FR3102230A1 - AUTONOMOUS WIND CANDELABRA - Google Patents

Abstract

Lighting device comprising at least one light source and a mast for supporting said source or said light sources, characterized in that this mast comprises a first part of the mast called the upper part, on which is placed said at least one light source and a second part of the mast called the base, to support this first part of the mast, the first mast part being connected to the second mast part while being movable in rotation about a pivot axis, the first mast part being configured to move around this pivot axis in the event of a gusty wind propagating in a direction transverse to said pivot axis, said first mast part being free to move between a rest position and a position of maximum inclination, and in that it includes an energy generation assembly configured to transform the movement of this first mast part relative to the second mast part, into electrical energy to at least supply energy to this or these light source (s).

Description

WIND-POWERED STAND-ALONE CANDELABRA

The present invention belongs to the field of public or private lighting in urban or rural areas. More particularly to the category of self-sufficient energy lampposts, which therefore do not need to be connected to the classic wired network of a country.

These lampposts are used on road networks, car parks, industrial areas, areas to be secured, container storage, etc.

The lamppost described here is of the wind type because it is equipped with a device that transforms the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy, which is then transformed into electrical energy.

STATE OF THE ART

The current autonomous candelabras are generally of the so-called "Solar" type and are made up of:

• A rigid mast made of a round or multi-sided cylindrical shaft, measuring between 5 and 12 meters in length. The material used will generally be galvanized steel.
• A standardized metal fixing plate, present at the base of the mast.
• A standardized projector placed at the top which will produce a light beam towards the ground.
• A photovoltaic panel attached to their top, so as to capture the sun's rays.
• A powerful battery to store the electrical energy that will be used at night by the projector.

Autonomous lampposts have the advantage of not having to be connected to the urban electrical network and of not consuming energy from conventional productions that are often distant and expensive. Their uses are becoming more and more desirable for obvious ecological reasons and a great ease of installation, especially in countries where underground electrical networks are rare or sometimes unreliable.

PROBLEMS OF CURRENT TECHNOLOGY

1- Dimensions of the solar panels

The solar panels must have a sufficient size to charge a battery which, at night, will restore the current necessary for the floodlight. Therefore, the higher the power of the projector, the larger the size of the solar panels will have to be. It is the same for the batteries which must have a high capacity in order to be able to store enough energy to supply the projector for 3 cycles of successive nights in the case where the previous days have not generated sunshine. In fact, solar panels need a minimum of sunshine to produce current and are unproductive at night. This gives a useful time potential of approximately 8 hours per 24-hour day.

A solar panel delivers an optimum current when it is placed facing the sun's rays, with a tolerance of approximately +/-5°. Beyond that, its current production drops sharply.

The solar panels mounted on the candelabra poles are immobile and therefore never follow the orientation of the sun which moves during the day.

This type of mounting in a fixed position, oriented at approximately 45° and in a single direction, is still required for reasons of manufacturing costs.

Indeed, lampposts are placed in large numbers on the edges of roads and their unit costs are very targeted, this does not allow to place sophisticated systems of adjustable panels on each of them.

This is not the case in ground applications, such as solar farms for example, where the panels are grouped together on the same adjustable plane capable of following the path of the sun automatically thanks to intelligent motorization.

These ground installations use solar panels in good conditions and are effective in producing energy with good efficiency.

So to overcome all this, candelabra builders must use large solar panels to channel enough energy to the batteries.

2- Wind resistance:

The flat and rigid surface of the solar panels is very exposed to the winds, which obliges the manufacturers to reinforce the elements of connections to the masts as well as the structure of fixing of the mast to the ground which will receive large mechanical stresses in the event of storms.

The use of solar streetlights in some countries is also impossible due to strong winds that can destroy the installation.

The solar panels used are always of flat and rigid constitutions for cost reasons not to be exceeded.

3- Aesthetics:

The shape of the solar panels, always flat and rectangular, does not allow them to be easily associated with the standard appearance of a thin and vertical mast. The aesthetic result is therefore never successful.

