SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS

• US 20150162867A1
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James A. Meringer
• Original Assignee: James A. Meringer
• Inventors: Meringer, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,564,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/085 of high-built type, e.g. street light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/035 the solar unit being integrated within the support for the lighting unit, e.g. within or on a pole
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2020/16 Preventing shading effects
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2030/16 Hinged elements; Pin connections
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/10 extending in directions away from a supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/632 Side connectors; Base connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/422 Vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/10 Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/20 Supporting structures directly fixed to an immovable object H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

Improved solar energy system including an improved solar collector mounting assembly, preferably comprises a bi-facial solar active component mounted with its solar active face(s) orthogonal to the ground/horizon, at or near its perimeter frame. According to certain embodiments, the mounting assembly allows the fin to oscillate with respect to a fixed mounting position in response to displacing forces. Additionally, the solar energy system may be utilized to retrofit an existing energy operating system, wherein the solar powered system can interact in a hybrid fashion with the existing energy source of the retrofitted system.

Claims

1. An improved solar energy system, providing at least one above ground solar collector assembly, comprising:

providing at least one solar active component having a flat planar body including i) a first planar face and a second planar face opposite said first planar face, ii) a perimeter frame surrounding said first and second planar faces, and iii) an inherent vertical planar axis and an inherent horizontal planar axis orthogonal to said vertical planar axis, said vertical and horizontal planar axes defining said planar body;

providing a mounting element; and

mounting said at least one solar active component to a mounting surface of at least one above-ground support via said mounting element,

wherein said mounting element is structured and arranged to attach said solar active component to said mounting surface of said support,

wherein said mounting element including a first connector, structured and arranged to couple to said solar active component, and a second connector coupled to said first connector, said second connector structured and arranged to couple to said mounting surface of said support;

wherein said mounting comprises coupling said second connector to said mounting surface of said support, and coupling said solar active component to said first connector, thereby mounting said solar active component to said mounting surface of said support,

wherein said mounting surface of said above-ground support includes a vertical axis essentially orthogonal to the ground surface,

wherein said solar active component is mounted with its horizontal axis orthogonal to said vertical axis of said mounting surface,

wherein said solar active component is mounted with at least a portion of its perimeter frame adjacent said mounting surface, and

wherein said first and second planar faces of said solar active component are solar active.

2. An improved solar energy system, providing at least one above ground solar collector assembly, comprising:

providing at least one solar active component having a flat planar body including i) a first planar face and a second planar face opposite said first planar face, ii) a perimeter frame surrounding said first and second planar faces, and iii) an inherent vertical planar axis and an inherent horizontal planar axis orthogonal to said vertical planar axis, said vertical and horizontal planar axes defining said planar body;

mounting said at least one solar active component to a mounting surface of at least one above-ground support, said mounting surface of said above-ground support having a vertical axis essentially orthogonal to the ground surface, wherein

i. said solar active component is mounted with its horizontal axis orthogonal to said vertical axis of said mounting surface, and

ii. said solar active component is mounted with at least a portion of its perimeter frame adjacent said mounting surface.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said first and second planar faces are solar active.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

providing a battery for storage of solar power received from said solar active component, and

installing said battery for storage being provided in said support structure or underneath the ground.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising using said solar power received from said solar active component to operate a system comprising at least one lighting fixture.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising utilizing an alternate energy source, in addition to said solar power to operate said at least one lighting fixture.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising mounting said solar active component to said mounting surface of said support at a fixed mounting position, wherein said solar active component is configured to oscillate about said fixed mounting position in response to displacing forces, and to situate at said fixed mounting position absent said displacing forces.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

providing a mounting element structured and arranged to attach said solar active component to said mounting surface of said support, said mounting element including a first connector, structured and arranged to couple to said solar active component, and a second connector coupled to said first connector, said second connector structured and arranged to couple to said mounting surface of said support;

coupling said second connector to said mounting surface of said support; and

coupling said solar active component to said first connector, thereby mounting said solar active component to said mounting surface of said support.

9. The system of claim 8, said solar active component being mounted at a fixed position to said support via said second connector, said mounting element further comprising an oscillator structured and arranged to enable oscillation of said solar active component about said fixed position in response to displacing forces, and to enable said mounting element to situate at said fixed mounting position absent said displacing forces, wherein said oscillator couples said first connector and said second connector.

10. The system of claim 9, said oscillator further comprising a spring.

11. They system of claim 2, said above ground support comprising a pole of an existing fixture, said existing fixture forming an energy consuming device, wherein said energy consuming device is retrofitted by mounting said solar active component to said pole.

12. The system of claim 11, said fixture comprising a street lighting fixture.

13. A solar fin mounting assembly for an improved solar energy system, providing at least one above ground solar collector assembly, comprising:

at least one mounting component structured and arranged to mount a solar fin to a support structure at a set mounting position, said mounting component comprising;

at least one fin connector structured and arranged to affix to a solar fin; and

at least one support connector structured and arranged to affix to said support structure, and coupled to said fin connector,

wherein said solar fin comprises a flat planar body including i) a first planar face and a second planar face opposite said first planar face, ii) a perimeter frame surrounding said first and second planar faces, and iii) an inherent vertical planar axis and an inherent horizontal planar axis orthogonal to said vertical planar axis, said vertical and horizontal planar axes defining said planar body, and

said solar fin connector is structured and arranged to engage said solar fin on said first and second planar faces adjacent said perimeter frame.

14. The assembly of claim 13, said mounting component further comprising at least one oscillator structured and arranged to enable oscillation of said fin about said fixed mounting position in response to a displacing force, and to enable said fin to situate at said fixed position absent said displacing force, wherein

said oscillator couples said fin connector to said support connector.

15. The assembly of claim 14, said oscillator comprising at least one spring.

16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein:

said fin connector comprises a holder comprising a retaining bracket structured and arranged to affixedly hold said fin within said retaining bracket;

said support connector comprises a plate structured and arranged to affix to said support structure;

said mounting component further comprising an oscillator structured and arranged to allow said fin connector to oscillate with respect to said support connector, said oscillator coupling said fin connector to said support connector.

17. The assembly of claim 16, said fin connector further comprising a pin, wherein said oscillator is in pivoting engagement with said pin.

18. The assembly of claim 17, said oscillator comprising a spring, said spring structured and arranged to bias said fin connector to said fixed mounting position.