Off-grid powered arrangement

Abstract

HPKGL010WO 24 Version 2024-03-25 ABSTRACT: An off-grid arrangement 10 comprises a post 20 with head end to carry modules, wherein the post 20 is of articulated form comprising a first post member and a second post member connected via an articulating joint 28, alignable to form a pole structure, 5 wherein the articulating joint 28 is connected to at least one of the post members 22,24 partway along its length extension and a free portion 24b of a post member provides a lever arm. The arrangement 10 comprises a fixing arrangement 30 to affix the lever arm to the other post member. The fixing arrangement 30 maintains the pole structure when aligned.10 {Fig. 1}

Description

[0001] Off-grid powered arrangement

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an off-grid powered arrangement, in the form of a powered device mounted on a mast or post, such as a lighting arrangement or street light mounted on a post for illumination of roads, walkways and the like. More specifically, the invention relates to a self-contained off-grid unit designed for transportation and handling.

[0004] Background

[0005] Street lights typically comprise a post carrying a light source arranged to direct light downward.

[0006] The applicant has developed a streetlight, disclosed in Great British patent publication GB2589732, that includes a photovoltaic arrangement and a wind turbine arrangement, that allow the lamp to obtain at least part of its power from light and wind.

[0007] While the streetlight disclosed in GB2589732 works well in many circumstances, it has been found that the installation of a great number of installations can require considerable logistics.

[0008] The present invention seeks to provide further improvements to simplify installation procedures and / or to facilitate transportation and storage of such streetlights, and off- grid powered devices in general. of the Invention

[0009] In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided off-grid arrangement as defined in claim 1 , comprising a post, the post comprising a foot end to support the post and a head end to carry modules, wherein the post is of articulated form comprising a first post member and a second post member connected via an articulating joint, alignable to form a pole structure, wherein the articulating joint is connected to at least one of the post members partway along its length extension, whereby a free portion of said one of the post members provides a lever arm, and wherein the arrangement comprises a fixing arrangement to affix the lever arm of one of the post members to the other of the post members to maintain the pole structure when aligned.

[0010] The off-grid arrangement is understood to comprise at least one power-consuming device supported on the pole structure, or mast, to allow the device to be installed at height. For instance, the off-grid arrangement may comprise a lamp post or pole to be installed in an in-use upright orientation, with a foot end anchored in socket or base structure, and a head end spaced from the foot end to carry modules, such as a lamp. The length of such a pole structure may be in the region of over two or three meters.

[0011] The power-consuming device is understood to be operatively connected or connectable to a power source. To this end, the off-grid arrangement may comprise renewable energy conversion modules, such as a photovoltaic module and / or a wind energy module, or other suitable energy conversion modules, similar to the streetlight disclosed in Great British patent publication GB2589732 by the present applicant.

[0012] The present disclosure suggests providing the module-carrying post in a collapsible configuration, in order to facilitate transportation and storage. The post may comprise two post members that are joined together via an articulated joint. As will be appreciated, the joint may be hinged.

[0013] A problem appreciated by the applicant was that erecting a post requires considerable logistics, due to a typical length in excess of two metres of a post and the corresponding height of modules being carried in a head region of the post.

[0014] The suggestion made in this disclosure is to use an articulated mechanism to allow an in-use lower member of the post to be positioned, in a desired location, and to use the articulated joint to swivel an in-use upper member of the post into a position vertically aligned with the lower member. The in-use upper member is, typically, the member carrying modules of the off-grid arrangement. In some embodiments, all electrical modules of the off-grid arrangement are carried on the in-use upper member, e.g. a device such as a lamp, a power source such as a battery, and a renewable energy converter such as photovoltaic cells and / or wind turbines. However, this is not necessarily a requirement of all embodiments, and in some embodiments one or more modules may be carried on an in-use lower post member.

[0015] Herein, the expressions post, pole and mast are used to refer to the same structure, wherein the expression pole and mast may be used for the upright, assembled structure, and the expression post for members of the pole.

[0016] The swivelling is facilitated by using a free end of the upper member of the post as a lever. In this manner, the in-use upper member can be pushed upward by pulling the free end. A further suggestion herein is to use the free end to affix the lever end of the upper post member to the lower post member.

[0017] As will be appreciated, one of the first and second post members (i.e., the upper and lower post members, in use) may comprise a recess or free region to accommodate the other of the first and second post members in an aligned condition.

[0018] In some embodiments, the free portion is shaped complementarily to the other post member, such that the free portion and post member may be arranged in a nested configuration.

