SWIVEL AND FAN DRIVE FOR SOLAR PANELS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a pivoting and fan drive for solar panels, comprising a base support, a turntable which is pivotably mounted on the base support about a substantially vertical first axis, a pivot plate which is pivotably mounted about a substantially horizontal second axis, and a fan shaft which is pivotably mounted on the pivot plate about a third axis and on which the solar panels can be mounted so as to be fanned in and out about said third axis.

[0002] Solar panels that can be fanned out using such a drive and tracked to the position of the sun are known, for example, from AT 509.886 B1, AT 512.680 B1, and AT 513.875 B1 by the same applicant. The solar panels can be fanned out from a protected position, in which they are stacked essentially congruently one on top of the other, into a fanned-out operating position, and vice versa, by rotating the fanned-out shaft on which they are mounted. For this purpose, the top (or bottom) solar panel of the stack is connected to the fanned-out shaft in a rotationally fixed manner, while the remaining solar panels are rotatably movable on the fanned-out shaft. The panels, via carriers, drag the next solar panel—and this in turn drags the next solar panel, and so on—as they fan out and unfold. In the fanned-out operating position, the solar panels can be aligned towards the sun by pivoting the turntable and the swivel plate in azimuth and elevation angles.US 2015 / 059825 A1 discloses a solar module with a rotatable base support that can be pivoted about a vertical axis, and two support arms on which solar panels are mounted, which can be moved between a stacked and a fanned-out position. The system has an electric drive for rotating the base support and automatic sun tracking, but lacks a control system that selectively couples the fanning of the panels to the rotational movement of the base support. A coupling mechanism for the targeted synchronization of rotation and fan movement is not disclosed.

[0003] The invention aims to create a swivel and fan drive for such solar panels, which is simpler in design, more space-saving and less prone to failure than the known designs.

[0004] This goal is achieved with a swivel and fan drive having the features of patent claim 1.

[0005] Optional features of the swivel and fan drive are set out in the dependent patent claims.

[0006] In one embodiment, the construction of a crank-and-swing mechanism comprising a turntable, pivot plate, crank, and connecting rod results in a very compact, space-saving design in which the pivot plate can be pivoted into a rest position, e.g. for protective purposes, in which it can lie essentially parallel to and above the turntable. For transport purposes, the pivot plate can be pivoted out into an approximately vertical end position, in which the crank and connecting rod are preferably essentially stretched. This means that forces, e.g. resulting from impacts on the fan head, act on the axle bearings and not on the more sensitive gear components on the crank axle. At the same time, this requires only a very few parts, namely the crank and connecting rod, to construct the pivot mechanism for the pivot plate, which simplifies production.The use of a crank-swing mechanism for the swivel plate also results in extremely trouble-free operation, as the crank remains fully rotatable and thus accidental over-rotation of a motor driving it cannot lead to any blockage or damage to the motor or mechanism.

[0007] Preferably, the bearing axis of the crank on the turntable is located lower than the second axis, which, with appropriate dimensioning of the crank, connecting rod and effective joint distances between the turntable and swivel plate, can be used to swivel the swivel plate, for example, from a horizontal rest position via any inclined position to an upright end position so that it can follow the position of the sun.

[0008] A particularly robust and space-saving design is achieved if, according to a preferred feature of the invention, the turntable has two upright bearing arms, between which said one end of the pivot plate is mounted. For the same reasons, two cranks, each with a connecting rod, can preferably be provided, between which said other end of the pivot plate is mounted.

[0009] In an advantageous embodiment, the cranks can be mounted on a common shaft, which is supported in bearing plates of the turntable, so that only one drive is required for both cranks. In particular, the turntable—including bearing arms and bearing plates, if present—can be manufactured in one piece, preferably as a cast part, which significantly simplifies the final assembly of the drive during production.

[0010] The swivel and fan drive of the invention can be operated manually. However, it is preferably designed for motor operation, allowing both fully automatic sun-position tracking of the solar panels and their fully automatic folding and unfolding, for example, to move them into a protected fanned-out position at night or during wind and rain.

