Solar powered golf cart
First Claim
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1. In a vehicle having a propulsion motor powered by electrical energy, a battery and solar cell assembly for providing electrical energy comprising:
- a plurality of batteries;
a solar cell array having a plurality of solar cell panels;
said solar cell array connected to supply electricity to said batteries;
each of said panels having a flexible substrate facilitating the positioning of said panel is other than a planar configuration;
each of said substrates having a rectilinear configuration defined by edges and said substrates mechanically joined along abutting edges to form a rectilinear array having a peripheral margin;
a fabric covering extending beneath said rectilinear array and enclosing said peripheral margin of said array; and
a support structure beneath said fabric covering having a plurality of longitudinal supports connected by a plurality of lateral supports.
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Abstract
A solar cell array is disclosed having a support structure, cover, and mechanically joined solar cell panels. Each panel, or group of panels, is electrically connected across a separate battery and a diode is provided to provide separate charging of each battery and to prevent flow of current to the solar cells from the batteries.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. In a vehicle having a propulsion motor powered by electrical energy, a battery and solar cell assembly for providing electrical energy comprising:
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a plurality of batteries; a solar cell array having a plurality of solar cell panels; said solar cell array connected to supply electricity to said batteries; each of said panels having a flexible substrate facilitating the positioning of said panel is other than a planar configuration; each of said substrates having a rectilinear configuration defined by edges and said substrates mechanically joined along abutting edges to form a rectilinear array having a peripheral margin; a fabric covering extending beneath said rectilinear array and enclosing said peripheral margin of said array; and a support structure beneath said fabric covering having a plurality of longitudinal supports connected by a plurality of lateral supports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a vehicle having a propulsion motor powered by electrical energy, a battery and solar cell assembly for providing electrical energy comprising:
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a plurality of batteries connected in series; each of said batteries having a positive and a negative terminal; a solar cell array having a plurality of solar cell panels; each of said solar cell panels having a positive and a negative terminal; each of said solar cell panels connected across the terminals of a different said battery; and a diode connected between each panel and its respective battery to permit current flow only from said panel to its respective battery. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A solar cell powered battery charging system comprising:
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a series string of n rechargable batteries; n groups of solar cell panels; each of said groups having m solar panels connected in parallel; each of said n rechargable batteries having a different one of said n groups of solar cell panels connected across it; and a diode connected between each of said groups of solar cell panels and its respective battery permitting current flow only in the direction from said solar cell panel groups to said batteries.
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Specification