Solar panel tilt angle adjustment mechanism

Abstract

This technology generates electricity using sunlight above crops while cultivating them on the ground. It allows for easy operation to simultaneously and efficiently adjust the angle of a wide area of ​​panels. [Solution] The system consists of a support column 1, a solar panel 3, and a housing 4, with a worm 5 and a worm wheel 6 meshing together. The solar panel 3 has a pivot shaft 7 that is rotatably supported near its center in the north-south direction, and a support shaft 8 that is rotatably supported at a certain distance away, and has a link 10 connected to the support shaft 8. A pivot shaft 12 is inserted into the hollow output shaft of the worm wheel 6 and is mounted to the bottom of adjacent panels in the same row. The pivot shaft 12 has a lever 13 and is connected to the link 10. The worm 5a has input shafts on both sides of the housing 4 and is connected to the adjacent worm 5b by a joint 14 and a drive shaft 15. The shaft end consists of a motor bracket 16, a motor 17, a coupling 18, and a control unit 20.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a solar sharing technology that grows crops while exposing them to sunlight on arable land on the ground and generates electricity when sunlight hits above the crops. It is a technology that can achieve maximum-efficiency solar power generation according to the type and growth stage of the crops and can coexist with maximizing the sunlight received by the crops. Furthermore, it is a technology that can change the angle of the panel to a horizontal posture that is resistant to strong winds during typhoons and other times, and to an angle close to vertical during snowfall.

Background Art

[0002] The present invention is a solar sharing technology that can flexibly adapt to the type of crops and the growth period. Conventionally, in a general fixed type, solar panels are installed at a fixed inclination of about 10 to 20 degrees on an area of about 30 to 35% in terms of area ratio. At this time, sunlight shines on the crops and grows them when there is no solar panel. As a problem, since the solar panel is fixed, after the crops to be grown are harvested, solar power generation cannot be performed with the maximum area, and on the other hand, the crops cannot receive the maximum sunlight necessary for growth, resulting in a significant decrease in yield. Also, although it depends on the type of crops and season, for example, in the case of rice cultivation, transplanting is from April to June, and rice harvesting is performed from August to October. In many cases, there is no crop cultivation and fallow occurs for about four months other than this period. Even in this case, the solar panels of the fixed-type solar sharing have to generate electricity at 30 to 35% of the total area. Here, there is a problem with the conventional general fixed-type solar sharing.

[0003] [[ID=1५]] Generally, most of the solar panels of solar sharing have been fixed types, but recently, patent technologies for solving the problems of fixed types have also started to appear. The following patent technologies are available as patent documents regarding the inclination angle change of this solar panel.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7584774 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-198746 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-79578