[0011] The pivoting movements around the three axes mentioned can be accomplished using any drive known in technology, for example, hydraulic or pneumatic drives or electric servomotors, e.g., slow-speed or geared electric motors or stepper motors. The gearboxes used can be any of the gears known in technology, e.g., planetary gears, or angular gears, e.g., planetary reversing gears.

[0012] In preferred embodiments of the invention, electric motors with reduction worm gears are used, i.e. the crank(s) are preferably driven via a first worm gear by a first electric motor mounted on the turntable; and / or the turntable via a second worm gear by a second electric motor mounted on the base support; and / or the fan shaft via a third worm gear by a third electric motor mounted on the pivot plate.

[0013] According to a further aspect of the invention, instead of a separate third drive for the fan shaft, one of the other two drives is used: By selectively coupling the fan shaft to the turntable or its drive, or to the pivot plate or its drive, the solar panels can be fanned out or in during the azimuth rotation of the turntable or the elevation pivoting of the pivot plate. After the desired fanning or induction of the solar panels, the coupling is released, and the turntable and pivot plate drives can again be used exclusively for azimuth and elevation adjustment.

[0014] It is particularly advantageous if the turntable drive is used to drive the fan shaft, i.e. the fan shaft can be driven by the turntable or its drive via a coupling, and at the same time the coupling is automatically actuated by pivoting the pivot plate. In particular, the coupling can be closed when the pivot plate is in a rest position and opened when the pivot plate is in a different pivot position. For example, the rest position of the pivot plate is its horizontal position, parallel to and congruent with the turntable, in which the coupling closes. The turntable drive can now be used to fan out the solar panels, whereupon the panels are aligned in elevation towards the sun using the pivot drive. This releases the coupling and makes the turntable drive usable exclusively for azimuth adjustment again.

[0015] An advantageous practical embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the coupling is formed by a pinion driven by the turntable via a gear shaft and a gear ring mounted on the fan shaft. The gear ring engages with the pinion when the swivel plate is pivoted into the rest position and disengages when the swivel plate is pivoted out of the rest position. This results in automatic engagement and disengagement of the coupling between the turntable drive and the fan shaft when the swivel plate pivots.

[0016] To prevent the fan shaft from accidentally rotating during operation after the aforementioned coupling for separating the azimuth and elevation drives has been released, according to a further preferred feature of the invention, the fan shaft can be selectively fixed in rotation relative to the pivot plate via a further coupling. This further coupling can also be automatically actuated during the pivoting movement of the pivot plate. In particular, the further coupling is open in the rest position of the pivot plate and closed in a different pivoting position of the pivot plate.In a preferred embodiment of this variant, the additional clutch can be a brake disc that is non-rotatably connected to the fan-shaped shaft and spring-loaded against a braking surface of the swivel plate. This brake disc can be distanced from the braking surface by an actuating element of the turntable when the swivel plate is pivoted into the rest position, thus enabling trouble-free, automatic actuation of the second clutch. Alternatively, this can also be achieved by the additional clutch being a brake pinion that is non-rotatably connected to the swivel plate but spring-loaded for axial movement. This pinion has brake teeth for meshing engagement with the gear ring and can be pushed out of the meshing engagement against the spring when the swivel plate is pivoted into the rest position.

[0017] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. theFig. 1 and 2 a solar module with fan-out solar panels in two different operating positions, each in a schematic perspective view from above; the Figs. 3 and 4 a swivel and fan drive for the solar module of the Fig. 1 and 2 in two different operating positions, namely in a perspective view from diagonally above ( Fig. 3 ) and once in a perspective view from below ( Fig. 4 ); the Fig. 5 to 7 the swivel and fan drive of the Figs. 3 and 4 in a side view ( Fig. 5 ), a top view ( Fig. 6 ) and a rear view ( Fig. 7 ); and the Fig. 8 to 11 two variants of a design of the swivel and fan drive of the Fig. 3 to 7 each in two different operating positions in section.

