and
wherein the first side portion is a mirror image of the second side portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more mounting brackets comprise:
a base plate having a first end and a second end;
an upper plate, having a first upper end and a second upper end, parallel to the base plate;
a first side member, having a first inner surface and a first outer surface, integrally connected to and extending upwardly from the first end of the base plate to the first upper end of the upper plate; and
a second side member, having a second inner surface and a second outer surface, integrally connected to and extending upwardly from the second end of the base plate to the second upper end of the upper plate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the each of the one or more mounting brackets further comprise:
a first side bracket having a first side bracket member and a first bottom bracket member, the first bottom bracket member integrally connected to and extending outward from the first side bracket member, and where the first side bracket member of the first side bracket is connected to the outer surface of the first side member below the upper plate; and
a second side bracket having a second side bracket member and a second bottom bracket member, the second bottom bracket member integrally connected to and extending outward from the second side bracket member, and where the second side bracket member of the second side bracket is connected to the outer surface of the second side member below the upper plate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the mass air flow is generated from vertical and/or horizontal movement of transport equipment.

### Claim 10

A system for generating renewable energy from mass airflow power, comprising:
a first plurality of mounting brackets for mounting to a surface wall in a shaft for transport equipment;
a second plurality of mounting brackets for mounting to the surface wall in the shaft for transport equipment, the first plurality of mounting brackets different than the second plurality of mounting brackets;
a plurality of horizontal axis rotors attached at spaced intervals along an elongated drive shaft for harnessing the mass airflow power, the elongated drive shaft secured to the first plurality of mounting brackets and the second plurality of mounting brackets; and
a generator secured to at least one end of the elongated drive shaft for converting the mass airflow power to energy.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein each mounting bracket in the first plurality of mounting brackets comprise:
a base plate having a first end and a second end;
a support member, having a first side portion and a second side portion, fixedly secured to and extending upwardly from the base plate;
a first side member, having a first inner surface and a first outer surface, integrally connected to and extending upwardly from the first end of the base plate to the first side portion of the support member;
a second side member, having a second inner surface and a second outer surface, integrally connected to and extending upwardly from the second end of the base plate to the second side portion of the support member; and
an upper plate parallel to the base plate and integrally connected to the first side portion of the support member and the second side portion of the support member.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the support member has a generally circular configuration.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the each mounting bracket in the first plurality of mounting brackets comprise:
a first side bracket having a first side bracket member and a first bottom bracket member, the first bottom bracket member integrally connected to and extending outward from the first side bracket member, and where the first side bracket member of the first side bracket is connected to the outer surface of the first side member below the upper plate; and
a second side bracket having a second side bracket member and a second bottom bracket member, the second bottom bracket member integrally connected to and extending outward from the second side bracket member, and where the second side bracket member of the second side bracket is connected to the outer surface of the second side member below the upper plate.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, further comprising:
a first elongated member secured to the first bottom bracket member of the each of the mounting brackets in the first plurality of mounting brackets; and
a second elongated member secured to the second bottom bracket member of the each of the mounting brackets in the first plurality of mounting brackets;
wherein the first and second elongated members are affixed to the surface wall in the shaft for transport equipment.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein each mounting bracket in the second plurality of mounting brackets comprise:
a base plate having a first end and a second end;
an upper plate, having a first upper end and a second upper end, parallel to the base plate;
a first side member, having a first inner surface and a first outer surface, integrally connected to and extending upwardly from the first end of the base plate to the first upper end of the upper plate; and
a second side member, having a second inner surface and a second outer surface, integrally connected to and extending upwardly from the second end of the base plate to the second upper end of the upper plate.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the each mounting bracket in the second plurality of mounting brackets comprise:
a first side bracket having a first side bracket member and a first bottom bracket member, the first bottom bracket member integrally connected to and extending outward from the first side bracket member, and where the first side bracket member of the first side bracket is connected to the outer surface of the first side member below the upper plate; and
a second side bracket having a second side bracket member and a second bottom bracket member, the second bottom bracket member integrally connected to and extending outward from the second side bracket member, and where the second side bracket member of the second side bracket is connected to the outer surface of the second side member below the upper plate.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, further comprising:
a first elongated member secured to the first bottom bracket member of the each of the mounting brackets in the second plurality of mounting brackets; and
a second elongated member secured to the second bottom bracket member of the each of the mounting brackets in the second plurality of mounting brackets; and
wherein the first and second elongated members are affixed to the surface wall in the shaft for transport equipment.

