AU2015101750A4 - Solar shutters - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract The invention is herein described as an enhanced renewable solar energy product and method which has been designed to efficiently capture sunlight energy by way of a unique method and configuration. The 'Solar Shutter Modules' will replace traditional curtains, blinds, louvres and shutters which are currently used to block out the sunlight. Instead of blocking out this sunlight, the 'Solar Shutter Modules' will capture this sunlight and utilise it as renewable solar energy. The renewable solar energy that has been captured by the 'Solar Shutter Modules' will then be made available for use by way of either direct current electricity or converted from direct current electricity to alternate current electricity to power business and residential appliances. 'Nt' '-"'N "'N' 8 '~ ~N~W~NNNNW""'' ~t \W\ N "~~" ~1* -~ ~ 8 'N ' N> N '' '-N 8 '> > 'N'> > ' > > 8 > 8 > \'S' C N > ' "'-N "~ N' '' ~' 'N ""N 'N>> 'N> > > > 8 N > ,>. 8 * * * * >' * > * * > * > >~ 8 * > >' * > ' '8 '8 N> * '* * * * * ~* N N * 8 > 8 'N ' ~' >~ ~* '>' > ' '~ '8 .NN N> "':' "' "N'

Description

PATENT Invention Title: Solar Shutters Technical Field The present invention relates to a new renewable solar energy product and method of solar energy capture and generation. Featuring a unique new product design and configuration. Background of the Invention Traditional renewable energy is generated by solar panels that are secured on the surface area of rooftops. This presents limitations as follows: 1) Large roof and surface area coverage is required for significant solar energy capture and generation, with associated costs involved. 2) Lack of rooftop access for millions of residential apartment buildings and business offices. 3) Associated high labour cost for professional Solar Panel installation. The 'Solar Shutter Modules' will replace traditional curtains, blinds, louvres and shutters which are currently used to block out the sunlight. Instead of blocking out this sunlight, the 'Solar Shutter Modules' will capture this sunlight and utilise it as renewable solar energy. The renewable solar energy that has been captured by the 'Solar Shutter Modules' will then be made available for use by way of either direct current electricity or converted from direct current electricity to alternate current electricity to power business and residential appliances and equipment, such as; Computers, Printers, TV's, Lights, Fans, heaters, mobile phones etc. relative to the size of the Solar Shutter System. 1 Object of the Invention The object of the invention is to provide renewable solar energy capture and generation for the millions of business offices and residential apartments that currently have no method of achieving this by not having any access to rooftops for the installation of traditional solar panels. The 'Solar Shutter Modules' will therefore significantly increase the capability of renewable solar energy capture and utilisation and provide a unique new product and method of achieving this. The 'Solar Shutter Modules' will therefore also enhance or replace the traditional solar roof panel limitations, including significantly reducing the required surface area coverage, and providing alternative placement options other than on rooftops, as well as significantly increasing the power generation capabilities of current residential solar panels whilst also significantly reducing the installation and labour costs involved. The object of the invention is to provide a solution to limited or no roof surface areas on high-rise office buildings and residential apartment blocks to which residents and tenants have no access, as well as providing a supplementary source of electricity for commercial and business offices and factories. The invention also provides a plug-in and "plug-and-play" business and residential system that can be purchased, easily and quickly installed and operational. This invention can also be integrated and utilised to levelize and supplement the electrical production from traditional rooftop solar PV and wind generation, including grid, energy storage and micro-grids. As a new method of renewable energy capture and generation the 'Solar Shutter Modules' also help to significantly reduce and offset the high cost of commercial grid electricity. 2 Summary of the Invention The invention is herein described as an enhanced renewable solar energy product and method which has been designed to efficiently capture sunlight energy by way of a unique method and configuration. The length of the individual 'Solar Shutter Blades' can be scaled up or down depending on the required window sizes, for residential, business or commercial applications. The 'Solar Shutter Modules' on different windows within the same apartment or different business offices can also be inter-connected for compounded energy production and utilisation. The invention comprises any number of 'Solar Shutter Blades' which are made from a lightweight material such as PVC, acrylic or aluminium material. The individual Shutter Blades are shaped in a mould or extruded and feature the following details; 1. A four sided supporting frame, which supports the shutter blades. 2. The four sided supporting frame can be finished in any decorative material, such as; wood stain colours, metallic, marble effect, block colours or designs. 3. The Shutter Blades are curved in shape to provide the most effective angled solar capture surface area. 4. Both sides of the Shutter Blades securely hold a flexible High Efficiency Ultra-Thin Silicon Solar Cell PV Panel (Photovoltaic cell panel) 5. The Shutter Blades feature a Central Recessed Channel (CRC) which runs horizontally throughout the length of the slats. 6. The recessed channel on the Shutter Blades holds the electrical wiring for the Solar Photovoltaic Cells which have to be electrically connected to each other. 7. The Shutter Blades have a small protruding lip running horizontally along the top and bottom length of both sides of the shutter blades. These features securely hold the flexible PV panels in place on either side of the shutter blades. 8. Both ends of the Shutter Blades have attachment 'End-caps' with bearings which fit over the ends of the Shutter Blades. 9. The 'End-cap' bearings fit into two side Supporting Frames on either side of the Shutter Module. 3 10. The side attachment bearings on the Shutter Blades are hollow in the centre for the wiring to pass through. 