Solar collector support system for efficient storage, transport, and deployment of an expandable array of rotatable solar collectors

Abstract

Compact solar collector arrays with multiple axis adjustability for use with mobile structures, such as trailers, RVs, etc., and temporary support structures and associated methods of use are disclosed that provide significant power generation capacity per roof area, easy deployment, optimum orientation regardless of underlying vehicle or structure orientation, and protection for solar collector arrays during transport. Some embodiments include a plurality of solar collector mounts coupled to a support surface, the plurality of solar collector mounts being capable of changing relative spatial arrangement of each solar collector with respect to at least a neighboring solar collector.

Description

FIELDThis application relates generally to solar collectors, and particularly to solar collector arrays.BACKGROUNDSolar power is becoming increasingly desirable and necessary as other fuel sources become harder to find and more expensive. Solar power provides the advantage that the energy source (the Sun) is freely available throughout the planet, requiring only solar collectors to harvest the power. Solar collectors are getting thinner, lighter, and more efficient as time goes on, making them more viable for more applications.However, solar collector applications have been limited for vehicles and for low-surface area structures because of the relatively low power output per area and the necessity of heavy batteries for utilizing solar power at night or when the Sun is otherwise obstructed. Because of the required surface area of solar collectors to provide more than a trivial amount of power, solar collectors have been generally impractical for vehicles such as cars, trucks, campe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Compact solar collector arrays with multiple axis adjustability for use with mobile structures, such as trailers, RVs, etc., and temporary support structures and associated methods of use are disclosed that provide significant power generation capacity per roof area, easy deployment, optimum orientation regardless of underlying vehicle or structure orientation, and protection for solar collector arrays during transport. Some embodiments include a plurality of solar collector mounts coupled to a support surface, the plurality of solar collector mounts being capable of changing relative spatial arrangement of each solar collector with respect to at least a neighboring solar collector.

In certain embodiments, the plurality of solar collector mounts can be movable between a consolidated configuration and a deployed configuration. Retractable panels for covering the plurality of solar collector mounts can be used when in the consolidated configuration. The retractable panels can protect the solar collector mounts from road debris and theft.

Problems solved by technology

Solar power is becoming increasingly desirable and necessary as other fuel sources become harder to find and more expensive.

However, solar collector applications have been limited for vehicles and for low-surface area structures because of the relatively low power output per area and the necessity of heavy batteries for utilizing solar power at night or when the Sun is otherwise obstructed.

Because of the required surface area of solar collectors to provide more than a trivial amount of power, solar collectors have been generally impractical for vehicles such as cars, trucks, campers, RV's, trailers, etc. and other small structures such as mobile homes, sheds, etc.

Additionally, the lack of surface area for placing solar collectors can limit the desirability and practicability of using solar collectors on vehicles and small structures, particularly temporarily situated structures such as trailer homes, RV's, frame tents, travel trailers, work trailers, etc.

The lack of surface area is compounded by the lack of positioning options for traditional solar collectors, requiring that the vehicle or temporarily situated structures be placed in a certain orientation to assure power generation by solar collectors.

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