Classifications

• • 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
  • H02S30/00—Structural details of PV modules other than those related to light conversion
  • H02S30/20—Collapsible or foldable PV modules
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S25/00—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
  • F24S25/10—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules extending in directions away from a supporting surface
  • F24S25/11—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules extending in directions away from a supporting surface using shaped bodies, e.g. concrete elements, foamed elements or moulded box-like elements
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S25/00—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
  • F24S25/60—Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules
  • F24S25/61—Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules for fixing to the ground or to building structures
  • F24S25/617—Elements driven into the ground, e.g. anchor-piles; Foundations for supporting elements; Connectors for connecting supporting structures to the ground or to flat horizontal surfaces
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S25/00—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
  • F24S25/70—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules with means for adjusting the final position or orientation of supporting elements in relation to each other or to a mounting surface; with means for compensating mounting tolerances
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S30/00—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules
  • F24S30/40—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement
  • F24S30/42—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement with only one rotation axis
  • F24S30/422—Vertical axis
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S30/00—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules
  • F24S30/40—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement
  • F24S30/45—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement with two rotation axes
  • F24S30/452—Vertical primary axis
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S40/00—Safety or protection arrangements of solar heat collectors; Preventing malfunction of solar heat collectors
  • F24S40/80—Accommodating differential expansion of solar collector elements
  • F24S40/85—Arrangements for protecting solar collectors against adverse weather conditions
• • 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
  • H02S20/00—Supporting structures for PV modules
  • H02S20/10—Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground
• • 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
  • H02S20/00—Supporting structures for PV modules
  • H02S20/30—Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment
  • H02S20/32—Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment specially adapted for solar tracking
• • 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
  • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
  • Y02E10/47—Mountings or tracking
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention concerns a solar panel support either or not provided with a solar panel.
• Solar panel supports are well-known and described, such as in NL1017314, NL8304155 and US 5,125,608. These patents and patent applications pertain to a support or housing for a solar panel and the assembly of such a support or housing and a solar panel.
• the well-known solar panel holders are, in general, flat plate-shaped holders, provided with a complex tracking system. Moreover, these well-known holders become considerably hot whereby heat exchangers are necessary.
• the objective of the present invention is to provide a simple adjustable solar panel support, whereby the expensive, electronic tracking system is not necessary, but which is however capable to achieve the collecting of an optimum amount of solar energy with a minimum of human effort.
• a secondary objective of the invention is to provide a simple, by a human being relocatable and position-adjustable solar panel support through which the putting into use and usage becomes simpler.
• the present solar panel support is suitable as an information carrier on its housing.
• the present invention provides here a solar panel support comprised of a mounting foot; a first spherical wedge-shaped sub-assembly housing; and a second, preferably spherical wedge-shaped, sub-assembly housing; whereby the first sub-assembly housing is rotatably journalled on top of the mounting foot and the second sub-assembly housing is hingeably journalled to the first sub-assembly housing and whereby the second sub-assembly housing is suitable for the supporting of a solar panel.
• a such solar panel support simplifies the setting of the position both in rotation as well as in the angular position of the solar panel.
• a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a hollow mounting foot on which there is a rotatably journalled spherical wedge-shaped sub-assembly housing.
• On this first spherical wedge-shaped sub-assembly housing there is provided a hingeable second spherical wedge-shaped sub-assembly housing that contains a holder, suitable to support a solar panel.
• the radius of the second subassembly housing differs somewhat from the radius of the first sub-assembly housing.
• the second sub-assembly housing can be tilted between a minimum vertical angle of tilt a and a maximum vertical angle of tilt ⁇ . There are preferably six angles of tilt positions between angle of tilt a and ⁇ , one angle of tilt position for each month of the year.
• Figure 1 illustrates the separated out components of a solar panel support and a solar panel
• Figure 2 illustrates the assembled embodiment of figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 and Figure 4 illustrate, respectively, the maximum angle of tilt ⁇ and the minimum angle of tilt a
• Figure 5 shows a plan view of a mounting foot
• Figure 6 shows a front view of a solar panel support with a solar panel which is tilted up to the maximum vertical angle of tilt ⁇ .
