System for retrofitting local energy modules in rail networks

• US 9,422,740 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2013
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Katcheves, Basil
• Assistant Examiner(s): IHEZIE, JOSHUA K
• Application Number:
  US14/412,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20150322688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 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 comprises:

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

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

at least one elongated mounting element, which is attachable to a respective said support mast, and which reinforces the stiffness of said respective support mast over most of the length thereof;

at least one first redirection element, which is attachable on an upper region of a respective said support mast, and by means of which one of the transverse supporting cables is redirected from its transverse orientation into a substantially vertical orientation;

at least one attachment element, which is attachable to a lower region of a respective said support mast, and by means of which a substantially vertically oriented said supporting cable is 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;

at least one first communication unit configured to establish a wireless communication link selected from the group consisting of;

between at least one traffic participant on the traffic route and at least one mobile radio network and between at least one traffic participant on the traffic route and at least one fixed network;

an energy storage unit;

an optional power supply network of the traffic route;

a feed unit for feed of current, which is generated by the at least one solar panel, into at least one of the energy storage unit and the 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 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 at least one of mechanical and electrical functions of components of the system, which is mounted on at least one of the support masts and the supporting cables;

an optional second communication unit;

wherein at least one of the communication unit and the second communication unit enable at least one of data and control commands to be exchanged between the control unit and a remote central control unit.

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 a respective said support mast.

6. System according to claim 1, whereby the mounting element has a housing that accommodates a component selected from the group consisting of:

the energy storage unit, the feed unit, the current transformer, the control unit, the first communication unit, the second communication unit and combinations thereof.

7. System according to claim 1, whereby the first communication unit is attachable on top of each of the support masts.

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

9. System according to claim 8, further comprising at least one upright solar panel, which is attachable to the mounting element.

10. System according to claim 9, 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.

11. System according to claim 5 wherein

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

said current transformer, by means of which electrical features of the current generated by at least one of said solar panel and said 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.

12. System according to claim 1, whereby the first communication unit is attachable on the wind turbine.