GB2339747A - Mobile power supply unit - Google Patents

Mobile power supply unit Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2339747A
GB2339747A GB9912912A GB9912912A GB2339747A GB 2339747 A GB2339747 A GB 2339747A GB 9912912 A GB9912912 A GB 9912912A GB 9912912 A GB9912912 A GB 9912912A GB 2339747 A GB2339747 A GB 2339747A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
unit according
housing
trailer
photo
power supply
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9912912A
Other versions
GB9912912D0 (en
GB2339747B (en
Inventor
Brian Ellis
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB9912912D0 publication Critical patent/GB9912912D0/en
Publication of GB2339747A publication Critical patent/GB2339747A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2339747B publication Critical patent/GB2339747B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K16/00—Arrangements in connection with power supply of propulsion units in vehicles from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
    • H02S10/00—PV power plants; Combinations of PV energy systems with other systems for the generation of electric power
    • H02S10/40—Mobile PV generator systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
    • H02S40/00—Components or accessories in combination with PV modules, not provided for in groups H02S10/00 - H02S30/00
    • H02S40/30—Electrical components
    • H02S40/38—Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K1/00—Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units
    • B60K1/04—Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units of the electric storage means for propulsion
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E70/00—Other energy conversion or management systems reducing GHG emissions
    • Y02E70/30—Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)

