Patently Speaking highlights the technological achievements of Fort Wayne area residents.
Air power energy transformation to electrical energy for hybrid electric vehicle applications
•U.S. Patent No. 7,789,182
•Invented by: Sunil K. Jain, Fort Wayne; Rodney J. Klinger, Fort Wayne; Joseph T. Penaloza, Fort Wayne; and James C. Bradley, New Haven
•Assigned to: International Truck Intellectual Property Co., LLC, Warrenville, Ill.
Hybrid vehicle technology is no longer limited to small passenger cars. It is now being employed in large semi-trucks. Energy conservation using these large trucks can translate into real cost savings. Recapturing kinetic energy, or motion energy, produced by moving trucks is one way to increase efficiency.
In previous editions, we have examined recapturing energy from the heat generated by the truck’s brakes. But what about just putting a wind turbine on the truck itself? These turbines use wind power to generate electricity.
Based on a principle similar to those large electricity-generating wind turbines, placing small wind turbines on the front of the truck can likewise generate electricity. A problem is that these small wind turbines also produce drag. This drag results in more energy being required to move the truck forward, which translates into a loss of energy efficiency.
To solve the problem, this patent describes moving the wind turbines from the front of the vehicle to between the truck’s cab and the trailer. In addition, the turbine is oriented upward, not forward.
It has been found that at high speeds, air circulates up and down within this gap between the cab and trailer. The turbine spins generating electricity that is stored in a battery. Because the turbine spins horizontally, less overall drag is created.
Wiring system
•U.S. Patent No. 7,690,950
•Invented by: Robert H. Owen Sr., Columbia City; John A. Forish, Huntington; Mark Molinaro, Leo; and Antonio Nuevo; Brussels, Belgium
•Assigned to: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc., Southfield, Mich.
Another problem with vehicles is they have become more and more complicated to build. The dominance of electrical components throughout the vehicle means more wires running back and forth and in every direction.
Bundles or harnesses of these wires are grouped together. Radios, sensors and motors all require electricity and transmit signals from one location to another.
According to this patent, these harnesses are time-consuming to install because of the number of wires that need to be spliced, taped, glued and put through other processes, which take time.
This patent describes a new connector for wiring harnesses that easily receives electrical wires. These connectors can also serve as both a connector and a light socket. This means the connector can power a light while at the same time continuing to distribute current through other wires to various locations.
The preceding are lay descriptions of patents obtained from the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s public records and are provided for general information purposes only. Nothing contained herein is a legal description of any claimed invention, identification of novelty, or offer of legal advice. Because issued patents are based on applications often filed years earlier, the subject matter of some patents may have been available on the market for some time prior to the issuance of the patent. Additional information on these patents is available at www.uspto.gov.
