SYSTEM FOR RETROFITTING LOCAL ENERGY MODULES IN RAIL NETWORKS

• US 20150322688A1
• Filed: 06/26/2013
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: S.E.Track AG
• Original Assignee: S.E. Track AG
• Inventors: Meier, Balthasar, Ott, Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 9,422,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/20 Side-supporting means therefor, e.g. using guy ropes or struts
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2030/133 in the form of flexible elements, e.g. belts, chains, ropes
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/10 extending in directions away from a supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/50 comprising elongate non-rigid elements, e.g. straps, wires or ropes
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/45 with two rotation axes
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/00 Supporting structures for PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A system for retrofitting energy supply modules in the region of a traffic route is provided. Supporting cables extend transversely over the traffic route and support a plurality of solar panels, which can be mounted on the transverse supporting cables. Elongated mounting elements fastened to each support mast act to reinforce the support masts and accommodate electronic system components. The solar panels are adjusted about a horizontal and/or a vertical axis by means of cable sheaves. The supporting cables are fastened at a lower region of the support masts for instance with micropiles so that they can be tensioned. The forces exerted by the solar panels on the transverse support cables are conducted through the transverse supporting cables via at least one first redirection element and into the lower region of the support mast.

Claims

1. System for retrofitting energy supply modules in the region of a traffic route, which traffic route has along both longitudinal sides a multiplicity of support masts, whereby the system:

has a multiplicity of transverse supporting cables configured to be extended over the traffic route transversely to the traffic route, between opposite support masts, and

has a multiplicity of solar panels, which are mountable over the traffic route on the transverse supporting cables,

wherein, for each support mast of the multiplicity of support masts, the system;

has at least one elongated mounting element, which is attachable to each of the support masts, and which reinforces the stiffness of each of the support masts over most of the length of each of the support masts;

has at least one first redirection element, which is attachable on an upper region of each of the support masts, and by means of which one of the transverse supporting cables is able to be redirected from its transverse orientation into a substantially vertical orientation;

has at least one attachment element, which is attachable to a lower region of each of the support masts, and by means of which a substantially vertically oriented supporting cable is able to be anchored in a tensioned way to the lower region;

whereby the forces which are exerted by the solar panels on the transverse supporting cable are led through the transverse supporting cable via the at least one first redirection element and into the lower region of each of the support masts.

2. System according to claim 1, whereby the lower region of each of the support masts is a base of each of the support masts.

3. System according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one second redirection element, which is attachable on the upper region of each of the support masts; and

at least one control cable, which is attachable on the lower region of each of the support masts and which serves the purpose of alignment of at least one solar panel, whereby the alignment of the solar panel is able to be carried out through an adjustment of the at least one second redirection element.

4. System according to claim 3, whereby the at least one first redirection element and/or the at least one second redirection element has at least one cable sheave.

5. System according to claim 1, further comprising at least one wind turbine configured to be attached on a second upper region of each of the support masts.

6. System according to claim 1, further comprising at least one first communication unit configured to establish a wireless communication link between at least one traffic participant on the traffic route and at least one mobile radio network and/or at least one fixed network.

7. System according to claim 6, further comprising:

an energy storage unit;

a feed unit for feed of current, which is generated by the at least one solar panel and/or by at least one wind turbine, into the energy storage unit and/or into a power supply network of the traffic route;

a current transformer, by means of which electrical features of the current generated by the at least one solar panel and/or by the at least one wind turbine are adaptable to the charging or respectively feed requirements of the energy storage unit or respectively of the power supply network of the traffic route;

a control unit for control of mechanical and/or electrical functions of components of the system, which are mounted on the support masts and/or on the supporting cables;

the at least one first communication unit; and

/or

a second communication unit, by means of which data and/or control commands are able to be exchanged between the control unit and a remote central control unit.

8. System according to claim 7, whereby the mounting element has a housing, in which the energy storage unit, the feed unit, the current transformer, the control unit, and the first communication unit and/or the second communication unit are able to be accommodated.

9. System according to claim 7, whereby the first communication unit is attachable on top of each of the support masts or on the wind turbine.

10. System according to claim 1, whereby the mounting element has an elongated, substantially prism-shaped profile with a substantially trapezoidal cross section.

11. System according to claim 10, further comprising at least one upright solar panel, which is attachable to the mounting element.

12. System according to claim 11, whereby the upright solar panel has at least one adjustment element configured to adjust the upright solar panel with a fixed or movable southern orientation.