WO2002056440A2

WO2002056440A2 - Mobile power supply unit

Info

Publication number: WO2002056440A2
Application number: PCT/GB2002/000113
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Ellis
Original assignee: Solar Highways Limited
Priority date: 2001-01-13
Filing date: 2002-01-11
Publication date: 2002-07-18
Also published as: GB0100980D0; WO2002056440A3

Abstract

A mobile power supply unit comprises a trailer (11) adapted for towing. The trailer incorporates a bank of batteries and photo-voltaic cell means (21) for providing a current to charge the batteries. The batteries in turn power remote electrical equipment such as a set of temporary traffic lights. The photo-voltaic cell means is essentially non-adjustable in inclination when the unit is in use. When the electrical equipment is not in use, it is stored with the bank of batteries in essentially the same compartment of the trailer.

Description

MOBILE POWER SUPPLY UNIT

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to mobile power supply units and is especially applicable to mobile power supply units which are adapted to be towable and intended for powering temporary traffic lights.

The invention enables the construction of a General Purpose Solar Assisted

Battery Bank powering Temporary Traffic Lights with a universal adaptability for controlling the flow of traffic by harnessing the sun's energy, trickle charging a battery bank, controlling the flow of current to and from the generator, operating a low voltage light source and providing constant operator operational information. This invention also enables a Solar Assisted Generator powering a "Kango" Hammer/Compactor and other ancillary powered equipment and accessories used at temporary repair and maintenance sites.

Negotiating and living with diesel and gas generators powering Temporary Traffic Lights and other powered tools has become an ever increasing part of our daily lives. Many people have serious complaints about the effects of using and living in the proximity of diesel and gas powered generators. Lack of sleep and of general well-being caused by noise and fumes, dermatitis and a host of other health and safety and environmental implications. The object of this invention is to allow "approved" component parts in general to be particularly adapted and linked together to control the flow of traffic at temporary traffic lights in a "friendly" manner, without noise or fumes, for minimum periods for five days and five nights without the need for human assistance and to provide power for using a range of power tools and accessories, normally associated with small repair and maintenance works, also in a "friendly" manner, without noise or fumes. "Approved" means the approval of the UK Highways Agency.

Review of Art known to the Applicant Published UK Patent Application No GB 2 339 747 (Ellis) describes and illustrates a mobile power supply unit, especially for powering temporary traffic lights, in which a trailer carries a bank of batteries inside a housing whose openable lid supports a so-called solar panel which, in use, provides a photo-voltaic current to charge the batteries and run the traffic lights.

This prior unit works well in practice but the present invention provides a developed version of it.

It would be useful, for example, to be able to utilise the solar panel charging system of such a unit without having to open up, and then carefully angle and prop open, the lid of the unit housing.

It would also be an advantage in certain circumstances if the trailer could be embodied in a relatively simple unit, with for example just one pair of wheels, skids or other towable ground-engaging means of transport, rather than having to go to the undeniably versatile but somewhat more complex lengths of providing twin-axle wheeled arrangements, sliding battery trays, and the like illustrated in Application GB 2 339 747.

In other words, whilst the unit of Application GB 2 339 747 is new and inventive in its own right, the aim of the present invention is actually to simplify one or more of the fundamentals of that unit's disclosed construction whilst still retaining the usefulness and environmentally friendly features of this predecessor.

Summary of the Invention

The key to the present invention lies in the realisation that another UK Patent Application's disclosure - that of Published Application GB 2 329 534 - can successfully be used as the starting point to modify the mobile power supply unit of Application GB 2 339 747.

(Ellis) describes and. illustrates a transportable power supply unit which incorporates a solar panel but which, unlike the teaching of 2 339 747, is an almost skeletally simple unit. It is essentially a wheeled framework and its solar panel is non-adjustable in angle and is carried on the hypotenuse of the right-angled frame in a generally wedge-shaped overall configuration.

This earlier 2 329 534 unit is described and illustrated as being suited to power an electric fence. There is no disclosure or suggestion that it might be adapted in any way to power a temporary traffic light setup. Apart from the use of the solar panel and the fact that it is wheeled, and can be towed from site to site of use, there is nothing ostensibly to link it with 2 339 747 in any development programme starting from the latter disclosure.

