JP7849060B2 - Solar power panel movable mechanism - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a movable mechanism for solar power generation panels, for example, a movable mechanism for solar power generation panels used as a snow accumulation countermeasure in heavy snowfall areas.

Solar power generation is attracting attention from a decarbonization perspective and is becoming increasingly widespread.

Since the amount of electricity generated by solar panels used in solar power generation increases with the amount of sunlight they receive, various types of mounting systems for solar panels have been proposed, as shown in the patent document below, that allow the tilt angle of the solar cell module (solar panel) to be changed according to the solar altitude which changes with the seasons.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-126930 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-219174 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-217447 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-180257

Patent Document 1 discloses a power generation fence as an example of a fence-shaped solar power generation panel mounting structure, in which a plate-shaped solar power generation panel is installed near the upper end of an extended fence, tilted upward along the direction of extension of the fence, and the tilt angle of the plate-shaped solar power generation panel is adjustable.

Patent Document 2 discloses a solar cell mounting frame in which solar cell modules are suspended between spaced-apart support columns in a tiltable manner. This frame allows the solar cell modules to be tilted towards the sun during non-snowy seasons, and the mounting angle of the solar cell modules to be changed to vertical during snowy seasons, thereby preventing snow accumulation on the solar cell modules.

Patent Document 3 discloses a mechanism for raising and lowering one end of a solar power generation panel using a drive shaft to make the installation angle of the solar power generation panel vertical. For example, it discloses a mechanism using a retractable arm (piston) connected to a support column (frame).

Patent document 4 discloses a mechanism using a long, slidable jack with a rectangular cross-section (Patent document 4), among other things.

In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the tilt angle of a plate-shaped solar power generation panel is changed by a rotating mechanism within a movable range so as to maximize the intensity of sunlight.

However, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, while considering power generation efficiency, does not demonstrate how to prevent snow accumulation on modules in snowy regions. In the case of snowfall without wind, snow accumulates on tilted solar cell modules, resulting in a complete lack of power generation, let alone improved efficiency. Furthermore, in heavy snowfall areas, the weight of accumulated snow can damage the solar cell modules themselves.

The solar panel mounting frame disclosed in Patent Document 2 requires removing the bolts from the fixing holes of the arm support bar that secures the panel mounting arms to release the fixation and change the orientation of the solar power generation panel to vertical. Afterward, it is necessary to insert bolts back into the fixing holes to secure the solar power generation panel in its vertical position, making the process extremely complicated.

On the other hand, the technologies disclosed in Patent Documents 3 and 4 do not involve the same complexity as the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2 when it comes to changing and fixing the installation angle of solar power generation panels.

However, there was a problem with the structure of solar power generation panels when they were vertically fixed and subjected to strong winds, making them structurally unstable.

The objective of this invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the conventional example and provide a movable solar panel mechanism that allows multiple parallel solar panels to be simultaneously raised or tilted, stably supports the solar panels in the raised position, and, since the drive shaft is housed inside a channel-shaped guide rail that rotatably supports the solar panels, does not require vertical height, making it suitable for installation on rooftops and other similar locations.

To achieve the above objective, the present invention as described in claim 1 comprises a drive shaft by a screw shaft housed inside a channel-shaped guide rail that rotatably supports a solar power generation panel, a slide base block with a nut screwed onto the drive shaft inside the channel-shaped guide rail, one end of the solar power generation panel hinged to another location and connected to the solar power generation panel and the slide base block by a panel support arm whose end is pivotally attached, and the other end of the drive shaft is capable of mounting an engine that rotates the drive shaft via a screw drive joint hexagonal head box, the panel support arm consists of upper and lower arms that form the hypotenuse of a triangle and a diagonal arm that connects these upper and lower arms via a cross joint by a universal joint at their connection point, the upper and lower arms and the diagonal arm are foldable, the lower end of the diagonal arm is pivotally attached to the slide base block, and the tip of the upper arm is pivotally attached to the upper part of the solar power generation panel on the panel support arm .

According to the present invention as described in claim 1, when the drive shaft is rotated, the slide base block moves inside the channel-shaped guide rail, reducing the relative distance between the axial mounting point of the slide base block on the solar power generation panel and the hinge connection at one end of the solar power generation panel. Simultaneously, the panel support arm rises, rotating and raising the solar power generation panel.

Furthermore, when tilting a solar panel, rotating the drive shaft in the opposite direction causes the ride base block to move inside the channel-shaped guide rail. This increases the distance between the axial attachment point of the ride base block to the solar panel and the hinge connection at one end of the solar panel to the outside of the channel-shaped guide rail. This causes the panel support arm to tilt, rotating and tilting the solar panel.

