A roof rainwater collection system and method that enables source flow rejection

Abstract

The application provides a roof rainwater collecting system and method capable of realizing source flow abandonment, and belongs to the technical field of rainwater collection. The system comprises a rainwater collecting module arranged on a roof body, the module comprising a photovoltaic unit, a water collecting unit and a protection unit, the water collecting unit comprising a water collecting tank, a tank cover, a flow guide eave and the like, synchronous control of tank cover overturning and flow guide eave sliding is realized through a gear and rack linkage mechanism, and polluted rainwater is automatically abandoned in the early stage of rainfall; rainwater is collected through the cooperation of a photovoltaic panel, an inner surface of the tank cover and a protection plate in the later stage, and the rainwater collecting efficiency is effectively improved; the protection plate has normal water collecting and extreme weather protection functions, can resist hail impact, and realizes protection of the photovoltaic panel. The three-dimensional design of source flow abandonment, multi-surface water collecting and intelligent protection is realized, photovoltaic and rainwater collecting functions are deeply integrated, clean rainwater is realized from the source, and the system has the advantages of efficient water collecting, source pollution control and equipment protection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of rainwater harvesting technology, and in particular to a rooftop rainwater harvesting system and method that enables source diversion of rainwater. Background Technology

[0002] Existing roof rainwater harvesting systems mostly use traditional gutter systems, which are installed at the eaves. These gutters have an open structure, with rainwater hoppers connected to the bottom, and rainwater pipes attached to the hoppers. This traditional roof rainwater harvesting system has the following problems: The open structure of the gutters makes them prone to accumulating debris such as fallen leaves, branches, and plastic products, which can easily fall into the gutters and accumulate, polluting rainwater and affecting the cleanliness of the source. Furthermore, the filtration methods are relatively simple, mostly consisting of a simple built-in filter (rainwater hopper) in the gutter for interception and filtration. After each rainwater collection, the intercepted debris cannot self-clean up, requiring manual periodic removal, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive.

[0003] A search revealed improved rainwater harvesting systems in the existing technology, such as using existing photovoltaic panels as rainwater collection surfaces to achieve multi-functional applications for photovoltaic panels. For example, Chinese utility model patent announcement CN 220521531 U discloses a rainwater harvesting device for photovoltaic panels, which uses a water guiding device to collect rainwater from the photovoltaic panels. However, the above devices still have the following problems:

[0004] First, it only considers rainwater collection, but does not take into account the significant differences in rainwater quality at different times during the precipitation process. In the early stages of rain, there are a large amount of dust pollutants in the air or on the surface of photovoltaic panels, which will cause extremely serious pollution of the initial rainwater. Therefore, for rainwater collection and utilization, it is necessary to divert the initial rainwater, preferably at the source, to reduce the pressure of subsequent treatment.

[0005] Secondly, the Italian magazine *PVA* obtained a research report from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam regarding the damage caused by hail to photovoltaic modules. The report points out that hail can cause both latent and overt damage to photovoltaic panels, both of which can reduce the lifespan of the solar panels. Currently, photovoltaic panels lack protective structures during use, and under certain severe weather conditions, such as hailstorms, the direct impact of hail can easily cause latent and overt damage. For example, according to news reports, on June 4, 2020, Qianxinan Prefecture in Guizhou Province, my country, experienced a severe hailstorm, with hailstones the size of eggs damaging vehicles, crops, people, and multiple photovoltaic power stations.

[0006] In summary, existing technologies for rainwater harvesting using photovoltaic panels still need further optimization in terms of rainwater source cleanliness, rainwater harvesting efficiency, and protection of photovoltaic panels. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This invention aims to at least partially address one of the technical problems in related technologies. To this end, this invention proposes a rooftop rainwater harvesting system and method that enables source diversion of rainwater.

[0008] The technical solution of this invention to solve the technical problem is as follows:

[0009] This technical solution proposes a rooftop rainwater harvesting system capable of source diversion, comprising several rainwater harvesting modules installed on the roof structure. Each rainwater harvesting module includes at least one set of photovoltaic units and one set of water collection units. The photovoltaic unit includes a photovoltaic support frame installed on the roof structure, with photovoltaic panels mounted on the support frame; the surface of the photovoltaic panels serves as the first rainwater collection surface. The water collection unit includes a water collection tank located below the bottom edge of the photovoltaic panels; the water collection tank is connected to the main rainwater pipe; and a flip-up box is fastened to the top of the water collection tank. The top of the water collection tank is slidably connected to a guide eave. When the tank cover is closed, the guide eave is located below the cover and is in a retracted state. In the retracted state, rainwater on the photovoltaic panel cannot flow into the water collection tank, which is a rainwater diversion state. When the tank cover is flipped open, the guide eave can slide outward along the top of the water collection tank, which is an expanded state. In the expanded state, the guide eave extends outward to below the bottom edge of the photovoltaic panel under the action of the tank cover, which is used to receive and guide rainwater on the photovoltaic panel into the water collection tank, which is a rainwater collection state.