Description

21339747 Mobile Power SuI212ly Unit Ilis invention relates to a mobile
power supply unit, especially but not exclusively for powering temporary traffic lights.
Portable power supply units in the form of a generator driven by a diesel engine are in common use for a variety of purposes. However, such units are environmentally unfriendly, as they are noisy, prone to drip oil, etc. , and emit hazardous exhaust fumes. The first of these disadvantages makes the units difficult to use close to hospitals and urban housing and the like, for example to power temporary traffic lights. The second of the disadvantages makes the units awkward to use in environmentally sensitive areas, where precautionary measures such as loading the units on to drip trays are often necessary. '17he third disadvantage, apart from contribution to contamination of the atmosphere generally, sometimes means that the exhaust fumes have been conveyed to a remote discharge point, as for example when the units are used to drive compressors for diving equipment.
An aim of the present invention is to provide a portable power supply unit which does not suffer from the environmental disadvantages of the conventional diesel/generator unit.
According to the invention, in its broadest aspect, there is provided a mobile power supply unit comprising a trailer adapted for towing, a bank of batteries on the trailer, photo/voltaic cell means on the trailer for providing a battery charging current derived from solar energy, and cable means on the trailer for enabling the bank of batteries to power remote electrical equipment.
Preferably, the trailer carries a housing in which the batteries are accommodated.
The cable means preferably comprises at least one cable reel from which cable can be drawn out to connect to the remote equipment.
The photo/voltaic cell means is preferably mounted on the housing, for example being incorporated as part of the roof thereof, which may be conveniently sloped.
The angle of tilt of the photo/voltaic cell means (solar panel(s)) may be adjustable, to maximise incidence of light from the sun.
The battery bank may be carried on a tray retractable in and out of the housing in order to facilitate maintenance and servicing. This tray may be withdrawn from the housing beyond the back of the trailer, and be provided with one or more folding ground support legs for use in said withdrawn condition of the tray. The rear end of the tray may carry the back wall of the housing, which with the batteries inside securely closes in a vandal-resistant manner.
The battery bank will generally be of substantial weight, and the trailer may therefore be provided with heavy duty twin wheel axles.
The cable means, preferably carried on one or more reels as aforesaid, may connect to the battery bank via a control panel/regulator means, ready to be drawn out for use.
One use envisaged for the portable power supply unit is the powering of temporary traffic lights. According to a second aspect of the invention, therefore, there is provided a mobile power supply unit comprising a trailer adapted for towing, said trailer having a wheeled chassis supporting a housing, said housing having a base compartment for a battery bank and an upper compartment for storage of traffic light heads, the upper compartment including a cover bearing photo/voltaic panels and being openable into an optimised sloping position such that the photo/voltaic cells receive solar energy for developing battery charging current.
Two cable reels can provide power to traffic lights at opposite ends of a road interruption. The traffic lights themselves can comprise LED lamps set in a reflective situation and complying with current legal requirements. Traffic light timing means can be incorporated in the aforesaid control panel/regulator means, which is conveniently accessible by opening the housing for the battery bank.
Ile invention therefore extends to the combination of the aforesaid portable power supply unit with the aforesaid traffic lights.
Preferably the cover constitutes at least part of one sloping side wall of the housing in its closed position. ne opposite side wall of the housing is preferably a fixed sloping side wall, conveniently also carrying photo/voltaic panels. 'Me cover preferably opens into a sloping position in which it is coplanar with or parallel to the fixed sloping side wall, effectively to constitute an extension thereof. The cover may be supported in its open position by means of an air jack, analogous to that used on the boot lids of some motor vehicles.
Supplementary charging of the batteries from the towing vehicle, for example if the battery charge is low at the end of a day's use, may be achieved via the plug normOy provided to power the trailer rear lamps, brake lamps, etc.
Ile invention is ftirther described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows the mobile power supply unit in perspective view; Figure 2 is a diagram of an exemplary traffic light which may be powered by the power supply unit of Figure 1; Figure 3 diagrammatically shows a modified trailer in perspective view ready for use; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic end view of the modified trailer ready for use.
Referring first to Figure 1, a trailer 10 supported on wheels 12 mounted on heavy duty twin axles is adapted to be towed by a vehicle via a conventional but heavy duty trailer connection joint/linkage (not visible).
The trailer chassis carries a housing 14 for a battery bank 16, withdrawable rearwardly from the housing on a sliding tray 18.
Ile pitched roof 20 of the housing 14 has a solar panel 22 (photo/voltaic cell matrix) incorporated. The housing roof 20 is hingedly openable by handles 24 to provide access to a regulator/control panel (not visible). When the batteries are contained within the closed housing, the solar panel 22 provides an electric current for charging the batteries, supplementary charging of which can be achieved from the towing vehicle via the normal plug-in connection by which the rear lamps 26 are powered.
A folding ground support leg 28 supports the battery tray 18 when the battery bank 16 is withdrawn from the housing for maintenance and/or servicing beyond the back of the housing. The tray 18 carries the back wall 30 of the housing 14 at its rear end and, when in normal use the tray is retracted into the housing, the housing is securely closed in a vandal-resistant manner.
Most importantly, two cable reels 32 are provided in the housing from which cable can be drawn out to power remote electrical equipment. The cables are connected to the battery bank via the regulator/control panel so as to be ready for use when drawn out.
Two cable reels 32 are provided so that, in the case of temporary traffic lights for example, the lights at opposite ends of a road interruption can be readily powered.
Figure 2 shows an exemplary set of red, amber and green traffic lamps 40, with one such lamp shown in more detail. Thus, as can be seen from the detailed view, each lamp comprises a matrix of LED cells 42 of the appropriate colour, set in an extended, at least in part internally reflective shroud 44. These lamps can be powered by a 24V supply taken from the battery bank on the trailer via the regulator/control panel, which can conveniently incorporate traffic light timing controls. The illustrated lights are clearly visible from 200 metres away, even on a sunny day.
"Me trailer illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 comprises a framework chassis 110, adapted at the front end 112 for towing, where a raisable and lowerable ground stand 114 is also provided. The ground stand would be raised when the trailer is being towed, but is shown lowered to stabilise the trailer when standing alone ready for use.
The chassis has ground wheels 116, approximately midway in the longitudinal direction of a chassis-mounted housing 118, which has a boxshaped base compartment 120 for storage of a battery bank 122 (Figure 4).
Above the base compartment 120, the housing 118 has an upper compartment 124, with end walls triangular in transverse cross-section and sloping side walls, for storage of traffic light heads 126 (Figure 4) and also cables (not shown) which connect the traffic light heads to the battery bank 122 via a regulator unit 128.
The regulator unit 128 includes a 12V to 1 10V inverter to provide a standard supply voltage for the operation of temporary traffic lights and also includes traffic light timing controls.
It can be seen that one sloping side wall 130 of the upper compartment 124 constitutes a cover which can be opened to the position shown in Figures 3 and 4, and supported in such open position by an air jack 132. 'T'his gives ready access to the upper compartment 124, including the regulator unit 128.
In its open condition, the cover 130 lies in a plane at least approximately parallel and at least closely adjacent to the plane of the fixed, opposite sloping side wall 134 of upper compartment 124.
The outer faces of both the fixed sloping side wall 134 and the cover 130 carry photo/voltaic panels 136, 138 in a plane optimised for incidence of solar energy, whereby to develop a charging current for the battery bank 122.
In use, the trailer is readily transported to the site of use, e.g. road works, parked, and the traffic light stands removed from the storage rack and assembled with the traffic light heads removed from the opened upper compartment of the housing. From the traffic light heads, the connecting cables extend from the position in which the lights are set up back to the trailer, whereby quickly and easily to put temporary traffic lights into effect by appropriately setting the regulator unit.
The application of the mobile power supply unit to power traffic lights, especially in the case of the trailer of Figures 1 and 2, is exemplary only. The unit can be used in place of a conventional diesel/generator set in any situation where such diesel/generator sets are normally used, but with the advantages of being noiseless, oil free and fumeless. The portable power unit of the invention can I f thus be used without difficulty in environmentally sensitive situations, where the use of conventional diesel/generator sets hitherto has presented problems. With a suitable battery bank and heavy duty associated electrical controls and cables, a power supply up to 240 V can be made available for powering 0 kinds of remote electrical equipment, such as floodlighting and power tools.