[0019] One of the members may have a geometrical outer contour, in section, such as a circular contour. The other of the members may have a complementary contour, in section, such as a semicylindrical mantle, or a half pipe, into which the circular contour can be nested. Other geometries may be used.

[0020] Likewise, one of the members may comprise a single post, and the other of the members may comprise two laterally spaced-apart, parallel, posts defining between them a spaced-apart free region into which the single post fits when swivelled into vertical alignment.

[0021] In some embodiments, the fixing arrangement comprises a clamp fixed to one of the first post member and the second post member.

[0022] In some embodiments, the clamp is operable to open towards the other of the first post member and the second post member. In this manner, the clamp is positioned to accept the other post member when it is opened, reducing a need to align the clamp.

[0023] In some embodiments, the clamp is a two-arm hinged clamp, comprising one arm fixed to one of the post members.

[0024] Such an arrangement was found to be practical as requiring only one clamp arm to be handled to close the clamp, facilitating single-handed operation.

[0025] In some embodiments, the arrangement further comprises a base structure, the base structure comprising at least a portion of an erecting mechanism for articulating the first post member and the second post member to form said pole structure.

[0026] The erecting mechanism may be linked to one or both of the post members, to facilitate the vertical alignment of the post members.

[0027] In some embodiments, the erecting mechanism comprises a winch and a cable, the cable being attachable to the lever arm.

[0028] The cable may be a suitable material, such as a rope, chain, or wire.

[0029] In some embodiments, an end of the lever arm comprises a cable-holding structure, and the cable comprises an engaging end structure configured to engage the cableholding structure.

[0030] For instance, the cable may comprise a hook or ring, and the lever arm may comprise a corresponding hook or ring. Likewise, both the cable and the lever arm may each comprise a hook. The cable holding structure facilitates attachment of a cable to the lever arm.

[0031] In some embodiments, the base structure comprises a cable guide structure positionable between the winch and the lever arm. The cable guide structure may be an arrangement of one or more rollbars or other suitable low friction structures. Conveniently, the cable guide structure can be positioned in one condition for use, e.g. by extension, and positioned in another condition, e.g. retracted, when not required. In some embodiments, the cable guide structure is part of a lid of the winch structure, such that opening of the lid, to put the lid in an open condition, also positions the cable guide structure for use.

[0032] In some embodiments, the modules carried on one of the post members comprise a power storage module.

[0033] The power storage module is understood to comprise an arrangement of one or more batteries, battery packs, superchargers, and / or other suitable accumulator designs.

[0034] In some embodiments, the modules carried on one of the post members comprise a power storage module, a powered device, and at least one of a photovoltaic cell arrangement and a wind turbine arrangement.

[0035] The powered device may be a light source, such as a lamp. The powered device may be an illuminated module, such as signage or display screens. The powered device may be a monitoring device such as a sensor, sensor arrangement comprising multiple sensors for temperature, humidity, wind speed etc. The powered device may be or camera, such as a CCTV camera, infrared and / or night vision camera. The powered device may be a farm animal tracking system such as a cattle tracker. The powered device may be a telecommunications infrastructure such as an antenna, relay components, LiFi, and others. The powered device may be a range-sensing device, or subcomponent of a distributed system, such as a radar or lidar device. The powered device may comprise a user interface or service desk, such as a ticket machine, information stand or other type of kiosk. The off-grid arrangement may comprise a passive device, operable without the need for a power source, and an ancillary device requiring power for improved operation of the passive device. For instance, the powered device may be a wiper to clear a surface of a screen or window. The off-grid arrangement may combine two or more of the afore-mentioned devices on a single pole. In some embodiments, the wind turbine arrangement is comprised in the form of a detachable module.

[0036] In this manner, the wind turbine arrangement may be detached from the off-grid arrangement for transportation and storage.

[0037] In some embodiments, the base structure comprises a surface contour shaped to provide a cradle for a turbine blade assembly.

[0038] The cradle may be contoured to provide a seating surface for some of the part of a turbine blade assembly.

[0039] In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an off-grid arrangement comprising a post, the post comprising a foot end to support the post and a head end to carry modules, wherein the head end comprises a powered device and at least one of a photovoltaic cell arrangement and a wind turbine arrangement, and wherein the head end further carries a power storage module spaced from the foot end.

[0040] The power storage module may be a battery arrangement or other suitable power storage module and may have considerable mass, rendering the off-grid arrangement top-heavy. As such, embodiments of the second aspect may be combined with an installation mechanism such as a winch-operated swivel arm, to facilitate the erecting of a relatively large-mass at the higher region of a lamp post.