11. The wiring from the inter-connected PV cells on both sides of the shutter blades are securely held in the Central Recess Chanel of the shutter blades and are then directed through the hollow bearings of the End-caps. 12. The supporting side frames of the solar shutter modules have an attached tilting mechanism that allows the slats to be tilted to any angle up to 90 degrees in either direction. 13. The side Supporting Frame is hollow in the centre to securely hold and direct the electrical wiring from each shutter blade down to the Control Unit. 14. The side Supporting Frame holds a red positive and green negative connection point aligned with every Shutter Blade from which all of the PV cells on the Shutter Blades are connected and plugged in. 15. There is a small enclosed Electrical compartment box located at the top or bottom of one of the side Supporting Frames where all of the electrical wiring from each of the Photovoltaic cells from the PV Panel are joined and connected together, through the negative and positive connection points located on the side Supporting Frame. 16. The electrical wiring from the electrical compartment is then directed and connected to the Electrical Wiring Control Unit which is located at the base of the Solar Shutter Module. 17. The Electrical Wiring Control Unit also contains power Outlet Socket and LED indicator display light. 4 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment The 'Solar Shutter Modules' consists of the following components: 1. A supporting module Frame consisting of four separate squared hollow sections, preferably made from aluminium of PVC. 2. The supporting Frame securely holds the module Shutter Blades pieces. 3. The length of the supporting Frame and Shutter Blades are scalable and variable in size depending on the size of the windows that require covering. 4. The module Shutter Blades contain a protruding lip on the top and bottom of both sides of the Shutter Blades. 5. On the one side of the Shutter Blades is a Panel of continuous Photovoltaic cells that runs the full length of the one side of the slats or shutter. 6. On the opposite side of the Shutter Blades is a Panel of continuous Photovoltaic cells that runs the full length of the one side of the slats or shutter. 7. The panel of photovoltaic cells are therefore securely held by in a back to back configuration on each individual shutter slat. 8. The Shutter Blades have a recessed channel running centrally through the middle of the slats or shutters in which the electrical wiring from each individual photovoltaic cell array is securely held and directed to the End Cap of the Shutter Blades and through into the Supporting Frames. 9. The electrical wiring for all the photovoltaic panels on the Shutter Blades are directed to a secure Electrical Wiring Control unit/box at the top or bottom of one of the Supporting Frames. This electrical compartment also contains an Electrical Outlet Socket and LED light which displays a green light when the electrical connections are activated and generating solar energy. 10. Both ends of the individual Shutter Blades have an attached End-cap that fits over both ends of Shutter Blades and contain a protruding bearing which fit into the supporting frame section, which fit into the holes of the Side Supporting Frame. 11. The Shutter Blades can be rotated by up to 90 degrees in either direction by way of the Angle Adjustment Socket located at each end of the Shutter Blades on the End-Caps. 5 Drawing A In the accompanying Solar Shutter Blade View there is schematically depicted; 1. Solar Shutter Blade Edge. 2. PV Solar Cells [Ultra-Thin Flexible Photovoltaic Solar Cells] 3. Wiring Connection Panel. 4. Shutter Blade End-Cap 5. Shutter Blade Attachment Bearing 6. Shutter Blade secure wiring recess channel. 7. End-Cap insert attachment. 8. PV Wiring Connection Points. 9. Cir Clip 10. Electrical Control Unit with LED display light. 11. Electrical Outlet Socket. 12. Supporting Side Frame. 13. Decorative Side Frame. Drawing B In the accompanying Solar Shutter Blade Side View/Cross section there is schematically depicted; 1. Solar Shutter Blade Edge. 2. PV Solar Cells [Ultra-Thin Flexible Photovoltaic Solar Cells] 3. Wiring Connection Panel. 4. Shutter Blade End-Cap 5. Shutter Blade Attachment Bearing 6. Shutter Blade secure wiring recess channel. 7. End-Cap insert attachment. 8. PV Wiring Connection Points. 9. Cir Clip 10. Electrical Control Unit with LED display light. 11. Electrical Outlet Socket. 12. Supporting Side Frame. 13. Decorative Side Frame. 14. Shutter Blade Hollow reinforcement strut. 15. Angle Adjustment Socket 16. Angle Adjustment Rod 6 Drawing C In the accompanying Solar Shutter Perspective and Side View there is schematically depicted; 1. Solar Shutter module unit with Shutter Blades closed. 2. Solar Shutter module unit side view with Shutter Blades open. Working Descriptive The 'Solar Shutter Module' is easily installed on the inside of any variable sized glass window or glass sliding door. The four sided Supporting Frame is attached to the wall/window recess on either side of the window, either vertically or horizontally. The Supporting Frame securely hold the 'Solar Shutter Module' in place. The Solar Shutter Module consists of any number of Shutter Blades. The Shutter Blades contain a panel of PV Cells running along the length of both sides of the shutter blades. The four sided Supporting Frame of the Solar Shutter Unit has an affixed decorative finish or material. The 'Solar Shutter Blades can be angled at 45 degrees for optimum efficiency and also to allow for full visual outlook through the window. The LED display light located at the top of one of the Supporting Frames will shine green when the 'Solar Shutter Module' is working. The electrical cable that is located at the bottom of one of the Supporting Frames combines all the wiring from all the PV Cells attached to all the shutter blades and is directed via the one cable that connects to the Control Unit. The Control Unit is also connected to a Battery and Inverter to allow for utilisation of the generated renewable solar energy which provides direct current for certain appliances or is converted to alternate current by the inverter for use by household or office appliances. A storage battery is used to store the solar electricity that has been generated by the 'Solar Shutter Module' If there are more than one 'Solar Shutter Modules' being used on any number of windows, they can also be inter-connected for increased electricity generation. 7

