The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
대리인 / 주소
Kaiser, Howard
인용정보
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0인용 특허 :
24
초록▼
The present invention typically features integrative configurability for transportation/storage, and disintegrative configurability for operation. Two half-cases are coupled to obtain a case. A case is uncoupled to obtain two half-cases. Each half-case houses a solar panel (pivotably connected to th
The present invention typically features integrative configurability for transportation/storage, and disintegrative configurability for operation. Two half-cases are coupled to obtain a case. A case is uncoupled to obtain two half-cases. Each half-case houses a solar panel (pivotably connected to the half-case) and a U-bar (pivotably connected to the solar panel). The solar panel is pivoted away from the half-case's interior to the angle-of-inclination desired for collecting solar energy. The U-bar is pivoted away from the solar panel's back to securely fit into one of plural parallel slots provided across the half-case's interior, the U-bar thereby holding the solar panel in place at the desired angle-of-inclination. The half-cases are laid flat individually to collect solar energy. A half-case is “compacted” by pivoting the U-bar proximate the solar panel's back and pivoting the solar panel proximate the half-case's interior. Two complementary half-cases, each compacted, are (re)attached to form a portable case.
대표청구항▼
1. A solar collection system comprising a solar collection unit, said solar collection unit including two solar collection components and at least one fastener for attachment and detachment of said solar collection components with respect to each other, said solar collection components being attacha
1. A solar collection system comprising a solar collection unit, said solar collection unit including two solar collection components and at least one fastener for attachment and detachment of said solar collection components with respect to each other, said solar collection components being attachable to each other and being detachable from each other to permit separate and apart respective situations of said solar collection components, each said solar collection component including: a half-case, said half-case describing approximately a rectangular parallelepiped and including a planar rectangular half-case bottom and a peripheral half-case wall perpendicular to and extending around the periphery of said half-case bottom, said half-case having a rectangular opening opposite said half-case bottom, said half-case bottom being characterized by plural parallel slots, said half-case wall including four rectangular half-case sides, said four half-case sides together forming a rectangular edge defining said rectangular opening;a solar panel, said solar panel including a planar rectangular solar panel face and two opposite solar panel sides perpendicular to said solar panel face and parallel to each other, said solar panel face having a solar collection surface;a pair of first hinge mechanisms, said first hinge mechanisms pivotably connecting said solar panel to said half-case, each said first hinge mechanism connecting a said half-case side and a said solar panel side, wherein said solar panel is positionable at a selected inclination with respect to said half-case bottom;a pair of reinforcement plates, each said reinforcement plate associated with a said solar panel side so as to reinforce said joining of a said half-case side and a said solar panel side;a U-bar, said U-bar lying in a single geometric plane and including a straight U-bottom section, two curved U-corner sections, and two straight parallel U-side sections, each said U-corner section coupling said U-bottom section with one said U-side section, each said U-side section being perpendicular to said U-bottom section;a pair of second hinge mechanisms, said second hinge mechanisms being distanced from said first hinge mechanisms and pivotably connecting said U-bar to said solar panel, each said second hinge mechanism connecting a said solar panel side and a said U-side section, wherein said U-bar is positionable at a selected U-bar angle with respect to said solar panel whereby said U-bottom section sits in a said slot;at least one locking mechanism affixed to said half-case bottom, said at least one locking mechanism being capable of locking and unlocking, with respect to said half-case bottom, a said U-bottom section that sits in a said slot, said U-bar thus being engageable and disengagable with respect to said half-case bottom;wherein each said solar collection component is situatable whereby: said half-case bottom lies approximately horizontal upon a foundation; said peripheral half-case wall is approximately vertical above said foundation; said solar panel is positioned at a selected inclination with respect to said half-case bottom, for collecting solar energy; said solar panel is locked in place by said locking mechanism at said inclination;wherein, in each said solar collection component, said solar panel is positionable and locked in place at said inclination whereby: said solar panel is pivoted so as to be a selected distance from said half-case bottom; said U-bar is pivoted so as to be a selected distance from said solar panel face; said U-bar is engaged in a said slot; said U-bar is locked in place in said slot;wherein, when said solar collection components are attached, said solar collection unit is configured whereby: said half-cases are joined via said at least one fastener to form a unitary case; the respective said rectangular edges of said half-cases are congruous and adjoin each other; said unitary case and each said half-case are characterized by the same length and width; each said solar panel is