AU2020103972A4

AU2020103972A4 - Pure Solar Bicycle

Info

Publication number: AU2020103972A4
Application number: AU2020103972A
Authority: AU
Inventors: James Gruber; Julian O'Shea; Ayush Tarway
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-12-09
Filing date: 2020-12-09
Publication date: 2021-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2028-12-09

Abstract

This invention is an electric bicycle with top-mounted solar panels that can provide power for the electric motor, without needing a battery. It includes the use of a modular solar panel system, and frame which can be readily assembled and disassembled for transportation. The design, which doesn't use a battery system, allows for transportation, including by airplane. This invention which allows for travel without any other source of power other than the sun can be used for education, outreach and adventure purposes in showcasing how solar energy can be used in mobility and transport. This invention applies to both new pure solar bicycles, and the application of the various electrical, electronic and mechanical components mounted onto an existing bicycle. 101 Figure 1: Pure Solar Bicycle - Assembled Top Angled View

Description

Figure 1: Pure Solar Bicycle - Assembled Top Angled View

Editorial Note 2020103972 There is 3 pages of Description only.

Pure Solar Bicycle

Field of Invention

This invention relates to a solar-powered electric bicycle. In particular, it relates to a purely solar-powered (no battery) electric bicycle, that is modular in design for ease of transport.

Description

Electric bicycles or e-bikes are a sustainable form of transport, providing electric assist to cyclists making cycling easier, or enabling greater distances and speeds. They are becoming a common form of transport, particularly in cities and for use by commuters and in deliveries. The vehicles are generally a bicycle, with the addition of a hub or mid-drive motor; motor controller; and battery. E-bikes are both designed and sold in their final form, or kits can be used to convert conventional bicycles into e-bikes.

Currently, almost all e-bikes use a battery - which is generally charged from a charger connected to an external (grid) power supply. Unlike electric cars that required a much higher amount of power that benefit from fast-chargers and specialist charging equipment, e-bikes are generally charged from the wall using standard mains power supply. E-bikes often have removable batteries which can be removed from the bike frame, charged and returned to the bike. Most e-bikes can continue be operated if the batteries are flat as a pedal powered bike and carrying extra weight, but a limitation of this set up is that it requires access to the grid to recharge batteries.

This can be addressed by being able to use solar energy to directly power the bicycle, through the addition of photovoltaic solar panels. One limitation with solar panels is their size and can be large and bulky causing issues for transportation. Another limitation of standard e-bikes is that they require their battery for electric operation with lithium-ion batteries being restricted for travel - making transporting e-bikes via airplane difficult.

This invention addresses these limitations in the form of a pure solar bicycle - that is one which is powered directly by the solar photovoltaic cells, without a use of a battery. This can be further configured, so that pedals are disabled (such as with a chair removal or use of foot pegs rather than pedals) so that bicycle isn't powered at all by the rider. Further to this, by using a modular design of the e-bike, transportation is improved.

This invention involves the mounting of a series of individual solar panels above the rider in a modular fashion. A frame is attached to the bicycle to mount these panels, and be assembled or disassembled for transport. A solar charge controller and motor controller (with inputs from a twist throttle) provide the control systems for the bicycle hub motor.

While batteries provide significant benefits on e-bikes for daily use and commuting there are use cases when it is limited. This invention has benefits for the following uses: (1) educational outreach and engagement; (2) adventure; and (3) record setting categories. For educational outreach and engagement, being able to showcase the direct power of the sun - by removing other power sources (battery and rider), the ability to understand how solar energy can be used in mobility is improved. For adventure purposes, having the additional challenge of travel using only the sun adds a complex dimension adding to the journey. Finally, for world record attempts that don't allow any battery storage or other power sources, this invention is able to be used.

This invention uses a modular solar panel design, using a series of smaller solar panels to provide the total requisite power, rather than a larger single panel providing the benefit of transportability. The frame and wheels (including hub motor) can be disassembled for easy transport.

This pure solar bicycle provides a portable, transportable, sustainable vehicle that can be readily used for education, outreach and adventure.

