IT202100017708A1 - BOAT WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Accompanying a patent application for an industrial invention entitled:

?BOAT WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM?

DESCRIPTION TEXT

The present patent application for an industrial invention relates to a boat with a photovoltaic system.

The reference sector? that of hybrid boats powered by solar energy and fossil fuels; in particular those boats equipped with a photovoltaic system for power supply and propulsion of the boat.

more and more Photovoltaic systems are often installed on board boats on fixed parts to power the boat's electric motors, so as to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.

The reasons that lead shipowners to choose this ecological choice range from the will? to exploit renewable energies with low environmental impact to reduce fuel costs.

US 10875608 B2 describes a photovoltaic system in which photovoltaic modules are mounted on board a boat by exploiting possible free surfaces of the boat.

A drawback concerning this solution lies in the fact that the surfaces of the boat which can be used to house photovoltaic modules are limited.

Purpose of the present invention? to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, devising a photovoltaic system which allows for having a greater photovoltaic surface than the spaces that can be used in the boat.

Another purpose of the present invention? to provide a versatile photovoltaic system, easy to use and able to be used both during navigation and during the stop of the boat, without hindering the maneuverability? of the boat.

These purposes are achieved in accordance with the invention with the characteristics listed in the annexed independent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments appear from the dependent claims.

The boat according to the invention? defined by claim 1.

For greater explanatory clarity, the description of the boat according to the invention continues with reference to the attached drawings, which have only an illustrative and non-limiting value, where:

Fig. 1 ? an axonometric view of the boat with a photovoltaic system comprising a bellows module according to the invention;

Fig. 2 ? an axonometric view of the boat with a photovoltaic system comprising two bellows modules connected to each other by connection means;

Fig. 3 ? a view of an enlarged detail of Fig.1; in which ? shown is a portion of a bellows module comprising two groups of photovoltaic modules connected to each other;

Fig. 4 ? a view of an enlarged detail of Fig.2; in which the connection means between two bellows modules are shown;

Fig. 5 ? a view like Fig. 4 but with the connection means exploded;

Fig. 6 ? a block diagram illustrating a connection of the photovoltaic modules to direct current electrical devices; And

Fig. 7 ? a block diagram illustrating a connection of the photovoltaic modules to alternating current electrical devices.

With reference to the attached figures, ? described a boat indicated overall with the reference number 100.

With reference to Fig. 1, the boat (100) comprises a hull (1) and a photovoltaic system (2) mounted in the hull (1). The hull (1) includes a bow (10) and a stern (11). The photovoltaic system (2) ? mounted on the stern (11) of the boat (100).

The photovoltaic system (2) comprises at least one bellows module (3) mounted on the stern (11) of the boat (100).

With reference to Fig. 2, if there are two or more? bellows modules (3), the photovoltaic system (2) further comprises connecting means (7) which connect each bellows module (3).

Although not shown in the attached figures, the bellows module (3) can? be housed in a seat made in the hull (1) at the stern (11) of the boat (100).

With reference to Fig. 3, each bellows module (3) comprises at least two groups of photovoltaic modules (30) connected to each other.

Each group of photovoltaic modules (30) comprises a base (31) and at least one photovoltaic module (32), arranged on the upper surface of the base (31); each base (31) of the photovoltaic module group (30) has a quadrangular shape and is hinged, by means of hinge means (33), with the base (31) of the following photovoltaic module group (30) so as to form a bellows structure.

Each base (31) of the photovoltaic module group (30) can? rotate with respect to the base (31) of the next photovoltaic module group (30); in this way, the bellows module (3) can? switch from a non-operational arrangement of minimum size in which the photovoltaic module groups (30) are superimposed on each other to a planar operational arrangement in which the photovoltaic module groups (30) are arranged according to a plane. When the photovoltaic system (2) is not to be used, the bellows module (3) ? in non-operative condition of minimum encumbrance placed inside the boat (100). When the photovoltaic system (2) is to be used, the bellows module (3) ? arranged in a planar operating position and protrudes rearward from the stern (11) of the boat (100) to place itself on the surface of the water.

Each group of photovoltaic modules (30) further comprises a float (34) connected to the lower surface of the base (31) to ensure the flotation of the group of photovoltaic modules (30) on the surface of the water.

Alternatively, each base (31) ? in floating material or ? hollow internally in such a way as to act as a float.

By photovoltaic module (32) is meant a plurality? of photovoltaic cells electrically connected to each other.

The photovoltaic modules (32) can be of the rigid type or of the flexible type and are shaped in such a way as to be arranged on the upper surface of the base (31).

The photovoltaic modules (32) are electrically connected to each other via electrical conductors.

With reference to Fig. 4, the connection means (7) between two bellows modules (3) comprise a joint element (71); in this way, the distance between the two bellows modules (3) ? maintained almost constant while browsing.