[0010] Furthermore, the top of the water collection tank is connected to a side plate, and the side plate has a sliding groove; the tank cover is provided with a flipping component, the flipping component includes an active connecting rod, the bottom end of the active connecting rod is rotatably connected to the side plate; the active connecting rod is connected to a first driving mechanism for realizing the rotation of the active connecting rod; two sets of driven connecting rods are hinged on the tank cover, and the other end of the driven connecting rods is respectively hinged to the active connecting rod; one set of driven connecting rods is connected to an extension arm, the end of the extension arm is provided with a hinge shaft, the hinge shaft is inserted in the sliding groove and can move relative to the sliding groove.

[0011] Furthermore, a drive rack is slidably connected to the side plate, one end of which is connected to the hinge shaft; a driven rack is connected to the guide vane, which is slidably connected to the side plate; and a gear is rotatably connected to the side plate, which meshes with the driven rack and the drive rack.

[0012] Furthermore, one end of the inner surface of the box cover has a diversion plate. After the box cover is opened, rainwater can flow into the water collection tank under the guidance of the inner surface of the box cover and the diversion plate. At this time, the inner surface of the box cover serves as a second rain collection surface.

[0013] Furthermore, the drainage plate is an arc-shaped cantilever structure.

[0014] Furthermore, the inner surface of the box cover is fixedly connected to both sides with a first rolled edge; the first rolled edge and the diversion plate form a U-shaped structure.

[0015] Furthermore, one end of the guide eaves is bent upward to form a second rolled edge. When the box cover is in the closed state, the second rolled edge is located below the box cover, and the second rolled edge, the first rolled edge, and the guide plate surround to form a circumferential enclosure structure.

[0016] Furthermore, the rainwater harvesting module also includes a protective unit, which comprises a side plate and a protective plate. The side plate is fixedly connected to the photovoltaic support and has a guide groove. One end of the protective plate is connected to a swing arm, and the other end of the swing arm is connected to a sliding shaft. The sliding shaft is inserted into the guide groove and can slide along the guide groove. The side plate can also be rotatably connected to a drive arm, one end of which is hinged to the swing arm. The drive arm is connected to a second drive mechanism. The protective plate has two states: a protective state and a rainwater harvesting state. In the protective state, the protective plate can be flipped over to cover the photovoltaic panel, so that the photovoltaic panel is completely covered by the bottom of the protective plate, thus achieving protection. In the rainwater harvesting state, the protective plate is tilted and forms an "eight" shape with the photovoltaic panel, at which time the protective plate serves as a third rainwater harvesting surface. The water collection unit is also provided on one side of the protective unit.

[0017] This technical solution also proposes a method for using a rooftop rainwater harvesting system that enables source diversion, including the following steps:

[0018] S1: Normal standby

[0019] During periods of no rainfall or when the tank is idle, the lid of the water collection tank is locked, and the deflector is tucked under the lid, preventing rainwater from the photovoltaic panels from falling into the water collection tank and polluting the internal environment during non-rainy periods.

[0020] S2: Initial Rainwater Diversion

[0021] After rainfall begins, if the rainfall amount does not reach the set threshold, the cover remains closed and the guide eaves remain in the retracted position. The initial rainwater flowing down the surface of the photovoltaic panel drips directly along the edge of the photovoltaic panel and cannot enter the water collection tank, thus achieving the diversion of the initial rainwater.

[0022] S3: Subsequent Rainwater Harvesting

[0023] When the rainfall reaches the set diversion threshold, the system automatically triggers the subsequent rainwater collection program; the first drive mechanism starts, driving the active linkage to rotate, and the active linkage pulls the tank cover to flip open through the hinged driven linkage; during the flipping of the tank cover, the hinge pin at the end of the extension arm connected to the driven linkage moves in the slide groove of the side plate, pushing the active rack to slide, the active rack drives the gear to rotate, and the gear in turn drives the driven rack to move, so that the guide eaves slide outward along the top of the water collection tank, expand and extend to below the bottom edge of the photovoltaic panel, to receive and guide rainwater into the water collection tank;

[0024] Meanwhile, when the tank cover is opened, the internal drainage plate and the inner surface of the tank cover together form a second rainwater collection surface, which can collect rainwater and flow into the water collection tank along the drainage plate under the action of gravity.

[0025] Furthermore, the above method also includes the following:

[0026] In S1, the second drive mechanism maintains the protective plate and the photovoltaic panel at a figure-eight angle, serving as the third rain collection surface;

[0027] In S2, the protective plate maintains an eight-shaped rainwater collection state, collecting rainwater from its own surface to form initial rainwater runoff, which does not enter the water collection tank, thus achieving source diversion.

[0028] S3 also includes multi-rain surface collaborative operation:

[0029] When the rainfall reaches the set diversion threshold, the system automatically triggers the subsequent rainwater collection program; the water collection unit corresponding to the protective plate starts to start, so that the guide eaves in the water collection unit extend to the bottom edge of the protective plate to receive and guide rainwater into the water collection tank.

