WO2012172028A1

WO2012172028A1 - Solar panel support

Info

Publication number: WO2012172028A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/061379
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ivan Peeters
Original assignee: TECHNOL EUROPE bvba
Current assignee: TECHNOL EUROPE bvba
Priority date: 2011-06-15
Filing date: 2012-06-14
Publication date: 2012-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2013-12-15
Also published as: BE1020007A3

Abstract

The present invention concerns a solar panel support (1) comprised of a mounting foot (2); a first spherical wedge-shaped sub-assembly housing (3); and a second, preferably spherical wedge-shaped, sub-assembly housing (4). The first sub-assembly housing (3) is rotatably journalled on top of the mounting foot (2) and the second subassembly housing (4) is hingeably journalled to the first sub-assembly housing (3). The second sub-assembly housing (4) is suitable for the supporting of a solar panel (16). The second sub-assembly housing (4) can be tilted between a minimum vertical angle of tilt (α) a and a maximum vertical angle of tilt (β).

Description

SOLAR PANEL SUPPORT

Technical field

The present invention concerns a solar panel support either or not provided with a solar panel.

State of the art technology

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. Moreover, 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. Furthermore, the present solar panel support is suitable as an information carrier on its housing.

Summary 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 β. There are preferably six angles of tilt positions between angle of tilt a and β, one angle of tilt position for each month of the year.

Further preferred embodiments are described in the subsequent claims 2-15.

Description of the figures

The following figures illustrate cross section views of the preferred embodiments of the invention in which :

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 β and the minimum angle of tilt a;

Figure 5 shows a plan view of a mounting foot; and

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 β.

Detailed description

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.

The term "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. From a plan view, 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. From a side view, 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., Preferably, the first sub-assembly housing 3 has, from a side view a wedge shape with rounded side walls. Further, 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. In an embodiment according to the present invention, the first sub-assembly housing 3 is constructed from a material selected from the group of synthetic materials, natural materials or composite materials.

As described herein, 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. In an embodiment according to the invention, 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. In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, 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.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first sub-assembly housing 3 is rotatably journalled on the mounting foot 2. In a such embodiment, 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°.

In an embodiment of the present invention, 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. Non-limiting examples of the said motor are an electric motor or a stepper motor. In another embodiment, 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.

In a still another embodiment according to the invention, 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.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, 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. In an embodiment according to the invention, the mounting foot 2 is constructed of a material selected from the group of synthetic materials, natural materials or composite materials. In an embodiment according to the invention, 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. In another embodiment, the mounting foot 2 has, in perspective view, a polygonal shape, for example, a cube of a truncated pyramid. In the preferred embodiment according to the invention, the upper and lower surface of the mounting foot 2 are parallel to each other.

The term "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. In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, 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.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the second sub-assembly housing 4 further contains a holder 17 that is suitable to support a solar panel. Such as described herein, "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. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, 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. In this embodiment, 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. In an embodiment of the invention, 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. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, 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 β. 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. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the minimum vertical angle of tilt a lies between 5° and 45°, preferably between 10° and 30°. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the maximum vertical angle of tilt β lies between 25° and 75°, preferably between 35° and 60°.

In an embodiment of the invention, 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 β. 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 β. Most preferably, 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 β. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the positions are numbered. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, 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.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, 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. In the preferred embodiment according to the invention, 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. In an embodiment according to the present invention, 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 according to standard available dimensions 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 0.5m² and 1.5m², most preferably, with a surface area which lies between 0.8m² and 1.2m². 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.

In a preferred embodiment of a solar panel support 1 according to the present invention, both spherical sub-assembly housings 3 and 4 have a different radius 22 and 21 respectively. In the event that 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. In the event that 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. In the first case, 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.

Such as is known in the state of the art, 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 following description concerns a preferred embodiment according to the invention and serves to be illustrative.

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.

Further, 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 β. The radius 22 of the first sub-assembly housing 3 is greater than the radius 21 of the second subassembly housing 4. Hereby, 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.

Claims

1. A solar panel support (1) comprising

- A mounting foot (2);

- A first spherical wedge-shaped sub-assembly housing (3); and

- A second, preferably spherical wedge-shaped, sub-assembly housing (4);

whereby the first spherical wedge-shaped sub-assembly housing (3) is rotatably journalled on top of the mounting foot (2) and the second sub- assembly housing (4) is hingeably journalled to the first wedge-shaped subassembly housing (3) and whereby the second sub-assembly housing (4) is suitable for supporting a solar panel (16).

2. Solar panel support (1) according to claim 1, whereby the mounting foot (2) comprises one or more cavities, suitable for containing a stabilising material.

3. Solar panel support (1) according to any of the previous claims 1-2, whereby the sub-assembly housing (3) and (4) are, rotatably journalled, together on top of the mounting foot (2) over an angle of at least 180°.

4. Solar panel support (1) according to any of the previous claims 1-3, whereby the upper side of the second sub-assembly housing (4) is curved whereby a gap for the passage of air (8) is formed between said upper side and the solar panel (16), when the latter is located in the holder (17).

5. Solar panel support (1) according to any of the previous claims 1-4, provided with a solar panel (16) whereby the position of the solar panel (16) is adjustable between a minimum vertical tilt angle a and a maximum vertical tilt angle β.

6. Solar panel support (1) according to the previous claim 5, whereby the minimum vertical tilt angle a lies between 10° and 30°.

7. Solar panel support (1) according to claims 5-6, whereby the maximum vertical tilt angle of angle β lies between 35° and 80°.

8. Solar panel support (1) according to claims 5-7, whereby the position of the solar panel (16) can be adjusted to six angular positions.

9. Solar panel support (1) according to any of the previous claims 1-8, whereby both sub-assembly housings (3) and (4) are in mutual frictional contact with each other to maintain the tilt angle or the angular position.

10. Solar panel support (1) according to any to any of the previous claims 1-9, whereby the second sub-assembly housing (4) is maintained in the desired angular position by means of the mutual frictional contact.

11. Solar panel support (1) according to any of the previous claims 1-10, whereby both spherical sub-assembly housings (3) and (4) have a different radius (21) and (22).

12. Solar panel support (1) according to any of the previous claims 1-11, whereby the mounting foot (2) is provided with a central fastening pin

(5) which is suitable for stabilising the solar panel support (1) on the support surface (23) or the ground.

13. Solar panel support (1) according to any of the previous claims 1-12, whereby the solar panel support (1) is provided with a rotary motor suitable for actuating the first sub-assembly housing (3).

14. Solar panel support (1) according to the previous claim 13, whereby the motor can be programmed for the period between sunrise and sunset.

15. Solar panel support (1) according to any of the previous claims 1-14, whereby the solar panel support is provided with an automatic solar tracking system.

16. Solar panel support (1) according to any of the previous claims 1-15 whereby the solar panel (16) which is supported has a surface area of between 0.8m² and 1.2m² and has a quadrangular shape.

17. Solar panel support (1) according to any of the previous claims 1-16 whereby the solar panel (16) which is supported has a surface area in accordance with the standard available dimensions.