Solar-powered water features with submersible solar cells

• US 20050133088A1
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Smart Solar Limited (Smart Solar)
• Original Assignee: Zorba, Agio & Bologeorges, L.P.
• Inventors: Bologeorges, James P.
• Application Number:
  US10/898,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20050133088A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/042 PV modules or arrays of single PV cells supporting structures for PV modules H02S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

The disclosed technology can be used to implement water movement effects (e.g., water fountains) in a water feature (e.g., bird baths) by, for example, submersing one or more solar cells below a surface of the water in the water feature to convert light energy received thereby into electrical energy sufficient to directly or indirectly drive a pump (which may also, but need not, be submersible below the water surface) that provides a hydraulic pressure/suction that forms a desired water movement effect.

Claims

1. A system for providing water movement effects, the system comprising:

at least one photovoltaic source converting light energy into electrical energy;

at least one support member in communication with the at least one photovoltaic source, the at least one support member positioning the at least one photovoltaic source at substantially a desired depth below a water surface; and

a pump in electrical communication with the at least one photovoltaic source, the pump pumping water in response to electrical energy from the at least one photovoltaic source.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one support member includes a flotation element.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the water surface is associated with a body of water contained within a housing that includes the at least one support member.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the housing corresponds to a bird bath.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the desired depth below the water surface is about 1.5 inches.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the desired depth below the water surface is less than 1.5 inches.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the pumped water is used to form a desired water movement effect.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the desired water movement effect corresponds to a spray pattern on the water surface.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least part of the pump is positioned below the water surface.

10. A fountain, comprising:

at least one photovoltaic source converting light energy into electrical energy;

a housing capable of containing a liquid, the at least one photovoltaic source being submersed to substantially a desired depth below a surface of the liquid; and

a pump being operated based on the electrical energy of the at least one photovoltaic source, the pump forming a desired liquid movement effect affecting the surface of the liquid.

11. The fountain of claim 10, wherein the liquid is water and the housing corresponds to a bird bath.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the desired depth below the surface of the liquid is about 1.5 inches.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the desired depth below the surface of the liquid is less than 1.5 inches.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the desired liquid movement effect corresponds to a spray pattern on the surface of the liquid.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein at least part of the pump is positioned below the surface of the liquid.

16. A method of providing a water movement effect, the method comprising:

providing at least one photovoltaic source converting light energy into electrical energy;

positioning the at least one photovoltaic source at about a desired depth below a water surface; and

pumping water in response to the electrical energy from the at least one photovoltaic source, the pumped water forming a desired water movement effect affecting the water surface.