[0030] The photovoltaic panel serves as the primary rainwater collection surface: rainwater flows downwards along the panel surface and is channeled into the corresponding water collection tank through the front end of the guide eaves;

[0031] The lid serves as the second rain collection surface: the inner surface of the lid, after being flipped over, collects rainwater, which then flows into the water collection tank via the diversion plate.

[0032] The protective panel serves as the third rain collection surface: the protective panel maintains an eight-shaped structure, and rainwater on its surface is collected through another guide eave, forming a highly efficient "three-sided confluence" collection mode;

[0033] It also includes hail protection: when hail occurs, the second drive mechanism is activated, the drive arm rotates counterclockwise, and the swing arm slides upward along the guide groove of the side plate, pushing the protective plate to flip from the figure-eight shape to directly above the photovoltaic panel, and finally completely covering the surface of the photovoltaic panel to form a full protection state.

[0034] Compared with existing technologies, the above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects:

[0035] 1. The water collection unit designed in this invention has two states: storage and expansion. Through the linkage control mechanism between the box cover and the guide eaves, the initial rainwater is automatically diverted, isolating highly polluted rainwater from the source, significantly improving the cleanliness of the subsequently collected rainwater, and greatly simplifying the subsequent treatment process.

[0036] 2. After the cover is closed, the water collection unit forms a circumferential enclosure structure through the first and second rolled edges and the diversion plate, providing good protection and preventing debris such as fallen leaves and plastic from falling into the interior, ensuring its cleanliness and thus guaranteeing the cleanliness of the collected rainwater. During the initial diversion process, debris on the surface of the photovoltaic panel is simultaneously flushed away and naturally discharged, reducing the frequency of manual cleaning and improving the convenience of system operation. Unlike traditional gutter systems, there is no need to regularly clean the initial accumulation of dirt, thus reducing labor costs.

[0037] 3. By using a synergistic water collection design on the inner surfaces of the photovoltaic panels and the box cover, a dual water collection surface is constructed. Combined with guiding components such as guide eaves and diversion plates, the rainwater collection efficiency is significantly improved. Compared with traditional single photovoltaic panel rain collection, this system can significantly increase the amount of rainwater collected per unit time under the same rainfall conditions. It is especially suitable for areas with uneven rainfall distribution or frequent short-term heavy rainfall, and significantly improves the utilization rate of rainwater resources.

[0038] 4. The present invention also designs a protection unit that integrates the two major functions of photovoltaic panel protection and rainwater collection into a single component. It can adaptively switch in different scenarios and realize "one panel for two purposes". This not only solves the problem of photovoltaic panels being easily damaged by natural disasters in traditional systems, but also significantly improves rainwater collection efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0039] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the invention to explain the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof.

[0040] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Three-dimensional structural diagram of the rainwater harvesting module (in the case of water diversion).

[0042] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Main view of the rainwater harvesting module.

[0043] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the water collection unit in the rainwater harvesting module (in the rainwater harvesting state).

[0044] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Enlarged schematic diagram of the structure of region A in the middle.

[0045] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the central water collection unit.

[0046] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the rainwater harvesting module (in rainwater harvesting mode).

[0047] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the swing arm, guide groove and drive arm in the protection unit.

[0048] Figure 9 This is a structural diagram of the protection unit in the protected state.

[0049] Explanation of markings in the diagram:

[0050] 1. Roof structure; 2. Photovoltaic unit; 3. Water collection unit; 4. Protective unit; 5. Main rainwater pipe;

[0051] 21. Photovoltaic support structure; 22. Photovoltaic panel;

[0052] 31. Water collection tank; 32. Side plate; 321. Slide groove; 33. Tilting component; 34. Tank cover; 35. Flow guide plate; 36. Flow guide eaves; 37. Driven rack; 38. Driven rack; 39. First motor; 310. Gear; 331. Extension arm; 332. Driven connecting rod; 333. Driven connecting rod; 341. First rolled edge; 361. Second rolled edge;

[0053] 41. Side plate; 42. Swing arm; 43. Protective plate; 44. Second motor; 45. Guide groove; 46. Drive arm. Detailed Implementation

[0054] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0055] Example 1:

[0056] like Figure 1 - Figure 9As shown, this embodiment proposes a rooftop rainwater harvesting system that enables source diversion, including several rainwater harvesting modules installed on the roof body 1. Each rainwater harvesting module includes at least one set of photovoltaic units 2 and one set of water collection units 3. The photovoltaic unit 2 includes a photovoltaic bracket 21 installed on the roof body 1. The photovoltaic bracket 21 is fixed to the top of the roof body 1, and a photovoltaic panel 22 is installed on the photovoltaic bracket 21. The photovoltaic panel 22 is fixedly connected to the photovoltaic unit. In this embodiment, the surface of the photovoltaic panel 22 serves as the first rainwater collection surface, and rainwater falling on the surface of the photovoltaic panel 22 is collected by the first rainwater collection surface.