[0005] Patent Document 1 provides a plant cultivation system that allows for the efficient use of land, maximizing the placement of solar power generation panels, while also enabling the installation of agricultural machinery such as work vehicles and the cultivation of plants. As a solution, this plant cultivation system comprises multiple solar power generation panels 1 that cover the farmland for cultivating plants like a roof, multiple drive units 6 that can change the orientation of each of the multiple solar power generation panels 1, multiple lighting units 4 provided on the back surface of each of the multiple solar power generation panels 1, and a control unit 7 for controlling the movement of each of the multiple drive units 6. The multiple lighting units 4 emit light using electricity generated by the multiple solar power generation panels 1, illuminating the plants and making cultivation possible even under the solar power generation panels 1. The system comprises multiple solar power generation panels that cover the farmland for cultivating plants like a roof, multiple drive units that can change the orientation of each of the multiple solar power generation panels, multiple lighting units provided on the back surface of each of the multiple solar power generation panels, and a control unit for controlling the movement of each of the multiple drive units. This Patent Document 1 states that the angle of the solar power generation panels can be changed individually, but the structure of the drive units is not clearly shown, and the capital investment would be expensive, making it unprofitable and impractical in terms of return on investment. Furthermore, while it is stated that the electricity generated by solar power will be used for lighting installed on the back of the panels, this will reduce the amount of solar power sold back to the grid. In addition, since there is only one pivot point that is driven by a drive unit to determine the angle of each individual solar panel, the design is not able to withstand strong winds such as typhoons, which is a problem. Patent Document 2 aims to provide a solar power generation device with high power generation efficiency, The solution involves planting multiple support columns 4 at intervals in the north-south direction on the upper surface of a base 1 that slopes towards the south, and horizontally mounting a solar power generation panel support shaft 5, on which a cylindrical winding drum 6 is coaxially fixed, across the upper ends of the support columns 4 via bearings 8. A rectangular solar power generation panel 13 is pivotally supported on the solar power generation panel support shaft 5 via bearings 8 fixed to its back surface. The ends of a wire rope 10, which is wound several times around the winding drum 6 of the solar power generation panel support shaft 5, are fixed to the vicinity of both ends of the base 1 via a pair of wire rope guide pulleys 14 fixed near both ends of the back surface of the solar power generation panel 13. By rotating the solar power generation panel support shaft 5, the angle of the solar power generation panel 13 can be changed to follow the position of the sun on the operating trajectory by the pulling force of the wire rope 10 wound around the winding drum 6. In the case of this Patent Document 2, the angle of the solar power generation panel is changed by the pulling force of the wire rope, which is tied to both ends of a wire rope that is pivotably supported on the solar power generation panel support shaft and wound around the winding drum 6 of the solar power generation panel support shaft several times. However, the solar power generation panel is supported at only one point, and the strength of the panel cannot withstand strong winds such as typhoons, making it impractical. Furthermore, since this angle change is performed by the rotation of each drive unit for each individual solar panel, it is inefficient, and there is a problem that the overall equipment cost becomes high when there are many panels. Furthermore, Patent Document 3 addresses the challenge of installing solar panels above crop cultivation areas, adjusting the panel angle at the expense of power generation efficiency to ensure sufficient sunlight reaches the crops during cultivation, and functioning as a fully sun-following solar power generation system when not being cultivated. It also addresses the challenge of providing emergency panel angle adjustment means to maintain the panel angle approximately horizontal to protect the solar panels during strong winds, and to make the panels approximately vertical to prevent snow from falling onto the panels during snowfall. As a solution, the solar power generation system according to the present invention comprises a panel unit consisting of one main solar panel and a plurality of secondary solar panels arranged in the east-west direction at predetermined intervals, a panel rotation means for rotatably connecting the individual solar panels of the panel unit in the east-west direction, a tilt adjustment means for adjusting the angle of the individual solar panels in the north-south direction, and a frame for holding the panel unit at a predetermined height, wherein the frame is installed on the ground where crops are cultivated. In the case of Patent Document 3, the angle change of each row of panels is connected by a connecting member at one point from the main panel to the end of the secondary panel of the adjacent row, which has the problem of weakening strength against strong winds. Furthermore, the connection between the main and secondary panels in each row is achieved by connecting the ends of the panels with connecting members. This method results in dead spots when the panel changes from a positive angle or horizontal position to a negative angle, making it difficult to reliably move each row of panels to the same angle. Moreover, this patented technology presents a problem in that it is difficult to simultaneously change the angle of a large number of solar panels over a wide area due to the structure of the mechanism. [Overview of the project]