• the present invention concerns a solar panel support 1 comprised of a mounting foot 2, a fastening pin 5, a first spherical wedge-shaped sub-assembly housing 3 and a second, preferably, spherical wedge-shaped, sub-assembly housing 4.
• the first wedge-shaped sub-assembly housing 3 is journalled on top of the mounting foot 2 and the second sub-assembly housing 4 is hingeably mounted on the first sub-assembly housing 3 and the sub-assembly housing 4 further contains a holder 17 that is suitable for the supporting of a solar panel 16.
• first spherical wedge-shaped sub-assembly housing 3 implies a shell that, preferably, encloses a space 13, which is further suitable to be provided on top of a mounting foot 2 and which can further support another shell.
• the shape of the first sub-assembly housing 3 can be round or angular, the shape of the plan view is, preferably, a circle with a diameter which is suitable to provide the sub-assembly housing 3 on a mounting foot 2.
• the sub-assembly housing 3 can, for example, be provided on the mounting foot 2 by means of a notch in the lower side wherein the mounting foot 2 fits.
• the shape of a first sub-assembly housing 3 is beam-shaped with rounded edges whereby a such beam-shape lies horizontal and is greater in width than height.
• the first sub-assembly housing 3 has, from a side view a wedge shape with rounded side walls.
• an embodiment of the first sub-assembly housing 3 encloses, according to the invention, preferably, a space 13 which is dimensioned so that a second shell fits in this. This space 13 preferably includes on the wall means for making frictional contact with the second sub-assembly housing 4.
• Non-limiting examples of such means are grooves on the inner side of the first sub-assembly housing 3, or protuberances on the exterior of the first sub- assembly housing 3.
• the first sub-assembly housing 3 is constructed from a material selected from the group of synthetic materials, natural materials or composite materials.
• a "mounting foot” refers to an element that can mainly be placed on a horizontal surface and which is suitable to be provided with a first subassembly housing 3 and that the entire first sub-assembly housing 3 can support the second sub-assembly housing 4, holder 17 and solar panel 16.
• the mounting foot 2 has a polygonal shape in plan view, the angular points of such polygonal shapes can be preferably connected by a circumscribing circle. Most preferably, the mounting foot 2 has a circular shape in plan view.
• the mounting foot 2 is further subdivided into compartments 26 which are separated from each other by means of partitions 25.
• the preferred embodiment of the mounting foot 2 is, according to the invention, further provided with a fastening pin 5 which is suitable to anchor and stabilise the solar panel support 1 on a mainly horizontal surface on which the solar panel support 1 can be mounted and whereby the longitudinal direction of the fastening pin 5 runs through the centre 24 of the mounting foot 2.
• the fastening pin 5 preferably protrudes through the upper side and the lower side of the mounting foot 2 and, preferably, has a fastening device 19 that is suitable to grip a notch 18 of the first sub-assembly housing 3. When the fastening device 19 grips the notch 18, then the first sub-assembly housing 3 is anchored on the mounting foot 2.
• the fastening device can, for example, be a stud provided on the upper part of the pin 5.
• the first sub-assembly housing 3 is rotatably journalled on the mounting foot 2.
• the first sub- assembly housing 3 can, together with the second sub-assembly housing 4 and the solar panel 16, rotate in both directions around the central axis, which runs through the centre of the mounting foot 2, over an angle of between 0° and 180°.
• the solar panel support 1 is further provided with a motor that is suitable to sequentially drive the horizontal rotating movement of the first sub-assembly housing 3.
• a motor that is suitable to sequentially drive the horizontal rotating movement of the first sub-assembly housing 3.
• Non-limiting examples of the said motor are an electric motor or a stepper motor.
• the driving by the motor can be programmed for the period between sunrise and sunset. The advantage of such a programmed drive lies in that there is a maximum of sunlight collected during the course of a day as the sun can be tracked.
• the solar panel support 1 is provided with an automatic sun-tracking system. This ensures an optimum utilisation of the sunlight during the course of the day and does not require manual adjustment.
• the mounting foot 2 is hollow and this is provided with a supply gap suitable for a stabilising material to be inserted in, and removed from, the hollow space of the mounting foot 2.