positioned at a zero said inclination with respect to the corresponding said half-case bottom; each said U-bar is parallel to, and interposed between, the corresponding said solar panel face and the corresponding said half-case bottom; each said solar panel side is parallel to, and interposed between, the corresponding said half-case side and the corresponding said U-side section; said peripheral half-case wall of each said half-case surrounds the corresponding said solar panel and the corresponding said U-bar; the respective said pairs of said first hinge mechanisms of said solar collection components are vertically aligned; the respective said pairs of said second hinge mechanisms of said solar collection components are vertically aligned; the respective said half-case bottoms of said solar collection components, the respective said solar panel faces of said solar collection components, and the respective said U-bars of said solar collection components, are parallel to each other. 2. An apparatus for collecting solar energy, the apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rectangular prismatic containers each having an inside container surface and an outside container surface, each said container having a container length, a container width, and a container height, each said container including a flat section and a perimeter wall approximately perpendicular to said flat section, said flat section having on opposite sides a grooved portion of said inside container surface and a flat portion of said outside container surface, said grooved portion provided with plural parallel grooves; said perimeter wall forming an extreme rectangular edge, the respective extreme rectangular edges of said containers describing congruent rectangular shapes, the respective container lengths of said containers being equal, the respective container widths of said containers being equal;at least one fastener for attachment and detachment of said containers with respect to each other;at least two pairs of aligned locking brackets mounted on said grooved portion of said inside container surface, each said pair of aligned locking brackets being associated with a said groove of said grooved portion;a pair of solar modules each pivotably connected to a said container, each said solar module being capable of a pivot-down module position or plural pivot-up module positions, said pivot-down module position being next to the corresponding said grooved portion of said inside container surface, each said pivot-up module position being distanced from the corresponding said grooved portion of said inside container surface, wherein said perimeter wall encompasses said solar module when said solar module is in said pivot-down module position; anda pair of U-shaped support members each pivotably connected to a said solar module, each said U-shaped support member being capable of a pivot-down member position or plural pivot-up member positions, said pivot-down member position being next to the corresponding said solar module, each said pivot-up member position being distanced from the corresponding said solar module, each said U-shaped support member lying in a single geometric plane and including a straight transverse crossbar section, two curved corner sections, and two straight parallel arm sections, each said corner section linking said crossbar section with one said arm section, each said arm section being perpendicular to said crossbar section, wherein the pivotable connection of said U-shaped support member to the corresponding said container includes hinging of each said arm section to the same said solar module;said containers being joinable to each other so as to enclose said solar modules in said pivot-down module position and said U-shaped support members in said pivot-down member position, wherein when said containers are joined said containers are fastened via said at least one fasteners and the respective extreme rectangular edges of said containers adjoin each other, the joined said containers describing a substantially rectangular prismatic shape;said containers being separable from each other for independent and apart deployment of each said solar module according to which said flat portion of said outside container surface is placed upon an area and said perimeter wall is approximately perpendicular to said area, each said solar module being deployable in either said pivot-down module position or a said pivot-up module position, wherein according to deployment of said solar module in said pivot-down module position said U-shaped support member is in said pivot-down member position, and wherein according to deployment of said solar module in a said pivot-up module position said U-shaped support member is in a said pivot-up member position and is secured in a said groove by a said pair of said aligned locking brackets, wherein the securing of said U-shaped support member in a said groove includes fitting and locking of said crossbar section in a said pair of said locking brackets, wherein when said containers are separated said containers are not fastened via said at least one fasteners and the respective extreme rectangular edges of said containers do not adjoin each other. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: said area is at least approximately horizontal;according to deployment of said solar module in said pivot-down module position said solar module is at least approximately horizontal;according to deployment of said solar module in said pivot-up module position said solar module is inclined. 4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an energy-absorptive member for disposition between said solar modules when said containers are joined to each other. 