[0018] In the Fig. 1 and 2A solar module 1 is shown with a plurality of lamellar solar panels 2, which are pivotably and fan-shaped mounted on an anchorage 4 via a pivoting and fan drive 3. The solar panels 2 can thus be pivoted from a first, in Fig. 1 shown fanned-out position, in which they lie essentially congruently on top of each other in a stack, into a second, in Fig. 2shown fanned-out position, in which they are fanned out around a common fanning axis 5 and thus lie essentially next to one another, and vice versa. With the aid of the pivoting and fanning drive 3, the fanning axis 5 can be adjusted in azimuth about a first, essentially vertical axis 6 and in elevation about a second, essentially horizontal axis 7 in order to align the fanned-out solar panels 2 towards the sun and track it. The anchoring 4 can be of any type, for example a stand or tripod as shown, but also a part of a building, a ground anchor, a part of a ship, a vehicle, a container or the like.

[0019] The solar panels 2 have an approximately circular sector shape, preferably with rounded corners (''petal shape") as shown, and complement each other in their fanned-out position ( Fig. 2) preferably—although not necessarily—forms a full circle. For example, twelve solar panels 2 are provided, each with a circular sector angle of approximately 30°, with the fan-out or pivot angle of one solar panel 2 relative to its neighboring solar panel 2 correspondingly being approximately 30°.

[0020] Each solar panel 2 has a flat array of photovoltaic cells 8 on its upper surface, e.g., in crystalline or organic form or using thin-film technology. The electrical connections and interconnections of the solar panels 2 and solar cells 8 are not shown for the sake of clarity; for example, the solar panels 2 are connected to the anchorage 4 or the pivoting and fan drive 3 via flexible connecting cables or sliding contacts and rigid contact rings and are connected to the further energy transmission electrical system.

[0021] The Fig. 3 to 9show the pivot and fan drive 3 for the solar panels 2 in detail. The pivot and fan drive 3 comprises a base support 9, here in the form of an annular flange, which can be screwed, for example, via holes 10 onto the upper end of the anchor 4. A turntable 12 is mounted on the base support 9 via a ball bearing 11, allowing it to at least pivot, preferably fully rotate, about the axis 6.

[0022] The turntable 12 has at one end 13 two obliquely upwardly projecting and spaced-apart bearing arms 14, between which one end 15 of a pivot plate 16 is pivotably mounted about the axis 7. The pivot plate 16 could also be pivotally mounted on the turntable 12 in another way, for example, by means of a hinge. It should be emphasized that the terms "turntable" and "pivot plate" do not refer literally to a plate or plate shape, but rather to their function, i.e., the turntable 12 could also have a shape other than a plate, for example, in the form of a hub, a shaft socket, a block, etc.; and the pivot plate 16 could also have a shape other than a plate, e.g., a hub, a socket, a block, or a support of any shape.

[0023] On or in the pivot plate 16, a fan shaft 18 is mounted via a ball bearing 17 so that it can at least pivot, preferably fully rotate, about the fan axis 5. From the fan shaft 18, Fig. 3 to 9 only its drive-side end part, designed as a ring flange, is shown, to which, for example, via holes 19, the remaining Fig. 2 recognizable part of the fan shaft 18, which carries the solar panels 2, can be flanged. By turning the fan shaft 18, the solar panels 2 can be rotated from the fanned-out position ( Fig. 1 ) into the fanned-out position ( Fig. 2 ) and vice versa. For example, the top (or bottom) solar panel 2 of the stack ( Fig. 1) are connected to the fan shaft 18 in a rotationally fixed manner and the lowest (or uppermost) solar panel 2 is connected to the pivot plate 16 in a rotationally fixed manner, wherein one of the solar panels 2 drags the adjacent solar panel 2 along by means of drag bars, drag hooks, drivers or the like when fanning out or fanning out until all solar panels 2 are fanned out or fanned out.

[0024] The sliding of the solar panels 2 over one another during this dragging movement can be used to clean the solar panels 2. For this purpose, each solar panel 2 (with the exception of the bottommost solar panel 2) is optionally equipped with a sweeping lip on its back, which sweeps the solar panel 2 underneath as it fans out. The sweeping lip can, for example, be a rubber lip or a brush lip and simultaneously form the drag bar.