When one does nevertheless make this inventive step, the advantages that flow from the combination are many, although the combination itself can hardly be said to have occurred without inventive thought given the disparity between the two proposals.

According to a first aspect of this present invention a mobile power supply unit comprising a trailer adapted for towing, and incorporating a bank of batteries on the trailer together with photo-voltaic cell means for providing a current to charge the batteries, thereby enabling them to power remote electrical equipment such as a set of temporary traffic lights, is characterised by the feature that the photo-voltaic cell means is essentially non-adjustable in inclination when the unit is in use. Preferably in such an arrangement the solar panel has a major axis which runs along the length of the trailer and hence generally extends in the direction in which, between uses, the trailer moves when being pulled or pushed by its towing vehicle.

According to another broad aspect of the invention a mobile power supply unit of the kind defined in the broadest encapsulation of the first aspect above is characterised by the feature that the battery bank and one or more temporary traffic light sets are housed, when the traffic lights are not in use, in essentially the same carrying compartment of the trailer and that carrying compartment may occupy a generally lowermost region of the trailer.

Storing the battery bank and one or more traffic lights in the same compartment of the trailer is particularly beneficial because the operator can easily access these during the installation of the traffic lights and for any maintenance. Having these placed at the lowermost region of the trailer provides the trailer with a low centre of gravity which effectively limits the possibility of toppling over.

In a subsidiary aspect of the present invention at least one traffic light set is separable into a head portion (containing the lights) and a support portion (on which the head portion in use is mounted) and the trailer incorporates means adapted for holding the head portion and the separated support portion when the traffic lights are not in use.

Being able to separate the head portion and the support portion of a traffic light set minimises the space required to transport these from one location to the next. In this configuration only trailers with a minimal size are required to transport the traffic light set.

Holding the head portion and the support portion in the trailer is advantageous because these are effectively prevented from displacing within the trailer during transportation and are thus protected against being damaged. According to another aspect of the invention a mobile power supply unit of the kind defined in the broadest encapsulation of the first aspect above is characterised by the feature that the support portion of the or each traffic light set is removable from the trailer and insertable into the trailer without having to remove any of the heads of the traffic light sets when these are housed in the trailer.

This feature is particularly beneficial because the operator will not have to move the traffic light heads first which would be time-consuming and which could damage the traffic light head while it is being moved unnecessarily from the trailer to an intermediate station before mounting on the support portion.

In a subsidiary aspect of the invention, the inclination of the or each photovoltaic cell means is comprised within the range of 30 degrees to 50 degrees when the trailer is standing on level ground in its normally intended attitude of use.

Any of these inclinations are sufficient to charge the battery pack of the type that will supply energy to traffic light sets sufficient to operate day and night for relatively long periods.

In a subsidiary aspect of the invention a mobile power supply unit in accordance with the broadest encapsulation of the first aspect of the invention is characterised by the feature that the or each cable unit sufficient, in use, to connect the batteries to the or each temporary traffic light set associated with the trailer, is housed when not in use in the same compartment where the battery bank and the or each traffic light set are housed when the traffic lights are not in use.

In the arrangement just outlined, it is especially advantageous if the cables are mounted within the housing so that when the unit is in use, the or each cable- carrying mounting - for example an otherwise conventional cable drum - remains fixed to the housing so that the cables can operate without their mounting having to be removed from the housing.

In any of the aspects of the invention defined so far it is preferred that the batteries, in use, can also operate without having to be moved in relation to - for example, without having to be slid back and forth into and out of - the trailer.

Finally, any mobile power supply unit embodying the invention may with advantage be fitted with a so-called tracking device. This could be selected from known alternatives. Road-going motor vehicles, especially the kind of car which is frequently stolen, are now frequently fitted with such devices. With a suitably computerised back-up linking the tracking device to a monitoring station, any attempt to move the trailer and/or its traffic lights can be spotted at once and corrected as soon as possible.