These products are however very exposed visually.

4- Daily operating time:

The solar panels are not operated for a long enough period compared to the need for energy consumed in one night.

The Exploitation / Need ratio is only 1/3.

With 8 hours of sunshine and 8 hours of lighting over a 24 hour period.

And also, 16h of time when the solar panel is unproductive, per 24h day.

5- Fragility and cleaning:

The glass top of the solar panel is quite fragile in nature. The polishing of the glazing caused by the sand, reduces its transparency and therefore its performance.

In addition, these are placed at an inaccessible height and are therefore never cleaned, which also leads to a reduction in their transparency.

6- Manufacture of photovoltaic panels and lithium batteries:

The mass production of photovoltaic panels and modern lithium batteries requires the use of ores and metals (aluminum, cobalt, copper, iron ore, lithium, rare earths, etc.) and could ultimately consume significantly more resources than traditional systems based on fossil fuels.

So much so that the extraction of these natural resources in 2050 will have caused irreversible damage to terrestrial soils and groundwater, as much as the consumption of fossil energy, and this over an even shorter period, informs the World Bank and Alsen energy .

7- Recycling a photovoltaic panel:

Recycling is announced and considered possible by manufacturers, but it is very expensive and does not interest investors from industrialized countries.

This will therefore generate the transport of sensitive waste awaiting recycling to developing countries and will lead to various polluting solutions that are even still unknown.

A situation identical to the end-of-life problems of computer-type products.

8- Recycling a modern Lithium battery:

Same with photovoltaic panels.

The lifetime of the batteries used is too low, it is given for 5 to 10 years depending on the ambient temperature.

This is very short compared to the duration of use of the infrastructures of a city.

Up to a height of about 50 meters from the ground, the gusts of wind are always of short duration and often change direction. Their speeds are also very variable.

By definition, a gust is, at a given site, a sudden and temporary strengthening of the wind which results in a brief and sudden increase in its instantaneous speed. They are caused either by the instability of the air, or by topographic or artificial obstacles, such as natural high reliefs or constructions or sudden differences in temperature, etc.

The presence, in general, near the lampposts, of these gusts of wind and their variable kinetic forces added to the significant lever arm represented by a lamppost mast, will allow the operation of the invention.

The invention will now be described with regard to the appended figures 1 to 8 according to a particular embodiment.

The lighting column described here will produce its own energy by using the natural gusts of wind that will rest on its wall, the sides of its projector and possibly an additional aerodynamic wing.

For this, the upper part of the mast can tilt alternately in a single direction because it will rest on a support axis (figure 3).

This pendulum-type movement of the upper part of the mast will be transmitted to a compact module called the energy module, which will generate the electrical energy needed to supply the floodlight(s) 24 hours a day.

The upper part, known as the first part of the mast, resting on the free support axis, may tilt in a direction D1 when the nearby wind blows in the same direction D1. (figure 8)

To this end, the present invention relates to a lighting device comprising at least one light source and a mast for supporting said light source(s).

According to the invention,

• this mast comprises a first mast part called the upper part, on which said at least light source is placed and a second mast part called the base, to support this first mast part,
• the first mast part being connected to the second mast part while being rotatable about a pivot axis,
• the first mast part being configured to move around this pivot axis in the event of irregular winds propagating in a direction transverse to said pivot axis, said first mast part being free to move between a rest position and a position maximum inclination, and
• an energy generation assembly configured to transform the displacement of this first mast part relative to the second mast part, into electrical energy to at least supply this or these light sources with electrical energy.

The upper part will tilt and come to rest on a flexible stop called Bs 1 which is located in the second part called the base of the mast in order to limit the amplitude of the movement.

Indeed, this amplitude will be low so as not to affect the quality of the lighting on the ground at night.

This flexible stop Bs 1 consisting of a spring for example, once compressed, will express a force in the opposite direction which will therefore push the upper part of the mast in the direction D2, and this as soon as the direction of the wind has changed or the force wind kinetics will have become weak.

