WO2012004497A1

WO2012004497A1 - Electricity production system for an automotive vehicle.

Info

Publication number: WO2012004497A1
Application number: PCT/FR2011/051557
Authority: WO
Inventors: André Sassi; Jocelyne Sassi
Original assignee: Sassi Andre; Jocelyne Sassi
Priority date: 2010-07-05
Filing date: 2011-07-01
Publication date: 2012-01-12

Abstract

Electricity production system comprising a flexible film (6) having a width corresponding substantially to the width of a vehicle, such as a car, the system also comprising a reel (3) onto/from which the flexible film (6) can be wound/unwound, the reel (3) being rotated by a motor (4), characterized in that: the flexible film (6) incorporates photovoltaic cells (60); and the system furthermore comprises two guiding units (7) placed near the reel (3) so as to guide the flexible film (6) during winding/unwinding phases.

Description

Electricity generation system

for a motor vehicle

The present invention relates to a power generation system for a motor vehicle, such as a car comprising a rear bumper, a trunk, a roof, a hood and a front bumper. The system includes a flexible film for extending over the vehicle between its rear bumper and its front bumper. The film defines a longitudinal direction that extends in the length of the vehicle from the rear to the front. In other words, the film is extended or pulled in the longitudinal direction to cover the vehicle from the rear to the front, or vice versa. Therefore, the preferred field of application of the present invention is that of passenger cars, but it is also possible to implement the present invention with other types of vehicles such as commercial vehicles, trucks, trailers, boats, etc.

Protective tarpaulins for motor vehicles have been in existence for a long time. The simplest models only provide a flexible tarpaulin that is unfolded and pulls on the top of the vehicle to cover it at least partially. Once in place, the tarpaulin can be attached to the vehicle by various techniques, such as elastics, hooks, etc. This type of rudimentary tarpaulin has two disadvantages. The first is the tarpaulin operation of extending the tarp over the top of the vehicle. It is necessary to turn several times around the vehicle to correctly position the tarpaulin on the vehicle. The other disadvantage is the storage of the tarp when not in use on the vehicle. It is indeed necessary to fold the tarpaulin correctly so that it has a minimum footprint. This latter disadvantage is partially solved by more complex tarpaulin systems using a winding drum on which the tarpaulin is wound into the storage position. When one wants to use the tarpaulin, one pulls it by a free end so as to unroll the covering of its winding drum. These winding drums can be installed at the front or rear, or on the roof of the vehicle. It is also possible to integrate the winding drum inside the trunk or trunk of the vehicle. However, even with a winding drum, the tarpaulin system does not solve the problem related to the sheeting operation of the vehicle. Indeed, it is always necessary to pull the free end of the cover and move to properly extend the flexible cover on the top of the vehicle. In other words, the winding drum is useful and effective during the operation of winding or unclogging of the vehicle, but it is absolutely of no use for the unfolding operation or sheeting of the vehicle.

On the other hand, there are also electricity production systems in the form of photovoltaic panels capable of transforming the light radiation into an electrical signal. Such panels are frequently installed on the roofs of buildings or in the form of solar farms. These panels are rigid and heavy.

The present invention aims to combine a tarpaulin and photovoltaic panels for the purpose of producing electricity with a traditional system (tarpaulin) whose original function (protection) is completely different. The invention also aims to facilitate the sheeting operation of the vehicle so that its implementation does not require, or very little, the intervention of the user. Another object of the present invention is to facilitate or automate the operation of covering the vehicle without interfering with or complicating the unstacking operation. Yet another object of the invention is to facilitate the sheeting operation without providing the film of rigid structure that it is necessary to retract, fold, retract with complicated mechanisms. It is also essential that the film is perfectly extended on the vehicle so that the photovoltaic cells are properly exposed to the sun's radiation. In other words, it is necessary to avoid the formation of folds in the film, both in the unwound position and in the wound position to prevent the formation of permanent creases in the film. To do this, the present invention provides a power generation system comprising a flexible film having a width substantially corresponding to the width of a motor vehicle, such as a car, the system also comprising a winding drum on which the flexible film is rollable and unrollable, the drum being rotated by a motor, characterized in that:

the flexible film incorporates photovoltaic cells, and

- The system further comprises two guiding units disposed near the drum for guiding the flexible film during unwinding and winding phases.