[0041] In some embodiments, the arrangement comprises at least one photovoltaic cell arrangement and the power storage module affixed, in use, underneath the photovoltaic cell arrangement.

[0042] In some embodiments, the arrangement comprises both the photovoltaic cell arrangement and the wind turbine arrangement, both operatively connected to supply power to the power storage module.

[0043] In some embodiments, the post is of unitary form, the foot end comprising a free end for location in a socket. In some embodiments, the arrangement further comprises a base module into which the foot end is anchorable.

[0044] The base module may provide a socket, and may be transportable. The base module may incorporate components of embodiments of the first aspect, such as components of a winch mechanism.

[0045] In some embodiments, the base module comprises a seating profile for the wind turbine module.

[0046] In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a base module for supporting an off-grid arrangement comprising a wind turbine module, the base module comprising a seating profile for the wind turbine module.

[0047] The base module may be a block of monolithic form or multi-component form incorporating the seating profile in the form of a surface contour and / or seating structures. The seating profile may be provided by a suitably shaped part, such as a mould of single or multi-component form.

[0048] In some embodiments, the base module is for use with a wind turbine module mounted on a post, wherein the base module further comprises a socket for the post.

[0049] For instance, the socket for the post may be within, or designed as part of, the seating structure.

[0050] In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of installing an off-grid arrangement according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect and the second aspect, the method comprising providing the off-grid arrangement, positioning the post in a generally upright orientation to form a pole structure, and anchoring the pole structure in a base structure.

[0051] The off-grid arrangement of the method aspect may be an arrangement as defined in the first aspect or the second aspect. The method may be used for a new installation. Likewise, the method may be used for retrofitting, upgrading and / or repairing existing off-grid arrangements. In that case, it will be appreciated that the method may comprise removing part or all of an existing off-grid arrangement before installing the lighting arrangement of the invention. For instance, an existing off-grid arrangement may comprise a pre-installed socket that may be re-used as a base to support a post of the present invention.

[0052] In some embodiments, positioning the post in a generally upright orientation comprises aligning two articulatably joined post members, and affixing the two post members to each other to maintain the pole structure when aligned.

[0053] In some embodiments, the method comprises providing the off-grid arrangement with at least one renewable energy converter and a power storage module, and positioning the at least one renewable energy converter in an upper region of the post, and positioning the power storage module directly adjacent the at least one renewable energy converter.

[0054] In some embodiments, the method comprises positioning the power storage module on the post prior to positioning the post in a generally upright orientation.

[0055] Any one or more embodiments described in relation to the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect and / or the method aspect may be used for the creation of, or combined with, any one or more of the embodiments described in relation to the respective other aspects.

[0056] For instance, embodiments of the second aspect may be comprised in embodiments of the articulated off-grid arrangement of the first aspect. Likewise, embodiments of the method aspect may comprise steps of installing, positioning, aligning, connecting and / or securing any one of the embodiments of the first, second and / or third aspects.

[0057] Description of the Figures

[0058] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures, in which:

[0059] Figure 1 is an isometric view of an illumination arrangement in upright condition; Figure 2 is an isometric view of an illumination arrangement in collapsed condition;

[0060] Figure 3 is a detail isometric view of a winch module;

[0061] Figure 4 is a detail isometric view of a cover of the Figure 3 module;

[0062] Figure 5 is a detail isometric view of a portion V of Figure 7;

[0063] Figure 6 is a detail isometric view of a portion VI of Figure 7;

[0064] Figure 7 is a view illustrating a condition during an installation procedure;

[0065] Figure 8 is a view of a clamp, to complement the illustration of Figure 7;

[0066] Figure 9 is a view illustrating another condition during an installation procedure;

[0067] Figures 10 and 11 are views of a clamp, to complement the illustration of Figure 9;

[0068] Figure 12 is an isometric view showing an optional storage arrangement;

[0069] Figure 13 is an isometric view of part of an embodiment;

[0070] Figure 14 is an isometric view of a power storage module;

[0071] Figure 15 is an isometric exploded view of parts of a photovoltaic module and a power storage module;

[0072] Figure 16 is an isometric view of parts of an assembly of modules; and

[0073] Figure 17 is a flow chart of an exemplary installation method including optional steps.

[0074] Figure 1 shows a lamp post 10, constituting an example of an off-grid arrangement. The lamp post 10 comprises a support post 20, supported on a base 40 in the form of a ballast block. The support post carries modules that are subcomponents and / or subassemblies of the arrangement. The modules comprise a lamp body 12, constituting an example of a powered device, and two types of renewable energy converters, here a photovoltaic module 14 and a wind power module 16, and a power storage module 18.