### Claim 18

A system for generating renewable energy from mass airflow power, comprising:
a first plurality of mounting brackets for mounting to a surface wall in a shaft for transport equipment, each mounting bracket in the first plurality of mounting brackets comprise:
a first base plate having a first end and a second end;
a support member, having a first side portion and a second side portion, fixedly secured to and extending upwardly from the base plate;
a first side member, having a first inner surface and a first outer surface, integrally connected to and extending upwardly from the first end of the base plate to the first side portion of the support member;
a second side member, having a second inner surface and a second outer surface, integrally connected to and extending upwardly from the second end of the base plate to the second side portion of the support member; and
a first upper plate parallel to the base plate and integrally connected to the first side portion of the support member and the second side portion of the support member; and
a second plurality of mounting brackets for mounting to the surface wall in the shaft for transport equipment, the first plurality of mounting brackets different than the second plurality of mounting brackets, each mounting bracket in the second plurality of mounting brackets comprise:
a second base plate having a first end and a second end;
a second upper plate, having a first upper end and a second upper end, parallel to the second base plate;
a third side member, having a third inner surface and a third outer surface, integrally connected to and extending upwardly from the first end of the second base plate to the first upper end of the second upper plate; and
a fourth side member, having a fourth inner surface and a fourth outer surface, integrally connected to and extending upwardly from the first end of the second base plate to the second upper end of the second upper plate; and
a plurality of horizontal axis rotors attached at spaced intervals along an elongated drive shaft for harnessing the mass airflow power, the elongated drive shaft secured to the first upper plate of the first plurality of mounting brackets and the second upper plate of the second plurality of mounting brackets; and
a generator secured to at least one end of the elongated drive shaft for converting the mass airflow power to energy.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the each mounting bracket in the first plurality of mounting brackets comprise:
a first side bracket having a first side bracket member and a first bottom bracket member, the first bottom bracket member integrally connected to and extending outward from the first side bracket member, and where the first side bracket member of the first side bracket is connected to the outer surface of the first side member below the upper plate; and
a second side bracket having a second side bracket member and a second bottom bracket member, the second bottom bracket member integrally connected to and extending outward from the second side bracket member, and where the second side bracket member of the second side bracket is connected to the outer surface of the second side member below the upper plate; and
wherein the each mounting bracket of the second plurality of mounting brackets comprise:
a third side bracket having a third side bracket member and a third bottom bracket member, the third bottom bracket member integrally connected to and extending outward from the third side bracket member, and where the third side bracket member of the third side bracket is connected to the outer surface of the third side member below the upper plate; and
a fourth side bracket having a fourth side bracket member and a fourth bottom bracket member, the fourth bottom bracket member integrally connected to and extending outward from the fourth side bracket member, and where the fourth side bracket member of the fourth side bracket is connected to the outer surface of the fourth side member below the upper plate.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, further comprising:
a first elongated member secured to the first bottom bracket member of the each of the mounting brackets in the first plurality of mounting brackets and the third bottom bracket member of the each of the mounting brackets in the second plurality of mounting brackets; and
a second elongated member secured to the second bottom bracket member of the each of the mounting brackets in the first plurality of mounting brackets and the fourth bottom bracket member of the each mounting bracket of the second plurality of mounting brackets; and
wherein the first and second elongated members are affixed to the surface wall in the shaft for transport equipment.