A folding solar panel for a drone

Abstract

The application discloses a folding solar cell panel for a UAV, and belongs to the field of solar cell panels. The folding solar cell panel comprises an assembling frame which is used for being mounted on a UAV, a rotating body is arranged on the top of the assembling frame, the rotating body comprises a lower rotating disc which is horizontally fixed on the top end of the assembling frame and an upper rotating disc which is horizontally and rotatably arranged on the lower rotating disc, a pair of solar folding wings are symmetrically arranged on the side walls of the lower rotating disc and the upper rotating disc, a stepping motor is mounted on the assembling frame, and the stepping motor drives the upper rotating disc to rotate so that the two pairs of solar folding wings are overlapped or staggered. The folding solar cell panel for the UAV has the beneficial effects that the rotatable folding of the two pairs of solar folding wings can not only spread to collect more solar energy and provide more sufficient electric energy for the UAV and prolong the flight time of the UAV, but also can be folded to reduce the occupied space and reduce the influence of the solar cell panel on the buoyancy of the UAV.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of solar panels, and more specifically, to a foldable solar panel for use in drones. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of drone technology, its applications in numerous fields such as aerial photography, logistics, surveying, and agricultural plant protection are becoming increasingly widespread. However, the endurance of drones has always been one of the key factors restricting their further development and application. Currently, the main way to power drones is through batteries, but the energy density of batteries is limited, resulting in short flight times for drones, making it difficult to meet the needs of some long-duration operations. Solar energy, as a clean and renewable energy source, is inexhaustible. Installing solar panels on drones to supplement their power is an effective way to improve their endurance.

[0003] However, most traditional drone solar panels are fixed structures. While this type of structure is simple to install, the fixed solar panel has a constant light-receiving area. Due to its large planar area, it occupies a lot of space when the drone is stored, making it inconvenient to carry and store. Moreover, during the drone's landing or ascent, the large solar panel generates significant buoyancy, affecting the drone's stability and increasing the risk and difficulty of drone operation. Therefore, this application proposes a foldable solar panel for drones. Utility Model Content

[0004] The summary section of this application is intended to provide a brief overview of the concepts, which will be described in detail in the detailed description section below. This summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed technical solutions, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed technical solutions.

[0005] The purpose of this application is to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by providing a foldable solar panel for drones, thereby solving the problems of fixed structures and unreasonable designs in existing drone solar panels.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution: A foldable solar panel for a drone includes an assembly frame for mounting on the drone. A rotating body is provided on the top of the assembly frame. The rotating body includes a lower turntable horizontally fixed to the top of the assembly frame and an upper turntable horizontally rotatably mounted on the lower turntable. A pair of solar folding wings are radially symmetrically arranged on the side walls of both the lower and upper turntables. A stepper motor is installed on the assembly frame, and the stepper motor drives the upper turntable to rotate, causing the two pairs of solar folding wings to overlap and misalign.

[0007] Furthermore, the stepper motor is mounted on the top of the assembly frame, the output shaft of the stepper motor is vertically upward and connected to a drive shaft, a shaft hole is opened at the center of the lower turntable to allow the drive shaft to pass through and rotate, and an adapter hole is opened at the center of the upper turntable to allow the drive shaft to pass through. The drive shaft passes through the shaft hole and the adapter hole and is fixedly connected to the upper turntable.

[0008] Furthermore, a bushing is provided on the top of the upper turntable, which is fitted with the transmission shaft. A fixing bolt is threaded through the side wall of the bushing, and the fixing bolt is threaded into the transmission shaft.

[0009] Furthermore, the drive shaft is flat, and the adapter hole and bushing are adapted to the shape of the flat drive shaft.

[0010] Furthermore, a groove is provided on the upper surface of the lower turntable, the groove is opened around the shaft hole, and the maximum central angle of the groove is 90°. A limit post is provided on the lower surface of the upper turntable, and the limit post is slidably engaged with the groove.

[0011] Furthermore, the solar folding wing consists of a wing plate and a solar panel embedded in the wing plate. The lower turntable and the upper turntable are provided with mounting slots, and the wing plate is embedded in the mounting slots and fixed with bolts.

[0012] Furthermore, the wing plate has tapered surfaces that bulge outward from both sides along its length.

[0013] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows: With its two pairs of rotatable solar panels, the drone can receive more sunlight over a larger area when deployed. Compared to traditional fixed solar panels, this allows for the collection of more solar energy, providing more power, extending flight time, and improving energy efficiency. When stowed, the overlapping solar panels reduce their surface area, making it easier to store the solar panels on the drone and minimizing space usage. Furthermore, it reduces the buoyancy effect of the solar panels during landing and ascent, improving the drone's stability.