[0075] The photovoltaic module 14 is provided by an array of vertically arranged photovoltaic cells, surrounding the support post 20. The wind power module 16 comprises a wind turbine mounted on the top of the post 20. The photovoltaic module 14 and the wind power module 16 are operatively connected with a power storage module 18, here in the form of a battery pack. As will be appreciated, the renewable energy converters allow the arrangement to convert energy from light and wind, respectively, to be converted and used for charging the power storage module 18, and to supply power to one or more powered devices carrying by the off-grid arrangement, here the lamp body 12. Control circuitry may control power supply to the powered device via either or both of the renewable energy converters and the power storage module. While the example shows a single lamp body 12, photovoltaic module 14, wind power module 16, and power storage module 18, the off-grid arrangement may comprise multiple modules of each type, e.g. a plurality of lamp modules and / or different powered devices.

[0076] The off-grid arrangement may comprise other modules, such as a communication interface, status display and the like, as well as sensor devices, for instances sensors for ambient light, anemometers to determine wind strength and direction, temperature and / or humidity. Readings from such sensors may be used to control, schedule and / or delay, as appropriate, charging cycles and use of the different power sources.

[0077] The aspects and control of power conversion and / or battery charging, as well as failsafe mechanisms, are considered known to a skilled person and are therefore not described in detail herein. Likewise, the operation of the powered device may be via autonomous control such as a timer-based, based on sensor readings such as ambient light levels, temperature and humidity, and / or radio signals, and / or via commands received via a communication interface from an external control centre.

[0078] The off-grid arrangement may be operable as a self-contained unit, able to operate without reliance on grid connection. As such, the components such as the base 40 and the support post 20 may be transportable for temporary installation, e.g. of a mass suitable for single-person lift or two-person lift.

[0079] The support post 20 comprises a first post member 22 and a second post member 24, the second post member 24 comprising two sections 24a, 24b. The first post member 22 is hingedly connected to the second post member 24 via a hinge 28 partway along its length, between the first section24a and the second section 24b, providing a pivot fulcrum for the second post member 24. The hinge 28 is an example of an articulated joint. The first post member 22 is, further, provided with a clamp 30 constituting a fixing arrangement.

[0080] The base 40 comprises, here, a weighted block 42 and a top member 50. The top member 50 may be a unitary component, for instance a moulded body, and provides a degree of protection from the environment, e.g. the top member 50 may be waterproof. Comprised in the top member 50 is a winch mechanism (see Figure 3) underneath a lid 32.

[0081] Figure 2 shows the arrangement of Figure 1 in a collapsed condition, using the same numerals as in Figure 1 without repeating a detailed description thereof. As will be appreciated, in Figure 2 the second post member 24 is pivoted at the hinge 28 into a configuration for assembly, and illustrates a partially disassembled configuration as may be used for transportation and storage. Figure 2 shows an in-use lower end 26 of the second post member 24, the lower end 26 providing a free end to serve as a lever arm.

[0082] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a winch mechanism that is located within the base 40 accessible via an opening closed by the lid 32. The inner surface of the lid 32 is provided with a holding ring 33 and a low friction bar 31. The winch mechanism is comprised of a winch 34 carrying a cable 36. The cable 36 comprises a hook 37 at its end, which can be hooked onto the holding ring 33, e.g. for storage.

[0083] Figure 4 shows the lid 32 in an open condition. As will be appreciated, the base 40, or the top member 50, respectively, may be designed with a seating surface or seating ledge for the lid 32 in an open position. In this manner, the lid 32 can rest seated against the seating surface when open, such that the lid 32 is supported in an upright position, exposing the low friction bar 31 located on the underside of the lid 32. The low friction bar 31 is illustrated as an example of a guide structure for the cable 36 that can be positioned between the winch 34 and the lever arm of the second section 24b. The low friction bar 31 may be provided by a rollbar structure, and / or by a low friction material such as nylon or PTFE. The low friction arrangement may be selected corresponding to the type of material of the cable 36. Other suitable low-friction arrangements will be known to a skilled person.

[0084] Opening of the lid 32 also results in the cable 36 being pulled up, when it is hooked on the holding ring 33, such that the hook 37 may be removed and attached to the second section 24b. Figure 5 shows a detail view of the lower end 26 of the second section 24b. The lower end 26 comprises a hole 27, constituting a cable-holding structure, to which the hook 37, constituting an engaging end of the cable 36, may be attached.