[0057] The water collection unit 3 includes a water collection tank 31, which is a rectangular structure with an opening at the top. The water collection tank 31 is located below the bottom edge of the photovoltaic panel 22. During installation, it is necessary to ensure that the rainwater collected on the photovoltaic panel 22 can flow into the water collection tank 31. The water collection tank 31 is connected to the rainwater main pipe 5, which connects each water collection tank 31 in series. The collected rainwater is introduced into the ground treatment facility through the rainwater main pipe 5.

[0058] The top of the water collection tank 31 is fitted with a flip-up lid 34, and the top of the water collection tank 31 is also slidably connected with a guide eave 36. When the lid 34 is in the closed state, the guide eave 36 is located below the lid 34 and is in a retracted state. When in the retracted state, rainwater on the photovoltaic panel 22 cannot flow into the water collection tank 31, which is a rainwater diversion state. When the lid 34 is flipped open, the guide eave 36 can slide outward along the top of the water collection tank 31 in a linked manner, which is an expanded state. When in the expanded state, the guide eave 36 extends outward to below the bottom edge of the photovoltaic panel 22 under the linkage of the lid 34, which is used to receive and guide the rainwater on the photovoltaic panel 22 into the water collection tank 31, which is a rainwater collection state.

[0059] Regarding the specific design of the lid 34, the following structure can be adopted:

[0060] The top of the water collection tank 31 is connected to a side plate 32, which has a sliding groove 321. The tank cover 34 is provided with a flipping component 33, which includes an active connecting rod 333. The bottom end of the active connecting rod 333 is rotatably connected to the side plate 32. The active connecting rod 333 is connected to a first driving mechanism for rotating the active connecting rod 333. Two sets of driven connecting rods 332 are hinged to the tank cover 34, and the other end of each driven connecting rod 332 is hinged to the active connecting rod 333. One set of driven connecting rods 332 is connected to an extension arm 331. The end of the extension arm 331 is provided with a hinge shaft. The hinge shaft and the extension arm 331 can be rotatably connected. The hinge shaft is inserted into the sliding groove 321 and can move relative to the sliding groove 321. In this embodiment, the first driving mechanism can be a first motor 39, which drives the active connecting rod 333 to rotate. Of course, the first drive mechanism can also be implemented using an electric actuator + gear 310 rack structure. This part is a conventional technology and will not be elaborated on further.

[0061] Regarding the linkage mechanism between the guide vane 36 and the box cover 34, the following method can be adopted:

[0062] A drive rack 38 is slidably connected to the side plate 32. One end of the drive rack 38 is connected to a hinge shaft, which can drive the drive rack 38 to move when it moves along the slide groove 321. A driven rack 37 is connected to the guide vane 36 and is slidably connected to the side plate 32. A gear 310 is rotatably connected to the side plate 32 and meshes with the driven rack 37 and the drive rack 38. The gear 310 is positioned between the drive rack 38 and the driven rack 37 to form a telescopic structure.

[0063] In use, the first drive mechanism drives the active connecting rod 333 to rotate, the box cover 34 flips upward, the hinge at the end of the extension arm 331 moves to one end along the slide groove 321, and pulls the active rack 38 to move synchronously; the active rack 38 drives the driven rack 37 to move in the opposite direction through the meshing of the gear 310, and the guide eaves 36 extend outward with the driven rack 37 to below the bottom edge of the photovoltaic panel 22 to form a complete water contact interface.

[0064] In some embodiments, one end of the inner surface of the tank cover 34 has a drainage plate 35. After the tank cover 34 is opened, rainwater can flow into the water collection tank 31 under the guidance of the inner surface of the tank cover 34 and the drainage plate 35. At this time, the inner surface of the tank cover 34 serves as a second rain collection surface. In this embodiment, the drainage plate 35 can be designed as an arc-shaped cantilever structure.

[0065] In this embodiment, the arc-shaped cantilever structure and the inner surface of the box cover 34 form a continuous flow guiding surface. When rainwater flows down along the photovoltaic panel 22, it is guided by the tilt angle of the box cover 34 after it is opened and the arc-shaped flow guide plate 35, forming a tangential direction accelerated flow. The flow speed is fast, which is conducive to the rainwater quickly entering the water collection tank 31.

[0066] In this embodiment, the inner surface of the cover 34 is fixedly connected to both sides with first rolled edges 341, which can be integrally formed with the cover 34. The first rolled edges 341 and the diversion plate 35 form a U-shaped structure. In this embodiment, the diversion plate 35 and the first rolled edges 341 on both sides of the cover 34 form a U-shaped guide channel, forming a three-sided enclosed rainwater channel, forcing rainwater to flow along a preset path to the water collection tank 31, and preventing it from overflowing to both sides.