Detailed Explanation of Working Mechanism

The invention is a Pure-Solar Electric bicycle with a custom, modular frame and electronics housing that is powered by a solar panel setup without the necessity for batteries unlike a regular e-bicycle.

The solar panels (101,102,103) are to be housed on the solar frame (104) at the top. Three 300W Solar Panels are to be used, which are to be connected in series thereby providing a total maximum output power of 900W.

The panels are lightweight with a net weight of 2.4kgs and are connected with bypass diodes to account for partial shading.

The Panel powers up the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) Solar Charge Regulator device housed in the Electronics Housing Box (203). The MPPT Solar Charge Regulator runs a perturb and observe algorithm, transforming the power received from the Solar Panels and maximising the Output Power.

The MPPT Device outputs a voltage of approximately 50V which is then used to power the Rear Wheel Hub Motor (202) through the cable which is connected to the Rear Wheel Hub Motor Controller also stored in the Electronics Housing Box (203)

The Rear Wheel Hub Motor Controller is used to control the Power delivered to the Rear Wheel Hub Motor by means of an accelerator that is mounted in traditional fashion on the handlebars of the bicycle.

The Rear Wheel Hub Motor is a brushless, gearless motor weighing approximately 10.5Kg with a rated Power of 1000W at 48V.

The Solar Panels also power a single axis Solar Tracking Kit used to tilt the Solar Panels in order to maximise the most amount of the Sun incident on them.

A buck converter is used to decrease the voltage from the Solar Panels to 12V to power a Linear Actuator (207) mounted at the back of the bike underneath the panels.

Another buck converter is used to decrease the voltage from the first buck converter to 5V to power an Arduino Uno Microcontroller stored in Electronics Housing 2 (206). The Arduino Uno is connected to a Light Sensor which is able to send low voltage signals to the Microcontroller. These signals are interpreted by the Microcontroller through our code to direct to move the Linear Actuator in such a way that the Solar Frame (104) tilts in the required direction.

The solar panels and linear actuator are mounted onto a custom and modular frame that makes it easy and convenient to transport the bike for the uses outlined previously. The frame is composed of: 1) Solar Frame (104) - which hosts the Solar Panels 2) the Front & Back Stumps (204,205) that provide vertical displacement above the rider 3) Rotational hinge setup- that makes it possible for the Solar Frame to tilt.

The Solar Frame can be disconnected from the hinges easily and folded up to provide a safe and convenient form factor to store for transportation.

The Front & Back stumps (204,205) can also be detached from the bike frame easily by simply unscrewing them from the host pegs (201).

The Hub Motor can also be removed from the wheels if needed, however it can also be left on the bike and be used as a regular bicycle with the simple attachment of pedals.

This ensures that the Bike can be transported using standard SUVs & RVs available in the market and can be used for long distance adventures.

A complete packed down view of the bike can be seen in Figure 3.

Figure 4 shows a block diagram of the working explained above.

Editorial Note 2020103972 There is 1 page of Claims only.

Claims

Claims The claims defining this invention are as follows:

1. A solar-powered bicycle comprising: (a) bicycle; (b) solar panel array; (c) frame and mounts; (d) solar charge controller; (e) hub motor; and (f) connecting cables. This claim is for an apparatus where top-mounted solar panels directly power an electric bicycle, without the need for batteries or pedalling from the rider; and constructed in a modular way such that the vehicle can be readily disassembled for transportation.

2. An apparatus comprising: (a) solar panel array; (b) frame and mounts; (c) solar charge controller; (d) hub motor; and (e) connecting cables that can be retrofitted to an existing bicycle to achieve the same apparatus as described in the claim above.

102

101 2020103972

104104

Figure 1: Pure Solar Bicycle – Assembled Top Angled View

206 2020103972

204 205

203

202

201

Figure 2: Pure Solar Bicycle – Assembled Side View

Figure 3: Pure Solar Bicycle – Disassembled for Transport

Figure 4: Block Diagram of System