US20110100354A1

US20110100354A1 - Non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system

Info

Publication number: US20110100354A1
Application number: US12/608,801
Authority: US
Inventors: Yen-Jung Feng; Chen-Wei Feng; Hui-Yu Feng
Original assignee: CN J Tech CO Ltd
Current assignee: CN-J TECHNOLOGY Co Ltd; CN J Tech CO Ltd
Priority date: 2009-10-29
Filing date: 2009-10-29
Publication date: 2011-05-05

Abstract

A non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system has a shaft, a solar panel, two roll drivers, a roll transmitter, two pitch drivers and a pitch transmitter. The shaft has a lower shank and an upper shank pivotally mounted upon the lower shank. The solar panel is pivotally mounted on the upper shank. The two roll drivers are ecliptically and bilaterally attached to the solar panel. The roll transmitter pivotally connects the upper shank and the solar panel and communicates with the two roll drivers. The two pitch drivers are meridionally and bilaterally attached to the solar panel. The pitch transmitter pivotally connects the lower shank and the upper shank and communicates with the two pitch drivers. Uneven heating by sunlight activates the roll drivers to change pitch and roll of the solar panel with the roll transmitter and the pitch transmitter for improved efficiency.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system, especially to a non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system capable of keeping adjusting angle to the moving sun without consuming electric power.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Renewable energy systems, such as solar and wind, are gaining recognition as solutions to global warming and emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The feasibility of these ecological power sources unfortunately depends on natural cycles, such as rainfall, sunlight hours and wind power.
Solar systems include direct generation (photovoltaic), water heaters, generators, combined water heaters and generators and the like, for all of which an efficiency is proportional to surface area and orientation of a solar panel. However, as a relative position of the sun to the panel changes through the day, for fixed solar panels, a specific angle is chosen as a compromise. For improved efficiency, sun-tracking systems have been developed for solar panels to adjust a pitch of solar systems for increased efficiency of power generation. The traditional sun-tracking system requires electric power to operate so reducing net gain, and in some smaller systems or during low sunshine days may consume energy.
Taiwan utility model registration app. No. 096219070 disclosed a solar system with a conventional non-electricity-consuming sun-tracking system.
With reference to FIG. 7, a conventional non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system equipped with a conventional sun-tracking system comprises a shaft (90), a solar panel (91) and a gas balance. The solar panel is pivotally mounted on the shaft (90). The gas balance comprises a piston (93) and two reservoirs (92). The piston (93) is hermetically sealed and has two connecting rods respectively connected pivotally to the shaft (90) and panel (91), one of which is a plunger, slidably mounted in the piston (93) and forming two chambers in the piston (93). The reservoirs (92) are a light transmitting material, are filled with gas and are respectively partially shaded by and mounted on opposite edges of the panel (91), and respectively connected to the chambers by tubing. When one reservoir (92) is exposed to sunlight, the gas inside expands proportionately raising pressure inside the tubing and respective chamber so forcing the plunger to move accordingly and adjust a pitch of the solar panel. Once the pitch has exposed both reservoirs (92) to sunlight, the gas in both expands causing change of pitch to slow and stop once an pressure equilibrium is reached for an automated mechanical solution for improved efficiency. However, since the sun both rises and crosses relative to the solar system, merely providing pivoting to the solar panel (91) along one axis cannot achieve maximal orientational efficiency pitch. To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system that adjusts relative position to the moving sun without consuming any electric power.
The non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system in accordance with the present invention has a shaft, a solar panel, two roll drivers, a roll transmitter, two pitch drivers and a pitch transmitter. The shaft has a lower shank and an upper shank pivotally mounted upon the lower shank. The solar panel is pivotally mounted on the upper shank. The two roll drivers are ecliptically and bilaterally attached to the solar panel. The roll transmitter pivotally connects the upper shank and the solar panel and communicates with the two roll drivers. The two pitch drivers are meridionally and bilaterally attached to the solar panel. The pitch transmitter pivotally connects the lower shank and the upper shank and communicates with the two pitch drivers.
When the two roll drivers are unevenly heated by sunlight, the roll drivers adjust roll via the roll transmitter and the pitch drivers adjust pitch via the pitch transmitter to automatically and efficiently orientate the solar panel relative to the sun. As a result, the non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system of the present invention is able to constantly track the sun throughout each day of a year without drawing electrical power.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view in partial section of a pitch transmitter of the non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view in partial section of a roll transmitter of the non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operational side view in partial section of the pitch transmitter of the non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an operational side view in partial section of the pitch transmitter of the non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side view in partial section of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top view in partial section of a conventional non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system in accordance with the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system in accordance with the present invention comprises a shaft (10), a solar panel (20), two roll drivers (30), a roll transmitter (40), two pitch drivers (50) and a pitch transmitter (60).
