Solar power generation equipment

Abstract

To provide a photovoltaic power generation device which is capable of facilitating acquiring required electric power and is excellent in compactness and convenience.SOLUTION: A photovoltaic power generation device includes: a plurality of solar panels connected to be foldable; a plurality of support members capable of supporting the plurality of solar panels to be movable; and a pantograph connected so that intervals of the plurality of support members can be moved in a proximity direction and a separating direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a solar power generation device capable of folding, storing, and deploying a plurality of solar panels. [Background technology]

[0002] As a solar power generation device that can fold and store a plurality of solar panels, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4 are disclosed. In Patent Documents 1 and 2, two solar panels are mounted on a stand having running wheels and connected by hinges so that they can be folded and opened or closed freely. The solar power generation devices disclosed in the above Patent Documents 1 and 2 are portable and compact, but it is difficult to ensure a large total light receiving surface area for the solar panels, making it difficult to obtain the required power. On the other hand, in Patent Document 3, multiple solar panels connected with hinges can be folded and stored / deployed using wire ropes as rail means. In Patent Document 4, multiple solar panels connected by a hinge mechanism are deployed, folded and stored on a frame supported by pillars by a chain drive. The solar power generation devices disclosed in the above Patent Documents 3 and 4 can be equipped with many solar panels. However, there are problems with the compactness and convenience of the device, such as the need to maintain taut wire ropes, the inability to store the frame and supports while they are in place, and the size of the frame increasing when multiple solar panels are deployed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-191728 A [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3169441 [Patent Document 3] JP 2003-318430 A [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-125945 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a solar power generation device that can easily obtain the required power and is compact and convenient to use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The solar power generation device of the present invention is characterized in having a plurality of solar panels that are foldably connected, a plurality of support members that can support and move the plurality of solar panels, and a pantograph that connects the plurality of support members so that they can be moved in the approaching and separating directions. Here, the multiple solar panels can be designed according to the required power generation, for example, about 4 to 40 solar panels, and these solar panels are used by being electrically connected to each other in series or partially in parallel. The present invention supports a plurality of solar panels with a plurality of movable support members, and enables the plurality of solar panels to be folded or unfolded by extending and contracting a pantograph attached to the support members. This not only allows the solar panels to be folded up when the solar power generation device is not in use, but also makes the entire device compact.

[0006] When multiple solar panels are folded, mountain folds that are bent toward each other in mountain shapes and valley folds that are bent toward each other in valley shapes are formed. Therefore, the present invention may be configured so that the ends of the solar panels on both end sides of the multiple solar panels are positioned on the valley fold side, the support member has a support frame and a running wheel at the bottom of the support frame, the connection of the multiple solar panels has a mountain fold portion and a valley fold portion, and the valley fold portion side is connected to the support frame. In this way, the plurality of support frames can smoothly move close to adjacent support frames by the running wheels provided at their lower parts.

[0007] A pantograph refers to a link structure articulated in a diamond shape, but in the present invention, the pantograph has a pair of cross link members cross-connected in an X shape, and a pair of auxiliary link members connected to the free ends of the pair of cross link members, and the multiple support members may be connected to the cross connection portions of the pair of cross link members or the auxiliary connection portions of the pair of auxiliary link members, respectively. This type of pantograph is also called a magic hand. Here, the pantograph may be extended and retracted manually, or may be extended and retracted by a driving device such as a ball screw mechanism. Furthermore, the solar panel may have a base portion capable of storing the plurality of solar panels in a folded state, and an end side solar panel of the plurality of solar panels may be connected to the base portion. Here, the solar panel on the end side refers to the solar panel on the end side in the deployment direction, and by storing the solar panel in the base portion, it is easy to move the solar power generation device as a whole. In this case, by providing a plurality of running wheels, for example, at each of the four corners of the lower part of the base, the solar power generation device in the stored state can be moved stably.

[0008] In a horizontally deployed state, the center of rotation of the valley fold portion may be located below the center of rotation of the mountain fold portion of the solar panel. For example, the support frame may be connected to an indirect member provided on the underside of the solar panel via a lower hinge, and when the solar panel is deployed horizontally, the lower hinge, which serves as the center of rotation when folding in a valley fold, may be offset downward by a predetermined dimension from the upper hinge, which serves as the center of rotation when folding in a mountain fold. As a result, in the unfolded state, the solar panels and the support frame are indirectly connected with a predetermined gap between them above and below, and when force is applied, for example in a leftward direction, to the support frame to store the solar panels from this state, the force acts on the solar panel that is indirectly connected above the support frame with a vector that is slightly upwards, so that a force is applied such that the multiple solar panels can easily bend at their mountain folds and valley folds, and the solar panels can be folded with little force. Effect of the Invention