[0014] The conical structure on both sides of the wingplate facilitates tight overlap when the two pairs of solar panels overlap, and at the same time, it can break the wind during the drone's flight, reduce air resistance, reduce energy consumption, and improve the drone's flight performance. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the application and to make other features, objects, and advantages of the application more apparent. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of this application are used to explain the application and do not constitute an undue limitation of the application.

[0016] Furthermore, throughout the accompanying drawings, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements. It should be understood that the drawings are schematic, and the elements are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0017] In the attached diagram: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly and rotating body of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the disassembled structure of the rotating body of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly frame of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the solar panel structure of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this application mounted on a drone.

[0018] 1. Assembly frame; 2. Rotating body; 3. Solar panel folding wing; 4. Lower turntable; 5. Upper turntable; 6. Bushing; 7. Fixing bolt; 8. Stepper motor; 9. Shaft hole; 10. Adapter hole; 11. Slide groove; 12. Limiting post; 13. Assembly slot; 14. Drive shaft; 15. Connecting support; 16. Wing plate; 17. Solar panel; 18. Conical surface. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The following is a detailed description of a foldable solar panel for a drone provided in this application, with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that, to make the embodiments more detailed, the following embodiments are the best and preferred embodiments; those skilled in the art can also use other alternative methods to implement some known technologies; and the accompanying drawings are only for more specific description of the embodiments and are not intended to specifically limit this application.

[0020] It should be noted that the use of terms such as "an embodiment," "an embodiment," "an exemplary embodiment," and "some embodiments" in the specification indicates that the described embodiment may include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes that specific feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, when a specific feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, implementing such a feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments (whether explicitly described or not) should be within the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0021] Generally, terms can be understood at least partly from their use in context. For example, depending at least partly on the context, the term "one or more" as used herein can be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in a singular sense, or a combination of features, structures, or characteristics in a plural sense. Additionally, the term "based on" can be understood not necessarily to convey an exclusive set of factors, but rather, alternatively, depending at least partly on the context, to allow for the presence of other factors that are not necessarily explicitly described.

[0022] The present application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0023] Reference Figure 1-6 As shown, this utility model provides a foldable solar panel for a drone, including an assembly frame 1, a rotating body 2, and solar folding wings 3. The assembly frame 1 is fixedly installed on the top of the drone. The rotating body 2 includes a lower turntable 4 horizontally fixed to the top of the assembly frame 1 and an upper turntable 5 horizontally rotatably mounted on the lower turntable 4. A connecting support 15 for bolting the lower turntable 4 is provided on the top of the assembly frame 1. A pair of solar folding wings 3 are radially symmetrically arranged on the side walls of both the lower turntable 4 and the upper turntable 5. A stepper motor 8 for driving the rotation of the upper turntable 5 is installed on the assembly frame 1. In this embodiment, the stepper motor 8 is mounted on the top of the mounting frame 1. The output shaft of the stepper motor 8 is vertically upward and connected to a flat drive shaft 14. A shaft hole 9 is provided at the center of the lower turntable 4, which can accommodate the drive shaft 14 and allow it to rotate. An adapter hole 10 is provided at the center of the upper turntable 5, through which the drive shaft 14 is also fixedly connected to the upper turntable 5. When the stepper motor 8 rotates, it drives the upper turntable 5 to rotate relative to the lower turntable 4 through the drive shaft 14.

[0024] Furthermore, a bushing 6 is provided on the top of the upper turntable 5. The bushing 6 is sleeved and fitted with the drive shaft 14. A fixing bolt 7 is threaded through the side wall of the bushing 6. The fixing bolt 7 is threaded and fitted with the drive shaft 14. The bushing 6 and the drive shaft 14 can be fixed by the fixing bolt 7. The shape of the adapter hole 10 and the bushing 6 are adapted to the shape of the flat drive shaft 14 to ensure that the drive shaft 14 can stably drive the upper turntable 5 to rotate.

[0025] In a further embodiment, each solar wing 3 consists of a wing plate 16 and a solar panel 17 embedded in the wing plate 16. Mounting slots 13 are provided on the lower turntable 4 and the upper turntable 5. The wing plate 16 is embedded in the mounting slots 13 and fixed with bolts, allowing the solar wing 3 to be securely mounted on the lower turntable 4 and the upper turntable 5. The wing plate 16 has conical surfaces 18 protruding outwards from both sides along its length. This conical surface 18 structure facilitates the overlap of two pairs of solar wing 3 and also acts as a windbreak during drone flight, reducing flight drag.