That latter feature is especially useful because of course moving any traffic controlling or traffic signalling unit is potentially dangerous and in extreme cases could cause fatal accidents. Whilst the concept of vehicle tracker devices is known in itself, applying it to what might be thought of as relatively mundane industrial units such as the one under discussion is inventive as well as being believed new. The public mind has focused on expensive and desirable machinery such as motor cars, and has failed to connect the application of the same concept to traffic light power supply generators. Only now that the danger has been pointed out is it clear how desirable this is and hence what a non-apparent suggestion it incorporates.

In one presently preferred embodiment of the invention, to be described and illustrated in this patent specification now, the trailer incorporates a generally wedge-shaped housing such that when viewed in side elevation, the wedge shape is defined, and that end of the trailer which forms the high end of the wedge incorporates a single door giving access to the whole of the carrying compartment of the unit. In this configuration, the traffic light heads are advantageously placed immediately behind the single door which gives access to the whole of the carrying compartment of the unit and in an essentially upright position while the support portions are placed along the bottom wall of the compartment. The series of so-called solar panels are in this configuration advantageously placed along the hypotenuse of the wedge-shaped housing.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows a trailer embodying the invention when viewed in perspective from the low end of its generally wedge-shaped housing; and

Figure 2 shows the same trailer, viewed again in perspective but in this view from the high end of its generally wedge-shaped housing.

Description of the preferred embodiment of the Invention

The trailer of Figure 1 has a backbone-style chassis 11 supported on a single spaced-apart pair of wheels 12,13 rendering it mobile. A conventional towing hook 14 at one end of the chassis backbone enables the mobile trailer to be towed to and from its sites of use. Retractable props 15 and 16 at each corner of the high end of the trailer chassis enable it to stand, without moving, when it is in use and is not being towed.

The trailer chassis 11 supports a generally wedge-shaped housing 18. The housing slopes from back to front of the trailer as shown. The sloping top 19 incorporates rectangular solar panels 21 and neither the top 19 nor the panels 21 are movable in orientation with respect to the housing 18 generally. The solar panels are photo-voltaic cells means which are capable of accumulating energy from any appropriate light source. The primary light source is the sun, however the photo-voltaic cell means are also adapted to harness the energy emitted by other light sources such as the lights illuminating a tunnel. Both are fixed on the housing which is in turn fixed to the chassis 11 of the trailer. A bank 22 of batteries sits within the housing 18.

As shown in Figure 2 a single roller shutter door 26 gives access to the whole of the interior of the housing 18. Neither its roll-up nor its releasable locking mechanisms need be detailed here; they can be selected from known alternatives.

Also permanently mounted in the housing 18 are cable drums 23 which in use connect the batteries via an appropriate circuit to temporary traffic light sets. These traffic light sets are shown mounted within the housing 18 when the trailer is ready to be towed between sites of use. They are removable from within the housing because they will of course stand apart from the trailer on the road surface to fulfil their function.

When ready for towing away, the traffic light head portions 31,32 are rigidly albeit removably mounted within the housing 18 by known means such as a quick-release clamp 28 of the over-centre kind.

These portions of the traffic light sets are mounted in the highest section of the wedge-shaped housing 18. A space is provided between both head portions 31,32 sufficient to allow the removal or the insertion of the support portions 33,34 which lie along the floor 27 of the housing 18 when the traffic light sets are not in use.

As shown in the Figures the floor 27 of the housing 18 carried the battery banks, the cable drums and the two sets of temporary traffic lights when the trailer is towed from site to site and so each and every one of these components is effectively housed in a compartment occupying the lowermost region of the trailer as constructed.

Any further details needed for the reader to put this present invention successfully into practise are either part of his general knowledge already or can be supplemented by reading Applications GB 2 329 534 and GB 2 339

747. The unit described and illustrated has the following practical features: a) The traffic lights are operated via 12v LED's. b) The unit requires no attention other than switching on and will operate day and night (i.e. continuous for relatively long periods). c) The unit is silent in operation. d) The unit does not generate any gaseous emissions and is thus environmentally friendly. e) No moving parts. f) Removes the need for contractors to carry flammable materials such as fuel and oil. g) Very low maintenance costs. h) Ideal for use in residential areas and/or near hospitals. i) The unit can be charged by auxiliary means such as a vehicle or a home based charge unit, j) The unit complies with the Highways Authorities requirements, k) Additional safety features such as a low voltage cut-out.

