MOBILE MODULAR SOLAR POWER SYSTEM

• US 20110181234A1
• Filed: 04/01/2011
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael K. Branham
• Original Assignee: Michael K. Branham
• Inventors: Branham, Michael K.
• Application Number:
  US13/078,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20110181234A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02021 for solar cells electrical connection means, e.g. junction boxes, specially adapted for structural association with photovoltaic modules H02S40/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/40 Mobile PV generator systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/00 Supporting structures for PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/30 Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A portable modular solar power system generates electricity from sunlight to charge a battery and provide power to a load. Specifically, the portable system includes a load receiving the electrical power, and a portable modular solar power apparatus that includes a photovoltaic panel converting the sunlight to the electrical energy, a battery connected to the photovoltaic panel and receiving an electrical charge from the photovoltaic panel, and providing the electrical power to the load connected to the battery, and a lightweight frame housing the battery and having the photovoltaic panel connected thereto. The lightweight frame includes a battery tray supporting the battery and providing self ballasting for the portable modular solar power apparatus, and at least two adjustable telescoping legs providing support for the portable modular solar power apparatus and allowing for adjustments to an angle of the photovoltaic panel with respect to receipt of the sunlight.

Claims

1. A portable modular solar power apparatus for converting sunlight to electrical energy and providing electrical power to a load, the portable modular solar power apparatus comprising:

a photovoltaic panel configured to convert the sunlight to the electrical energy;

a battery electrically connected to the photovoltaic panel thereby receiving an electrical charge from the photovoltaic panel, and configured to provide the electrical power to the load electrically connected to the battery; and

a lightweight frame configured to have the photovoltaic panel removeably attached thereto and to house the battery, the lightweight frame including;

a battery tray configured to support the battery and to provide self ballasting for the portable modular solar power apparatus using the battery; and

at least two adjustable telescoping legs configured to provide support for the portable modular solar power apparatus and to allow for adjustments to an angle of the photovoltaic panel with respect to receipt of the sunlight.

2. The portable modular solar power apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two telescoping legs is foldable to provide a fixed range of motion, such that, when the portable modular solar power apparatus is in an operational state, the at least two adjustable telescoping legs are folded out to provide support for the portable modular solar power apparatus, and when the portable modular solar power apparatus is in a portable state, the at least two adjustable telescoping legs are folded in to decrease a size and increase mobility of the portable modular solar power apparatus.

3. The portable modular solar power apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fixed range of motion of each of the at least two telescoping legs is 20-65 degrees.

4. The portable modular solar power apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a charge controller configured to control the electrical charge of the battery by receiving the electrical energy from the photovoltaic panel and by providing the electrical charge to the battery.

5. The portable modular solar power apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable modular solar power apparatus is configured to provide the electrical power to a direct current electrical load, such that the electrical power provides at least one of 12 volts, 24 volts and 48 volts to the direct current electrical load.

6. The portable modular solar power apparatus of claim 2,

wherein the lightweight frame comprises:

a top portion configured to attach to the photovoltaic panel; and

a bottom portion configured to attach to the battery tray, and

wherein the top portion is foldable onto the bottom portion when the at least two adjustable telescoping legs are folded in while in the portable state.

7. The portable modular solar power apparatus of claim 1, wherein the battery tray is a weather-proof container configured to isolate the battery from weather conditions.

8. The portable modular solar power apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the photovoltaic panel electrically connects to the battery via a quick connect plug, and

wherein the battery electrically connects to the load via a quick connect plug.

9. The portable modular solar power apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lightweight frame is configured to have a plurality of photovoltaic panels attached thereto, including the photovoltaic panel, and to house a plurality of batteries, including the battery.

10. A portable modular solar power system for converting sunlight to electrical energy and providing electrical power, the portable modular solar power system comprising:

a load configured to receive the electrical power; and

a portable modular solar power apparatus including;

a photovoltaic panel configured to convert the sunlight to the electrical energy;

a battery electrically connected to the photovoltaic panel thereby receiving an electrical charge from the photovoltaic panel, and configured to provide the electrical power to the load electrically connected to the battery; and

a lightweight frame configured to have the photovoltaic panel removeably attached thereto and to house the battery, the lightweight frame including;

a battery tray configured to support the battery and to provide self ballasting for the portable modular solar power apparatus using the battery; and

at least two adjustable telescoping legs configured to provide support for the portable modular solar power apparatus and to allow for adjustments to an angle of the photovoltaic panel with respect to receipt of the sunlight.