[0009] In the solar power generation device according to the present invention, when the support members supporting the multiple solar panels are brought closer to each other to fold the solar panels, the pantograph assists the movement of the support members. This makes it easy to fold the solar panel after use, and since the solar panel is not folded using rail means as in the conventional case, the device itself is compact. When in use, the solar panels can be deployed with the assistance of a pantograph. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B show an example of a deployed state of a solar power generation device according to the present invention, where FIG. 1A is a front perspective view and FIG. [Diagram 2] An example of the folded state is shown, with (a) being a front perspective view and (b) being a rear perspective view. [Diagram 3] Example 2 is shown below. [Figure 4] Example 3 is shown below. [Diagram 5] Example 4 is shown below. [Figure 6] An example of the deployed state of Example 5 is shown in (a) as a top perspective view and in (b) as a bottom perspective view. [Figure 7] 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a support member in a deployed state of Example 5. FIG. [Figure 8] 13 shows an example of a folded state of Example 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] An example of the structure of a solar power generation device according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The solar power generation device 10 includes a plurality of solar panels 11 that are foldably connected, a plurality of support members that can support and move the plurality of solar panels 11, and a pantograph that connects the plurality of support members so that they can move in the approaching and separating directions. In this specification, the left-right direction in Figs. 1 to 4 is the unfolding / folding direction of the solar panel, and both end sides are the rear and front ends in the unfolding direction of the solar panel.

[0012] Example 1 is shown in Figures 1 and 2. FIG. 1 shows an example of a solar power generation device in an unfolded state, and FIG. 2 shows an example of the same device in a folded state. In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the solar panels 11, which are an aggregate of a plurality of battery cells, are described as having four panels, but the number of solar panels can be adjusted according to the required power. As shown in FIG. 1(a), the solar panel 11 is provided with an upper hinge 12a which becomes the mountain fold side when folded, and a lower hinge 12b which becomes the valley fold side. The upper hinge 12a directly connects adjacent solar panels 11, 11 and serves as the center of rotation when folding. On the other hand, the lower hinge 12b is connected to the solar panel 11 and a support member (support frame 21) described later, and the solar panels 11, 11 are adjacent to each other via the lower hinges 12b, 12b attached to the support member, and the lower hinge 12b serves as the center of rotation when folding in a valley manner. In this embodiment, in order to facilitate folding, the ends of the solar panels located on both end sides of the multiple solar panels are connected to the lower hinge 12b so as to form a valley fold. The multiple solar panels 11 are connected so that the upper hinges 12a and the lower hinges 12b alternate in the left-right direction, and can be folded so that their light-receiving surfaces face each other. The support member is composed of a support frame 21 and running wheels 25 provided at the lower part of the support frame. The support frame 21 in this embodiment has a vertical frame 23 standing on a horizontal frame 22 and an angle frame 24 connecting the horizontal frame 22 and the vertical frame 23, and running wheels 25 are provided on the lower part of the horizontal frame 22. The angle frame 24 may be provided at an angle of, for example, 30° with respect to the horizontal frame 22 . In this way, the solar panel 11 attached to the angle frame 24 via the lower hinge 12b can easily maintain its light receiving surface at approximately 30° with respect to the ground when deployed, making it easier to collect light. There are no restrictions on the shape or material of the frame, or the number of running wheels and their mounting position.

[0013] The pantograph is made up of a plurality of link members 30 connected to one another. The connection structure of the link member 30 will be described with reference to the rear perspective view of the solar power generation device 10 shown in FIG. A pair of cross link members 31a, 31b are rotatably connected in an X shape at a cross connection portion 32 in the center, and the free ends of the cross link members 31a, 31b are axially connected to each other. The free ends of the pair of cross link members 31a, 31b on both end sides are linked and connected to a pair of auxiliary link members 33a, 33b at end connection portions 34a, 34b, respectively, and this pair of auxiliary link members 33a, 33b are axially attached to each other at auxiliary connection portions 35. Among the multiple cross link members 31a, 31b that are articulated, the cross connection portion 32 is connected to the angle frame 24 having the lower hinge 12b attached thereto, which is located at the valley fold portion of the solar panel, depending on the length of the solar panel in the connection direction. The cross connector 32 is attached to the angle frame 24 so that the cross link members are pivotable. In this embodiment, the angle frames 24 of the support members on both ends are axially attached to the auxiliary connecting parts 35 of the auxiliary link members 33a, 33b, but the cross connecting parts 32 and the auxiliary connecting parts 35 only need to be directly or indirectly connected to the support members, and are not limited to a structure in which they are connected to the angle frames 24. This allows the pantograph to expand and contract in the left-right direction, and the expansion and contraction of the pantograph pulls the support member in the left-right direction. Then, as the running wheels 25 of the support member move, the solar panel 11 supported by the support member is unfolded or folded. Specifically, the pantograph is extended and the support members are pulled apart while the train travels, causing the plurality of solar panels 11 that are folded as shown in FIG. 1 to be in an unfolded state. Furthermore, the pantograph contracts and the support members are pulled in as the train travels, so that the solar panels 11 are folded as shown in FIG.