[0025] The pivoting of the pivot plate 16 relative to the turntable 12 is achieved by means of at least one (here: two) cranks 20 mounted on a common shaft 21, which is supported in bearing brackets 22 of the turntable 12, such that the axis 21' of the shaft 21 is parallel to and at a distance from the pivot axis 7 of the pivot plate 16. The bearing brackets 22 can be formed by the base regions of the bearing arms 14 or separately therefrom.

[0026] The cranks 20 are each coupled at their ends facing away from the shaft 21 via a connecting rod 23 to the other end 24 of the pivot plate 16 opposite the end 15 on a pivot axis 25.

[0027] The four parts—rotary plate 12, pivot plate 16, cranks 20, and connecting rod 23—form a four-bar linkage, or more precisely, a crank-and-swing mechanism, whose "crank" is the cranks 20, whose "swing" is the pivot plate 16, whose "frame" is the turntable 2, and whose "coupling link" is the connecting rod 23. The frame length between the shaft axis 21' and the pivot axis 7, the swing length between the pivot axis 7 and the pivot axis 25, as well as the effective lengths of the crank 20 and connecting rod 23 determine the kinematics of the crank-and-swing mechanism, as is known in the art. These lengths are preferably selected—but not mandatory—so that the pivot plate 16 can pivot approximately 90° from an approximately horizontal rest position ( Fig. 3 ) into an approximately vertical end position ( Fig. 4 ) and back when the cranks 20 complete a full rotation.

[0028] Preferably, the shaft axis 21' of the cranks 20 is located diagonally below the pivot axis 7, so that in the rest position ( Fig. 3 ) the swivel plate 16 is approximately parallel to and above the rotary table 12 when the cranks 20 and connecting rod 23 are in their maximum shortened position. This results in a very small space requirement in the rest position, see Fig. 3 . In the maximum swivelled end position of Fig. 4 the cranks 20 and connecting rods 23 are in their maximum extended position.

[0029] The movements of the swivel and fan drive 3 about one or more of the axes 5, 6, 7 can, in the simplest case, be performed manually. However, the movements about one or more of the axes 5, 6, 7 are preferably performed by appropriate drives, for example, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, servo motors, stepper motors, or the like. Fig. 3 to 7An example is shown in which a geared electric drive is provided for each of the three movements.

[0030] For this purpose, a first electric motor 26 with a flanged-on bevel gear 27 is mounted on the turntable 12, which drives one of the cranks 20 or its shaft 21 via a first worm gear 28. The first worm gear 28 comprises, for example, a worm driven by the electric motor 26 via the bevel gear 27, which engages a worm wheel mounted on a crank 20 or the shaft 21.

[0031] A second electric motor 29 with flanged angular gear 30 is mounted on the base support 9 and drives the turntable 12 via a second worm gear 31, which has, for example, a worm engaging in a worm wheel of the turntable 12.

[0032] A third electric motor 32 with flanged angular gear 33 is mounted on the pivot plate 16 and drives the fan shaft 18 via a third worm gear 34, for example again with the aid of a worm which engages in a worm wheel connected to the fan shaft 18.

[0033] It is understood that instead of one or more of the worm gears, other suitable gears, e.g. spur gears, planetary gears or angular gears, such as bevel gears, crown gears or planetary deflection gears, each with one or more gear stages, can also be used.

[0034] In the Fig. 8 to 11Variants of an embodiment for driving the fan shaft 18 are shown. No separate electric drive is provided for this purpose; instead, the drive of the turntable 12 is optionally used. For this purpose, a gear shaft 35 with an approximately vertical axis of rotation is mounted in bearings 36, 37 on the turntable 12 and / or one of its bearing plates 22. The gear shaft 35 has a pinion 38 at its lower end, which meshes with a ring gear 39 formed on the outer circumference of a flange 40 of the base support 9. When the turntable 12 rotates relative to the base support 9 or its flange 40, the gear shaft 35 is thus set in rotation.