The shaft (10) comprises a lower shank (11) and an upper shank (12). The upper shank (12) is pivotally mounted upon the lower shank (11). The shaft (10) may further comprise a rod (111) attached to the lower shank (11). The lower shank (11) may comprise a ball-joint for mounting the upper shank (12).
The solar panel (20) is pivotally mounted upon the upper shank (12) of the shaft (10) and comprises a active surface and a support surface. The active surface is oriented toward the sun to collect sunlight. The solar panel (20) may be rectangular and comprises four sides. The four sides of the solar panel (20) may be respectively orientated toward the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west.
The two roll drivers (30) are ecliptically and bilaterally attached to the solar panel (20). Preferably, the two roll drivers (30) are respectively attached to two sides of the solar panel (20) orientated toward east and west. Each of the two roll drivers (30) comprises a roll energy storage (31) and a medium. The roll energy storage (31) is attached to the support surface of the solar panel (20) and partially protrudes from the solar panel (20). The medium is stored in the roll energy storage (31) and capable of converting into a gaseous state when heated. The medium may be diethyl ether. Preferably, the medium has a low specific heat capacity and a boil point is between 10-50 degrees Celsius. With reference to FIG. 6, each of the two roll drivers (30) further comprises a sunshade (34) attached to the roll energy storage (31).
The roll transmitter (40) is hollow, pivotally connects the upper shank (12) and the solar panel (20) and communicates with the two roll drivers (30). The roll transmitter (40) is capable of expanding and contracting when receiving the gaseous medium of the roll drivers (30) for pivoting the solar panel (20) to face the sun. Preferably, the roll transmitter (40) further comprises a cylinder (41) and a piston (42). The cylinder (41) is hollow and comprises a top and an air chamber. The top of the cylinder is pivotally attached to the solar panel (20). The piston (42) comprises a piston bottom and a roll plunger (421). The piston bottom is pivotally attached to the upper shank (12). The roll plunger (421) is slidably mounted in the cylinder (41) and divides the air chamber of the cylinder (41) into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber and second chamber respectively receive the gaseous media from the two roll drivers (30).
When the roll drivers (30) are unevenly exposed to the sun, one of the roll drivers (30) receives more solar energy than the other. Within the roll energy storage (31) of the roll driver (30) receiving more solar energy, more medium is converted into gaseous state and then released into one of the chambers of the roll transmitter (40). The chamber receiving more gaseous medium provides higher air pressure and thus pushes the roll plunger (421) toward the other chamber, which makes the roll transmitter (40) expand or to contract.
The expanding or contracting roll transmitter (40) controls roll of the solar panel (20) relative to the upper shank (12) to track the sun from east to west.
With reference to FIG. 2, the two pitch drivers (50) are meridionally and bilaterally attached to the solar panel (20). Preferably, the two pitch drivers (50) are respectively attached to two sides of the solar panel (20) that are align on a north-south axis. Each of the two pitch drivers (50) comprises a housing (52), a pitch energy storage (51) and a medium. The housing (52) is attached to the support surface of the solar panel (20) and comprises a protruding portion and an opening (521). The protruding portion protrudes from the solar panel (20). The opening (521) is defined on the protruding portion. It is preferred that the opening (521) has a rectangular shape so that the pitch energy storage (51) for improved accuracy to sunlight exposure, which leads to precise solar panel (20) orientation.
The pitch energy storage (51) is received in the housing (52) and is positioned under the opening (521). The medium is stored in the pitch energy storage (51) and is capable of converting into a gaseous state when heated. The medium stored in the pitch energy storage (51) may be the same medium stored in the roll energy storage (31).
The pitch transmitter (60) pivotally connects the lower shank (11) and the upper shank (12) and communicates with the two pitch drivers (50). The pitch transmitter (60) is capable of expanding and contracting when receiving the gaseous medium of the pitch drivers (50) for orientating the solar panel (20) relative to the sun.
It is preferred that the pitch driver (60) further comprises a cylinder (61) and a piston (62). The cylinder (61) is hollow and comprises a top and an air chamber, wherein the top of the cylinder is pivotally attached to the upper shank (12). The piston (62) comprises a piston bottom and a pitch plunger (621). The piston bottom is pivotally attached to the lower shank (11). The pitch plunger (621) is slidably mounted in the cylinder (61) and divides the air chamber of the cylinder (61) into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber and second chamber respectively receive the gaseous media from the two pitch drivers (50). The air pressures of the first chamber and the second chamber push the pitch plunger (621) to slide to a point where an equilibratory balance of the air pressures is reached.
With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, when one pitch driver (50) receives more solar energy from sunlight due to uneven exposure to the sun, the pitch driver (50) with more solar energy tends to release more gaseous medium that are originally stored in its pitch energy storage (51). Thus the pitch driver (50) with more solar energy inputs more gaseous medium into one of the chambers in the cylinder (61) and pushes the pitch plunger (621) toward the other chamber so to reach a point where air pressure is balanced within the cylinder (61).
With the forgoing structure, the non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system in accordance with the present invention not only orients the solar panel in roll and pitch for improved efficiency.