[0006] This invention is a technology for achieving maximum sunlight irradiation to crops in solar sharing under certain conditions, and maximum solar power generation under other conditions. [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] The object of this invention has been taken in view of the above, and addresses the problems described in Prior Art Documents 1, 2, and 3. Specifically, it enables the angle of as many solar panels as possible to be changed at once, rather than allowing individual panels to change their angle. Furthermore, it provides a panel tilting mechanism that allows for easy angle adjustment while also being sufficiently strong against strong winds. In addition, it enables both manual angle adjustment of the panels and automatic angle adjustment of the solar panels using a motor and pre-programmed data. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The tilting mechanism for solar panels of the present invention solves the problems of conventional patents by first providing a structure in which the solar panel is supported at two points: a pivot axis and a movable support part, so that the tilt angle of all panels can be stably maintained and withstand strong winds. Furthermore, by having a pivot axis for tilting the panel located near the center in the north-south direction of the solar panel, the tilt angle can be changed with little force. The angle of the solar panel is connected to a link member that is rotatably connected to the support point with respect to the pivot axis, and a lever that is rotatably connected to this link member and has a pivot point on a swing axis. The pivot point of the lever is composed of a swing axis connected to a worm wheel, a worm that meshes with the worm wheel, and an input drive shaft for the worm. Furthermore, the tilting mechanism changes the panel angle in conjunction with multiple adjacent solar panels in the same row by swing axes connected to a common worm wheel. In addition, the worms connected to the worm wheels of the swing axes of adjacent solar panels in the same row are connected to each other by a drive shaft. Furthermore, this also applies to cases where the worm is rotated manually using a hand crank on the input side connected by the drive shaft, where it is rotated to a predetermined angle by a motor, or where the motor is programmed to rotate and stop at a pre-set angle. An embodiment of the tilting mechanism for solar panels according to the present invention will be described. The solar panel tilt angle changing mechanism of the present invention includes a solar panel 3 mounted via an arm 2 supported on a support column 1, and a housing 4 mounted on the support column. A worm 5 and a worm wheel 6 are meshed together inside the housing 4. The solar panel has a pivot shaft 7 that is rotatably supported near the center in the north-south direction, and a support shaft 8 that is rotatably supported on its lower surface at a certain distance away in the south direction, and a link 10 that is connected to the support shaft 8 and has a rotatable connecting shaft 9 at the other end. A pivot shaft 12 is attached, inserted into the hollow output shaft 11 of the worm wheel 6 that meshes with the worm 5, and extending to below the adjacent panel in the same row. The pivot shaft 12 has a lever 13 that is rotatably connected to the other end of the link 10. Furthermore, the worm 5a has input shafts on both sides of the housing 4 and is connected to the adjacent worm 5b by a joint 14 and a drive shaft 15. The shaft end is equipped with a motor bracket 16 fixed to the support column 1, a motor 17, a coupling 18, a hand crank 19, a control unit 20, and a pivot shaft bearing 21. The operation of the solar panel tilt angle changing mechanism with the above configuration is as follows: First, upon receiving a command from the control unit 20, the motor 17 rotates to the programmed angle. As the worm 5 rotates via the coupling 19, the worm wheel 6 rotates to a certain angle, and the operation is transmitted to the lever 13 attached to the pivot shaft 12, the link 10, and the support shaft 8, allowing the solar panel 3 to change its angle using the pivot shaft 7 as a pivot point. Since each row of solar panels 3 is connected to the drive shaft 15 and joint 14, and each row of solar panels 3 is connected to the pivot shaft 12, the driving force of the motor 17 can simultaneously change the angle of adjacent solar panels over a wide area. In addition, the operation method may involve an operator setting the tilt angle of the solar panel by motor drive using a switch on the control unit 20. Furthermore, a hand crank 19 can be attached to the motor position to allow for manual adjustment of the solar panel angle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, an electrical control command pre-programmed in the control unit drives the motor 17, enabling simultaneous angle changes for adjacent solar panels over a wide area, thus efficiently changing the angle of the solar panels. Furthermore, since a single solar panel is supported at a total of four points—two pivot axes near the center in the north-south direction of the panel and two support axes maintaining a constant distance in the south direction—strength is ensured while reducing the power required to change the panel angle. In addition, the structure, which has a worm on the input side and a worm wheel on the output side, not only reduces the driving force for angle changes, but also has a basic structure with a self-locking function that prevents the input side from being moved from the output side, thus ensuring that the orientation of the solar panel is always maintained stably. With this mechanism, it is possible to change the angle of solar panels over a wide area simultaneously with simple operation, from an angle that allows sufficient sunlight to hit crops mainly used for farming to an angle that is mainly used for power generation. Moreover, the set angle of the solar panels can be maintained with sufficient strength and orientation even in strong winds. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Front view 1 of a solar panel tilt angle changing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention [Figure 2] Front view 2 of the tilt angle changing mechanism for a solar panel according to an embodiment of the present invention [Figure 3] Front view 3 of the tilt angle changing mechanism for a solar panel according to an embodiment of the present invention [Figure 4] Front view 4 of the tilt angle changing mechanism for a solar panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Front view 5 of the tilt angle changing mechanism for a solar panel according to an embodiment of the present invention [Figure 6] Plan view of a solar panel tilt angle changing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention [Figure 7] Side view of a solar panel tilt angle changing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The ventilation fan with a sterilization function according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 below. In all the drawings below, for ease of understanding, the dimensions, ratios, etc. of each component are illustrated as appropriately different.