Claims (14)

1. The Shutter Blades are curved in shape to provide the most effective angled solar capture surface area.

2. Both sides of the Shutter Blades securely hold a flexible High Efficiency Ultra-Thin Silicon Solar Cell PV Panel (Photovoltaic cell panel)

3. The Shutter Blades feature a Central Recessed Channel (CRC) which runs horizontally throughout the length of the slats.

4. The recessed channel on the Shutter Blades holds the electrical wiring for the Solar Photovoltaic Cells which have to be electrically connected to each other.

5. The Shutter Blades have a small protruding lip running horizontally along the top and bottom length of both sides of the shutter blades. These features securely hold the flexible PV panels in place on either side of the shutter blades.

6. Both ends of the Shutter Blades have attachment 'End-caps' with bearings which fit over the ends of the Shutter Blades.

7. The 'End-cap' bearings fit into two side Supporting Frames on either side of the Shutter Module.

8. The side attachment bearings on the Shutter Blades are hollow in the centre for the wiring to pass through.

9. The wiring from the inter-connected PV cells on both sides of the shutter blades are securely held in the Central Recess Chanel of the shutter blades and are then directed through the hollow bearings of the End-caps.

10. The side Supporting Frame is hollow in the centre to securely hold and direct the electrical wiring from each shutter blade down to the Control Unit.

11. The side Supporting Frame holds a red positive and green negative connection point aligned with every Shutter Blade from which all of the PV cells on the Shutter Blades are connected and plugged in.

12. There is a small enclosed Electrical compartment box located at the top or bottom of one of the side Supporting Frames where all of the electrical wiring from each of the Photovoltaic cells from the PV Panel are joined and connected together, through the negative and positive connection points located on the side Supporting Frame.

13. The electrical wiring from the electrical compartment is then directed and connected to the Electrical Wiring Control Unit which is located at the base of the Solar Shutter Module.

14. The Electrical Wiring Control Unit also contains power Outlet Socket and LED indicator display light.