VEHICLE HAVING WIND-POWERED GENERATOR
A vehicle may include a battery, a generator, a turbine and a movable member. The generator may be in communication with the battery and may be operable to charge the battery. The turbine may be mounted within a cavity formed in a body of the vehicle and may be rotatable relative to the body. The turbine may be coupled to the generator to transmit torque from the turbine to the generator. The cavity may include an inlet and an outlet. The member may be movable relative to the cavity between an open position allowing airflow through the inlet and a closed position restricting airflow through the inlet.
1 . A vehicle comprising:
a battery;
a generator in communication with the battery and operable to charge the battery;
a turbine mounted within a cavity formed in a body of the vehicle and rotatable relative to the body, the turbine being coupled to the generator to transmit torque from the turbine to the generator, the cavity including an inlet and an outlet; and
a member movable relative to the cavity between an open position allowing airflow through the inlet and a closed position restricting airflow through the inlet.
2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cavity is formed in a roof of the body.
3 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the member is substantially flush with a roof of the body when the member is in the closed position and extends outward from the roof in the open position.
4 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the turbine is disposed entirely below a top surface of a roof of the body.
5 . The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator operable to move the member between the open and closed positions; and a control module controlling operation of the actuator in response to deceleration of the vehicle.
6 . The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator operable to move the member between the open and closed positions; and a control module controlling operation of the actuator based on whether the vehicle is in a highway-driving mode or a city-driving mode.
7 . The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a clutch coupled to the turbine and the generator and operable in an engaged mode in which rotational motion of the turbine is transmitted to the generator and a disengaged mode in which the turbine is allowed to rotate independently of the generator.
8 . The vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising a control module controlling operation of the clutch in response to deceleration of the vehicle.
9 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cavity is formed in a lateral side of the body.
10 . The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising another turbine coupled to another generator and mounted within another cavity formed in the body of the vehicle.
11 . A generator system for a vehicle comprising:
a generator in communication with a vehicle battery and operable to charge the vehicle battery;
a wind-powered turbine rotatably in response to exposure to airflow; and
a clutch coupled to the turbine and the generator and operable in an engaged mode to transmit torque from the turbine to the generator and a disengaged mode in which the turbine is allowed to rotate independently of the generator.
12 . The generator system of claim 11 , further comprising a control module controlling operation of the clutch in response to deceleration of the vehicle.
13 . The generator system of claim 11 , further comprising a control module controlling operation of the clutch based on whether the vehicle is in a highway-driving mode or a city-driving mode.
14 . The generator system of claim 11 , further comprising a scoop extending from a body of the vehicle directing air toward the turbine.
15 . The generator system of claim 11 , wherein the turbine is mounted within a cavity formed in a body of the vehicle and rotatable relative to the body.
16 . The generator system of claim 15 , further comprising a member movable relative to the cavity between an open position allowing airflow through an inlet of the cavity and a closed position restricting airflow through the inlet.
17 . The generator system of claim 16 , wherein the member is substantially flush with the roof when the member is in the closed position and extends outward from the roof in the open position.
18 . The generator system of claim 16 , further comprising an actuator operable to move the member between the open and closed positions; and a control module controlling operation of the actuator in response to deceleration of the vehicle.
19 . The generator system of claim 11 , wherein the turbine is disposed below a top surface of a roof of the vehicle.
20 . The generator system of claim 11 , wherein the turbine rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to an axis extending through front and rear ends of a body of the vehicle.