[0085] The second section 24b comprises a halfpipe profile 25, in the form of half of a cylinder mantle, indicated in the plane 5-5 of Figure 5. The inner cavity 25a of the profile 25 is dimensioned and shaped to accommodate part of the profile of the first post member 22.

[0086] Figure 6 illustrates a view of the winch opening, corresponding to Figure 4, when the cable 36 has been attached to the lower end 26. The low-friction bar 31 guides the cable 36 coming from a proximal region 36a, closer to the winch 34, over the low- friction bar 31, from where its distal region 36b extends to the lower end 26. In this manner, the low-friction bar 31 maintains a distal region 36b of the cable 36 spaced from the winch 36 and from the base 40, to avoid interference during the winching procedure. As will be appreciated, the dimensions and relative positions of the low friction bar 31 and of the hole 27 may be designed such that a better leverage is achieved to pull the lower end 26 towards the first post member 22. In other words, the cable 26 is guided to pull the lower end 26 laterally, rather than down, to a greater extent than would otherwise be the case while the hinge mechanism may be located in the base 40. Being located in the base 40, the mass of the winch mechanism contributes to the overall mass of the support block, and as such relatively heavy chain material may be beneficial, although this is not necessarily a requirement of all embodiments of the invention.

[0087] The winch mechanism improves the forces required to pivot the second post member 24, to mitigate that the second section 24b provides a relatively shorter lever arm than the first section 24a, and that the mass of the modules may be located at the lever end of the first section 24a. As will be appreciated, manually pushing down directly onto the second post member 24 would be difficult unless the hinge 28 is positioned closer to the in-use top end of the second post member 24. As such, the provision of a mechanism such as the exemplary winch 34 allows the hinge 28 to be located lower - with poorer leverage - than would otherwise be practical. Figures 7 to 11 illustrate different positions of the second post member 24 as it is erected using the winch mechanism. As will be appreciated, as the cable 26 is wound up using the winch 34, this pulls the lower end 26 towards the first post member 22. Due to the open halfpipe profile 25a, the lower end 26 comes into engagement to seat relatively securely against the complementary, cylindrical post profile of the first post member 22. In this position, the second post member 24 is upright and forms, together with the first post member 22, a pole structure for the lamp 12.

[0088] The winch mechanism may be provided in different forms. In a simple embodiment, the arrangement is provided with a hand crank (not shown), e.g. to be stowed on or within the base 40. However, this is not necessarily a requirement of all embodiments. The winch 34 may be designed to be engageable by a tool or adapter, which may be a hand crank or shaft of a motorised actuator or the like.

[0089] In order to maintain the second post member 24 upright, the second post member 24 is fixed in position via clamp 30, illustrated in Figures 8, 10 and 11 (Figure 10 showing only a schematic indication of the second post member 24). As will be appreciated, the clamp 30 may be of any suitable form. Herein, the clamp 30 comprises a first clamp arm 30a and a second clamp arm 30b hingedly connected via a clamp hinge 30c, with a clamp end 30d to be engaged by a fastener 30e and a nut (not shown) or other suitable component, such as a butterfly nut. The second clamp arm 30b is affixed to the first post member 22 in a manner allowing a free side of the first post member to be exposed. The first and second clamp arms 30a, 30b comprise recesses that, when joined, accommodate the first post member 22 and the second section 24b of the second post member 24. The first clamp arm 30a is oriented such that, when open, the free side of the first post member 22 faces towards the second section 24b.

[0090] A hinged clamp has been found to be easy to use as it may be permanently fixed in position to the first post member 22. In this way, the clamp 30 is readily available and in a suitable position to receive and secure the second section 24b. In this form, the arrangement avoids a need for an end user to install or position the clamp 30, or to find an appropriate clamp. Furthermore, it can be ensured by a supplier that the clamp is rated for the assembly in which it is used, improving the safety of the arrangement. Once the second section 24b is secured to the first post member 22 using the clamp 30, as illustrated in Figures 9 and 11, the hook 37 can be detached from the hole 27 and hooked onto the holding ring 33, and the cable 36 may be wound onto the winch 34. The lid 32 can be closed to protect the winch mechanism, and / or may be closed by winding up the cable 36 such that the hook 37 pulls the holding ring 33.

[0091] The arrangement allows the relatively heavy components of an off-grid arrangement to be transported in a convenient and safe way, permitting separate handling of the support post 20 and a base 40, if provided. The installation procedure requires merely the locating of the first post member 22 in a socket, as may be provided by the base 40. The remaining parts of the support post 20, which are mounted on the second post member 24, can be erected in a gradual, controlled manner, using a winch mechanism. The clamp design allows a user to fasten the post members to one another single handedly.

