Solar Powered Wheel Apparatus
a technology of solar energy and wheel, which is applied in the direction of pv power plants, rider propulsion, cycles, etc., can solve the problems of reducing the efficiency of solar energy conversion into electrical energy by solar devices, reducing the efficiency of rotating rotary objects, and reducing the electrical energy outpu
Inactive Publication Date: 2011-07-21
LEE WILLIAM EDWARD +1
View PDF8 Cites 13 Cited by
- Summary
- Abstract
- Description
- Claims
- Application Information
AI Technical Summary
Benefits of technology
[0006]The solar powered wheel apparatus disclosed herein addresses the above stated needs for increasing the efficiency of solar devices and their electrical energy output for rotating a rotary object. This is achieved by causing rotation of a rotatable element comprising one or more photovoltaic cells in order to increase their efficiency and their electrical energy output during operation of the solar powered wheel apparatus.
[0008]The electric motor, for example, a direct current motor, is in electric communication with the photovoltaic cells that power the electric motor. The electric motor is rigidly connected to the rotatable element that houses the photovoltaic cells. The axial shaft is rotatably connected to the electric motor, for example, by one or more bearings. The axial shaft is also rigidly connected to a support structure of the rotary object, for example, to the chassis of the vehicle extending from a rim of the wheel of the vehicle. The electric motor converts the electrical energy produced by the photovoltaic cells into mechanical energy and rotates about the axial shaft. The rotation of the electric motor rotates the rigidly connected rotatable element that houses the photovoltaic cells. The rotation of the rotatable element housing the photovoltaic cells by the electric motor removes heat from the photovoltaic cells and allows the photovoltaic cells to operate at a lower temperature. This rotation of the rotatable element housing the photovoltaic cells increases the efficiency and the electrical energy output of the photovoltaic cells. The rotation of the rotatable element by the electric motor causes rotation of the connected rotary object, for example, the wheel of a vehicle. For example, the rotation of the rotatable element connected to each of the wheels of a vehicle, for example, a bicycle, a car, etc., propels the vehicle.
[0010]In another embodiment, the solar powered wheel apparatus further comprises one or more reflectors in multiple positions on a body frame mounted on the rotary object. The reflectors are disposed proximal to the photovoltaic cells housed on the rotatable element and positioned to concentrate the solar energy on the photovoltaic cells. This concentration of solar energy on the photovoltaic cells directs additional solar energy towards the photovoltaic cells and enables the photovoltaic cells to produce additional electrical energy for rotating the rotary object via the electric motor.
[0011]In another embodiment, the solar powered wheel apparatus further comprises one or more concentrator lenses disposed on the rotatable element. The concentrator lenses, for example, Fresnel lenses, are mounted on the photovoltaic cells housed on the rotatable element. The concentrator lenses concentrate and direct the solar energy towards the photovoltaic cells for increasing the amount of electrical energy output of the photovoltaic cells.
[0015]During operation of the solar powered wheel apparatus disclosed herein, the rotatable element that houses the photovoltaic cells continuously rotates along with the electric motor and the rotary object, thereby lowering temperature of the photovoltaic cells and enabling better efficiency in producing electrical energy. When the efficiency and the electrical energy output of the photovoltaic cells is increased due to the rotation of the rotatable element that houses the photovoltaic cells, the electric motor is provided with greater amounts of electrical energy and this enables the electric motor to rotate with faster revolutions per unit of time. The electric motor executes higher revolutions per minute (rpm) when electrically connected to rotating photovoltaic cells as compared to static or stationary photovoltaic cells. The rotation of the photovoltaic cells ensures that the rotation of the electric motor is increased to a predetermined value such that there is optimum efficiency from the photovoltaic cells, in particular, and the solar powered wheel apparatus as a whole.
[0016]The rotation of the electric motor rotates the rotatable element that houses the photovoltaic cells, when the photovoltaic cells convert solar energy into electrical energy. This rotation of the photovoltaic cells ensures an extended life span or better mean time before failure (MTBF) of the photovoltaic cells, since the photovoltaic cells operate at a much lower temperature, thereby offering better efficiency in electrical energy output.
Problems solved by technology
The static solar devices are exposed to sunlight to the extent possible and due to their static or stationary position throughout their operation, tend to heat up resulting in decreased electrical energy output.
Consequently, this leads to a decrease in efficiency of conversion of solar energy into electrical energy by the solar devices and consequently a decrease in their efficiency for rotating rotary objects.
Method used
the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View moreImage
Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Smart ImageViewing Examples
Examples
Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test
Embodiment Construction
[0060]FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates a side orthogonal view of a solar powered wheel apparatus 100, where a rotatable element 101 that houses photovoltaic cells 102 is connected to a rotary object 105, for example, a wheel. The solar powered wheel apparatus 100 disclosed herein comprises one or more photovoltaic cells 102, an electric motor 103, and an axial shaft 104. The photovoltaic cells 102 are housed on the rotatable element 101. As used herein, the term “rotatable element” refers to a panel 101 comprising a packaged interconnected assembly of photovoltaic cells 102. The rotatable element 101 is configured in one of multiple profiles, for example, a dome profile, a semi-spherical profile, a conical profile, a flat-ended profile, a trapezoidal profile, a pyramidal profile, and any combination thereof, to house multiple photovoltaic cells 102 in different arrangements as disclosed in the detailed description of FIGS. 8A-8D. The rotatable element 101 is connected to a rotary obje...
the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More PUM
Login to View More Abstract
A solar powered wheel apparatus comprising one or more photovoltaic cells housed on a rotatable element connected to a rotary object such as a wheel, an electric motor, and an axial shaft, is provided. The electric motor is in electric communication with the photovoltaic cells that power the electric motor and is rigidly connected to the rotatable element that houses the photovoltaic cells. The axial shaft is rotatably connected to the electric motor and rigidly connected to a support structure of the rotary object. The electric motor converts electrical energy produced by the photovoltaic cells into mechanical energy causing the electric motor to rotate about the axial shaft. The rotation of the electric motor rotates the rigidly connected rotatable element that houses the photovoltaic cells. The rotation of the rotatable element housing the photovoltaic cells removes heat from the photovoltaic cells and causes rotation of the connected rotary object.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61 / 295,800 titled “Rotating Photovoltaic Cells In Wheels”, filed on Jan. 18, 2010 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.[0002]The specification of the above referenced application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0003]Conventional solar apparatuses for rotating a rotary object, for example, a wheel of a vehicle comprise static or stationary solar devices in electric communication with an electric motor. The electric motor generally forms the dynamic part of the solar apparatus executing rotations via a shaft. The static solar devices are exposed to sunlight to the extent possible and due to their static or stationary position throughout their operation, tend to heat up resulting in decreased electrical energy output. Consequently, this leads to a decrease in efficiency of conversion of solar energy into electrical energy by t...
Claims
the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More Application Information
Patent Timeline
Login to View More IPC IPC(8): B60K16/00H01L31/052
CPCB60K7/0007B62M6/85B60K17/356B60K2007/0038B60K2007/0092B60K2016/003B60Y2200/12B60Y2200/145B60Y2200/148B60Y2200/31B60Y2200/46B60Y2200/52B60Y2200/81B60Y2200/91H01L31/042Y02E10/50Y02T10/90H01L31/02H01L31/02008H02S10/40H02S20/00B60K16/00
InventorLEE, WILLIAM EDWARDPLENKOWSKI, ROBERT F.
OwnerLEE WILLIAM EDWARD