Generation and Management of Mass Air Flow

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating high velocity mass air flows are disclosed. High velocity mass air flow (air charging) devices are needed in a variety of research, industrial, commercial, and consumer applications. The exemplary systems and apparatus described incorporate an electric motor subassembly, an air effector subassembly, a highly intelligent apparatus controller subassembly (and interfaces), and linked sensors, connectors, and wiring. The exemplary method described includes the operational apparatus controller subassembly (e.g., elements, logic, and behavior) that controls the entire apparatus' functions and interactions.

1 . An apparatus for generating a high velocity mass air flow comprising:
 an air charging effector housing;   an inlet allowing an air inflow to enter said housing;   an outlet allowing an air outflow to exit said housing;   an air charging effector subassembly rotatably disposed in said air charging effector housing and connected to said output shaft of said air charging motor;   a power module subassembly that controls said air charging effector subassembly;   an intelligent control apparatus subassembly that controls operation of said apparatus;   wherein said apparatus generates a high velocity mass air flow.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said high velocity mass volume of air comprises a pressurized air flow at about 1000 torr and about 1,000,000 cm 3 /min. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said high velocity mass volume of air comprises an air flow at about 28 g/sec. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a control feedback subassembly that uses measurements to limit possible damage to said apparatus due to uncontrolled velocity or mass air flow. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus pressurizes said air outflow, with a pressure above ambient, to fill an air output source volume that may comprise a fixed or variable container. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus depressurizes said air inflow, with a pressure below ambient, to evacuate an air intake source volume that may comprise a fixed or variable container. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is portable and provides for stand-alone operations without a substantially fixed installation for the generation or storage of a high pressure air source. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is portable and provides for stand-alone operations without an external power source. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a compact form factor having an integral air charging effector and air charging motor housing that holds said air charging effector and said air charging motor, wherein said air charging motor is positioned such that said intake air is drawn across said air charging motor. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors emplaced in, around, or alongside one or more physical elements of said apparatus for sensing one or more parameters of said apparatus, wherein data from said sensor(s) is communicated to said control apparatus subassembly. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a communications subassembly, wherein said communications subassembly communicates data from said sensors to said control apparatus subassembly. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said control apparatus subassembly further comprises one or more of: a control loop, a logic and decision making capability, sensor measurement, feedbacks, communications with an external application environment, event sequencing, and/or control of said power module subassembly. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an air intake subassembly and an air outflow subassembly, wherein said control apparatus subassembly controls an operation of one or more of said air intake subassembly and/or said air outflow subassembly. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said power module subassembly further comprises one or more of: an electrical storage device, a continuing electrical supply input, a pneumatic power source, a chemical power source, and/or a thermal power source. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an air charging motor subassembly having an output shaft;   wherein said an air charging effector subassembly is connected to said output shaft of said air charging motor; and   wherein said a power module subassembly controls said air charging motor subassembly.   
   
   
       16 . A method of generating a high velocity mass air flow comprising:
 receiving a flow of air intake through an air inlet;   controlling said air intake using an intake control valve subassembly;   sensing said air intake using an intake sensor subassembly;   charging said air intake to form a high velocity mass air outflow using an air charging effector subassembly driven by an air charging motor subassembly;   powering said air charging motor subassembly from a power source module;   sensing said high velocity mass air flow exiting said air charging effector subassembly using an outflow sensor subassembly;   controlling said air outflow using an outflow control valve subassembly;   expelling said high velocity mass air outflow through an air outlet;   controlling one or more of said intake control valve subassembly, said intake sensor subassembly, said air charging motor subassembly, said power source module; said outflow sensor subassembly, and said outflow control valve subassembly using an apparatus controller subassembly.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising pressurizing said high velocity mass volume outflow to about 1000 torr and moving said high velocity mass volume outflow at about 1,000,000 cm 3 /min. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising moving said high velocity mass volume at about 28 g/sec. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 operating said an air charging effector subassembly at sub-optimal efficiencies in order to meet specific operational needs; and   providing power to said air charging motor subassembly from a local power source that is independent of external power sources and that is under the direct control of said apparatus controller subassembly.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising communicating with a remote or central location to communicate one or more of operational, control, management, and sensory data. 
   