5. A solar collection device comprising a substantially rectangular prismatic case, at least one fastener, two solar panels, two locking mechanisms, and two U-shaped bars, each said solar panel having a solar collection side and an opposite side, said case including two substantially rectangular prismatic compartments that are attachable to and detachable from each other via said at least one fastener, said case and each said compartment being characterized by the same length and width, each said compartment including a flat bottom portion and a side wall upwardly bounding said bottom portion, said side wall being characterized by an outer rectangular edge, said flat bottom portion having a flat bottom interior surface and plural slots in said flat bottom interior surface, each said solar panel being hinged to the corresponding said compartment so as to be rotatably adjustable relative to said flat bottom interior surface, each said U-shaped bar being hinged to the corresponding said solar panel so as to be rotatably adjustable relative to said opposite side of said solar panel, each said locking mechanism being associated with a said slot, each said U-shaped bar lying in a single geometric plane and including a straight U-bottom portion, two straight parallel U-side portions, and two curved U-corner sections, each said U-corner section connecting said U-bottom section with one said U-side section, each said U-side section being perpendicular to said U-bottom section, said U-bottom portion fitting in each said slot and being lockable by the associated said locking mechanism, said device being configurable in a unitary mode or a dichotomous mode; said unitary mode being characterized in that said compartments are attached to each other to form said case enclosing said solar panels and said U-shaped bars, said at least one fastener being in a fastening setting, the respective outer rectangular edges of said side walls adjoining each other, each said U-shaped bar being disposed at an approximately zero bar angle with respect to said opposite side of the corresponding said solar panel, each said solar panel being disposed at an approximately zero panel angle with respect to said interior surface of the corresponding said hollow case component, the respective said solar collection sides being adjacent to each other;said dichotomous mode being characterized in that said compartments are detached from each other, said at least one fastener being in a non-fastening setting, the respective outer rectangular edges of said side walls not adjoining each other, said compartments being separately situatable apart from each other whereby said bottom portion of the corresponding said compartment is resting on an area, each said solar panel being positionable at a level position and at least two different slanted positions, wherein according to said level position said U-shaped bar is disposed at an approximately zero said bar angle with respect to said opposite side of said solar panel and said solar panel is disposed at an approximately zero said panel angle with respect to said flat bottom interior surface of said compartment and said side wall of said compartment at least substantially surrounds said U-shaped bar and said solar panel, and wherein according to each said slanted position said U-shaped bar is disposed at an oblique said bar angle with respect to said opposite side of said solar panel, said U-bottom portion engages a said slot and is locked in place by said locking mechanism, and said solar panel is disposed at an oblique said panel angle with respect to said flat bottom interior surface of said compartment. 6. The solar collection device of claim 5 wherein each said compartment includes a foam lining that at least partially lines said interior surface. 7. The solar collection device of claim 5 further comprising a foam insert for being interposed between said solar collection sides when said device is configured in a unitary mode. 8. The solar collection device of claim 5 wherein said slots are parallel to each other, and wherein each said slot has associated therewith a unique value of said oblique bar angle and a unique value of said oblique panel angle. 9. The solar collection device of claim 5 wherein: said unitary mode is suitable for storage and transport of the solar collection device;said dichotomous mode is suitable for operation of the solar collection device;parameters including said panel angle and the situation of the solar collection device are selectable in furtherance of optimization of collection of solar energy during operation of the solar collection device. 10. The solar collection device of claim 5 wherein: said case generally describes geometrically a closed rectangular prism, said closed rectangular prism being closed at all six geometric faces;each said compartment generally describes geometrically an open rectangular prism, said open rectangular prism being open on one geometric face;each said compartment is characterized by a height of said side wall that is smaller than the height that characterizes said case;each said solar panel is hinged to the corresponding said compartment at the longitudinal end of said compartment. 11. The solar collection system of claim 1, further comprising at least one handle, each said handle attached to a said half-case side. 12. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising at least one handle, each said handle attached to the corresponding said perimeter wall of at least one said container. 13. The solar collection device of claim 5, further comprising at least one handle, each said handle attached to the corresponding said side wall of at least one said compartment.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (24)
Savage ; Fred L. ; Long ; Alfred D., Autonomic solar panel.
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