Pole having solar cells

• US 6,060,658 A
• Filed: 12/19/1997
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Showa Pole Co., Ltd., Tagawasyouji Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Showa Pole Co., Ltd., Tagawasyouji Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Fujii, Takashi, Yoshida, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAMOND, ALAN D
• Application Number:
  US08/995,019
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 136/291, 136/243, 136/244, 136/248, 52/173.3, 429/111, 362/183, 362/276, 362/812, 323/906
• US Class Current: 136/243
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/086 with lighting device attached sideways of the standard, e.g. for roads and highways
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/032 the solar unit being separate from the lighting unit
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/037 the solar unit and the lighting unit being located within or on the same housing
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/10 extending in directions away from a supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 10/02 the power supply being a radioactive or photovoltaic source
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/02 Signs, boards, or panels, illuminated by artificial light sources positioned in front of the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/007 Displays with power supply provided by solar cells or photocells
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/906 Solar cell systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

A pole incorporating solar cells has a lighting device or like electric device attached thereto, and a required number of solar cell modules arranged approximately vertically on at least one portion of peripheral wall of the main body of the pole. The arrangement of solar cell modules has the function of generating the electric energy to be consumed by the electric device for one day, utilizing solar radiation afforded by at least scattered sunlight selected from scattered sunlight or direct sunlight. A storage device is provided in the pole main body and has a capacity to accumulate therein the electric energy to be consumed by the electric device for one day, and is repeatedly charged and discharged every day.

Claims

1. A pole having solar cells, wherein the pole has an electric device attached thereto, comprising:

a plurality of solar cell modules arranged approximately vertically on at least one portion of a peripheral wall of the pole main body, the pole main body being provided with a storage device for accumulating therein electric energy from the solar cell modules so as to supply electric energy accumulated in the storage device to the electric device,

wherein the plurality of solar cell modules includes a number sufficient to generate an amount of electric energy to be consumed by the electric device for one day, and the storage device has a capacity to accumulate the amount of electric energy generated by the plurality of solar cell modules to be consumed by the electric device for one day.

2. The pole having solar cells according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of solar cell modules generate electric energy from received solar radiation afforded by at least sunlight selected from scattered sunlight or direct sunlight.

3. The pole having solar cells according to claim 1 wherein the storage device is a device selected from the group consisting of electric double layer capacitor, nickel-cadmium battery and lead battery, and wherein the pole main body is hollow and the storage device is provided inside the hollow pole main body.

4. The pole having solar cells according to claim 1 wherein the pole main body is polygonal in cross section, and the solar cell modules are attached to and extend along at least one of the sides of the pole main body.

5. The pole having solar cells according to claim 1, wherein said electric device produces light energy.