Angle and height adjustable solar table

Abstract

The purpose of the invention is a solar balcony table with an angle adjustment of the photovoltaic tabletop, coupled with a height adjustment to achieve a higher solar power yield. The mechanical coupling of height adjustment and angle adjustment is achieved through seven-joint mechanisms. By raising the solar panel surface, shading by balcony railings is avoided, and by increasing the angle of inclination, the solar power yield and the self-cleaning of the module are improved.

Description

[0001] The purpose of the invention is to achieve optimal solar energy harvesting on balconies.

[0002] Many tenants or owners are interested in cost-effective small solar power systems in order to reduce their electricity consumption from the grid and to make a contribution to the environment.

[0003] The legal framework is in place to generate solar power with plug-in solar devices and feed it directly into the apartment or house grid. For this purpose, solar modules are attached to balconies with brackets and thus harvest a maximum of 70% of the yield compared to optimally aligned photovoltaic modules. To increase the solar power yield, standard solar modules may be tilted to a maximum of 10° from the vertical, which only results in a very slight increase in yield. For larger angles, much more expensive modules certified for overhead gasification are required. The installation of solar modules on balconies requires the consent of the landlord or homeowners association. Such consent may be refused due to historic preservation or aesthetic considerations, or may contain conditions such as "proof that the installation is carried out by a specialist company." The latter increases the costs and therefore the payback period.

[0004] An angle of the solar surface of around 60° from the vertical, i.e. 30° from the horizontal, results in an optimal annual harvest of solar power in the area of ​​the cardinal directions between southwest and southeast.

[0005] Balconies are predominantly used only during the summer months, and even then, usually only for a few hours. This means that a large portion of the annual daylight hours are available for solar power generation.

[0006] The functional combination of a mobile balcony table with a plug-in solar device offers multiple benefits. Such a solar balcony table doesn't require the approval of the landlord or homeowners association, can be easily positioned in a suitable direction, and can be easily transported when moving.

[0007] Various models are known as state of the art that use a PV module as a table top.

[0008] E.g., DE202013007702U1. These include models where the tabletop can be angled to increase power output.

[0009] E.g. TECHNAXX: TECHNAXX SOLAR TABLE POWER STATION 410W TX-250

[0010] However, the problem on balconies is that typical table heights are 70-80 cm, while balcony railings are 90-100 cm. The shadow cast by a balcony railing on the photovoltaic tabletop significantly reduces the solar power yield.

[0011] The aim of the invention is a balcony table with a photovoltaic table top, which is adjustable in angle and height.

[0012] The present invention relates to a device for kinematically coupling the inclination angle of a photovoltaic tabletop with its height adjustment. This is achieved by a mechanism with seven joints each, which, as the inclination angle increases, also lifts the photovoltaic tabletop out of the shaded area of ​​the balcony railing. Furthermore, when the tabletop is raised, the lower edge of the solar tabletop moves away from the balcony railing and thus out of the shaded zone. The module inclination also improves natural self-cleaning. To ensure that the table can be switched to solar use after each use, a simple manual adjustment or an electric motor adjustment is advisable. The switch between table function and optimal solar power generation can be carried out manually with a single movement. This makes it possible to easily switch the table to the position for optimal solar power generation after each use.Optionally, the change between the two positions can be carried out using an electric drive. List of characters Fig. 1 Illustration of the photovoltaic table top with seven-joint mechanism in the table usage position. Fig. 2 Illustration of the photovoltaic table top with seven-joint mechanism in the position of optimized solar energy use Fig. 3 Illustration of two parallel seven-bar mechanisms in the position of optimized solar power generation Fig. 4 Illustration of a locking mechanism Fig. 5 Illustration of the arrangement of a spring unit or drive unit Description of the characters

[0013] Fig. 1 shows the seven-joint mechanism with the photovoltaic table top 14 in the table usage position. Here, 1, 3, 4, 7, and 10 are the movable joints, and 5 and 8 are the pivot points fixed to the table frame 21. Of these, joints 1 and 3 are fixed to the photovoltaic tabletop holder 2. The joints are connected by elements 2, 9, 18, 15, 17, 13, and 6. Elements 6 and 13 are at a fixed angle to each other, while elements 9 and 15 are also at a fixed angle to each other.

[0014] Fig. Figure 2 shows the seven-joint mechanism with the photovoltaic tabletop 14 in the position for optimized solar energy utilization. Joints 3, 7, and 8, as well as joints 4, 10, and 8, are each located on one axis or are moved slightly beyond this axis. This ensures that this position is stable, and external forces on the photovoltaic tabletop cannot move it from this position.

[0015] Fig. Figure 3 shows two parallel seven-bar linkage mechanisms in the optimized solar power generation position without a photovoltaic tabletop. The stationary sides 21 are connected by profiles 20, and the two seven-bar linkage mechanisms are connected by profile 19. Profile 19 synchronizes the two seven-bar linkage mechanisms.

[0016] Fig. 4 shows a locking mechanism which, with spring latch 11 and locking plate 12, stiffens the connecting joint of house wall side 7 by blocking the photovoltaic table top support at the top of house wall side 9 with the photovoltaic table top support at the bottom of house wall side 18.

[0017] Fig. 5 shows the seven-joint mechanism in the position of optimized solar power generation in side view without photovoltaic table top with the arrangement of a spring unit or drive unit 22 List of names: 1 photovoltaic table top joint railing side 2 photovoltaic table top holders 3 Photovoltaic table top joint house wall side 4 lever joint railing side 5 Table joint railing side 6 Photovoltaic table top support railing side 7 Connecting joint house wall side 8 Table joint house wall side 9 Photovoltaic table top support top house wall side 10 Lever joint house wall side 11 spring latch 12 locking plate 13 Lever arm balcony side 14 Photovoltaic table top 15 Lever arm house wall side 16 not used 17 Push rod 18 Photovoltaic table top support bottom house wall side 19 Torsion-resistant connection between the two photovoltaic table top supports 9 for synchronization of both joint kinematics 20 Longitudinal connection of the photovoltaic balcony table 21 Cross connection of the photovoltaic balcony table 22 Spring unit or drive unit QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 202013007702U1

[0008]

Claims

[1] Solar table, characterized by that it is suitable for power generation and the photovoltaic surface (14) is angle-adjustable and height-adjustable, wherein the angle adjustment is coupled to the height adjustment by gear elements. [2] Solar table according to claim 1, characterized by that the solar power is fed into the house or apartment grid or into power storage via module inverters or is used directly in suitable direct current applications. [3] Solar table according to claim 1, characterized by that when the angle of the photovoltaic table surface (14) is increased, the entire photovoltaic table surface is raised [4] Solar table according to claim 1, characterized by that the angle adjustment is coupled with the height adjustment by a seven-joint mechanism ( Fig. 1, Fig. 2) [5] Solar table according to claim 1, characterized bythat several seven-joint mechanisms are synchronized in their movements by at least one connecting profile (19) ( Fig. 3). [6] Solar table according to claim 1, characterized by that between the cross connections (21) of the balcony table, several seven-joint mechanisms are synchronized in their movements via a rotating shaft and gear elements. [7] Solar table according to claim 1, characterized by that the weight of the photovoltaic table top is compensated by spring elements and / or counterweights (22). [8] Solar table according to claim 1, characterized by that at least one locking mechanism (11, 12) or clamping mechanism is present which fixes one or more angular positions [9] Solar table according to claim 1, characterized by that a manual angle adjustment of the solar table surface is possible. [10] Solar table according to claim 1, characterized bythat the angle and height adjustment of the solar panel is carried out by at least one electric motor drive (22).

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