[0067] One end of the guide eaves 36 is bent upward to form a second rolled edge 361. When the lid 34 is in the closed state, the second rolled edge 361 is located below the lid 34, and the second rolled edge 361, the first rolled edge 341, and the diversion plate 35 form a circumferential surrounding structure. In this embodiment, the circumferential surrounding structure formed by the first rolled edge 341 of the lid 34, the diversion plate 35, and the second rolled edge 361 of the guide eaves 36, through a three-dimensional closed design and dynamic flow guidance, achieves dual protection against rainwater overflow and garbage falling in. In the collection state, the rolled edge structure strengthens the flow guidance and prevents overflow; in the discharge state, it transforms into a closed barrier to prevent garbage. When the lid 34 is closed, the second rolled edge 361 of the guide eaves 36 slides to the bottom of the lid 34, forming a 360° surrounding structure with the first rolled edges 341 on both sides and the diversion plate 35. Only a small ventilation gap is left at the top of the water collection tank 31, which is sufficient to block the falling of impurities such as fallen leaves, branches, and plastic pieces, achieving full-closure protection.

[0068] In addition, this design adopts a dynamic closed water collection tank 31 to block the intrusion path of debris. During the initial diversion process, debris on the surface of the photovoltaic panel 22 is simultaneously flushed away and naturally discharged, reducing the frequency of manual cleaning and improving the convenience of system operation. Unlike traditional gutter systems, there is no need to regularly clean the initial accumulation of dirt, thus reducing labor costs.

[0069] In this embodiment, the system is also equipped with a rain sensor, a hail sensor, and a controller, which are respectively connected to the rain sensor and the first drive mechanism.

[0070] This embodiment also proposes a method for using a rooftop rainwater harvesting system that enables source diversion, including the following steps:

[0071] S1: Normal standby

[0072] During periods of no rainfall or when the system is idle, the lid 34 of the water collection tank 31 is closed, and the guide eaves 36 are retracted below the lid 34, preventing rainwater from the photovoltaic panels 22 from accumulating and thus avoiding debris from falling into the water collection tank 31 and polluting the internal environment during non-rainy periods. Furthermore, the second rolled edge 361, together with the first rolled edge 341, the diversion plate 35, and the guide eaves 36, forms a 360° circumferentially sealed structure, blocking fallen leaves, dust, and other debris from entering the water collection tank 31. The rainfall sensor operates in real time, and the electronic control system is in a low-power monitoring mode, collecting environmental data every t seconds, awaiting a rainfall signal.

[0073] S2: Initial Rainwater Diversion

[0074] After rainfall begins, if the rainfall amount does not reach the set threshold (i.e., the rain sensor detects rainfall and the cumulative rainfall is less than the set diversion threshold), the cover 34 remains closed and the guide eaves 36 remain in the storage position. The initial rainwater flowing down the surface of the photovoltaic panel 22 drips directly along the edge of the photovoltaic panel 22 and cannot enter the water collection tank 31, thus achieving the diversion of the initial rainwater.

[0075] S3: Subsequent Rainwater Harvesting

[0076] When the rainfall reaches the set overflow threshold, the system automatically triggers the subsequent rainwater collection program; the first drive mechanism starts, driving the active link 333 to rotate, and the active link 333 pulls the box cover 34 to flip open through the hinged driven link 332; during the flipping of the box cover 34, the hinge pin at the end of the extension arm 331 connected to the driven link 332 moves in the slide groove 321 of the side plate 32, pushing the active rack 38 to slide, the active rack 38 drives the gear 310 to rotate, and the gear 310 in turn drives the driven rack 37 to move, so that the guide eaves 36 slide outward along the top of the water collection box 31, in an extended shape and extending to below the bottom edge of the photovoltaic panel 22, for receiving and guiding rainwater into the water collection box 31;

[0077] Meanwhile, after the cover 34 is opened, the internal drainage plate 35 and the inner surface of the cover 34 together form a second rain collection surface, which can collect rainwater and flow into the water collection tank 31 along the drainage plate 35 under the action of gravity.

[0078] Application results:

[0079] 1. The water collection unit 3 designed in this invention has two states: storage and expansion. Through the linkage control mechanism of the box cover 34 and the guide eaves 36, the initial rainwater is automatically diverted, which isolates highly polluted rainwater from the source, significantly improves the cleanliness of the subsequently collected rainwater, and greatly simplifies the subsequent treatment process.

[0080] 2. This invention constructs a dual water collection surface through the synergistic water collection design of the inner surfaces of the photovoltaic panel 22 and the box cover 34. Combined with guiding components such as the guide eaves 36 and the diversion plate 35, it achieves a significant improvement in rainwater collection efficiency. Compared with the traditional single photovoltaic panel 22 rainwater collection, this system can significantly increase the amount of rainwater collected per unit time under the same rainfall conditions. It is especially suitable for areas with uneven rainfall distribution or frequent short-term heavy rainfall, and significantly improves the utilization rate of rainwater resources.

[0081] Example 2:

[0082] Continue to refer to the appendix Figure 1 - Figure 9Based on Embodiment 1, the rainwater harvesting module further includes a protective unit 4. The protective unit 4 includes a side plate 41 and a protective plate 43. The side plate 41 is fixedly connected to the photovoltaic bracket 21, and a guide groove 45 is provided on the side plate 41. One end of the protective plate 43 is connected to a swing arm 42, and the other end of the swing arm 42 is connected to a sliding shaft. The sliding shaft is inserted in the guide groove 45 and can slide along the guide groove 45. The side plate 41 can also be rotatably connected to a drive arm 46. One end of the drive arm 46 is hinged to the swing arm 42. The drive arm 46 is connected to a second drive mechanism, which can be a second motor 44.