When the solar panels are upright, they are supported by a truss structure consisting of channel-shaped guide rails, panel support arms, and the solar panels themselves, providing stable support that can withstand strong winds and other elements.

Furthermore, since the drive shaft is housed inside the channel-shaped guide rail that rotatably supports the solar power generation panel, it takes up minimal space. Because it is integrated with the channel-shaped guide rail, the entire system does not require vertical height, making it possible to install it on rooftops or other elevated locations.

Furthermore, according to this invention, an engine can be attached to one end of the connecting shaft, and this engine can drive the connecting shaft. Moreover, if the engine is an electric tool, there is no need to install an engine according to the number of solar power generation panels. Also, the position of the engine can be made to follow the movement of the drive shaft, eliminating the need for a complex mechanism.

Furthermore, the panel support arms provide support to the top of the solar panels when they are upright, ensuring greater stability. Additionally, the support arms can be folded or extended, so they do not obstruct the stabilization of the solar panels when they are standing upright or tilted.

The present invention, as described in claim 2, is characterized by a channel-shaped guide rail that supports a solar power generation panel so that it can be reversibly rotated from a horizontal to a vertical position.

According to the present invention as described in claim 2, in order to prevent damage to solar power generation panels due to the weight of snow accumulated on them during the snowy season, it is possible to easily position the solar power generation panels vertically and prevent snow from accumulating on them.

Furthermore, the vertically fixed solar power generation panels provide structural stability even when subjected to strong winds.

The present invention as described in claim 3 is characterized in that the panel support arm is pivotally attached to the upper end of the solar power generation panel.

According to the present invention as described in claim 3, the panel support arm supports the upper end of the solar power generation panel, thereby enabling stable rotation for uprighting or tilting of the solar power generation panel.

The present invention described in claim 4 is characterized by the arrangement of 1 to 50 solar power generation panels in parallel.

According to the present invention as described in claim 4, multiple solar power generation panels can be simultaneously raised or tilted in parallel using a single drive shaft.

As described above, the solar power generation panel movable mechanism of the present invention can simultaneously raise or tilt multiple parallel solar power generation panels, and in the raised position, it can stably support the solar power generation panels. Furthermore, since the drive shaft is housed inside a channel-shaped guide rail that rotatably supports the solar power generation panels, it does not require vertical height, making it suitable for installation on rooftops and other similar locations.

A side view showing an embodiment of the movable solar power generation panel mechanism of the present invention. This is a front view of the storage section for the slide base block. This is a side view of the storage section for the slide base block. This is a plan view of the storage area for the slide base block. This is a plan view of the mounting portion of the panel support arm to the solar power generation panel. This is a side view of the mounting portion of the panel support arm to the solar power generation panel. This is an external perspective view of the movable solar panel mechanism of the present invention. This is a plan view of the panel support arm. This is a plan view of the cross metal fitting portion of the panel support arm.

The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a side view showing one embodiment of the solar power generation panel movable mechanism of the present invention. The solar power generation panel movable mechanism 1 houses a drive shaft 3 with a screw shaft inside a channel-shaped guide rail 2 that rotatably supports the solar power generation panel 10.

The solar power generation panel 10, in the illustrated example, is a substantially rectangular solar power generation panel. The bottom and sides of the solar power generation panel 10 are detachably reinforced by a panel reinforcement frame 20, and the solar cell portion is held in place by the frame 20 (see Figure 5).

Furthermore, since the frame 20 is detachable from the solar cell portion of the solar power generation panel 10, the solar power generation panel movable mechanism 1 can be applied not only to newly installed solar power generation panels 10 but also to existing solar power generation panels 10.

The channel-shaped guide rail 2 is a C-channel rail with an upward-facing opening, as shown in Figure 2, and is made of metal such as aluminum alloy or stainless steel.

The drive shaft 3, powered by a screw shaft, is a rod-shaped body with a helical groove around its entire circumference. It is supported horizontally and rotatably within the channel-shaped guide rail 2 by partition walls 9 arranged at appropriate intervals. These partition walls 9 act as stoppers, preventing the slide base block 6 from moving further.

A slide base block 6, with a wheel-shaped roller bearing 4 and a nut 5 that allows it to move, is screwed onto the drive shaft 3 inside the channel-shaped guide rail 2.

Furthermore, if the slide base block 6 can slide smoothly within the channel-shaped guide rail 2, other means such as a resin material with low frictional resistance can be used instead of the roller bearing 4.

The slide base block 6 has a clevis joint 7 attached to the main body, which is a nut 5. The clevis joint 7 has a bifurcated rotating piece with a top plate that has a nut hole drilled in it.