[0035] At its upper end, the gear shaft 35 carries a further pinion 41, which in the downwardly pivoted position of the pivot plate 16 ( Fig. 8or 10) engages with a gear ring 42 formed on the outer circumference of the fan shaft 18. In this position, the second electric motor 29 drives both the turntable 12 and—via the engagement of the pinion 41 and gear ring 42—the fan shaft 18, so that during rotation about the axis 6, the solar panels 2 are simultaneously fanned out or inward around the axis 5.

[0036] The pinion 41 and the gear ring 42 thus form a coupling between the turntable 12 or its drive and the fan shaft 18, which in the Fig. 8 and 10 shown rest position of the swivel plate 16 is closed. When the swivel plate 16 is swiveled up, the coupling opens, see Fig. 9 or 11, ie pinion 41 and gear ring 42 are disengaged, so that the electric motor 29 can now again be used exclusively for the rotary drive about the axis 6, ie the azimuth adjustment of the solar panels 2.

[0037] When swiveling down or in the swivel plate 16 into the rest position ( Fig. 8 or 10) the clutch 41, 42 is closed again and the electric motor 29 can then be used again, for example to fan out the solar panels 2.

[0038] If desired, the stacked solar panels 2 can be swivelled down in the fanned-out position by rotating them around the swivel axis 7, so that they Fig. 1 Take the hanging protective position against wind and weather as shown.

[0039] It is understood that instead of the second electric motor 29 of the turntable drive, the first electric motor 26 for the swivel plate drive can also be used for the optional driving of the fan shaft 18, in which case a similar coupling is provided between the swivel plate 16 or its drive 26 and the fan shaft 18.

[0040] If the coupling 41, 42 of the fan shaft 18 is in a position different from the rest position ( Fig. 8 or 10) is released, a further coupling can be used to temporarily fix the fan shaft 18 in rotation relative to the pivot plate 16, so that an unintentional change of the fanned-in or fanned-out position of the solar panels 2 is avoided, especially during their azimuth and elevation adjustment. The further coupling comprises in the variant of the Figs. 8 and 9 a brake disc 45 which is connected to the fan shaft 18 in a rotationally fixed manner and pre-tensioned against a braking surface 43 of the swivel plate 16 by means of a spring 44. The brake disc 45 is lifted from the braking surface 43 by an actuating member 46 attached to the turntable 12 when the swivel plate 16 is pivoted into the rest position, see Fig. 8When the swivel plate 16 is pivoted upwards, the actuating member 46 disengages from the brake disc 45, so that the latter is pressed against the braking surface 43 by the spring 44, thus rotationally fixing the fan shaft 18 with respect to the swivel plate 16. The further coupling 43-46 is thus open in the rest position of the swivel plate 16 and closed in a different swivel position of the swivel plate 16.

[0041] Instead of the brake disc / brake surface construction of the clutch 43 - 46 shown, any other type of clutch can be used which enables the temporary fixing of the fan shaft 18 shown.

[0042] For example, according to the Figs. 10 and 11 In the variant shown, the braking function of the further clutch can alternatively be achieved by a brake pinion 47 or the like with brake teeth 48, which in the position of Fig. 10approximately in alignment with the gear shaft 35 on the swivel plate 16, rotationally fixed, but axially movable, ie in the representation of Fig. 10 vertically movable, is mounted with a downward load by means of a spring 49. When the swivel plate 16 ( Fig. 11 ), this brake pinion 47 with its brake teeth 48 is pressed into meshing engagement with the gear ring 42 by a spring in order to fix it in rotation. In the rest position of the swivel plate 16 ( Fig. 10 ) it is pushed out of the meshing engagement by the gear shaft 35 against its spring load and thus releases the gear ring 42.

[0043] It is understood that the clutches 41, 42 and 43 - 49 could also be operated manually or by means of electrical actuators, which can be controlled, for example, by an electronic system that also controls the electric motors 26 and 29 accordingly.