The system of the invention combines both the advantages of photovoltaic panels for the production of electricity and a great simplicity of extension and removal of the film in the manner of a conventional tarpaulin. The extension operations (sheeting) and removal (unstacking) are particularly simple thanks to the guiding units that guide the flexible film on the vehicle. The fact that the guide units are located close to the winding drum ensures a great compactness to the system: the drum, the motor and the guide units can be housed in a single receptacle from which the flexible film leaves.

Advantageously, the guiding units are driven by the motor. Thus, the guiding units serve not only to guide the film, but also to wind and unwind the drum. Without this, the flexible film would tend to roll poorly or unroll. It should also be noted that the motor serves both the drum and the guiding units.

Advantageously, each guide unit comprising two rotary rollers between which the flexible film passes.

According to another interesting aspect, the flexible film comprises two lateral edges substantially perpendicular to the drum, the guide units engaging with these lateral edges. The film is thus perfectly maintained, stretched and guided between the two guiding units. Advantageously, the lateral edges comprise a metal ribbon. Alternatively or cumulatively, the lateral edges comprise an overmoulded strip of flexible plastic material. Advantageously, the side edges are perforated, notched or grooved to engage with the guide units.

According to a practical embodiment, each guide unit comprises two rotary rollers including a driving roller mounted on an axis parallel to the drum and driven by the motor, for example by means of a drive belt.

The film may be entirely covered with photovoltaic cells and have a thickness of the order of 1 to 2 mm. Its width corresponds substantially to that of the roof of a vehicle.

The spirit of the invention is based on the optimization of a conventional tarpaulin system which is added the new technology of flexible photovoltaic cells to achieve a power generation system for a motor vehicle. The unwinding and winding operations of the film are optimized to ensure that the film is perfectly extended on the vehicle, since the incidental exposure of the photovoltaic cells is essential to obtain a good electricity production.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings giving by way of non-limiting example two embodiments of the invention.

In the figures:

FIGS. 1 to 3 show very schematically a vehicle equipped with a system according to the invention during different stages of covering,

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a system according to one embodiment,

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view through the receptacle of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic representation of the guiding means of FIGS. 4 and 5, and Figures 7 and 8 are views cut through the flexible films according to two embodiments of the invention.

The power generation system of the invention is intended to be associated, mounted, added or integrated in a motor vehicle, such as a private car or a commercial vehicle, a truck, a trailer or a boat. One can even consider using the system of the invention to cover other objects, mobile or not, and even constructions, such as a pool, a pool, etc. In Figures 1 to 3 which are used to illustrate the present invention, the system has been integrated into a particular type of motor vehicle. This vehicle V conventionally comprises a chassis, several wheels, a motor, and a passenger compartment. The vehicle V also comprises a rear bumper P, a rear boot M, a roof T, a front cover C and a front bumper, as shown in Figure 1. The top of the vehicle, intended to be covered by the system of the invention, thus consists of the rear trunk M, the roof T, the cover C and part of the rear bumper and front P and R. is an example of non-limiting embodiment.

In the exemplary embodiment used to illustrate the present invention, the system of the invention 1 is integrated inside the rear bumper P as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The system 1 preferably extends over practically the entire width of the rear bumper P. This is only a non-limiting example of implementation, because it is also possible to mount the tarpaulin system of the invention elsewhere on the vehicle V, such as for example to the outside of the bumper P, on or in the trunk M, on the roof T or outside or inside the front bumper R. It can for example removably mount the system of tarpaulin of the invention at the rear bumper P in the manner of a trailer or a caravan. For this, one can for example fix a mounting device on the frame, in place of the trailer or caravan, this device comprising means for mounting, preferably by snapping, the tarpaulin system. In use, the system of the invention is attached to the rear of the vehicle, and when one does not not used, it can very easily be stored inside the car, for example in the trunk. We can then consider that the system of the invention is in the form of a kit that can be set up on the vehicle at will. One can also imagine an equivalent system for mounting the system on the roof T of the vehicle in the manner of a gallery.