In particular, with reference to Fig. 5, the articulation element (71) is? spherical type and comprises a spherical headed tang (72) fixed to the base (31) of the photovoltaic module assembly (30) of a bellows module (3), and a spherical cap tang (73) fixed to the base (31) of the photovoltaic module group (30) of another bellows module (3); the spherical head (72) ? engaged on the spherical cap (73).

The connection means (7) furthermore comprise two shock absorbers (74) interposed between two bellows modules (3). The two shock absorbers (74) are arranged on the sides of the joint element (71). In this way, during navigation, the traction exerted by a bellows module (3) on another bellows module (3) is dampened.

In particular, with reference to Fig. 5, the shock absorber (74) is? hydraulic or pneumatic type. The shock absorber (74) comprises a cylinder (75), connected to a bellows module (3), a piston (76), slidably mounted in the cylinder (75), and a rod (77) connected to the piston (76) and to another bellows module (3).

Although not shown in the accompanying figures, the connection means (7) can comprise spring means

placed between two bellows modules (3); more precisely said spring means are connected both to the base (31) of the photovoltaic module group (30) of the bellows module (3) and to the base (31) of the photovoltaic module group (30) of the consecutive bellows module (3). In this way, the two consecutive bellows modules (3) are kept almost aligned during navigation.

With reference to Figs. 6 and 7, the boat (100) comprises an electrical system (4) connected by power cables to each photovoltaic module (32) for the use of the electric energy produced overall by the photovoltaic modules (32) to power electrical devices (6) of the boat.

Although not shown in the attached figures, the wiring of each photovoltaic module (32) can be integrated in each base (31) of each group of photovoltaic modules (30).

The electrical system (4) can? comprising an accumulation device (40) for the accumulation of electrical energy.

The electrical system (4) can? comprising a charge regulator (41) for regulating the electric charge of the power supply and electrical devices (6).

Photovoltaic modules (32) produce electricity in direct current.

With reference to Fig. 6, if the electrical devices (6) require a direct current power supply, the electrical system (4) can? directly power these electrical devices (6). In this case, the electrical devices (6) can comprise a direct current electric motor (60) for the propulsion of the boat (100).

With reference to Fig. 7, if the electrical devices (6) require an alternating current power supply, the electrical system (4) must include an inverter (42) to transform the direct electrical current produced by the photovoltaic modules (32) into alternating electric current for use in electrical devices (6). In this case, the electrical devices (6) can comprise an alternating current electric motor (61) for the propulsion of the boat.

Obviously the direct current electric motor (60) or the alternating current electric motor (61) can be in addition to a traditional internal combustion engine of the boat (100).

In this way the photovoltaic system (2) can? supply an electric motor (60, 61) used to propel the boat.

Numerous variations and detailed modifications can be made to the present embodiment of the invention, within the reach of a person skilled in the art, however falling within the scope of the invention expressed by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. Vessel (100) comprising: - a hull (1) having a bow (10) and a stern (11); - a photovoltaic system (2); And - an electrical system (4) connected to the photovoltaic system (2) for the use of the electricity produced by the photovoltaic system (2); characterized by the fact that said photovoltaic system (2) comprises: - at least one bellows module (3) mounted on the stern (11) of the boat (100); wherein said bellows module (3) comprises at least two groups of photovoltaic modules (30) connected to each other by hinge means (33) so that the bellows module (3) can pass from a non-operational configuration of minimum encumbrance in which the photovoltaic module groups (30) are superimposed on each other and arranged in the boat (100) in a planar operating arrangement in which the photovoltaic module groups (30) are arranged according to a plane and protrude at the rear from the stern (11) of the boat ( 100) to place itself on the surface of the water. The vessel (100) according to claim 1, wherein each group of photovoltaic modules (30) comprises a base (31) and at least one photovoltaic module (32) disposed on the upper surface of the base (31). 3. Boat (100) according to claim 1, wherein said photovoltaic system (2) comprises at least two bellows modules (3) connected to each other by connection means (7). The vessel (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein each base (31) of the photovoltaic module group (30) has a quadrangular shape. The vessel (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein electrical conductors for electrical connection of the photovoltaic modules (32) are integrated in each base (31) of the photovoltaic module assembly (30). The boat (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each group of photovoltaic modules (30) comprises a float (34) connected below the base (31) of the group of photovoltaic modules (30). 7. Boat (100) according to claim 6, wherein said base (31) of each group of photovoltaic modules (30) are made of floating material or internally hollow to float. 8. Boat (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said connection means (7) between two bellows modules (3) comprise a joint element (71). 9. Boat (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said connection means (7) between two bellows modules (3) comprise at least one shock absorber (74) interposed between the two bellows modules (3). 10. Boat (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprises an electric motor (60, 61) for the propulsion of the boat (100) powered by said photovoltaic system (2).