[0044] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but includes all variants, modifications and combinations that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Swivel and fan drive (3) for solar panels (2), comprising: a basic carrier (9), a turntable (12), which is pivotably mounted on the basic carrier (9) about a substantially vertical first axis (6), a swivel plate (16), which is pivotably mounted about a substantially horizontal second axis (7), a fan shaft (18), which is pivotably mounted on the swivel plate (16) about a third axis (5) and on which the solar panels (2) can be mounted so as to be fanned in and out about said third axis (5), characterised in that a drive (29 - 31) is provided for driving the turntable (12) for rotation about the first axis (6) and for selectively driving the fan shaft (18) fanning the solar panels (2) in or out about the third axis (5) due to the rotation of the turntable (12) about the first axis (6), wherein the fan shaft (18) can be driven by the turntable (12) or by the drive (29 - 31) of the turntable (12) via a coupling (41, 42).

2. Swivel and fan drive according to claim 1, in which the swivel plate (16) can be pivoted about the substantially horizontal second axis (7) between a horizontal and a vertical position.

3. Swivel and fan drive (3) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the swivel plate (16) is pivotably mounted on the turntable (12) about the substantially horizontal second axis (7), preferably between a rest position in which the swivel plate (16) extends substantially parallel to and above the turntable (12), and an approximately vertical end position in which the crank (20) and the connecting rod (23) are substantially extended.

4. Swivel and fan drive (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: at least one crank (20), which is pivotably attached relative to the turntable (12), and a connecting rod (23) which is coupled between the crank (20) and the swivel plate (16) such that a pivoting movement of the at least one crank (20) pivots the swivel plate (16) about the substantially horizontal second axis (7).

5. Swivel and fan drive (3) according to claim 4, in which the turntable (12) mounts an end (15) of the swivel plate (16) about the said second axis (7), and mounts, at a distance therefrom, the at least one crank (20), which is coupled via the connecting rod (23) to the other end (24) of the swivel plate (16) to form a crank rocker gear.

6. Swivel and fan drive according to claim 4 or 5, in which the crank(s) (20) can be driven via a first gear, e.g. a first worm gear (28) by a first drive mounted on the turntable (12) such as e.g. a first electric motor (26, 27).

7. Swivel and fan drive according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the turntable (12) can be driven via a second gear, e.g. a second worm gear (31), by a second drive mounted on the basic carrier (9) such as e.g. a second electric motor (29, 30).

8. Swivel and fan drive according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the coupling (41, 42) can be actuated by swivelling the swivel plate (16).

9. Swivel and fan drive according to claim 8, in which the coupling (41, 42) is closed in a rest position of the swivel plate (16) and is open in a swivel position of the swivel plate (16) deviating therefrom.

10. Swivel and fan drive according to claim 9, in which the coupling (41, 42) is formed by a pinion (41) driven by the turntable (12) via a gear shaft (35) and a toothed ring (42) which sits on the fan shaft (18) and which engages with the pinion (41) when the swivel plate (16) is pivoted into the rest position and disengages when the swivel plate (16) is pivoted out of the rest position.

11. Swivel and fan drive according to any one of claims 8 to 10, in which the fan shaft (18) can be fixed in rotation with respect to the swivel plate (16) via a further coupling (43 - 49).

12. Swivel and fan drive according to claim 11, in which the further coupling (43 - 49) is opened in a rest position of the swivel plate (16) and is closed in a swivel position of the swivel plate (16) deviating therefrom.

13. Swivel and fan drive according to claim 12, in which the further coupling is a brake disk (45) that is rotationally fixed to the fan shaft (18) and is spring-biased against a brake surface (43) of the swivel plate (16), the brake disk (45) being displaceable from the brake surface (43) by an actuating member (46) of the turntable (12) when the swivel plate (16) is pivoted into the rest position.

14. Swivel and fan drive according to claims 10 and 12, in which the further coupling is a brake pinion (47) that is rotationally fixed but axially displaceable and spring-biased on the swivel plate (16), the brake pinion (47) comprising brake teeth (48) configured for meshing engagement with the toothed ring (42), and being adapted to be displaced out of the meshing engagement against the spring force when the swivel plate (16) is pivoted into the rest position.