• This stabilising material is suitable to weight down the mounting foot 2 and ensures that the solar panel support 1 stands stable.
• the embodiment of a solar panel support 1 whereby the mounting foot 2 is hollow has as an advantage in that the entire solar panel support 1 has a sufficiently low weight to be able to be carried by one adult.
• the compartments 26 in the mounting foot 2 gives an advantage in that small bumps and unevennesses in the mainly horizontal surface on which the solar panel support 1 is placed, can be corrected.
• the mounting foot 2 is constructed of a material selected from the group of synthetic materials, natural materials or composite materials.
• the mounting foot 2 has, in perspective view, a circular shape, for example, the shape of a cylinder or a truncated cone, most preferably, the mounting foot 2 has, in perspective view, a cylindrical shape whereby the height is less or equal to the radius.
• the mounting foot 2 has, in perspective view, a polygonal shape, for example, a cube of a truncated pyramid.
• the upper and lower surface of the mounting foot 2 are parallel to each other.
• second sub-assembly housing 4 implies a shell which is preferably spherical wedge-shaped and suitable to be provided on a first sub-assembly housing 3.
• the second subassembly housing 4 is provided hingeable along a joint hinge line 14 with the first sub-assembly housing 3.
• "Joint hinge line” 14 implies the axis that lies in the plane of the upper side of the first sub-assembly housing 3 and around which the second sub-assembly housing 4 can hinge whereby the hingeing direction is perpendicular to the horizontal surface 23 whereon the solar panel support 1 is mounted.
• the joint hinge line 14 runs centrally through the hinge element 15. In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, this hinge element 15 is a hinge.
• the second sub-assembly housing 4 further contains a holder 17 that is suitable to support a solar panel.
• holder 17 refers to a construction that is suitable to be provided with a solar panel 16 and whereby the said solar panel 16 is supported.
• holder 17 is comprised of at least two raised edges 9 and 10 which are inwardly folded at the upper side and which lie opposite each other and the holder 17 further has a concave lower side.
• the solar panel 16 rests on the upper side of the second subassembly housing 4.
• Another embodiment of a holder 17 comprises four raised edges between which a solar panel 16 can be provided, and a concave lower side.
• the holder 17 is provided on the upper side of the second sub-assembly housing 17. In another embodiment of the invention, the holder 17 forms an integral part of the second sub-assembly housing 4. In a preferred embodiment, the upper side of the second sub-assembly housing 4 is concavely curved through which a gap 8 arises between said upper side and the holder 17 which can support a solar panel 16. This gap 8 offers the advantage that the air flow caused by wind, does not give rise to a lifting force on the solar panel 16 that is provided in the holder 17, which ensures an increased stability of the solar panel 16.
• the second sub-assembly housing 4 can, together with the supported solar panel 16, be tilted between a minimum vertical angle of tilt a and a maximum vertical angle of tilt ⁇ .
• the tilting of the sub-assembly housing 4 occurs around the joint hinge line 14.
• the term "vertical angle of tilt” implies the angle which is formed between the lower side of the second sub-assembly housing and the lower side of the mounting foot 2.
• the minimum vertical angle of tilt a lies between 5° and 45°, preferably between 10° and 30°.
• the maximum vertical angle of tilt ⁇ lies between 25° and 75°, preferably between 35° and 60°.
• the tilt of the second sub-assembly housing 4 is subdivided into 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or more positions, such lying between the minimum vertical angle of tilt a and the maximum vertical angle of tilt ⁇ .
• the tilt of the second sub-assembly housing 4 is, preferably, subdivided into a number of positions which lie between 5 and 8 or more positions, such lying between the minimum vertical angle of tilt a and the maximum vertical angle of tilt ⁇ .
• the tilt of the second sub-assembly housing 4 is subdivided into six positions, such lying between the minimum vertical angle of tilt a and the maximum vertical angle of tilt ⁇ . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the positions are numbered.
• the positions are marked 27 with the name of a number of months, this number lies between 1 and 12, dependent on the number of positions, so that each month will each time maximally occur once at a position.
• This marking 27 gives an indication of the optimum tilt angle in a specific month to maximise the efficiency of the solar panel.