In the figure, 8 is the panel support arm. In the illustrated example, a full-circumference screw, which is a rod-shaped body with a helical groove around its entire circumference, is used. However, the threaded portion may only be near the end, and it does not necessarily have to be a full-circumference screw.

The panel support arm 8 is capable of supporting the top of the solar power generation panel 10 to raise it upright, and the panel support arm 8 itself is foldable.

As shown in Figure 9, the panel support arm 8 consists of an upper arm 8a and a lower arm 8b that form the hypotenuse of a triangle, and a diagonal arm 8c that connects the upper arm 8a and the lower arm 8b at their joints via a cross fitting 13 made of a universal joint.

The diagonal arm 8c is a support arm bush rod, and these upper arm 8a, lower arm 8b, and diagonal arm 8c are foldable by a cross fitting 13 with a universal joint.

As shown in Figure 7, the cross fitting 13 has the upper arm 8a and the rotating part of the lower arm 8b attached to the support shaft 13a, and the support shaft 13a is rotatably installed at the tip of the diagonal arm 8c.

The lower end of the diagonal arm 8c is pivotally attached to the slide base block 6, and the tip of the upper arm 8a is pivotally attached to the top of the solar power generation panel 10.

Furthermore, the lower end of the lower arm 8b has a wheel-shaped roller bearing 4, and a slide base block 6, whose main body is a nut 5 that can move, is screwed onto the drive shaft 3 inside the channel-shaped guide rail 2.

A slide roller 4' is attached to the lower end of the diagonal arm 8c so that it can slide within the channel-shaped guide rail 2. Note that the lower end of the diagonal arm 8c does not necessarily need to be screwed onto the drive shaft 3, and it may also be axially attached to the side of the channel-shaped guide rail 2 without the slide roller 4'.

On the other hand, a clevis plate 11 is provided at the upper end of the solar power generation panel 10, and one end of the panel support arm 8 is screwed into a clevis joint 7 provided on the slide base block 6, while the other end of the panel support arm 8 is pivotally attached to the clevis plate 11. In this way, the solar power generation panel 10 and the slide base block 6 are connected by the panel support arm 8, which is pivotally attached to its end.

The clevis plate 11 is fixed to a clevis mounting frame 24, which is stretched across the frame 20 of the solar power generation panel 10 and secured with reinforcing plate fixing bolts 22, using clevis fixing bolts 23.

Figure 1 shows the solar power generation panel 10 installed tilted horizontally towards the sun, with the upper arm 8a and lower arm 8b bent and folded.

As shown in Figure 7, the channel-shaped guide rail 2 is installed on the mounting frame 30 on which the solar power generation panels 10 are installed. While various types of mounting frames 30 can be used depending on the installation location of the solar power generation panels 10, the example shown in the figure depicts a frame where C-shaped steel beams are assembled onto existing C-shaped steel beams that serve as girders.

The frame 20 of the solar power generation panel 10 is equipped with a panel mounting device that allows the solar power generation panel 10 to be reversibly rotated and fixed to the mounting frame 30 from a horizontal to a vertical position.

The panel mounting fixture consists of a panel mounting fixture base and a panel hinge. The panel hinge has two blades on a single axis; the frame 20 is fixed to one blade, and the other blade is fixed to the panel mounting fixture base.

The panel mounting bracket is detachably attached to the C-shaped steel member, and is fixed to the C-shaped steel member of the frame 30.

Furthermore, the panel hinge only needs to be able to securely fix the solar power generation panel 10, which is attached to the frame 20, to the mounting base 30 in a rotatable manner. For example, a flat hinge, a flag hinge, or a long hinge (piano hinge) may be used.

Furthermore, the hinge connection of the solar power generation panel 10 is not limited to the mounting frame 30. If the mounting frame 30 is not available, hinge hardware can be installed at other locations, for example, on the outside of the channel-shaped guide rail 2, thereby hinge-connecting one end of the solar power generation panel 10 to the outside of the channel-shaped guide rail 2.

On the other hand, an engine 21 that rotates the drive shaft 3 can be attached to the other end of the drive shaft 3 via a screw drive joint hexagonal head box 12.

If the engine 21 is a power tool, such as a rechargeable electric drill or electric screwdriver, it can be operated by hand, and if it is rechargeable, it is possible to drive (rotate) the drive shaft 3 using the engine 21 without securing a power source, which is preferable.

Furthermore, by screwing the slide base blocks 6 to a single drive shaft 3 at appropriate intervals, multiple blocks, for example, 1 to 50 blocks, can be installed in parallel on one of the channel-shaped guide rails 2.