[0092] The arrangement comprises several components, including the winch mechanism and a clamp, that are incorporated into a self-contained assembly. As such, if it is desired to remove or disassemble the off-grid arrangement, the winch mechanism is already integrated and available to facilitate a controlled, gradual lowering of the second post member 24. As will be appreciated, the removal procedure is carried out in the opposite way, by attaching the hook 37, opening the clamp 30, using the winch to lower the second post member 24. The winch components may subsequently be disconnected from the hole 27 and stowed in or on the base 40. The first post member 22 may be removed from the socket and stored in an appropriate location. As will be appreciated, the winch may comprise break or holding mechanisms to prevent accidental unwinding and lowering of the post.

[0093] While not shown in the drawings, the off-grid arrangement may comprise covers, such as cuff structures or sleeve structures, to conceal the clamp 30 and / or hinge 28, for protection against environmental influences and / or as anti-tampering measure.

[0094] Figure 12 shows an isometric view of the top member 50 of the base 40. The top member 50 is, in the illustrated embodiment, a moulded plastic material part to sit on a weighted block 42. However, the top member 50 may be made from other materials and is not necessarily a moulded component. Likewise, the top member 50 may be integrally formed with a monolithic base block 42.

[0095] The top member 50 is of generally quadrilateral footprint, corresponding to the footprint of the block 42 underneath. The centre of the top member 50 comprises an axial socket for receipt of the first post member 22, allowing the post to be supported in an upright position. A side of the top member 50 provides a housing structure for the winch 34 and winch mechanism. As illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 6, the winch 34 may be covered by a lid 32 when not in use.

[0096] The top surface of the top member 50 is profiled to provide a seating surface for one or more components of the off-grid arrangement. The profile includes a recess 52 located in the centre of the top member, and a generally circular ridge 54 surrounding the recess 52. The ridge 54 comprises a generally flat plateau 54a at a higher level than the recess 52. Furthermore, the ridge 54 comprises an arrangement of (here: two) stud structures 56.

[0097] The profile is shaped to accommodate a wind power module 16, to allow it to be transported in a securely seated manner. The wind power module 16 may comprise a mounting socket 16a to be affixed to the second post member 24, and an arrangement of (here: three) turbine blades 16b, and a nose 16c of conical or rounded shape. The wind power module 16 may be of relatively awkward geometry, comprising large- diameter components, making the wind power module difficult to handle and store without handling or putting a strain on the turbine blades 16b. The shape of the nose 16c and the mounting socket 16a provides, in this example, no flat seating surface. An observation by the inventor was that installers and service engineers tend to handle turbine modules with varying degree of care, some less than others.

[0098] As illustrated in Figure 12, the recess 52 may be shaped complementarily to the nose 16c of the wind power module 16, and the plateau 54a of the ridge 54 provides a support face including spaced-apart seating locations for the turbine blades 16b, extending outwardly from the nose 16c. The arrangement of stud structures 56 provides a holder for at least one turbine blade 16b to hinder rotation or lateral movement. As shown in Figure 13, a single pair of stud structures 56, spaced apart by the width of a turbine blade 16b, may suffice for location of the wind power module 16. By integrating a seating surface for a wind power module in the base of the illumination arrangement, a storage location for it is readily provided. This reduces the need for packaging, and reduces the need for keeping packaging material when moving the illumination arrangement.

[0099] The top member 50 comprises, further, a groove 44 extending laterally of the winch housing, and the winch housing comprises a lateral hole 46, the groove 44 and the hole 46 providing clearance and also guided access for a crank shaft or hand crank.

[0100] Portions of the ridge 54 may be provided with recesses or holes 48a, and portions of the central aperture may comprise seat structures 48b. The holes 48a and seat structures 48b may be provided to allow an elongate structure, such as a post member or hand crank, to be seated on the top member 50. The arrangement may be such that the additional structures can be accommodated underneath the stored wind power module 16. Alternatively, and / or in addition, holes such as 48a and 48b may be provided for water-runoff through the seating locations. As will be appreciated, the top member 50 may be designed to facilitate water runoff, for instance by designing structures of the top member 50 with rounded inner and outer edges, and / or by providing flat contour portions of the top member 50 in sloped form.