[0026] Furthermore, a groove 11 is formed on the upper surface of the lower turntable 4, which surrounds the shaft hole 9, and the maximum central angle of the groove 11 is 90°. A limit post 12 is provided on the lower surface of the upper turntable 5, and the limit post 12 is slidably engaged with the groove 11. When the upper turntable 5 rotates relative to the lower turntable 4, the limit post 12 slides within the groove 11. Since the maximum central angle of the groove 11 is 90°, the maximum angle of rotation of the upper turntable 5 relative to the lower turntable 4 can be limited to 90°.

[0027] Working Principle: This foldable solar panel for drones operates by activating stepper motor 8 when the drone needs a larger area to receive sunlight and generate more power. The output shaft of stepper motor 8 drives drive shaft 14 to rotate. Since drive shaft 14 is fixedly connected to upper turntable 5, upper turntable 5 rotates relative to lower turntable 4. As upper turntable 5 rotates, a pair of solar folding wings 3, located on the side walls of lower turntable 4 and upper turntable 5, also rotate and unfold relative to each other. During unfolding, limiting post 12 slides within slide groove 11. When limiting post 12 slides to the end of slide groove 11, upper turntable 5 stops rotating. At this point, the two pairs of solar folding wings 3 unfold to their maximum angle, allowing for a larger area to receive sunlight and providing sufficient power for the drone.

[0028] When the drone needs to store its solar panels or reduce its impact on buoyancy during landing or ascent, the stepper motor 8 is restarted to rotate in the opposite direction. The drive shaft 14 then drives the upper turntable 5 to rotate in the opposite direction, causing the two pairs of solar panels 3 to rotate and overlap relative to each other. During this overlap, the conical surfaces 18 on both sides of the wingplate 16 facilitate a tight overlap of the two pairs of solar panels 3, while simultaneously reducing the drone's drag. Once the two pairs of solar panels 3 are fully overlapped, the planar area of ​​the solar panels 3 is reduced, making them easier to store and minimizing their impact on buoyancy during landing or ascent.

[0029] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

[0030] It should be noted that this application covers any alternatives, modifications, equivalent methods, and solutions made within the spirit and scope of this application. To provide the public with a thorough understanding of this application, specific details are described in detail in the preferred embodiments, while those skilled in the art can fully understand this application without these details. Furthermore, to avoid unnecessary confusion regarding the substance of this application, well-known methods, processes, procedures, components, and circuits are not described in detail.

[0031] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of this application. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of this application, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A foldable solar panel for a drone, comprising a mounting frame (1) for mounting on the drone, characterized in that: The top of the assembly frame (1) is provided with a rotating body (2), which includes a lower turntable (4) horizontally fixed to the top of the assembly frame (1) and an upper turntable (5) horizontally rotated and mounted on the lower turntable (4). A pair of solar folding wings (3) are radially symmetrically arranged on the side walls of both the lower turntable (4) and the upper turntable (5). A stepper motor (8) is installed on the assembly frame (1), and the stepper motor (8) drives the upper turntable (5) to rotate so that the two pairs of solar folding wings (3) overlap and are misaligned.

2. The foldable solar panel for a drone according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stepper motor (8) is mounted on the top of the assembly frame (1). The output shaft of the stepper motor (8) is vertically upward and connected to the drive shaft (14). The lower turntable (4) has a shaft hole (9) at its center that allows the drive shaft (14) to pass through and rotate. The upper turntable (5) has an adapter hole (10) at its center that allows the drive shaft (14) to pass through. The drive shaft (14) passes through the shaft hole (9) and the adapter hole (10) and is fixedly connected to the upper turntable (5).

3. The foldable solar panel for a drone according to claim 2, characterized in that: The top of the upper turntable (5) is provided with a bushing (6), which is sleeved with the drive shaft (14). A fixing bolt (7) is threaded through the side wall of the bushing (6), and the fixing bolt (7) is threaded with the drive shaft (14).

4. The foldable solar panel for a drone according to claim 3, characterized in that: The drive shaft (14) is flat, and the adapter hole (10) and bushing (6) are adapted to the shape of the flat drive shaft (14).

5. The foldable solar panel for a drone according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper surface of the lower turntable (4) is provided with a sliding groove (11), which is opened around the shaft hole (9), and the maximum central angle of the sliding groove (11) is 90°. The lower surface of the upper turntable (5) is provided with a limiting post (12), which slides and engages with the sliding groove (11).

6. The foldable solar panel for a drone according to claim 1, characterized in that: The solar folding wing (3) consists of a wing plate (16) and a solar panel (17) embedded in the wing plate (16). The lower turntable (4) and the upper turntable (5) are provided with mounting slots (13), and the wing plate (16) is embedded in the mounting slots (13) and fixed with bolts.

7. The foldable solar panel for a drone according to claim 6, characterized in that: The wing plate (16) has a tapered surface (18) that protrudes outward from both sides along its length.

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