Claims

1. A non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system comprising

a shaft comprising

a lower shank; and

an upper shank pivotally mounted upon the lower shank;

a solar panel pivotally mounted upon the upper shank of the shaft and comprising a support surface;

two roll drivers ecliptically and bilaterally attached to the solar panel and each roll driver comprising

a roll energy storage attached to the support surface of the solar panel and partially protruding from the solar panel; and

a medium stored in the roll energy storage and capable of converting into a gaseous state when heated;

a roll transmitter pivotally connecting the upper shank and the solar panel, communicating with the two roll drivers and capable of expanding and contracting when receiving the gaseous medium of the roll drivers for rotating the solar panel to face the sun;

two pitch drivers meridionally and bilaterally attached to the solar panel and each comprising;

a housing attached to the support surface of the solar panel and comprising

a protruding portion protruding from the solar panel; and

an opening defined on protruding portion;

a pitch energy storage received in the housing and positioned under the opening; and

a medium stored in the delinational energy storage and capable of converting into a gaseous state when heated; and

a pitch transmitter pivotally connecting the lower shank and the upper shank, communicating with the two pitch drivers and capable of expanding and contracting at receiving the gaseous medium of the pitch drivers for rotating the solar panel to face the sun.

2. The non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the roll transmitter further comprises

a hollow cylinder and comprising

a top pivotally attached to the solar panel; and

an air chamber; and

a piston comprising

a piston bottom pivotally attached to the upper shank; and

a roll plunger slidably mounted in the cylinder and dividing the air chamber of the cylinder into a first chamber and a second chamber respectively receiving the gaseous media from the two roll drivers.

3. The non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the pitch driver further comprises

a hollow cylinder hollow and comprising

a top pivotally attached to the upper shank; and

an air chamber; and

a piston comprising

a piston bottom pivotally attached to the lower shank; and

a pitch plunger slidably mounted in the cylinder and dividing the air chamber of the cylinder into a first chamber and a second chamber respectively receiving the gaseous media from the two pitch drivers.

4. The non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the pitch driver further comprises

a hollow cylinder hollow and comprising

a top pivotally attached to the upper shank; and

an air chamber; and

a piston comprising

a piston bottom pivotally attached to the lower shank; and

5. The non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two roll drivers further comprises a sunshades attached upon the roll energy storage.

6. The non-electrically-powered sun-tracking solar system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the two roll drivers further comprises a sunshade attached on the roll energy storage.