   
       21 . A hybrid electrical and combustion engine comprising:
 an air intake receiving a flow of air;   an intake control valve subassembly in fluid communication with said air intake and controlling said flow of intake air;   an intake sensor subassembly in fluid communication with said air intake and sensing said intake air;   an air charging effector subassembly in fluid communication with said air intake, said air charging effector subassembly generating an outflow of air;   an outflow sensor subassembly in fluid communication with said air charging effector subassembly and sensing said outflow of air;   an outflow control valve subassembly in fluid communication with said air charging effector subassembly and controlling said outflow of air;   an air intake manifold in fluid communication with said air charging effector subassembly;   a combustion engine in fluid communication with said air intake manifold;   a hybrid motor/generator coupled to said combustion engine, wherein torque produced by said combustion engine is passed to said hybrid motor/generator;   a power storage component electrically coupled to said hybrid motor/generator, said power storage component storing electric power created by said hybrid motor/generator;   an apparatus power storage component electrically coupled to said power storage component;   an air charging motor subassembly electrically coupled to said apparatus power storage component, wherein said stored electrical power is deliver to said air charging motor subassembly via a power source module;   wherein said air charging motor subassembly is coupled to and powers said air charging effector subassembly; and   a controller subassembly for controlling one or more of: said intake control valve subassembly, said intake sensor subassembly, said outflow sensor subassembly, said outflow control valve subassembly, said combustion engine, and said power source module.   
   
   
       22 . The hybrid electrical and combustion engine of  claim 21 , further comprising a sensor and control data flow between said controller subassembly and said power source module, wherein a power flow from said power source module to said air charging motor subassembly is regulated by said controller subassembly by means of said sensor and control data flow. 
   
   
       23 . The hybrid electrical and combustion engine of  claim 21 , further comprising one or more of: a control data flow for said intake control valve subassembly, a control data flow for said intake sensor subassembly, a control data flow for said outflow sensor subassembly, and a control data flow for said outflow control valve subassembly. 
   
   
       24 . The hybrid electrical and combustion engine of  claim 21 , further comprising a control and data interface, wherein said controller subassembly monitors an operation of said combustion engine through said control and data interface and modulates power delivery to said air charging effector to optimize said combustion engine combustion cycle. 
   
   
       25 . The hybrid electrical and combustion engine of  claim 21 , wherein said controller subassembly controls the operations of said hybrid electrical and combustion engine according to dynamic or preset operations. 
   
   
       26 . The hybrid electrical and combustion engine of  claim 21 , wherein one or more of: said intake control valve subassembly, said outflow control valve subassembly, said intake sensor subassembly, and/or said outflow sensor subassembly may be excluded and/or an integral part of an existing intake air management system. 
   
   
       27 . The hybrid electrical and combustion engine of  claim 21 , further comprising a power regulator electrically connected between said power storage component and said apparatus power storage component, wherein said power regulator conditions and/or regulates electrical power before flowing into said apparatus power storage component. 
   