[0083] In this embodiment, the protective plate 43 can be made of high-strength acrylic sheet.

[0084] The protective plate 43 has two states: a protective state and a rain collection state; wherein:

[0085] In the protected state: the protective plate 43 can be flipped over to be above the photovoltaic panel 22, so that the photovoltaic panel 22 is completely covered by the bottom of the protective plate 43, thus achieving protection;

[0086] In the rain collection state: the protective plate 43 is set at an angle to form an "eight" shape with the photovoltaic panel 22. At this time, the protective plate 43 serves as the third rain collection surface.

[0087] In this embodiment, a water collection unit 3 is also provided on one side of the protective unit 4. A set of water collection units 3 is provided on the photovoltaic panel 22, and a set of water collection units 3 is also provided on the protective plate 43.

[0088] The system is also equipped with a hail sensor, and the controller is connected to the hail sensor and the second drive mechanism.

[0089] This invention integrates the two functions of photovoltaic panel 22 protection and rainwater collection into a single component by designing a protection unit 4. It can adaptively switch in different scenarios and achieve "one panel for two purposes". This not only solves the problem of photovoltaic panel 22 being susceptible to damage from natural disasters in traditional systems, but also significantly improves rainwater collection efficiency.

[0090] This embodiment proposes a method for using a rooftop rainwater harvesting system that enables source diversion, including the following steps:

[0091] S1: Normal standby

[0092] During periods of no rainfall or when the tank is idle, the lid 34 of the water collection tank 31 is in a locked position, and the guide eaves 36 are tucked under the lid 34, preventing rainwater from the photovoltaic panels 22 from being collected and thus avoiding debris from falling into the water collection tank 31 and polluting the internal environment during non-rainy periods. Furthermore, the second rolled edge 361, together with the first rolled edge 341, the diversion plate 35, and the guide eaves 36, forms a 360° circumferentially enclosed and sealed structure, blocking fallen leaves, dust, and other debris from entering the water collection tank 31. The second drive mechanism maintains the protective plate 43 at a V-shaped angle to the photovoltaic panels 22, serving as the third rain-collecting surface.

[0093] The rain and hail sensors operate in real time, and the electronic control system is in a low-power monitoring mode, collecting environmental data every t time interval, waiting for a rain or hail signal to trigger.

[0094] S2: Initial Rainwater Diversion

[0095] After rainfall begins, if the rainfall amount does not reach the set threshold (i.e., the rain sensor detects rainfall, and the cumulative rainfall is less than the set diversion threshold), the cover 34 remains closed, and the guide eaves 36 remain in the retracted position. Initial rainwater flowing down the surface of the photovoltaic panel 22 drips directly along the edge of the photovoltaic panel 22 and cannot enter the collection tank 31, thus achieving diversion of initial rainwater. The protective plate 43 maintains its V-shaped rainwater collection configuration, catching rainwater from its own surface to form initial rainwater runoff, preventing it from entering the collection tank 31, achieving source diversion.

[0096] S3: Subsequent Rainwater Harvesting

[0097] Once the rainfall reaches the set overflow threshold, the system automatically triggers the subsequent rainwater collection process; specifically:

[0098] The first drive mechanism is activated, causing the active link 333 to rotate. The active link 333 pulls the cover 34 to flip open through the hinged driven link 332. During the flipping of the cover 34, the hinge pin at the end of the extension arm 331 connected to the driven link 332 moves in the slide groove 321 of the side plate 32, pushing the active rack 38 to slide. The active rack 38 drives the gear 310 to rotate, and the gear 310 in turn drives the driven rack 37 to move, so that the guide eaves 36 slide outward along the top of the water collection tank 31, extending outward to the bottom edge of the photovoltaic panel 22, for receiving and guiding rainwater into the water collection tank 31.

[0099] Meanwhile, after the cover 34 is opened, the internal drainage plate 35 and the inner surface of the cover 34 together form a second rain collection surface, which can collect rainwater and flow into the water collection tank 31 along the drainage plate 35 under the action of gravity.

[0100] It also includes multi-spot rain surface collaborative operation:

[0101] The water collection unit 3 corresponding to the protective plate 43 starts to start, so that the guide eaves 36 in the water collection unit 3 extend to the bottom edge of the protective plate 43 to receive and guide rainwater into the water collection tank 31.

[0102] Photovoltaic panel 22 serves as the first rain collection surface: rainwater flows downward along the surface of the panel and is guided into the corresponding water collection tank 31 through the front end of the guide eaves 36;

[0103] The cover 34 serves as the second rain collection surface: the inner surface of the flipped cover 34 collects rainwater, which flows into the water collection tank 31 via the diversion plate 35.

[0104] The protective plate 43 serves as the third rain collection surface: the protective plate 43 maintains an eight-shaped structure, and rainwater on its surface is collected through another guide eave 36, forming a "three-sided confluence" efficient collection mode.

