US 4,229,661 AGranted

Power plant for camping trailer

OwnerClaude F. Mead, William F. Holmesinventors

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Abstract

A power plant for mobile homes, camping trailers, and the like, capable of capturing low powered aeolian energy, storing said energy in the form of compressed air, and delivering it on demand in the form of household electrical current. The device comprises a wind turbine driving an air compressor which feeds a storage tank. On demand, the compressed air drives a turbine coupled to an electrical generator. Various pressure regulators are used to regulate the speed of the generator. The wind turbine is also coupled to an alternator which maintains a bank of electrical batteries charged. A DC motor running on the batteries is used when necessary to boost the drive of the air compressor during periods of heavy or long power drain. Provision is made for rapidly recharging the power plant from either a supply of compressed air or from an AC power source.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A power plant which comprises:

(a) first rotating means responsive to movement of a fluid;
(b) first fluid compressor driven by the first rotating means;
(c) first means for coupling the first rotating means to the first fluid compressor;
(d) first electrical energy generator driven by the first rotating means;
(e) second means for coupling the first rotating means to the first generator;
(f) means for accumulating electrical energy generated by the first generator;
(g) second rotating means responsive to said accumulated energy;
(h) second fluid compressor driven by the second rotating means;
(i) means for storing compressed fluid;
(j) fluid conduit means for connecting the outputs of the first and second fluid compressors to the means for storing;
(k) means responsive to fluid pressure within the means for storing for controlling the operation of the first and second fluid compressors;
(l) third rotating means responsive to the expansion of compressed fluid;
(m) means for connecting the means for storing to the third rotating means;
(n) second electrical energy generator driven by third rotating means;
and
(o) means for coupling the third rotating means to the second electrical energy generator.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.