• the tilt position of the second sub-assembly housing 4 can be maintained on the basis of the means to make frictional contact.
• Non-limiting examples of such means are grooves on the enclosing wall of the space 13 and that of protuberances on the exterior of the second sub-assembly housing 4.
• both sub-assembly housings are in mutual frictional contact with each other whereby the second sub-assembly housing 4 is maintained in the desired tilt position.
• the second sub-assembly housing 4 is constructed of a material selected from the group of synthetic materials, natural materials or composite materials.
• Each solar panel 16 can be supported by solar panel support 1 and in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the solar panel support 1 supports a solar panel 16 with a surface area which lies, preferably, between 0.5m 2 and 1.5m 2 , most preferably, with a surface area which lies between 0.8m 2 and 1.2m 2 .
• the shape of the solar panel 16, in a preferred embodiment, is polygonal and, preferably, quadrangular, most preferably, the solar panel 16 is square.
• Each type of solar panel 16 is suitable to be used in a solar panel support 1, such as photovoltaic solar panels and solar thermal panels.
• both spherical sub-assembly housings 3 and 4 have a different radius 22 and 21 respectively.
• the radius 22 of the first sub-assembly housing 3 is greater than the radius 21 of the second sub-assembly housing 4, the second sub-assembly housing 4 tilts in the space 13.
• the radius 22 of the first sub-assembly housing 3 is smaller than the radius 21 of the second sub-assembly housing 4, the second sub-assembly housing 4 tilts over the first sub-assembly housing 3.
• the means that ensure frictional contact are provide on the wall of the space 13 and the exterior of the second sub-assembly housing 4. In the latter case, the means that ensure frictional contact are provided on the exterior of the first sub-assembly housing 3 and on the interior of the second sub-assembly housing 4.
• the solar panel can be connected to an inverter that converts the direct current (DC) to an alternating current (AC) with a correct voltage. Also the connections and the wiring to connect the solar panel to the electricity grid are known in the state of the art technology and can be used in the present invention.
• the mounting foot 1 is placed on the ground 23 and is anchored with a fastening pin 5 and has a cover on the upper side 20.
• the fastening pin 5 is inserted into the opening 24, at the centre of the foot 2.
• the mounting foot 2 is hollow and provided with partitions 25 which form compartments 26. These compartments are filled with stabilising and weighting down material through which the solar panel support 1 stands level on the ground 23.
• the first spherical wedge-shaped sub-assembly housing 3 is placed rotatably journalled on the mounting foot 2 by means of a rolling bearing (not shown).
• the first sub-assembly housing 3 has an overhanging edge over the mounting foot 2, here schematically shown by the shoulders 11 and 12.
• the stud 19 grips in the notch 18 whereby the first sub-assembly housing 3 is fixed on the foot 2.
• the rounded sides 6 and 7 give the advantage that the wind which blows on these sides is diverted and that the stability of the solar panel 16 is ensured.
• the first sub-assembly housing 3 comprises the hinge 15 which encloses a hinge pin 14 around which the second spherical wedge-shape sub-assembly housing 4 pivots. This tilting movement is limited to between the minimum vertical angle of tilt a and the maximum vertical angle of tilt ⁇ .
• the radius 22 of the first sub-assembly housing 3 is greater than the radius 21 of the second subassembly housing 4.
• the second sub-assembly housing 4 tilts in the space 13 of the first sub-assembly housing 3.
• the exterior of the second sub-assembly housing 4 and the wall of the space 13 comprise means for frictional contact through which the second sub-assembly housing 4 is maintained in the selected tilt position.
• the six markings 27 are each labelled with the names of two months, so that in each month the solar panel can optimally collect the sunlight.
• the solar panel 16 is supported by the holder 17 and clamped by the raised edges 9 and 10.
• a gap 8 is provided under the holder 17 that allows the air flow to pass under the solar panel 16 through which the wind cannot exercise lifting force on the solar panel 16.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Sustainable Energy (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Cited By (3)

Citations (10)

• 2011
  • 2011-06-15 BE BE2011/0366A patent/BE1020007A3/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2012
  • 2012-06-14 WO PCT/EP2012/061379 patent/WO2012172028A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (10)

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