We can now refer to Figure 4 which shows schematically all the constituent elements of the power generation system of the invention. Thus, the system comprises a receptacle 2 internally defining a housing which communicates with the outside through an elongate trough 26. The receptacle 2 may for example have a substantially circular cross section and a length which is less than the width of the vehicle. It is thus possible to integrate the receptacle 2 inside the rear bumper P of the vehicle V, as represented in FIGS. 1 to 3. The system also comprises a winding drum 3 which is in the form of an axle or an elongated shaft capable of being rotated on itself by an electric motor 4 mounted at one of its ends. The power supply of the engine 4 is provided by the vehicle battery or a dedicated battery. The drum 3 and the motor 4 are intended to be housed inside the receptacle 2. The drum is connected to an attachment end of a flexible film 6. The film comprises two lateral edges 61 which are substantially or perfectly parallel and substantially or perfectly perpendicular to the drum 3. The flexible film 3 also comprises a free end 62 which can be reinforced, for example by a bar or a substantially rigid rod. This flexible film 6 is entirely or partially covered with photovoltaic cells 60 which are deposited on or integrated with the flexible film. The flexible film with its photovoltaic cells has a thickness of the order of 1 to 2 mm, for example 1, 25 mm. Its width is adapted to that of the roof of the vehicle that it must equip. The substrate of the flexible film may be made of plastics material. Photovoltaic cells are also flexible, so the film is fully flexible and not only locally flexible. Thus, it can easily be rolled up and unrolled from the rotary drum 3.

The system of the invention may also comprise a traction device E, such as a mechanical retractor spring, located at the front of the vehicle. The traction device E comprises a connection end which can be manually connected to the free end 62 of the film 6 to maintain it in the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. This traction device E does not have the function of unrolling the film, but simply to prevent it from deviating from its trajectory during unwinding: it can be considered as longitudinal guiding means. For winding, the traction device is not necessary.

In order to further improve the guiding of the flexible film 3 during unwinding / winding, the system further provides two guiding units 7 which are preferably integrated in the receptacle 2 near the drum 3, as can clearly be seen in Figure 5. These guide units 7 are leading, in that they positively drive the flexible film during unwinding / winding. The guiding units 7 can be driven directly or indirectly by the motor 4 of the drum 3. The guiding units 7 are arranged on the passage of the lateral edges 61 of the flexible film 6, and engage with these edges to guide and guide them. drive in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, part of a flexible film is seen at one of its lateral edges 61. The edge 61 is reinforced to give it greater tensile and shear strength, but also greater rigidity. The flexible film itself defines two film edges 6a which are provided reinforced by one or more elements to form the edges 61 which engage with the guide units 7.

For this, in the first non-limiting embodiment of Figure 7, a metal strip 63 is associated with the film edge 6a on one of its faces. This metal strip may for example extend straight and rigid in the unwound state, while retaining the ability to wind on itself. Such a ribbon is already known in the prior art, especially in its use as a roll-up tape master. The ribbon can then be slightly concave, which allows it to give it a certain rigidity in the unwound state, while allowing it to be rollable. The tape 63 may be fixed in any way to the film edge 6a, for example by gluing, riveting or sheathing. According to an advantageous technique, the ribbon 63 may be attached to the film edge 6a by overmolding a suitable plastic material on the ribbon 63 and the film edge 6a, so that the ribbon is at least partially embedded in the adhering plastics material. to the film. In Figure 7, we see the ribbon 63 completely embedded in a strip of plastic material 64 which is overmolded on the ribbon and both sides of the film. This ensures a good rigidity and edge strength 61, while ensuring that the body of the vehicle will not be damaged by the edges 61 of the film. It suffices for this to choose a soft or soft material for the band 64. In addition, the gripping of the edges 61 by the guide units 7 will be improved. On the other hand, the edges 61 are formed with a row of holes 67, which may or may not be through: these holes improve the driving of the edges 61 by the guide units 7, as will be seen below.

In the second non-limiting embodiment of Figure 8, the edge 61 is devoid of metal tape, the reinforcement being only provided by an overmolded strip 64 which is similar to that of Figure 7. However, instead of being perforated the edge 61 is formed with a row of notches 68 which extend transversely in the strip 64.