11. The portable modular solar power system of claim 10, wherein each of the at least two telescoping legs is foldable to provide a fixed range of motion, such that, when the portable modular solar power apparatus is in an operational state, the at least two adjustable telescoping legs are folded out to provide support for the portable modular solar power apparatus, and when the portable modular solar power apparatus is in a portable state, the at least two adjustable telescoping legs are folded in to decrease a size and increase mobility of the portable modular solar power apparatus.

12. The portable modular solar power system of claim 10, further comprising a charge controller configured to control the electrical charge of the battery by receiving the electrical energy from the photovoltaic panel and by providing the electrical charge to the battery.

13. The portable modular solar power system of claim 10, wherein the portable modular solar power apparatus is configured to provide the electrical power to a direct current electrical load, such that the electrical power provides at least one of 12 volts, 24 volts and 48 volts to the direct current electrical load.

14. The portable modular solar power system of claim 11,

wherein the lightweight frame comprises:

a top portion configured to attach to the photovoltaic panel; and

a bottom portion configured to attach to the battery tray, and

wherein the top portion is foldable onto the bottom portion when the at least two adjustable telescoping legs are folded in while in the portable state.

15. The portable modular solar power system of claim 10, wherein the battery tray is a weather-proof container configured to isolate the battery from weather conditions.

16. The portable modular solar power system of claim 10,

wherein the photovoltaic panel electrically connects to the battery via a quick connect plug, and

wherein the battery electrically connects to the load via a quick connect plug.

17. The portable modular solar power system of claim 10, further comprising a second portable modular solar power apparatus including:

a second photovoltaic panel configured to convert the sunlight to the electrical energy;

a second battery electrically connected to the second photovoltaic panel thereby receiving an electrical charge from the second photovoltaic panel, and configured to provide the electrical power to the load; and

a second lightweight frame configured to have the second photovoltaic panel removeably attached thereto and to house the second battery, the second lightweight frame including;

a second battery tray configured to support the second battery and to provide self ballasting for the second portable modular solar power apparatus using the second battery; and

at least two adjustable telescoping legs configured to provide support for the second portable modular solar power apparatus and to allow for adjustments to an angle of the second photovoltaic panel with respect to receipt of the sunlight.

18. The portable modular solar power system of claim 17, wherein the battery and the second battery are connected in parallel, so as to increase a current of the electrical power provided to the load.

19. The portable modular solar power system of claim 17, wherein the battery and the second battery are connected in series, so as to increase a voltage of the electrical power provided to the load.

20. A method of assembling and using a portable modular solar power system for converting sunlight to electrical energy and providing electrical power to a load,

wherein the portable modular solar power system includes:

the load configured to receive the electrical power; and

a portable modular solar power apparatus including;

a photovoltaic panel configured to convert the sunlight to the electrical energy;

a battery configured to receive an electrical charge from the photovoltaic panel, and to provide the electrical power to the load; and

a lightweight frame including a battery tray configured to support the battery, and including at least two adjustable telescoping legs configured to provide support for the portable modular solar power apparatus and to allow for adjustments to an angle of the photovoltaic panel with respect to receipt of the sunlight, and

wherein the method comprises;

modularly connecting the photovoltaic panel to a surface of the lightweight frame;

placing the battery on the battery tray of the lightweight frame, so as to provide self ballasting for the portable modular power apparatus using the battery;

electrically connecting the photovoltaic panel and the battery allowing the battery to receive the electrical charge from the photovoltaic panel;

electrically connecting the load to the battery allowing the load to receive the electrical power from the battery; and

adjusting a length of the at least two adjustable telescoping legs, so as to provide the support for the portable modular solar power apparatus and to adjust the angle of the photovoltaic panel with respect to the receipt of the sunlight.