In summary, the invention embodies the following advantageous aspects :-

Aspect 1 GEN-SUN (the Applicant's Trade Mark for "The Friendly

Universal Solar Assisted Generator") powering Temporary Traffic Lights has no moving parts and can be operated anywhere and at any time, in complete silence, without giving off any gasses or pollutants, for up to a maximum recommended operating time of five days and five nights without being recharged from a Site-based Charge Unit or the towing vehicle's charging circuit via the on-board auxiliary charge capability, compliant with all Highways Authorities' regulations, by harnessing the sun's power through the use of photo-voltaic cells to trickle charge a battery generator via a voltage regulator which, in turn, provides power to low voltage and low amperage Light Emitting Diode light heads via 50 meters of 2.5mm 7-core cable, where the light heads are controlled via a low energy Traffic Light Signal Controller and a Low Voltage cut-out and restart Controller, the fraffic in turn being controlled via microwave vehicle detectors, all control units being housed in a specially designed and sited control box, ancillary powered tools operate from a separate battery generator linked to its own photo-voltaic panels through its own voltage regulator, all equipment being contained and housed when not in use in a specially designed trailer unit, the complete generator unit and its operation being monitored remotely by on-board/home base/operator held telemetry for operational efficiency and anti-theft tracking.

Aspect 2 Notwithstanding Aspect 1, the battery bank is pollutant free, fully recyclable, has a three year manufacturers warranty awarded against the known and proven operating cycles and functionality of component parts given the on-board and external control units prevent the battery bank from discharging to below 10.5 volts, 18% below its fully charged state, or being charged above 12.8 volts, the on-board control units being the Voltage Regulator and the Low Voltage Cut-out and Re-start Control Unit, the external control units being the Towing Vehicles Charging Circuit and the 110v/12v Charge Unit which can both be connected to the battery bank via an on-board cable circuit with its own in-line fuse.

Aspect 3 Notwithstanding Aspect 1, the specially designed and manufactured Low Voltage Cut-out and Re-start Control Unit ensures that when the Battery Bank reaches 10.5 volts the power from the Battery Bank is disconnected thereby not only protecting the Battery Bank from further drain, to ensure that it does not reach a level below 18% of maximum charge level, but also to prevent the Light Heads from operating at a voltage under 10.5volts at which point the LEDs could be putting out less than the 400 candela brightness required, the Re-start facility will not allow the Light Heads to function again until the Battery Generator has been fully recharged to its maximum level of 12.7 volts via the three alternative sources of recharging.

Aspect 4 Notwithstanding Aspect 1, the three alternative sources of recharging the battery bank are firstly via the photovoltaic panels which recharge the battery generator continuously, at varying capacities depending upon weather conditions, but always at a controlled level, through a voltage control regulator; secondly via the towing vehicles charging circuit which is connected to the on-board auxiliary charging circuit protected by its own inline fuse, to the battery bank and; thirdly via an auxiliary site based or mobile 240v or 110v/12v Charger, which has its own overcharge protection device, which is connected to the on-board auxiliary charging circuit protected by its own in-line fuse, to the battery bank.

Aspect 5 Notwithstanding Aspect 1, GEN-SUN has the capacity to operate indefinitely in all weather conditions and in all environments providing the battery banks are kept charged above the minimum level of 10.5 volts via either of the three alternative recharge sources as identified in Aspect 4.

Aspect 6 Notwithstanding Aspect 1, the GEN-SUN Friendly Solar Assisted Temporary Traffic Lights operate for five days and 5 nights without recharging, other than by the photovoltaic panels, utilising a maximum of 50 meters of specially designated seven core 25mm cable which supplies power to each light head, the total distance between Light Heads being 100 meters, the length and thickness of cable being critical to minimise voltage drop between the Battery Bank and the Light Heads, the said voltage drop being minimised to 1.3 volts or less.

Aspect 7 Notwithstanding Aspect 1, the Voltage Regulator serves to regulate the charge rate of the Battery Bank from the charge generated by the photovoltaic panels in all light conditions and also controls the power supplied by the battery generator to the light heads by routing the load connectors through the load terminals on the Voltage Regulator.