The penetrating part of the first part of the mast will therefore express a pendular movement as soon as the winds press their kinetic forces on the upper part of the mast.

A flexible stop Bs 2 will be placed in the base of the mast in the opposite position to Bs 1 in order to limit the amplitude of the movement in the direction of D2 and also to be able to replace the upper part of the mast in the vertical position called the rest position.

According to a particular embodiment of this lighting device, it comprises stops which limit the amplitude of pivoting of said first mast part with respect to the second mast part.

Preferably, these stops are springs such as compression springs, returning said first mast part to its rest position, in which its inclination is zero relative to the longitudinal axis of said second mast part forming the base.

The structure of this lamp post will therefore be original and made in accordance with the EN40 standard applied to this type of product.

This product is also described in a Soleau envelope filed on 06/10/2014 – 509863.

The Energy Module will be independent of the mast and will be able to be fixed in several types of wind-powered lampposts by means of an access door, as is usually the case according to the standard.

It will be assembled and pre-adjusted in the factory, then placed in its housing, not visible like the circuit breakers and connection terminals on conventional lampposts.

This module will not be hazardous to the touch and will not contain chemicals or other toxic materials.

Part of this product is also described in a Soleau envelope filed on 05/27/2014 - 508972

Lighting criteria

The movement of the projector at the top of the mast will not be visible to the human eye at night.

The base of the mast will be static, identical to a classic mast.

The illuminated surface on the ground will not be perceived with an awkward movement.

This is because the contour of the illuminated zone on the ground provides a luminance of the graduated type, among other things, so as not to tire the vision of motorists.

The regulatory road photometry will be respected, it will always depend on the projector used and its photometric capacities.

A Led source projector will be mandatory because of its perfect tolerance to movements, shocks and vibrations, because it does not contain any filament or molten gas.

According to yet another particular embodiment of this lighting device, each light source comprises one or more LED lighting modules.

Structure

Conventional steel, aluminum or composite lighting masts are flexible enough in nature not to bend irreversibly in the event of heavy storms.

They therefore also exert a movement proportional to their great length which agitates the projector with the same amplitude as that which is provided on the self-contained candelabrum invented here described.

The ground foundation for anchoring the lamppost will be classic and slightly oversized.

The cross-section of the mast of the invention described here will be circular, square, rectangular or even polygonal.

According to yet another particular embodiment of this lighting device, the mast has a circular, square, rectangular or even polygonal cross-section.

The candelabrum mast will be made in two distinct parts:

A base (second part) with its floor securing plate and access door and an upper part (first part) with the projector fixed at its upper end in relation to the ground.

The Base will be approximately 2.2 meters long, for example.

The Upper part will always be longer in order to place the projector 5 meters or more from the ground.

The Base will be equipped with a mechanical device to receive the upper part in a penetrating way over a length of approximately 1 meter.

This device will be a pivot ring which will facilitate the assembly of the assembly.

This will be attached to the Base and will be able to receive the 2 Support axes on ball bearings for example, which will be attached to the upper part of the mast.

The installer can lower the upper part so that the 2 support axes are housed in the pivot ring to be immobilized there, among other things, by the weight of the upper part of the mast.

The pivot ring will also serve as a diameter reducer and will be provided with a flexible rubber-type sleeve, to block the passage of rainwater, sand and fine dust at this point.

According to yet another particular embodiment of this lighting device, this base comprises at its upper end a pivot ring configured to house said pivot axis, this ring being hollow to allow passage of the lower end of said first mast part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ENERGY MODULE

The invention will now be described with regard to the appended figures 1 to 8 according to a particular embodiment.

It will be made with a metal structure in stainless cast iron, for example, so as to firmly bring together the following elements:

Notched disc - Freewheel - Flywheel - Alternator - Electronic board - Super-Capacitor - Wiring terminal block.

This module can therefore be mounted in one piece in the base of the mast and connected to the rising cable to the floodlight(s).

It will be tested and pre-adjusted in the factory for reasons of speed and guarantee of operation over a long period.

This will be the electrical energy producing element.