[0014] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the second embodiment. In this embodiment, of the multiple support members, the support member at the rear end in the deployment direction of the solar panel has a base portion 26 on a support frame 21a and running wheels 25a below the base portion 26. The base portion 26 has space above or inside thereof in which other support members (support frame 21, running wheels 25) can be placed, and may be fixed, for example, to a horizontal frame that constitutes the support frame 21a, or may be fixed to a vertical frame or an angle frame instead of the horizontal frame. A slope 26a rotatably provided at the tip of the base portion 26 encourages other support members to board when close to the ground, and serves as a stopper when upright. When using the solar power generation device 10, the movement of the base portion 26 can be prevented by using the fixing device 26b provided on the lower side of the base portion 26, and after using the device, the solar panel 11 stored on the base portion 26 can be moved as a whole by grasping the holding portion 26c provided above the base portion 26.

[0015] FIG. 4 shows the third embodiment. In this embodiment, a driving device such as a ball screw mechanism is added to assist the extension and retraction of the pantograph. FIG. 4 shows the pantograph in the first embodiment as viewed from the side, with the solar panel 11 fixed to the angle frames 24, 24a, and 24b via the lower hinge 12b. A ball screw shaft 42 driven by a motor 41 is held via a bearing 43 and a bracket 44 on the angle frame 24 a at the rear end in the deployment direction. A ball screw nut 45 is fixed via a bracket 46 to the angle frame 24b which is one angle frame before the angle frame 24a. As a result, the ball screw nut 45 moves as the ball screw shaft 42 rotates, and when the angle frames 24a, 24b are pulled in a direction in which they are attracted to each other, the pantograph contracts, and when they move in a direction in which they are separated, the pantograph expands accordingly. Therefore, the folding and unfolding of the solar panel can be automatically controlled by the ball screw mechanism. In addition, the ball screw mechanism may have a small output and may be used to assist in manual folding or unfolding.

[0016] FIG. 5 shows a side perspective view of the fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, the link member 30 constituting the pantograph flap is a double link mechanism, and the pantograph flap is connected to something other than the angle frame 24. The support frame has a horizontal frame 22 and a lower frame 27 which connect two vertical frames 23, 28, and an angle frame 24 which connects the vertical frame 23 and the horizontal frame 22. The lower frame 27 is disposed below the horizontal frame 22, and is provided with a guide groove 27a on the upper side. In this embodiment, a pantograph is attached to the lateral frame 22 and / or the lower frame 27. In addition, the support frame at the end of the deployment direction of the solar panel may have a base portion 26, and the running wheels 25 are provided on the base portion 26 or the lower part of the vertical frames 23, 28, but there are no particular restrictions on the location of the running wheels 25 on the support frame as long as they can run on the ground. The pantograph was provided with reinforcing link members 36a, 36b, each having a length 1.5 times that of the pair of cross link members 31a, 31b in the first embodiment, so as to overlap these cross link members. The reinforcing link members 36a, 36b are axially connected to the cross link members 31a, 31b, and the extended reinforcing link members are rotatably connected to each other. Among the connecting portions that only the reinforcing link members 36a, 36b have, a movable connecting portion 37 is attached so as to be movable back and forth along a guide groove 27a provided in the lower frame 27, specifically so as to be slidable. A drive device such as a trapezoidal screw mechanism that assists the forward and backward movement of the movable connecting portion 37 may be provided in the guide groove 27a. For example, the trapezoidal screw may move as the trapezoidal screw shaft rotates, and a spring or the like attached to the tip of the trapezoidal screw may press the movable connecting part 37 from the front to the rear (from the right to the left in Figure 5), thereby promoting the extension of the pantograph. This allows the reinforcing link members 36a, 36b to move integrally with the cross link member and the auxiliary link member. In this way, by using a double link mechanism for the link mechanism that makes up the pantograph, it becomes easier to deploy and fold the solar panels. In addition, multiple support members may be connected by, for example, a single string-like member 50, and the string-like member 50 may be pulled when unfolding or folding, thereby making unfolding and folding easier. The string-like member 50 may be wound up by a winding device such as a winch. For example, in the initial stage of winding when more force is required to pull the string-like member, the winch may be used to wind the string little by little, and then the gear may be switched to wind the string at a larger rate from the middle of the winding process. When a solar panel is deployed, its own weight can cause it to open further and become flat, which could result in the starting point of the fold disappearing. Therefore, in order to secure the starting point of the mountain fold, rotation or movement restrictions may be provided on the hinges or support members. The size of the total light receiving surface of the solar panel in the present invention can be set according to the required power, but the present invention is also effective in securing solar power generation of about 5 kW.

