High density-third dimension geometry solar panels

• US 4,023,368 A
• Filed: 08/26/1975
• Issued: 05/17/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald A. Kelly
• Original Assignee: Donald A. Kelly
• Inventors: Kelly, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrager, Allen M.
• Application Number:
  US05/607,918
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 126/270, 126/271, 136/89, 60/641, 60/698, 60/650, 60/682, 250/203, 250/238
• US Class Current: 60/698
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/10 using gearing not limited to rotary motion, e.g. with oscillating or reciprocating members
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/02 having a plurality of rotors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/70 Bearing or lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/708 Photoelectric means, i.e. photovoltaic or solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/00 Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 50/20 for tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0543 comprising light concentrating means of the refractive type, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0547 comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/10 including a supplementary source of electric power, e.g. hybrid diesel-PV energy systems combinations with gas-turbine plants F02C6/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/74 Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction

Abstract

The high density, third dimension geometry solar panels consist of closely placing any type of conventional solar cells in an in depth, oblique attitude to the sun'"'"'s normal rays.

In one panel arrangement, highly polished side reflectors are applied to reflect the sun'"'"'s rays into the underside groups of solar cells so that a minimum of surface area is required for a higher than normal electrical power yield from the high density cells.

The most effective geometric shape for these reflected type of solar panels is the triform, or tri-panel, and modifications of the triform cross-section.

Another type of high density solar panel is the V form, or Vee cavity form in which the individual solar cells must have reflective surfaces, for mutual reflection and solar energy concentration.

Claims

1. High density third dimension geometry solar panels comprised of multiple elongate triangular cross-section panels containing multiple squarish solar cells on all three surfaces of said panels,

dual identical elongate side reflectors disposed parallel to two lower sides of said multiple elongate triangular cross-section panels,

multiple uniformly disposed supporting fins secured to said multiple elongate triangular cross-section panels and said dual identical elongate side reflectors,

top edges of said dual identical elongate side reflectors positioned at a horizontal distance equal to nearly one-half the width of said multiple squarish solar cells,

each of said multiple elongate triangular cross-section panels is pivotally mounted along their longitudinal geometric axes within a rectangular elevated open frame structure,

multiple vertical support posts supporting said rectangular elevated open frame structure,

the lower ends of said multiple vertical support posts are mounted on flat level rooftop surfaces,

a crankarm secured at one end of each of said multiple elongate triangular cross-section panels,

a cross link pivotally mounted and secured to the lower end of each said crankarm,

connection at the end of said cross link to a crankarm pivotally mounted and secured to a timing disc,

a pendulum drive and connection means revolving said timing disc, an escapement mechanism controlling the revolution rate of said timing disc,

multiple vertical wind turbines centrally disposed on each of said multiple vertical support posts,

drive transmission means from the base of said multiple vertical wind turbines rotatably connected to multiple D.C. generators disposed within protective housings secured to rooftop surfaces.

2. High density third dimension geometry solar panels, according to claim 1, in which said multiple elongate triangular cross-section panels pivot on their longitudinal geometric axes for a total of seventy-five degrees on either side of a vertical axis,

said timing disc causes one complete oscillation of said multiple elongate triangular cross-section panels over a period of 24 hours, shaft and journal means for said timing disc, mounting means for said shaft and journal,

locking means for said crankarm secured at one end of each of said multiple elongate triangular cross-section panels,

locking means for said cross link pivotally mounted and secured to the lower end of each said crankarm,

manual resetting means for said gravity weight and connection means revolving said timing disc,

hollow builtup sheet metal construction of said multiple elongate triangular cross-section panels,

air circulation passage means through the center of said multiple elongate triangular cross-section panels.

3. High density third dimension geometry solar panels, according to claim 1, in which said dual identical elongate side reflectors disposed parallel to two lower sides of said multiple elongate triangular cross-section panels are slightly convexed toward the longitudinal geometric axis of said multiple elongate triangular cross-section panels,

a minimized optimum lateral solar ray entrance gap for said dual identical elongate side reflectors,

each of said dual identical elongate side reflectors are constructed of smooth highly polished bright thin sheet metal,

multiple rivet or screw securing means for joining said dual identical elongate side reflectors to said multiple uniformly disposed supporting fins,

multiple machine screw and locking means for joining and locking said multiple uniformly disposed supporting fins to said multiple elongate triangular cross-section panels,

4. High density third dimension geometry solar panels, according to claim 1, in which said multiple elongate triangular cross-section panels are alternately constructed as square cross-section panels,

identical axial attitude of square cross-sectioned panels with said multiple elongate triangular cross-section panels,

dual identical elongate side reflectors disposed parallel to two lower sides of said multiple elongate panels,

multiple uniformly disposed supporting fins secured to said dual identical elongate side reflectors and said multiple elongate panels,

multiple squarish solar cells closely spaced on all four surfaces of said multiple elongate panels,

top edges of said dual identical elongate side reflectors positioned at a horizontal distance equal to nearly one-half the width of said multiple squarish solar cells,

each of said multiple elongate panels is pivotally mounted along their longitudinal geometric axes within a rectangular elevated open frame structure,

multiple vertical support posts supporting said rectangular elevated open frame structure.

