Mobile renewable energy structures providing wireless networking and associated systems and methods

• US 10,233,903 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2018
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Primo Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Primo Wind, Inc.
• Inventors: McMahon, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Quigley, Thomas K
• Application Number:
  US15/893,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20180238305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 290 44, 290 55
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/22 Foundations specially adapted for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/007 the wind motor being combined with means for converting solar radiation into useful energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/34 on stationary objects or on stationary man-made structures
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 6/001 having photovoltaic cells
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/91521 at ground level
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0037 supported by a post
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/04 adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices testing thereof during manufacture H01L22/00; testing thereof after manufacture H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/042 PV modules or arrays of single PV cells supporting structures for PV modules H02S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/12 Hybrid wind-PV energy systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/10 Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/46 Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines

Abstract

A system for providing access to a wireless communication network can include a plurality of renewable energy structures. Each renewable energy structure can include an electricity generation assembly, a telescoping support pole positioned to support the electricity generation assembly, and a wireless communication device configured to relay wireless communication signals between a host signal source and a client device. The electricity generation assembly can include a wind turbine assembly and/or a solar power structure. The wireless communication device can include a cellular telephone signal repeater and/or wireless internet equipment. Each structure can include a display, such as an advertisement, one or more benches, and/or a container. Each structure can optionally include a water purification system, one or more cameras, one or more lights, and/or one or more motion or voice sensors for activating or deactivating various components of the system. Each structure may be permanently installed or mobile.

Claims

1. A structure for providing wireless communication coverage and off-grid electrical power, comprising:

a telescoping support pole pivotably attached to a cylindrical foundation, wherein the support pole comprises a plurality of pole segments and at least one locking element, the locking element carried by at least one of the pole segments and positioned to limit relative movement between two of the pole segments;

a base positioned around the foundation, the base comprising a first frame;

a wind turbine assembly for converting wind to electrical power, the wind turbine assembly supported by the support pole;

a first support element carried by the support pole and extending generally radially outwardly from the support pole, the first support element being positioned beneath the wind turbine assembly;

a second support element carried by the support pole and extending generally radially outwardly from the support pole, the second support element being positioned beneath the wind turbine assembly;

a first solar panel structure for converting light to electrical power, the first solar panel structure being supported by the first support element;

a second solar panel structure for converting light to electrical power, the second solar panel structure being supported by the second support element;

a battery connected to the wind turbine assembly and the first solar panel structure;

a wireless communication device;

one or more benches configured to provide seating, wherein at least one of the benches comprises a second frame attached to the first frame, the at least one of the benches comprises panels mounted to the second frame, and at least one of the panels carries a display; and

a wireless electrical power access point connected to the battery and positioned on a top of one of the one or more benches.

2. The structure of claim 1, further comprising one or more cameras supported by the support pole, the structure further comprising one or more lights.

13. The structure of claim 1, further comprising one or more motion sensors and a controller, the controller configured to activate or deactivate the wireless communication device based on input from the one or more motion sensors.

14. The structure of claim 1, further comprising a wired electrical power access point positioned on a side of one of the one or more benches.

3. A structure for providing wireless communication coverage, comprising:

a foundation;

a base positioned around the foundation, wherein the base comprises a frame, and wherein the foundation extends below the base;

a support pole pivotably connected to the foundation, the support pole comprising a plurality of telescoping pole segments and one or more locking elements passing through at least a portion of one of the telescoping pole segments and positioned to limit relative movement between two of the telescoping pole segments;

a wind turbine assembly for converting wind to electrical power, the wind turbine assembly supported by the support pole;

a plurality of support elements carried by the support pole and positioned beneath the wind turbine assembly, each support element of the plurality of support elements extending radially outwardly from the support pole;

a plurality of solar panel structures for converting light to electrical power, each solar panel structure of the plurality of solar panel structures being supported by a corresponding support element of the plurality of support elements; and

one or more components supported by the structure, wherein the one or more components comprise a cellular telephone signal repeater or a wireless internet router.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the frame is triangular.

5. The structure of claim 3, wherein the frame is a first frame, the structure further comprising one or more benches attached to the first frame, wherein at least one of the benches comprises a second frame and panels mounted to the second frame, and wherein at least one of the panels comprises a display.

6. The structure of claim 3, further comprising a camera supported by the support pole.

7. The structure of claim 5, further comprising an electrical power access point on at least one of the one or more benches.

15. The structure of claim 3, wherein at least one of the support elements is shaped as a tree leaf.

8. A system for providing access to a wireless communication network, the system comprising

a plurality of renewable energy structures, each renewable energy structure comprising:

wind turbine assembly;

a foundation;

a telescoping support pole pivotably attached to the foundation and positioned to support the wind turbine assembly above the foundation;

a plurality of solar panel structures positioned beneath the wind turbine assembly, each solar panel structure of the plurality of solar panel structures being supported by a corresponding support element extending generally outwardly from the telescoping support pole; and

a wireless communication device configured to relay wireless communication signals between a host signal source and a client device;

wherein the renewable energy structures are configured to relay signals between each other to form a mesh network; and

wherein at least one renewable energy structure of the plurality of renewable energy structures further comprises one or more benches and one or more displays positioned on at least one of the benches.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a cellular telephone signal repeater.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one renewable energy structure of the plurality of renewable energy structures further comprises a container positioned around the foundation.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the container contains a water purification system.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one renewable energy structure of the plurality of renewable energy structures further comprises a camera or a light supported by the support pole.