   
       28 . An apparatus for generating a high velocity air flow comprising:
 an air charging effector housing;   an inlet allowing an air inflow to enter said housing;   an outlet allowing an air outflow to exit said housing;   an air charging effector rotatably disposed in said air charging effector housing;   a power module that controls power to said air charging effector;   a control apparatus that controls operation of said air charging effector to condition the output air of said air charging effector into said high velocity air flow in accordance with a desired operating profile and controls operation of said power module to manage power consumption of said air charging effector in accordance with said desired operating profile.   
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising an internal combustion engine, said internal combustion engine comprising:
 an intake manifold for receiving the compressed air outflow, said intake manifold in fluid communication with at least one cylinder of said internal combustion engine; and   an engine electronic control unit in communication with said control apparatus, wherein control signals are transmitted between said engine control unit and said control apparatus to adjust the speed of the air charging motor in order to supply the high velocity air flow to said internal combustion engine.   
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising a control feedback subassembly that measures said air inflow and/or said high velocity air flow and provides measurement inputs to said control apparatus for using in adjusting operation of said air charging effector. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said high velocity airflow has a pressure above ambient and is provided so as to fill an air output source volume of a fixed or variable container. 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said high velocity airflow has a pressure below ambient and is provided so as to evacuate an air intake source volume of a fixed or variable container. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said apparatus is portable. 
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said air charging effector housing has a compact form factor having an integral air charging effector and air charging motor housing that holds said air charging effector and an air charging motor, wherein said air charging motor is positioned such that said intake air is drawn across said air charging motor for cooling said air charging motor. 
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising one or more sensors emplaced in, around, or alongside said air charging effector and/or said power module so as to sense air flows and/or ambient temperature and communicates measured values to said control apparatus. 
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said control apparatus further comprises means for communicating with an external application environment. 
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising an air intake subassembly and an air outflow subassembly, wherein said control apparatus controls operation of said air intake subassembly and/or said air outflow subassembly. 
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 an air charging motor having an output shaft,   wherein said air charging effector is connected to said output shaft of said air charging motor, and   wherein said power module controls application of power to said air charging motor.   
   
   
       39 . A method of generating a high velocity air flow comprising:
 receiving a flow of air intake through an air inlet;   controlling said air intake using an intake control valve;   sensing said air intake using an intake sensor;   charging said air intake to form a high velocity air outflow using an air charging effector driven by an air charging motor;   sensing said high velocity air flow exiting said air charging effector subassembly using an outflow sensor;   controlling said air outflow using an outflow control valve;   expelling said high velocity air outflow through an air outlet; and   controlling one or more of said intake control valve, said intake sensor, said air charging motor said outflow sensor, and said outflow control valve so as to condition said air outflow in accordance with a desired operating profile.   
   
   
       40 . A hybrid electrical and combustion engine comprising:
 an air intake receiving a flow of intake air;   an intake control valve in fluid communication with said air intake and controlling said flow of intake air;   an intake sensor in fluid communication with said air intake and sensing said intake air;   an air charging effector in fluid communication with said air intake, said air charging effector generating an outflow of air;   an outflow sensor in fluid communication with said air charging effector and sensing said outflow of air;   an outflow control valve in fluid communication with said air charging effector and controlling said outflow of air;   an air intake manifold in fluid communication with said air charging effector;   a combustion engine in fluid communication with said air intake manifold;   a hybrid motor/generator coupled to said combustion engine, wherein torque produced by said combustion engine is passed to said hybrid motor/generator;   a power storage component electrically coupled to said hybrid motor/generator, said power storage component storing electric power created by said hybrid motor/generator;   an apparatus power storage component electrically coupled to said power storage component;   an air charging motor electrically coupled to said apparatus power storage component, wherein said stored electrical power is deliver to said air charging motor,   wherein said air charging motor is coupled to and powers said air charging effector; and   a controller for controlling one or more of: said intake control valve, said intake sensor, said outflow sensor y, said outflow control valve, and said combustion engine in accordance with a desired operating profile.   
   
   
       41 . The hybrid electrical and combustion engine of  claim 40 , further comprising a sensor that detects power usage of said air charging motor, wherein said controller regulates power usage of said air charging motor in response to the detected power usage and said desired operating profile. 
   
   
       42 . The hybrid electrical and combustion engine of  claim 40 , wherein said intake control valve, said outflow control valve, said intake sensor, and/or said outflow sensor are incorporated into a preexisting intake air management system. 
   
   
       43 . A method of generating a conditioned air flow, comprising:
 receiving a flow of intake air through an air inlet;   sensing said flow of intake air using an intake flow sensor;   adjusting said flow of intake air upstream of said intake flow sensor whereby a volumetric flow rate of said flow of intake air is set by an air intake control signal received from a control apparatus;   charging an adjusted flow of intake air to form a conditioned air outflow using an air charging effector driven by an air charging motor;   controlling the air charging motor with a motor control signal derived from a desired operating profile by the control apparatus so as to manage the speed of said air charging motor to condition the air outflow;   powering said air charging motor from a power source module that manages power consumption by the air charging motor based on a power control signal received from the control apparatus;   sensing the conditioned air outflow exiting said air charging effector using an outflow sensor;   controlling said conditioned air outflow using an outflow control valve controlled by a valve control signal derived from said desired operating profile by the control apparatus in response to outputs of said outflow sensor.   
   