[0101] The off-grid arrangement provides a secure temporary storage for its components to facilitate its transportation in partially disassembled condition. In practice, several of the off-grid arrangements 10 may be transported on a back of a lorry or truck. In this manner, several base units 40 may be positioned side-by-side for transport, together with the wind power modules, and several support posts 20 may be located on the side. Because the clamp 30 is integrated with the support post 20, and no electrical connection is required from the base to the modules, any one of the support posts 20 may be used with any one of the base units 40. As such, an installer team may lay out the position of the base units 40 in one installation phase, before completing an installation by erecting the support posts 20. If the support posts 20 carry different types of modules, e.g. illumination arrangements and telecommunications equipment, the use of exchangeable base modules avoids a need to coordinate the posts with the base modules. The lever and winch mechanism were found by the inventor to allow the powered devices and power modules to be of higher mass, even though they are located in a top region of the post. Specifically, the design allows a battery, which may be a relatively heavy component, to be located closer to the renewable energy converters, reducing the amount of cabling and facilitating the provision of a collapsible post. The arrangement makes it also more practical to use heavier battery types, which may have better charging and / or service life characteristics.

[0102] Figures 13 to 16 show detail of parts of the photovoltaic module 14 and of the power storage module 18. Photovoltaic module 14 comprises a casing structure 140 in the form of a sleeve to be fitted onto a post, such as the support post 20, or second post member 24a of it. The casing structure has a generally triangular outer cross-section, defining three panel faces onto which PV cell elements may be mounted. The casing structure 140 is an elongate body and comprises end caps 142. One end cap 142, here the in-use lower end cap 142, is designed for attachment of the power storage module 18. To this end, the end cap 142 comprises a cylindrical pipe structure 144 with an axial passage 148. The axial passage 148 is dimensioned to receive a post member. The end cap 142 comprises, further, a seating structure with fasteners 146, such as bolts or other suitable fastening means.

[0103] The power storage module 18 comprises a housing 180 designed to hold an arrangement of batteries 182 circumferentially arranged around a post. The centre of the power storage module 18 comprises an axial passage 188 dimensioned to receive and accommodate the cylindrical pipe structure 144. Outer surface of the housing 180 that come into engagement with the end cap 142 are provided with fastening means 186, here in the form of holes, to receive the fasteners 146.

[0104] The power storage module 18 may be positioned around the cylindrical pipe structure 144, and fastened to the end cap 142 by engagement of the fasteners 146 and the fastening means 186. While bolts or other threaded fastener means are appropriate for attaching the power storage module 18 to the photovoltaic module 14, other fasteners such as clamps, clips and the like may be used instead. The end cap 142 and the housing 180 may connect via a threaded engagement, to screw the housing 180 onto the end cap 142 or vice versa. The arrangement may comprise electrical connectors and other components that are not described in more detail herein. Using an arrangement as disclosed in Figures 13 to 16, the battery pack, which may be relatively heavy, can be securely retained in an upper region of the lamp post. For instance, the battery pack may be at least one metre above ground. As will be appreciated, the power storage module may be positioned in-use underneath the photovoltaic module, or above it. Likewise, an illumination arrangement may comprise two power storage modules, one on each end of the photovoltaic module.

[0105] The location of a power storage module underneath the photovoltaic module is believed to facilitate access for servicing, upgrades and / or replacement, by simply requiring the fastening means 146 and 186 to be disengaged to allow the housing 180 to be slid along the support post 20, without requiring the support post 20 to be collapsed or of a collapsible design. However, as will be appreciated, this is only one exemplary design and not necessarily a requirement of the invention.

[0106] Figure 17 shows steps of an exemplary method 70 of installing an off-grid arrangement. In step 72, an off-grid arrangement is provided, such as the arrangement 10, comprising a post, a powered device (such as a lamp), a renewable energy module, and an energy storage module. In step 74, the post is positioned in a generally upright position and anchored into a socket. The socket may be a structure already provided on site, or a weight block such as the base 40.

[0107] In an optional step 76, in embodiments in which the post is comprised of a plurality of post members hingedly connected to each other, the post members are aligned to form a pole. To this end, a winch mechanism may be used. In an optional step 78, the hinged post members are clamped to each other in the aligned position, to secure the post members to each other. The clamp may be an arrangement such as the clamp 30 described herein. In that case, once secured by a clamp, a mechanism such as the winch may be stowed.

[0108] Steps 76 and 78 may not be required if the post provided in step 72 is a single, unitary post member.

[0109] In an optional step 80, a power storage module such as a battery is located in an upper region of the pole, e.g. spaced apart from the base in which the pole is anchored. In an optional step 82, the power storage module is positioned close to the photovoltaic module, and may be attached directly to components of the photovoltaic module. Alternatively, in another optional step 84, the power storage module may be attached directly to components of another renewable energy conversion module, such as a wind power module. In other words, the power storage module 18 illustrated in Figure 1 may be located, in use, above the photovoltaic module 14, underneath the wind power module 16. Steps 80, 82 and / or 84 may be carried out before step 74.