It will be fixed in the Base of the mast and accessible by the access door.

This will facilitate the connections of the electrical cable that will power the projector(s).

This module will capture the horizontal displacement of the upper part of the mast using the drive lug combined with the notched disc which will transmit a rotary movement to a free wheel of the oversteering type.

This Freewheel will drive a Flywheel in one direction only.

This flywheel will rotate a high-efficiency alternator which will supply an electrical current of the unidirectional variable type and preferably low voltage.

Thus, with each coming and going of the lower end of the mast, the Alternator will be launched in a rotation maintained over time, by the kinetic energy of the flywheel.

By definition, a freewheel is a mechanical system which makes it possible to interrupt the rotational drive of a driven component while nevertheless allowing it to continue to rotate freely.

According to yet another particular embodiment of this lighting device, said energy generation assembly comprises an inertia flywheel driving a generator such as an alternator, said lighting device comprising a drive element connecting said first mast part and said flywheel to drive the latter during the movement of said first mast part relative to said second mast part.

Note: The amount of energy is proportional to the square of the speed of rotation.

The driving force exerted on the notched disc will be significant due to the great length of the upper part of the mast.

The basic rule of "Lever arm" will be applied here.

Preferably, this drive element comprises a drive finger or lug secured to the lower part of this first mast part and a notched disc secured to a freewheel comprising a notch into which said finger or spur is inserted. training, this freewheel being configured to drive the flywheel only when said first mast part moves between its rest position and its position of maximum inclination.

According to yet another particular embodiment of this lighting device, the base comprising an energy distribution module, said energy generation assembly is configured to also supply this distribution module with electrical energy.

The electric current supplied will be directly accumulated by Super-capacitors with carbon nanotube structures which will be able to store sufficient energy to satisfy the energy of the projector(s), when the turbulence of the wind is too low to cause and activate its swing.

This type of new Super-capacitor will have the ability to be instantly charged with high capacity electrical energy by high charging currents, therefore with each rotation of the alternator.

They will also be able to slowly and without loss restore this energy to the projectors.

They will therefore replace the modern chemical battery currently used, which requires a slower charge, and with weak currents.

This available energy will be managed by a scheduler who will order the times of commissioning of the projector(s).

Eventually, a radio link could be installed on each lighting column in order to synchronize them and obtain control with other parameters.

According to another particular embodiment of this lighting device, it comprises an energy storage unit connected to said energy generation assembly to store at least part of said energy produced.

Advantageously, this storage unit comprises at least one supercapacitor which allows fast charging.

The present invention also relates to a lighting network comprising at least one lighting device as described above.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description and on examining the accompanying figures.

These are presented for information only and in no way limit the invention.

Figure 1 is a schematic representation in profile view of the invention of the self-contained wind lamp post described here.

Figure 2 is a plan with dimensioning in profile view of a standard mast without projector.

Figure 3 is a schematic representation in profile view and in transparency of the independent wind-powered lamppost. With the positioning details of the support axis which allows the movement of the upper part of the mast, and the position of the drive pin.

Figure 4 is a schematic representation in front profile view and 90° profile which represents the two separate parts of the wind-powered stand-alone lighting column mast.

Figure 5 is a schematic representation in profile view and from above, of the pivot ring which will receive the two support axes.

Figure 6 is a schematic representation in top view and in profile of the Notched Disc present in the energy module. with the drive pin present in the notch of the disc.

Figure 7 is a schematic representation in side view of the Energy Module. The main elements are represented here.

Figure 8 is a schematic representation in front profile view and profile at 90° for the aerodynamic wing of the upper part of the mast. It shows the possible options and the direction D1 of the winds used, as well as the direction D2 taken when the winds return to low speeds or are non-existent.

POSSIBLE OPTIONS

A - A fixed or moving mass can be placed near the projector to increase the force transmitted to the Drive Pin.

This mass in a dynamic version can also, with advanced technology, increase the number of alternate movements of the mast from the same turbulence. This possibly in combination with the active spring stops BS 1 and BS 2, or will bounce the lower end of the mast.