[0105] The operation of the above system also includes hail protection:

[0106] When encountering hail, the hail sensor transmits a signal to the controller, which controls the second drive mechanism to start. The drive arm 46 rotates counterclockwise, causing the swing arm 42 to slide upward along the guide groove 45 of the side plate 41, pushing the protective plate 43 to flip from the figure-eight shape to directly above the photovoltaic panel 22, eventually completely covering the surface of the photovoltaic panel 22 and forming a fully protected state.

[0107] The above process also includes the termination and reset of rainwater collection:

[0108] Rainwater harvesting termination: A storage tank is connected to the bottom of the main rainwater pipe 5 in this system. The storage tank is equipped with a level sensor, and the main rainwater pipe 5 is equipped with an electrically controlled valve. The level sensor and the electrically controlled valve are respectively connected to the controller. When the level sensor in the storage tank detects that the water level has reached the set volume value, the electrically controlled valve closes the main rainwater pipe 5 and simultaneously sends a full water signal to the central control system.

[0109] State Reset: The first drive mechanism runs in reverse, the box cover 34 closes, the guide eaves 36 are retracted, and the circumferential enclosure structure returns to a closed state; if there is no subsequent rainfall or extreme weather, the protective plate 43 maintains the figure-eight rain collection state; if a hail warning is detected, the protective plate 43 automatically flips to the top of the photovoltaic panel 22 and enters the protection mode.

[0110] This solution employs a three-dimensional design integrating source diversion, multi-faceted water collection, and intelligent protection to deeply integrate photovoltaic and rainwater harvesting functions. It addresses the pain points of traditional systems, such as pollution contamination and inefficient collection, at the source. Furthermore, this system can operate stably under complex conditions such as heavy rain and hail. This solution combines source diversion, multi-faceted water collection, and photovoltaic protection, resulting in highly efficient and clean water collection, compatibility with photovoltaic buildings, and contribution to green sustainability.

[0111] In the description of this invention, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Furthermore, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0112] In this invention, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example, which is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