Claims (15)

Claims
1. A mobile power supply unit comprising a trailer adapted for towing, a bank of batteries on the trailer, photo/voltaic cell means on the trailer for providing a battery charging current derived from solar energy, and cable means on the trailer for enabling the bank of batteries to power remote electrical equipment.
2. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the trailer carries a housing in which the batteries are accommodated.
3. A unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cable means comprises at least one cable reel from which cable can be drawn out to connect to the remote equipment.
4. A unit according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the photo/voltaic cell means is preferably mounted on the housing, for example being incorporated as part of the roof thereof, which may be conveniently sloped.
5. A unit according to any of claims I to 4, wherein the angle of tilt of the photo/voltaic cell means (solar panel(s)) may be adjustable, to maximise incidence of light from the sun.
6. A unit according to any of claims I to 5, wherein the battery bank is carried on a tray retractable in and out of the housing in order to facilitate maintenance and servicing.
7. A unit according to claim 6, wherein the tray may be withdrawn from the housing beyond the back of the trailer, and be provided with one or more folding ground support legs for use in said withdrawn condition of the tray.
8. A mobile power supply unit comprising a trailer adapted for towing, said trailer having a wheeled chassis supporting a housing, said housing having a base compartment for a battery bank and an upper compartment for storage of traffic light heads, the upper compartment including a cover bearing photo/voltaic panels and being openable into an optimised sloping position such that the photo/voltaic cells receive solar energy for developing battery charging current.
9. A unit according to claim 8, wherein the cover constitutes at least part of one sloping side wal-I of the housing in its closed position.
10. A unit according to claim 9, wherein the opposite side wall of the housing is preferably a fixed sloping side wall, conveniently also carrying photo/voltaic panels.
11. A unit according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the cover opens into a sloping position in which it is coplanar with or parallel to the fixed sloping side wall, effectively to constitute an extension thereof.
12. A unit according to claim 11, wherein the cover is supported in its open position by means of an air jack, analogous to that used on the boot lids of some motor vehicles.
13. A unit according to any of claims 8 to 12, wherein the upper compartment serves as storage space for cables which extend between the traffic light heads and the battery bank.
14. A unit according to any of claims 8 to 12, wherein the traffic light heads connect to the battery bank via a 12V to I 10V inverter and a regulator unit which includes traffic light timing controls.
15. A mobile power supply unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
GB9912912A 1998-06-04 1999-06-04 Mobile power supply unit Expired - Lifetime GB2339747B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9811902.7A GB9811902D0 (en) 1998-06-04 1998-06-04 Portable power supply unit

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9912912D0 GB9912912D0 (en) 1999-08-04
GB2339747A true GB2339747A (en) 2000-02-09
GB2339747B GB2339747B (en) 2002-08-14

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GBGB9811902.7A Ceased GB9811902D0 (en) 1998-06-04 1998-06-04 Portable power supply unit
GB9912912A Expired - Lifetime GB2339747B (en) 1998-06-04 1999-06-04 Mobile power supply unit

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9811902.7A Ceased GB9811902D0 (en) 1998-06-04 1998-06-04 Portable power supply unit