[0110] The example of the first post member and second post member shows a halfpipe geometry that can be nested with a cylindrical shape. As will be appreciated, the post cross-sections may comprise other geometries. Likewise, one of the post members may be provided by a subassembly of two or more posts, such that the other of the post members sits between the posts of the subassembly, mounted in an articulating or hinged manner.

[0111] The cable of the winch mechanism may be any suitable load bearing cable, wire or chain. As will be appreciated, it is preferable for the cable to be non-elastic under tension.

[0112] While the illustrated examples in Figures 1 to 11 show a lamp post, the powered module of the off-grid arrangement may be another type of powered device, as well as an arrangement of multiple powered devices.

[0113] Whilst the principle of the invention has been illustrated using exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not so limited, and that the invention may be embodied by other variants defined within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An off-grid arrangement comprising a post, the post comprising a foot end to support the post and a head end to carry modules, wherein the post is of articulated form comprising a first post member and a second post member connected via an articulating joint, alignable to form a pole structure, wherein the articulating joint is connected to at least one of the post members partway along its length extension, whereby a free portion of said one of the post members provides a lever arm, wherein the arrangement comprises a fixing arrangement to affix the lever arm of one of the post members to the other of the post members to maintain the pole structure when aligned.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the free portion is shaped complementarily to the other post member, such that the free portion and post member may be arranged in a nested configuration.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixing arrangement comprises a clamp fixed to one of the first post member and the second post member.

4. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the clamp is operable to open towards the other of the first post member and the second post member.

5. The arrangement according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the clamp is a two-arm hinged clamp, comprising one arm fixed to one of the post members.

6. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a base structure, the base structure comprising at least a portion of an erecting mechanism for articulating the first post member and the second post member to form said pole structure.

7. The arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the erecting mechanism comprises a winch and a cable, the cable being attachable to the lever arm.

8. The arrangement according to claim 7, wherein an end of the lever arm comprises a cable-holding structure, and the cable comprises an engaging end structure configured to engage the cable-holding structure.

9. The arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the base structure comprises a cable guide structure positionable between the winch and the lever arm.

10. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the modules carried on one of the post members comprise a battery.

11. The arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the modules carried on one of the post members comprise a power storage module, apowered device, and at least one of a photovoltaic cell arrangement and a wind turbine arrangement.

12. The arrangement according to claim 11 , when comprising at least one wind turbine arrangement, wherein the wind turbine arrangement is comprised in the form of a detachable module.

13. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base structure comprises a surface contour shaped to provide a cradle for a turbine blade assembly.

14. An off-grid arrangement comprising a post, the post comprising a foot end to support the post and a head end to carry modules, wherein the head end comprises a powered device and at least one of a photovoltaic cell arrangement and a wind turbine arrangement, and wherein the head end further carries a power storage module spaced from the foot end.

15. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one photovoltaic cell arrangement and the power storage module affixed, in use, underneath the photovoltaic cell arrangement.

16. The arrangement according to claim 14 or 15, comprising both the photovoltaic cell arrangement and the wind turbine arrangement, both operatively connected to supply power to the power storage module.

17. The arrangement according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the post is of unitary form, the foot end comprising a free end for location in a socket.

18. The arrangement according to any one of claims 14 to 17, further comprising a base module into which the foot end is anchorable.

19. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, when comprising a wind turbine module and a base module, wherein the base module comprises a seating profile for the wind turbine module.

20. A base module for supporting an off-grid arrangement comprising a wind turbine module, the base module comprising a seating profile for the wind turbine module.

21. The base module according to claim 20, for use with a wind turbine module mounted on a post, wherein the base module further comprises a socket for the post.

22. A method of installing an off-grid arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising providing the off-grid arrangement, positioning the post in a generally upright orientation to form a pole structure, and anchoring the pole structure in a base structure.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein positioning the post in a generally upright orientation comprises aligning two articulatably joined post members, and affixing the two post members to each other to maintain the pole structure when aligned.

24. The method according to claim 22 or 23, comprising providing the off-grid arrangement with at least one renewable energy converter and a power storage module, and positioning the at least one renewable energy converter in an upper region of the post, and positioning the power storage module directly adjacent the at least one renewable energy converter.

25. The method according to claim 24, comprising positioning the power storage module on the post prior to positioning the post in a generally upright orientation.

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