5. High density third dimension geometry solar panels, according to claim 1, in which said multiple vertical wind turbines centrally disposed on each of said multiple vertical support posts revolve on low friction ball bearings,

said multiple vertical wind turbines are of the Darrieus non-directional type fitted with Savonius starting rotors at the base of said turbines,

said drive connection means partially consists of a spur gear and pinion set,

the height of said multiple wind turbines must not exceed approximately three-quarters the height of said multiple vertical support posts, the width of said multiple vertical wind turbines must not exceed one-half the height of said multiple vertical support posts,

access means to said multiple D.C. generators within said protective housings.

6. High density third dimension geometry solar panels comprised of multiple square box-like cavities consisting of four steep-slope flat surfaces joined together in a square pattern,

a square bottom sheet joins all of said four steep-slope flat surfaces at their bottom edges,

a central parabolic four-sided pyramid reflector is disposed and secured to said square bottom sheet,

a highly polished reflective surface for each of the four sides of said central parabolic four-sided pyramid reflector,

multiple squarish solar cells in multiple rows mounted on all four steep-slope flat surfaces,

joining and securing of multiple square box-like cavities together as identical units on multiple flat elongate base panels,

each of said flat elongate base panels is pivotally mounted along their longitudinal centerline within a rectangular elevated open frame structure,

multiple vertical support posts supporting said rectangular elevated open frame structure,

the lower ends of said multiple vertical support posts are mounted to flat level rooftop surfaces,

a crank arm secured at one end of each of said multiple flat elongate base panels,

a cross link pivotally mounted and secured to the lower end of each of said crankarms,

connection of the end of said cross link to a crankarm pivotally mounted and secured to a timing disc,

a pendulum-drive-and connection means for revolving said timing disc, an escapement mechanism controlling the revolution rate of said timing disc,

multiple vertical wind turbines rotatably disposed on each of said multiple vertical support posts,

drive transmission means from the base of said multiple vertical wind turbines rotatably connected to multiple D.C. generators disposed within protective housings secured to rooftop surfaces.

7. High density third dimension geometry solar panels according to claim 6, in which said multiple square box-like cavities are alternately constructed in a linear continuous surface form,

two elongate steep-slope flat surfaces comprising a box-like cavity formed together with a flat elongate bottom surface,

a central parabolic pyramid reflector in linear form disposed and secured to said flat elongate bottom surface,

multiple squarish solar cells mounted in multiple rows on said two elongate steep-slope flat surfaces,

securing of said box-like cavities in a linear continuous surface form to multiple flat elongate base panels,

each of said multiple flat elongate base panels is pivotally mounted along their longitudinal centerline within a rectangular elevated open frame structure.

8. High density third dimension geometry solar panels according to claim 6, in which said multiple square box-like cavities are alternately constructed in a linear continuous surface form,

four elongate steep-slope flat surfaces comprising a modified box-like cavity formed together with a flat elongate bottom surface,

multiple squarish solar cells mounted in multiple rows on said four elongate steep-slope flat surfaces,

said multiple squarish solar cells provided with smooth flat transparent reflective surfaces,

securing of said box-like cavities in a linear continuous surface form to multiple flat elongate base panels,

each of said multiple flat elongate base panels is pivotally mounted along their longitudinal centerline within a rectangular elevated open frame structure.

9. High density third dimension geometry solar panels according to claim 6, in which said steep-slope flat surfaces are between sixty degrees and seventy degrees from a vertical axis,

said central parabolic four-sided pyramid reflector may be molded from a solid material,

said steep-slope flat surfaces joined togeter in a square pattern and said square bottom sheet are formed from one sheetmetal pattern.

10. High density third dimension geometry solar panels according to claim 6, in which said multiple squarish solar cells are of the moderate efficiency-low cost type,

any type of minimum cost cadmium-sulphide, silicon, or gallium-arsenide solar cell is applicable.