Patent Application
20120248087
The present invention relates to methods and devices for generating heat for building structures or otherwise through wind power.
Pollution, energy conservation and limited natural resources have lead companies and individuals to develop devices having reduced environmental impact, lower energy consumption and/or cost. Industries particularly sensitive to these considerations are companies involved in the production and delivery of energy, such as electricity and gas. Mostly, these industries have redeveloped existing electric and gas equipment to be more efficient. Alternatively, some companies have developed alternatives to typical energy production and/or delivery devices such as solar powered devices. However, many of these devices and alternatives are relatively expensive and/or impractical for certain applications.
In one particular aspect, remote building structures often lack the ability to generate electricity and heat due to the absence of utility systems. The remote structures must either go without such conveniences or rely on less conventional electric or heating means. Such power means may comprise wood or coal burning devices, propane heating systems or solar devices. However, these devices require the continual acquisition and delivery of fuel and/or costly purchase and installation of equipment. Further, such systems are impractical for smaller building structures.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for improved production and delivery of low cost energy to building structures for the purpose of providing electricity and heat to the same. More so, there is a need to provide such energy to building structures remotely located or otherwise where energy cost is relatively high.
The present invention relates to methods and devices for generating electricity and heat for building structures through wind power. The features of the present invention are predicated upon a device configured to harness and convert wind power to electricity, which is used to generated heat for a building structure. In one exemplary embodiment, the device is further configured to convert wind power to mechanical energy. In one configuration, the mechanical energy is used to drive a fan for circulating air within the building structure and more particularly across heating elements power through the electricity generated by the device.
In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a wind powered electric furnace. The wind powered electric furnace includes a turbine disposed within a cavity of a first housing. The first housing defines a plurality of intake airflow paths having a narrowing profile in the direction of the cavity. The turbine is connected to a shaft. The wind powered electric furnace further includes a generator drivably connected to the shaft. The generator is adapted to generate electricity during rotation of the shaft. The wind powered electric furnace further includes an electric heater electrically connected to the generator, wherein upon rotation of the shaft electricity generated by the generator is transmitted to the electric heater.
In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a wind powered electric furnace. The wind powered electric furnace includes a turbine assembly having a first housing defining a cavity, a plurality of intake airflow paths and at least one exhaust airflow path. The plurality of intake airflow paths are formed through an exterior wall of the first housing and define a narrowing airflow path from an exterior portion of the first housing to the cavity. The turbine assembly also includes a turbine including a plurality of vertically orientated vanes disposed within the first housing. The plurality of vanes have a concave portion and are disposed adjacent the plurality of intake airflow paths. The wind powered electric furnace further includes a shaft rotatably driven by the turbine. The heater further includes an electric generator including a positive magnetic member and a negative magnetic member. The positive magnetic member and the negative magnetic member are attached to the shaft. The electric generator further includes an electric winding disposed about the positive magnetic member and the negative magnetic member. The electric winding is disposed at a distance from the positive magnetic member and the negative magnetic member to allow for electrical induction upon rotation of the shaft. The wind powered electric furnace further includes a heater assembly having a second housing defining a second cavity, an air intake port and an air exhaust port. The heater assembly further include a resistant heater disposed within the cavity. The resistant heater includes a plurality of resistant heating elements having convection fins extending therefrom. The resistant heater being electrically connected to the electric winding to receive current therefrom during rotation of the shaft. The heater assembly also include a fan rotatably driven by the shaft and disposed within the second housing, wherein during rotation the fan draws cool air through the air intake, across the plurality of convection fins and out the air exhaust port.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a heated building structure. The heated building structure includes a building structure defining an interior portion and exterior portion. The heated building structure further includes a turbine disposed proximate the exterior portion of the building structure. The turbine is disposed within a cavity of a first housing and is rotatably mounted to a shaft. The heated building structure further includes a generator drivably connected to the shaft. The generator is adapted to generate electricity during rotation of the shaft. The turbine also include an electric heater disposed within the building structure and electrically connected to the generator, wherein upon rotation of the shaft electricity generated by the generator is transmitted to the electric heater which acts to heat the interior portion of the building structure.
The above-described and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims.
Other objects, features, advantages and details of the present invention appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which:
The present invention relates to methods and devices for the production and delivery of electrical and thermal energy to building structures. Such methods and devices are particularly advantageous for building structures being remotely located, however, such methods and devices may be utilized in most any building structure. In one aspect, the present invention provides a device for capturing wind power and converting it to electric power for various applications. In one particular aspect, the electricity generated is used to heat a room within a building structure.
Referring to
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the device 10 is attached to a building structure 22. The turbine assembly 12 is disposed proximate an exterior portion 24 of the building structure 22 and the heater assembly 16 is disposed proximate an interior portion 26 and within the building structure 22. The turbine assembly 12 is mounted directly or indirectly to a roof 28 of the building structure 22 and the heater assembly 16 is mounted directly or indirectly to a ceiling 30 or support structure thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, the heater assembly 16 further includes a fan 32 for distributing heated air from the heater assembly 16 throughout the interior portion of the building structure 22.
In greater detail, referring to
In one exemplary embodiment, referring to
Referring particularly to
In one exemplary embodiment, still referring to
Referring again to
The electric generator 14 is electrically connected to the heater assembly 16, via a suitable electric connection 70, to receive current therefrom. The heater assembly 16 includes a resistant heater 72 having one or more, or plurality, of resistant heating elements 74 configured to heat as a result of electricity flowing therethrough. In one exemplary embodiment, the heating elements 74 include convection fins 76 extending therefrom to facilitate in heat transfer from the heating elements and surrounding area.
In one exemplary embodiment, the heater assembly 16 includes a second housing 78 defining a second housing cavity 80 for housing components of the heater assembly 16 and in particular the resistant heater 72. The second housing 78 includes an exterior wall 82 and base portion 84 that define the second housing cavity 80. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the second housing 78 defines one or more, or plurality, of air intake ports 86 for receiving air into the second housing 78 and one or more, or plurality, of air exhaust ports 88 for egress of air within the second housing 78. The air intake port 86 and air exhaust port 88 allow for cycling of air, particularly heated air generated by the heater assembly 16, through the second housing 78.
As previously mention, the device 10 includes fan 32 for distributing heated air from the heater assembly 16 to a surrounding area. In one exemplary embodiment, the fan 32 is mechanically driven by rotating shaft 32. In another exemplary embodiment, the fan 32 is electrically driven by electric generator 14. In either configuration, it is contemplated that the fan 32 is positioned and configured to draw air into the second housing cavity 80 of the second housing 78, through the air intake ports 86, across the heating elements 74, and convection fins 76, and through the air exhaust ports 88.
In one exemplary embodiment, referring to
In another exemplary embodiment, it is contemplated that the plurality of turbine assemblies and electric generators 14 may be used to power other electrical devices such as lighting or otherwise. Still further, it is contemplated that the electricity generated by the plurality of turbine assemblies and electric generators may be fed back into an electrical grid system of a utility company thereby reducing electric bills associated with the building structure the devices 10 are attached to.
The wind powered generator and heating device 10 may be used in various applications. In one particular application, the device 10 is used on a building structure 22 for capturing wind power on an exterior portion 24 of the building structure and provide heating to an interior portion 26 of the building structure. Such building structures 22 may comprise larger buildings such as office buildings, standing homes, motor homes, garages or otherwise. Such building structures 22 may also comprise smaller building structures such as ice shanties, ticket booths, out houses, small garages or otherwise.
With respect to smaller buildings such as shown in
With respect to larger buildings, such as shown in
While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims
