Induction air driven alternator and method for converting intake air into current
AssigneeNartron Corporation
InventorMark G. Voss
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An alternator assembly for use with a port fuel injected internal combustion engine including a battery charging system is driven by a turbine assembly mounted in a variable air intake or throttle valve assembly and converts the change in kinetic energy provided by the inlet combustion air movement across the turbine assembly into rotational movement which drives an electrical generating assembly or alternator to generate current which can be used to supplement a conventional vehicle battery charging system.
Claims24
In combination with a port fuel injected internal combustion engine having an intake manifold for receiving and conducting combustion air to the engine, an induction intake air driven alternator assembly comprising:
- a turbine assembly and an electrical current generating assembly mounted on the intake manifold and being interposed in the flow of combustion air, the turbine assembly including a partial admission variable area nozzle member having a series of adjacent individual nozzles arranged in an arc and regulator means adjustable to sequentially close completely one or more of said individual nozzles to define in part a variable inlet air intake;
- said alternator assembly defining an engine power control;
- said assembly also being operable for converting the change in kinetic energy of the combustion air moving therethrough into electrical energy.
A method for converting kinetic and potential energy of inlet combustion air communicated through a variable combustion air intake of a port fuel injected internal combustion engine into electrical energy, the method comprising the steps of:
- interposing in the variable combustion air intake a turbine assembly including a partial admission variable area nozzle member having a series of adjacent individual nozzles arranged in an arc and regulator means adjustable to sequentially close completely one or more of said individual nozzles to vary inlet air flow;
- conducting the inlet combustion air through the turbine assembly;
- adjusting the regulator means to vary inlet air flow;
- converting the air movement through the turbine assembly into rotational motion;
- communicating the turbine assembly rotational motion to an electrical current generating assembly;
- and
- generating electrical current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.