Next, the usage and operation will be explained. When the drive shaft 3 is rotated clockwise by the engine 21, the slide base block 6 moves inside the channel-shaped guide rail 2. This reduces the distance between the axial attachment point of the slide base block 6 to the solar power generation panel 10 and the hinge connection at one end of the solar power generation panel 10. Simultaneously, the panel support arm 8 rises, rotating and raising the solar power generation panel 10.

When the drive shaft 3 of the engine 21 rotates clockwise, the slide base block 6 moves inside the channel-shaped guide rail 2, causing the pivot point at the lower end of the diagonal arm 8c of the slide base block 6 to move, and the diagonal arm 8c acts as a support arm bush rod.

This pushes the joint between the upper arm 8a and the lower arm 8b, unfolding the bent and folded upper arm 8a and lower arm 8b, and consequently rotating the solar power generation panel 10 to stand upright.

When the solar power generation panel 10 is standing vertically, the upper arm 8a and the lower arm 8b form a straight line. These two arms form the base of a right-angled triangle, and the diagonal arm 8c extends from the center of this base to the vertex, thus ensuring stable strength as a truss structure.

On the other hand, to tilt the solar power generation panel 10, rotating the drive shaft 3 in the opposite direction (counterclockwise) causes the slide base block 6 to move inside the channel-shaped guide rail 2. This slide base block 6 pulls the diagonal arm 8c, which acts as a pull rod, folding the upper arm 8a and lower arm 8b at the cross fitting 13. This rotates and tilts the solar power generation panel 10.

The upright and tilting of the solar power generation panel 10 can be used to move the solar power generation panel 10 in response to changes in the angle of solar radiation.

Furthermore, it can be used in the following way: During the spring and autumn seasons when there is no snowfall, the solar power generation panels 10 are installed tilted horizontally or towards the south, facing the sunlight.

On the other hand, when snow falls in winter, snow accumulates on the solar power generation panels 10, and depending on the amount of snow, the weight of the snow can cause deformation and damage to the solar power generation panels 10. Therefore, in late autumn or early winter, when snowfall begins, the solar power generation panels 10 are positioned vertically to prevent damage from snow accumulation.

By orienting the solar power generation panel 10 vertically, the risk of damage from strong winds can be reduced.

On the other hand, when spring arrives and snowfall is no longer expected, the solar power generation panels 10 will be returned to their horizontal position to increase power generation efficiency.

Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the claims that such modified or improved forms may also be included within the technical scope of the present invention.

This invention provides a solar power generation panel movable mechanism 1 that allows the solar power generation panel 10 to be easily positioned vertically during snowfall, preventing damage to the solar power generation panel 10 due to the weight of accumulated snow, and maintaining structural stability even when subjected to strong winds while the solar power generation panel 10 is fixed vertically.

1...Movement mechanism for solar power generation panel 2...Channel-shaped guide rail 3...Drive shaft 4...Roller bearing 4'...Slide roller 5...Nut 6...Slide base block 7...Clevis joint 8...Panel support arm 8a...Upper arm 8b...Lower arm 8c...Diagonal arm 9...Partition wall 10...Solar power generation panel (solar panel)
11...Clevis plate 12...Hexagonal head box for screw drive joint 13...Cross fitting 13a...Support shaft 20...Frame 21...Engine 22, 23...Fixing bolt 24...Mount frame for clevis 30...Stand

Claims (4)

A movable solar power generation panel mechanism characterized by housing a drive shaft by a screw shaft inside a channel-shaped guide rail that rotatably supports a solar power generation panel, screwing a slide base block with a nut into the inside of the channel-shaped guide rail, hinge-connecting one end of the solar power generation panel to another location and connecting the solar power generation panel and the slide base block with a panel support arm whose end is pivotally attached, and allowing an engine that rotates the drive shaft to be attached to the other end of the drive shaft via a screw drive joint hexagonal head box, the panel support arm consisting of upper and lower arms that form the hypotenuse of a triangle and a diagonal arm that connects these upper and lower arms via a cross joint by a universal joint at their connection point, the upper and lower arms and the diagonal arm being foldable, the lower end of the diagonal arm pivotally attached to the slide base block, and the tip of the upper arm pivotally attached to the upper part of the solar power generation panel on the panel support arm . The solar power generation panel movable mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the channel-shaped guide rail supports the solar power generation panel so that it can be reversibly rotated from a horizontal to a vertical position. The movable solar power generation panel mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the panel support arm is pivotally attached to the upper end of the solar power generation panel. A movable solar power generation panel mechanism according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein 1 to 50 solar power generation panels are arranged in parallel.