Alternatively, it is also possible to provide longitudinal grooves in place of or in addition to the notches 68 or holes 67 to improve the guiding of the edges 61. It is also possible to form sheaths at the edges by hemming the film so as to introduce an element, such as the ribbon 63, into each sheath. Other embodiments to strengthen the edge of the film are conceivable.

According to a non-limiting embodiment adapted to the film of Figure 7, each guide unit 7 may comprise two profiled rollers 71 and 72 between which passes and is guided an edge 61 of the flexible film. More specifically, the roller 71 forms a row of pins 75 which penetrate into holes 67 of the film. The training of the film is thus performed in the manner of a cinematographic film ribbon or a rack. It can also be noted that the two rollers define between them a housing in which the band 64 is received with a very limited clearance to prevent the edge 61 from escaping between the two rollers. To drive the rollers in rotation, the roller 72 is rotatably mounted on an axis 76 which is coupled to the drum 3 by a drive system with wheels 73, 33 and belt 74. In this way, the motor 4 drives both the drum 3 and the guiding unit 7.

Alternatively, the pins 75 of the roller 71 may be replaced by notches complementary to the notches 68 to drive the film of Figure 8.

Reference will again be made to FIGS. 1 to 3 to now explain a complete operating cycle on a motor vehicle V. In FIG. 1, it can be seen that the film 6 is almost entirely wound on the winding drum 3 located inside. of the receptacle 2 housed inside the rear bumper P of the vehicle V. Only the free end 62 of the film 6 projects out of the receptacle 2 through the chute 26, so that the end is already positioned at the the back end of the trunk M. The unwinding operation is traditional: it is sufficient to supply the motor 4 to unwind the film 6 of the drum 3. The two guiding units 7 drive the edges 61 of the film perfectly guided in the longitudinal direction. To guarantee this longitudinal direction, the free end 62 of the film may advantageously be connected to the traction device E located at the front of the vehicle. The extension of the film on the vehicle continues without any intervention of the driver. In the end, the film 6 covers the vehicle over its entire length, as shown in FIG. 3. The winding operation proceeds in a similar manner: it suffices to reverse the direction of the engine 4. The film then winds up on the drum 3 being guided by the two guiding units 7. The film is wound without any crease on the drum because it is stretched between the two guiding units.

Thanks to the invention, there is a power generation system that is perfectly integrated with a motor vehicle. It should be noted that the system is particularly compact, mainly because that the guiding units 7 are disposed near the drum in the receptacle 2, only the flexible film extending outside the receptacle.

Claims

claims

1. - Electricity generation system comprising a flexible film (6) having a width substantially corresponding to the width of a vehicle, such as a car, the system also comprising a winding drum (3) on which the flexible film (6) is rollable and unrollable, the drum (3) being rotated by a motor (4), characterized in that:

the flexible film (6) integrates photovoltaic cells (60), and

- The system further comprises two guide units (7) disposed near the drum (3) for guiding the flexible film (6) during unwinding and winding phases.

2. - System according to claim 1, wherein the guide units (7) are driven by the motor (4).

3. - System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each guide unit (7) comprising two rotary rollers (71, 72) between which passes the flexible film (6).

4. - System according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the flexible film (6) comprises two lateral edges (61) substantially perpendicular to the drum (3), the guide units (7) engaging with these lateral edges. (61).

5. - System according to claim 4, wherein the side edges comprise a metal strip (63).

6. - System according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the side edges (61) comprise a molded strip of flexible plastic material (64).

7. - System according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the side edges (61) are perforated (67), serrated (68) or grooved to engage with the guide units (7).

8. - System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each guide unit (7) comprises two rotary rollers (71, 72) including a driving roller (72) mounted on an axis (76) parallel to the drum (3). ) and driven by the motor (4) by means of a drive belt (74).

9. - System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the film (6) is entirely covered with photovoltaic cells (60) and has a thickness of the order of 1 to 2 mm.

10. - System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drum (3), the motor (4) and the guide units (7) are housed in a receptacle (2) which leaves the flexible film (6). .