Claims

1. A method for using a rooftop rainwater harvesting system capable of source diversion, the rooftop rainwater harvesting system capable of source diversion includes several rainwater harvesting modules installed on a roof body (1), each rainwater harvesting module including at least one set of photovoltaic units (2) and one set of water collection units (3), the photovoltaic unit (2) including a photovoltaic bracket (21) installed on the roof body (1), the photovoltaic bracket (21) being provided with a photovoltaic panel (22); the surface of the photovoltaic panel (22) serving as a first rainwater collection surface; the water collection unit (3) including a water collection tank (31), the water collection tank (31) being located below the bottom edge of the photovoltaic panel (22); the water collection tank (31) being connected to a rainwater main pipe (5); the top of the water collection tank (31) being fastened with a... The top of the water collection tank (31) is also slidably connected to the flipped-over lid (34). When the lid (34) is in the closed state, the guide eaves (36) are located below the lid (34) and are in a retracted state. When in the retracted state, rainwater on the photovoltaic panel (22) cannot flow into the water collection tank (31), and at this time it is a rainwater diversion state. When the lid (34) is flipped open, the guide eaves (36) can slide outward along the top of the water collection tank (31) in a linkage manner, and are in an expanded state. When in the expanded state, the guide eaves (36) extend outward to below the bottom edge of the photovoltaic panel (22) under the linkage of the lid (34), and are used to receive and guide the rainwater on the photovoltaic panel (22) into the water collection tank (31), and at this time it is a rainwater collection state. The top of the water collection tank (31) is connected to a side plate (32), and the side plate (32) has a sliding groove (321); the tank cover (34) is provided with a flipping component (33), the flipping component (33) includes an active connecting rod (333), the bottom end of the active connecting rod (333) is rotatably connected to the side plate (32); the active connecting rod (333) is connected to a first driving mechanism for realizing the rotation of the active connecting rod (333); two sets of driven connecting rods (332) are hinged on the tank cover (34), and the other end of the driven connecting rods (332) is respectively hinged to the active connecting rod (333); one set of driven connecting rods (332) is connected to an extension arm (331), the end of the extension arm (331) is provided with a hinge shaft, the hinge shaft is inserted in the sliding groove (321) and can move relative to the sliding groove (321); A drive rack (38) is slidably connected to the side plate (32), one end of which is connected to the hinge shaft; a driven rack (37) is connected to the guide vane (36), which is slidably connected to the side plate (32); a gear (310) is rotatably connected to the side plate (32), which meshes with the driven rack (37) and the drive rack (38); One end of the inner surface of the box cover (34) has a drainage plate (35). After the box cover (34) is opened, rainwater can flow into the water collection tank (31) under the guidance of the inner surface of the box cover (34) and the drainage plate (35). At this time, the inner surface of the box cover (34) serves as the second rain collection surface. The rainwater harvesting module also includes a protective unit (4), which includes a side plate (41) and a protective plate (43). The side plate (41) is fixedly connected to the photovoltaic bracket (21), and a guide groove (45) is provided on the side plate (41). One end of the protective plate (43) is connected to a swing arm (42), and the other end of the swing arm (42) is connected to a sliding shaft. The sliding shaft is inserted in the guide groove (45) and can slide along the guide groove (45). The side plate (41) can also be rotatably connected to a drive arm (46), and one end of the drive arm (46) is connected to the swing arm (43). 2) Hinged; the drive arm (46) is connected to a second drive mechanism; the protective plate (43) has two states, namely the protective state and the rain collection state; in the protective state: the protective plate (43) can be flipped to the top of the photovoltaic panel (22), so that the photovoltaic panel (22) is completely covered by the bottom of the protective plate (43) to achieve protection; in the rain collection state: the protective plate (43) is tilted and forms an "eight" shape with the photovoltaic panel (22), at which time the protective plate (43) serves as the third rain collection surface; the water collection unit (3) is also provided on one side of the protective unit (4); Its features are, The steps include the following: S1: Normal standby During periods of no rainfall or when the tank is idle, the lid (34) of the water collection tank (31) is locked, and the guide eaves (36) are stored under the lid (34), which cannot collect rainwater from the photovoltaic panel (22), thus preventing debris from falling into the water collection tank (31) and polluting the internal environment during non-rainy periods. In S1, the protective plate (43) and the photovoltaic plate (22) are kept at an "eight"-shaped angle by the second drive mechanism, which serves as the third rain collection surface; S2: Initial Rainwater Diversion After the rainfall begins, if the rainfall amount does not reach the set threshold, the cover (34) remains closed and the guide eaves (36) remain in the storage position. The initial rainwater flowing down the surface of the photovoltaic panel (22) drips directly along the edge of the photovoltaic panel (22) and cannot enter the water collection tank (31), thereby achieving the diversion of the initial rainwater. In S2, the protective plate (43) maintains an eight-shaped rainwater collection state, receives rainwater from its own surface, forms initial rainwater runoff, and does not enter the water collection tank (31), thus achieving source diversion; S3: Subsequent Rainwater Harvesting When the rainfall reaches the set overflow threshold, the system automatically triggers the subsequent rainwater collection program; the first drive mechanism starts, driving the active link (333) to rotate, and the active link (333) pulls the box cover (34) to flip open through the hinged driven link (332); during the flipping of the box cover (34), the hinge shaft at the end of the extension arm (331) connected to the driven link (332) moves in the slide groove (321) of the side plate (32), pushing the active rack (38) to slide, the active rack (38) drives the gear (310) to rotate, and the gear (310) in turn drives the driven rack (37) to move, so that the guide eaves (36) slide outward along the top of the water collection box (31), in an extended shape and extending to the bottom edge of the photovoltaic panel (22), for receiving and guiding rainwater into the water collection box (31); At the same time, after the box cover (34) is opened, the internal drainage plate (35) and the inner surface of the box cover (34) together form a second rain collection surface, which can collect rainwater and flow into the water collection tank (31) along the drainage plate (35) under the action of gravity. S3 also includes multi-rain surface collaborative operation: When the rainfall reaches the set overflow threshold, the system automatically triggers the subsequent rainwater collection program; the water collection unit (3) corresponding to the protective plate (43) starts to start, so that the guide eaves (36) in the water collection unit (3) extend to the bottom edge of the protective plate (43) to receive and guide rainwater into the water collection tank (31); The photovoltaic panel (22) serves as the first rain collection surface: rainwater flows downward along the panel surface and is guided into the corresponding water collection tank (31) through the front end of the guide eaves (36); The cover (34) serves as the second rain collection surface: the inner surface of the flipped cover (34) collects rainwater, which flows into the water collection tank (31) through the diversion plate (35). The protective panel (43) serves as the third rain collection surface: the protective panel (43) maintains an eight-shaped structure, and rainwater on its surface is collected through another guide eave (36), forming a "three-sided confluence" collection pattern; It also includes hail protection: when encountering hail weather, the second drive mechanism is activated, the drive arm (46) rotates counterclockwise, and drives the swing arm (42) to slide upward along the guide groove (45) of the side plate (41), pushing the protective plate (43) to flip from the figure-eight shape to directly above the photovoltaic panel (22), and finally completely covering the surface of the photovoltaic panel (22) to form a full protection state.

2. A rooftop rainwater harvesting system capable of source diversion according to claim 1, characterized in that, The diversion plate (35) is an arc-shaped cantilever structure.

3. A rooftop rainwater harvesting system capable of source diversion according to claim 2, characterized in that, The inner surface of the box cover (34) is fixedly connected to the two sides of the first rolled edge (341); the first rolled edge (341) and the diversion plate (35) form a U-shaped structure.

4. A rooftop rainwater harvesting system capable of source diversion according to claim 3, characterized in that, One end of the guide eaves (36) is bent upward to form a second rolled edge (361). When the box cover (34) is in the latched state, the second rolled edge (361) is located below the box cover (34), and the second rolled edge (361), the first rolled edge (341) and the guide plate (35) surround each other to form a circumferential surrounding structure.

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