Aspect 8 Notwithstanding Aspect 1, the Battery Generators which are recharged by the three sources identified in Aspect 4, supply power via the Voltage Control Regulators to independently power either the Traffic Light Signal Controller and the Microwave Radar Detectors which controls the traffic light sequencing operation and the flow of traffic but also supply power to operate the various powered tools and accessories via an on-board 12v/l lOv inverter with its own in-built low voltage cut off device which prevents battery drain below 18% to comply with battery guarantee requirements. Aspect 9 Notwithstanding Aspect 1, all equipment and component parts are stored and housed in a purpose built trailer unit where the photovoltaic panels are fixed to the angled front of the trailer by security bolts, equipment is housed at the rear of the trailer where access is gained through a roller-shutter door, light heads are stored during travelling in the upright position on specially mounted platforms, light-head stands are housed in a channel running centrally down the length of the trailer, cable reels are stored on either side of the trailer between the side panels and the light heads with a stainless steel cat-flap at the lower rear right-hand side of the trailer to provide a point of exit for the cables, battery banks are housed in purpose built containers positioned over the axle to ensure equal weight distribution, the control panel is sited at eye level at the right hand side of the trailer when looking at it from the front, the control panel houses the traffic light signal controller, the isolator switch, the low voltage cut-out and re-start controller and the voltage control regulator, the control panel being secured by a clear perspex lockable sliding door, both the control box door and the roller shutter door being keyed alike, the inside of the trailer is separated into a front "operator area" and a rear "service only" area by two sealed but removable bulkhead panels which also act as strengthening and support panels for the trailer unit as a whole, the front of the trailer has a compartment to house road signs and which is protected by a bull-bar which is also used as a manoeuvring handle, "D" handles are fitted to the rear of the trailer to provide for ease of manoeuvre and a connection point for a towing lighting board, the complete trailer unit being capable of being lifted via a strategically placed lifting eye by an external source onto alternative transport.

Aspect 10 An additional recharging facility for the battery banks is provided, to meet specific customer requirements, via an auxiliary wind generator which is either affixed to the trailer unit or to some other nearby point, which in turn provides a trickle charge facility to the battery generators in order to keep them fully charged depending upon demand from the various power tools and equipment in use.

Claims

1. A mobile power supply unit comprising a frailer adapted for towing, and incorporating a bank of batteries on the trailer together with photo-voltaic cell means for providing a current to charge the batteries, thereby enabling them to power remote electrical equipment such as a set of temporary traffic lights, characterized by the feature that the photo-voltaic cell means is essentially non-adjustable in inclination when the unit is in use.

2. A mobile power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the battery bank and one or more fraffic light set are housed, when the traffic lights are not in use, in essentially the same compartment of the trailer.

3. A mobile power supply unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one traffic light set is separable into a head portion (containing the lights) and a support portion (on which the head portion in use is mounted) and wherein the trailer incorporates means adapted for holding the head portion and the separated support portion when the fraffic lights are not in use.

4. A mobile power supply unit according to claim 3, wherein the support portion of the or each traffic light set is removable from the trailer and insertable into the trailer without having to remove any of the heads of the fraffic light sets when these are housed in the trailer.

5. A mobile power supply unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inclination of the or each photo-voltaic cell means is comprised within the range of 30 degrees to 50 degrees when the trailer is standing on level ground in its normally intended attitude of use.

6. A mobile power supply unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the or each cable unit sufficient, in use, to connect the batteries to the or each temporary traffic light set associated with the trailer, is housed when not in use in the same compartment where the battery bank and the or each traffic light set are housed when the traffic lights are not in use.

7. A mobile power supply unit according to claim 6, wherein the cables are mounted within the housing so that when the unit is in use, the or each cable-carrying mounting - for example an otherwise conventional cable drum - remains fixed to the housing so that the cables can operate without their mounting having to be removed from the housing.

8. A mobile power supply unit according to any of the preceding claims, fitted with a so-called tracking device.

9. A mobile power supply unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the frailer incorporates a generally wedge-shaped housing such that when viewed in side elevation, the wedge shape is defined, and that end of the trailer which forms the high end of the wedge incorporates a single door giving access to the whole of the carrying compartment of the unit.

10 A mobile power supply unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any appropriate combination of the accompanying drawings.