   
       44 . An apparatus for controlling the generation of a conditioned air flow comprising:
 an air inlet for receiving a flow of intake air;   an intake flow sensor that senses said flow of intake air and provides a first sensing output;   an intake control valve that adjusts the volumetric flow rate of intake air upstream of said intake flow sensor, in response to an air intake control signal to form an adjusted flow of intake air;   an air charging effector that conditions said adjusted flow of intake air to form a conditioned air outflow;   an air charging motor that drives the air charging effector in response to a motor control signal so as to manage the speed of said air charging motor to condition the air outflow;   a power source module that powers said air charging motor and manages power consumption by the air charging motor based on a power control signal;   an outflow sensor that senses the conditioned air outflow exiting said air charging effector and provides a second sensing output;   an outflow control valve that controls said conditioned air outflow in response to a valve control signal; and   a control apparatus that generates said air intake control signal, said motor control signal, said power control signal, and said valve control signal based on a desired operating profile and said first and second sensing outputs.   
   
   
       45 . An apparatus for controlling the generation of a high density air flow comprising:
 an air inlet for receiving a flow of intake air;   an intake flow sensor that senses said flow of intake air and provides a first sensing output;   an intake control valve that adjusts the volumetric flow rate of intake air upstream of said intake flow sensor, in response to an air intake control signal to form an adjusted flow of intake air;   an air charging effector that pressurizes said adjusted flow of intake air to form a compressed air outflow;   an air charging motor that drives the air charging effector in response to a motor control signal so as to manage the speed of said air charging motor to condition the air outflow;   a power source module that powers said air charging motor and manages power consumption by the air charging motor based on a power control signal;   an outflow sensor that senses the compressed air outflow exiting said air charging effector and provides a second sensing output;   an outflow control valve that controls said compressed air outflow in response to a valve control signal; and   a control apparatus that generates said air intake control signal, said motor control signal, said power control signal, and said valve control signal based on a desired operating profile and said first and second sensing outputs.   
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the air effector compresses the adjusted flow of intake air to form an air outflow at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. 
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , further comprising an internal combustion engine, said internal combustion engine comprising:
 an intake manifold for receiving the compressed air outflow, said intake manifold in fluid communication with at least one cylinder of said internal combustion engine; and   an engine electronic control unit in communication with said control apparatus, wherein control signals are transmitted between said engine control unit and said control apparatus to adjust the speed of the air charging motor in order to supply a compressed air outflow to said internal combustion engine.   
   
   
       48 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the power source module has a source of power independent from a vehicle in which said apparatus is mounted. 
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said apparatus is placed proximate a battery compartment in a hybrid vehicle. 
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein said air charging device generates a heated air flow. 
   
   
       51 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein said heated air flow is circulated in said battery compartment to heat a hybrid vehicle battery. 
   
   
       52 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , further comprising an intercooler located downstream of the outflow control valve, wherein said conditioned air outflow is directed through said intercooler to cool the air flow. 
   
   
       53 . The air charging device according to  claim 52 , wherein said cooled air flow is circulated in the battery compartment of said hybrid vehicle to cool at least one electric battery in said battery compartment. 
   
   
       54 . An air charging device for inflating or deflating a flexible membrane comprising:
 an air inlet for receiving a flow of intake air;   an air charging effector that increases the volumetric flow rate of intake air to form a high velocity air outflow;   an air charging motor that drives the air charging effector in response to a motor control signal;   a control apparatus that generates said motor control signal so as to manage the speed of said air charging motor; and   an air outlet that provides said high velocity air outflow to said flexible membrane.   
   
   
       55 . The air charging device according to  claim 54 , wherein said air charging device is portable.