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Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002056440A2 (en) * 2001-01-13 2002-07-18 Solar Highways Limited Mobile power supply unit
EP1374363A1 (en) * 2001-04-06 2004-01-02 William M. Benn Portable solar generator
FR2877510A1 (en) * 2004-10-31 2006-05-05 Serge Mello Solar electricity generator for e.g. laboratory, has support with movable transporting units, solar panels, twelve volts/two hundred and twenty volts converter, batteries, and battery charge and discharge manager protected by careening
FR2882201A1 (en) * 2005-02-15 2006-08-18 P P S Sarl Rack for public address system, has battery, integrated in module, connected to charger recharging battery, power converter supplying amplifier with sinusoidal electric signal, and orifices to introduce rods fixing battery and converter
WO2007039732A2 (en) * 2005-10-04 2007-04-12 Brian Ellis Mobile power supply units
WO2010043409A1 (en) 2008-10-17 2010-04-22 Ammersee Solar Gmbh Solar generator
WO2010084212A1 (en) * 2009-01-23 2010-07-29 Romero Lampon Jose Luis Mobile solar unit with lighting tower
AT13831U1 (en) * 2013-05-03 2014-09-15 1Stlevelsolar Gmbh car trailers
US8833985B2 (en) 2011-02-04 2014-09-16 Progress Solar Solutions, LLC Mobile solar-powered light tower

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4489242A (en) * 1981-01-22 1984-12-18 Worst Marc T Stored power system for vehicle accessories
DE4028937A1 (en) * 1990-09-12 1992-03-19 Juergen Strauch Compact solar-powered road vehicle withseparable units - comprises lightweight. tractor operatable in isolation or with trailer having separate battery and photovoltaic recharging installation
AU3208593A (en) * 1992-01-28 1993-08-05 Gloworm Australia Pty. Ltd. Mobile solar power traffic controller

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4489242A (en) * 1981-01-22 1984-12-18 Worst Marc T Stored power system for vehicle accessories
DE4028937A1 (en) * 1990-09-12 1992-03-19 Juergen Strauch Compact solar-powered road vehicle withseparable units - comprises lightweight. tractor operatable in isolation or with trailer having separate battery and photovoltaic recharging installation
AU3208593A (en) * 1992-01-28 1993-08-05 Gloworm Australia Pty. Ltd. Mobile solar power traffic controller

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002056440A2 (en) * 2001-01-13 2002-07-18 Solar Highways Limited Mobile power supply unit
WO2002056440A3 (en) * 2001-01-13 2002-12-05 Solar Highways Ltd Mobile power supply unit
EP1374363A1 (en) * 2001-04-06 2004-01-02 William M. Benn Portable solar generator
EP1374363A4 (en) * 2001-04-06 2008-08-27 William M Benn Portable solar generator
FR2877510A1 (en) * 2004-10-31 2006-05-05 Serge Mello Solar electricity generator for e.g. laboratory, has support with movable transporting units, solar panels, twelve volts/two hundred and twenty volts converter, batteries, and battery charge and discharge manager protected by careening
FR2882201A1 (en) * 2005-02-15 2006-08-18 P P S Sarl Rack for public address system, has battery, integrated in module, connected to charger recharging battery, power converter supplying amplifier with sinusoidal electric signal, and orifices to introduce rods fixing battery and converter
WO2007039732A3 (en) * 2005-10-04 2007-08-02 Brian Ellis Mobile power supply units
WO2007039732A2 (en) * 2005-10-04 2007-04-12 Brian Ellis Mobile power supply units
WO2010043409A1 (en) 2008-10-17 2010-04-22 Ammersee Solar Gmbh Solar generator
DE102008053605A1 (en) * 2008-10-17 2010-04-29 Ammersee Solar Gmbh generator car
US20120042936A1 (en) * 2008-10-17 2012-02-23 Richard Feichtinger Solar generator
WO2010084212A1 (en) * 2009-01-23 2010-07-29 Romero Lampon Jose Luis Mobile solar unit with lighting tower
US8833985B2 (en) 2011-02-04 2014-09-16 Progress Solar Solutions, LLC Mobile solar-powered light tower
AT13831U1 (en) * 2013-05-03 2014-09-15 1Stlevelsolar Gmbh car trailers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9811902D0 (en) 1998-07-29
GB9912912D0 (en) 1999-08-04
GB2339747B (en) 2002-08-14

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
PE20 Patent expired after termination of 20 years

Expiry date: 20190603