According to yet another particular embodiment of this lighting device, this first part of the mast comprises one or more masses placed at its upper end to increase the number of pendulum movements of said first part of the mast.

B - An aerodynamic wing to capture more turbulence, its position could be on the projector or on the mast itself, for example.

According to yet another particular embodiment of this lighting device, this first part of the mast comprises one or more wings to increase the wind resistance of this first part of the mast.

C - The Energy Module may, in a design variant, be equipped with Piezoelectric sensors instead of or in addition to the alternator.

Indeed, the deformation of these and their repeated compression by the movement resulting from the notched disc, for example, can be exploited to activate this type of increasingly efficient component in terms of electrical energy production.

ECONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL INTERESTS

This invention makes it possible to eliminate almost completely the elements usually used by solar streetlights, some of which prove to be very harmful to the environment, especially in the long term.

Use active constituents by applying possible eco-design measures and think about their ecological impacts on the earth's soil.

And therefore not to generate polluting and financially unmanageable waste but rather truly recyclable at a low cost.

Obtain a product that is useful to all countries, even those with urban development delays and problems of electricity production.

This candelabra will therefore not be equipped with solar panels, there will be no rotary wind turbines or the like and will not require an electric accumulator of the modern chemical battery type.

Ecological criteria considered over a long period, and taking into account natural sources of supply, will also be major commercial assets.

From a commercial point of view, the refined and discreet aesthetics of the final product will be an important asset compared to the products currently marketed.

The qualification of new and innovative product by such a concept, will also be a strong commercial value.

The candelabrum will withstand storms, thanks to its low wind resistance, so it can be marketed on certain sites hitherto refused to solar panels.

The manufacture of the assembly will be simplified and the cost of the final product will be close to, or even less than, those currently in use.

Claims (14)

Lighting device comprising at least one light source and a mast for supporting said source or said light sources, characterized in that

• this mast comprises a first part of the mast called the upper part, on which is placed the said at least one light source and a second part of the mast called the base, to support this first part of the mast,
• the first mast part being connected to the second mast part while being rotatable about a pivot axis,
• the first mast part being configured to move around this pivot axis in the event of gusty wind propagating in a direction transverse to said pivot axis, said first mast part being free to move between a rest position and a maximum inclination position, and in that it comprises,
• an energy generation assembly configured to transform the displacement of this first mast part relative to the second mast part, into electrical energy to at least supply this or these light sources with energy.

Lighting device according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises stops which limit the amplitude of pivoting of the said first part of the mast with respect to the second part of the mast. Lighting device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said stops are springs such as compression springs, returning the said first part of the mast to its rest position, in which its inclination is zero with respect to the longitudinal axis. of said second mast part forming a base. Lighting device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises an energy storage unit connected to said energy generation assembly to store at least part of the said energy produced. Energy device according to claim 4, characterized in that said storage unit comprises at least one supercapacitor. Lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said base comprises at its upper end a pivot ring configured for the said pivot axis, this ring being hollow to allow the passage of the lower end of said first mast part. Lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said energy generating assembly comprises an inertia flywheel driving a generator such as an alternator, the said lighting device comprising a drive element connecting said first mast part and said flywheel to drive the latter during movement of said first mast part relative to said second mast part. Lighting device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the said drive element comprises a drive finger or lug secured to the lower part of this first mast part and a notched disc secured to a freewheel comprising a notch in which said finger or drive lug is inserted, this freewheel being configured to drive the flywheel only when said first part of the mast moves between its rest position and its position of maximum inclination. Lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said base comprising an energy distribution module, said energy generation assembly is configured to also supply this distribution module with electrical energy. Lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said mast has a circular, square, rectangular or even polygonal cross-section. Lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said first part of the mast comprises one or more wings to increase the wind resistance of this first part of the mast. Lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said first mast part comprises one or more masses placed at its upper end to increase the number of rocking movements of the said first mast part. Lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each light source comprises one or more LED lighting modules. Lighting network comprising at least one lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.