[0017] Example 5 is shown in FIGS. This embodiment is an example in which the rotation center of the lower hinge is offset a predetermined distance below the rotation center of the upper hinge when the solar panel is deployed horizontally. 6 to 8, the horizontal direction, ie, the left-right direction, is the unfolding / folding direction of the solar panel, and the up-down direction is the direction approximately perpendicular to the unfolding / folding direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the support frame is made up of a horizontal frame 22 and a pair of wheel holders 25b disposed on both ends of the horizontal frame, with running wheels 25 provided below the wheel holders. As shown in Figure 7, one side of the lower hinge 12b is attached to the support frame, and the other side is attached to an approximately L-shaped indirect member 63 provided on the underside of the end of the solar panel 11, so that the lower hinge 12b is offset downward by a dimension d with respect to the upper hinge 12a, with the horizontal direction as the reference line. As a result, in the deployed state, the indirect members 63 are disposed between the solar panel 11 and the support frame (the horizontal frame 22 and / or the wheel holding portion 25b) above and below. In this embodiment, one side of the lower hinge 12b is attached to the upper surface of the wheel holding portion 25b, and the other side is attached to the side of the approximately L-shaped intermediate member 63, but there are no particular restrictions on the shape or material of the intermediate member, and as long as a specified gap can be formed between the top and bottom of the end of the solar panel and the support frame, the intermediate member may, for example, be part of the frame that holds the solar panel. It is preferable to select the dimension d appropriately depending on the weight of the solar panel, the strength of the support frame, and the like. If the intermediate member is, for example, approximately rectangular, a lower hinge may be attached to the underside of the intermediate member and to the side of the support frame, and if the solar panel can be unfolded or folded, a rotating member made of an elastic material may be attached instead of a hinge. In this way, for example, as shown in Figure 7, when a force is applied to the support frame (horizontal frame 22 and / or wheel holding portion 25b) in the negative direction of the X-axis as indicated by arrow A, a force acts on the end of the solar panel 11 that is indirectly connected above the support frame, as indicated by arrow B, with the vector being slightly in the positive direction of the Y-axis. As a result, when multiple solar panels are laid out approximately horizontally on the ground as in this embodiment, a force acts to make them easy to bend at the mountain folds and valley folds, allowing the solar panels to be folded with little force. In this embodiment, a pantograph is connected to a horizontal frame 22 as shown in Figure 6(b), and the link members constituting the pantograph have a cross link member 31a and two cross link members 31b, 31b that are freely rotatably connected in an X-shape at a cross connection portion 32. In addition, in this example, the auxiliary link member 33b is provided with the reinforcing portion 33c to reinforce the connection with the support frame, but the structure of the pantograph is not limited to this. For ease of explanation, an example has been given in which the solar power generation device has four solar panels, but this is not limited to this, and the structure at the end or front end of the deployment direction may be provided with, for example, a gripping portion or the like to facilitate movement and deployment / folding of the panels. In this embodiment, to facilitate movement of the solar power generation device 10, an auxiliary wheel holder 60 equipped with an auxiliary wheel 61 is attached to the upper hinge 12a side that directly connects adjacent solar panels 11, 11, and the valley fold side of the solar panel and this auxiliary wheel holder 60 are connected by a connecting member 62. As a result, when the solar panels are folded as shown in Figure 8, the auxiliary wheels 61 and connecting members 62 are stored between adjacent solar panels, making the entire solar power generation device compact, and the auxiliary wheels run together with the running wheels, making it easy to unfold and fold the solar panels. [Explanation of symbols]

[0018] 10. Solar power generation equipment 11. Solar Panels 21 Support frame 25 Running wheel 30 Link member

Claims

1. The solar panel has a plurality of foldably connected solar panels and a pantograph connected to a support frame made of a horizontal frame that supports the solar panels via a hinge, the horizontal frame is grounded on the ground via a running wheel, and the plurality of solar panels are unfolded or folded by the extension and contraction of the pantograph and the running of the running wheel, The pantograph has a pair of cross link members cross-connected in an X-shape and a pair of auxiliary link members connected to the free ends of the pair of cross link members, and the horizontal frame is connected to the cross connection portions of the pair of cross link members or the auxiliary connection portions of the pair of auxiliary link members, characterized in that the solar power generation device.

2. The solar power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection between the multiple solar panels has a mountain fold and a valley fold, the valley fold side is connected to the horizontal frame, and when deployed horizontally, the rotation center of the valley fold is located below the rotation center of the mountain fold of the solar panel.

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