Example

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, in this embodiment of the tilt angle changing mechanism of the solar panel of the present invention, a solar panel 3 attached via an arm 2 supported by a column 1 and a housing 4 are attached to the column. A worm 5 and a worm wheel 6 are incorporated in the housing 4. The solar panel has a fulcrum shaft 7 rotatably supported thereon, and also has a support shaft 8 rotatably supported on the lower surface, and a link 10 having a connecting shaft 9 rotatably supported at the other end and connected to the support shaft 8. A swing shaft 12 inserted into the hollow output shaft 11 of the worm wheel 6 meshing with the worm 5 and extending to below the adjacent panel in the same row is attached, and the swing shaft 12 has a pair of levers 13 and is rotatably connected to the other end of the link 10. Further, the worm 5a has input shafts on both sides of the housing 4 and is connected to an adjacent worm 5b by a joint 14 and a drive shaft 15, and at the shaft end, there are a motor bracket 16 fixed to the column 1, a motor 17, a coupling 18, a hand-turned handle 19, a control unit 20, and a swing shaft bearing 21.

Industrial Applicability

[0013] The present invention relates to a technology for solar sharing in which agricultural crops are cultivated below a solar panel and power generation is simultaneously performed in the industry. Also, in order to flexibly respond to changes in seasons, climate conditions, etc. for the cultivation of the above-mentioned agricultural crops and power generation so that their maximum effects can be exerted, the attachment angle of the solar panel is made variable, and moreover, it is a technology that can realize efficient angle change of a wide range of solar panels simultaneously with one drive.

Explanation of Signs

[0014] Support column 1, Arm 2, Solar panel 3, Housing 4, Worm 5, Worm wheel 6, Pivot shaft 7, Support shaft 8, Connecting shaft 9, Link 10, Hollow output shaft 11, Oscillating shaft 12, Lever 13, Joint 14, Drive shaft 15, Motor bracket 16, Motor 17, Coupling 18, Hand crank 19, Control unit 20, Oscillating shaft bearing 21

Claims

1. A solar power device that generates electricity from sunlight above cultivated land while growing crops in sunlight, comprising: a solar panel; a pivot axis for tilting the panel located near the center of the solar panel in the north-south direction; a support point located at a certain distance south of the pivot axis; a link member rotatably connected to the support point; a lever rotatably connected to the link member; a pivot shaft that serves as the pivot point of the lever and is connected to a worm wheel; a worm gear meshed with the worm wheel; and a drive shaft connected to the worm gear, characterized by a mechanism for changing the tilt angle of a solar panel.

2. A solar panel tilt angle changing mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that it is connected to a worm wheel with multiple adjacent solar panels in the same row and has a common pivot axis, allowing for a change in the tilt angle of the solar panels in a synchronized manner.

3. Solar panel tilt angle changing mechanism according to 1 and 2, characterized in that worms meshed with worm wheels on the oscillating axes of multiple adjacent rows of solar panels are connected by a drive shaft via a joint.

4. The tilt angle changing mechanism for a solar panel according to claims 1, 2, and 3, characterized in that it has a hand crank on the input drive shaft connected by the worm drive shaft.

5. A tilt angle changing mechanism for a solar panel according to claims 1, 2, and 3, characterized in that it has a motor coupled to the input shaft of the worm drive shaft.

6. The tilt angle changing mechanism for a solar panel according to claims 1, 2, and 3, characterized in that it has a motor that is coupled to the input shaft of the worm drive shaft and whose rotation position is determined by a control program.

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