Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
UTILITY POLE MOUNTED SOLAR PANELS AND SECURING BRACKETS
Related Applications
This application is a division of Canadian Application No. 2,955,629 filed 28
July 2015 as the Canadian national phase application corresponding to
International
Patent Application No. PCT/US2015/042544 filed 28 July 2015.
Technical Field
This invention pertains generally to electrical transmission or
interconnection
systems, and more particularly to such systems having plural supply circuits
or
sources distributed along a load circuit. In a most preferred manifestation,
the present
invention provides solar panels and securing brackets that may, for exemplary
purposes, be mounted directly to utility poles including but not limited to
power line
supporting poles and light poles.
Background Art
Conventional electrical power generation is achieved using extremely large
generating facilities that typically produce heat through nuclear reaction or
by burning
combustible matter such as coal, oil, or natural gas. The heat is then used to
convert
water to pressurized steam, and the pressurized steam used to spin an
electricity
generating turbine. Next, the electricity is transmitted over great distance
from this
large central plant to the end user. In the transmission and distribution of
electrical
energy, there are many utility poles that are anchored into the earth, and
power lines
strung overhead between adjacent utility poles. In view of the essential
nature that
electricity plays in the modern world, these utility poles are almost always
afforded
right-of-way to allow the utility companies to access and maintain the lines.
The efficiency of modern photovoltaic cells is very high, and the cost is
quite
low. Furthermore, the electricity may be generated at or close to the point of
consumption, which may provide lower transmission losses and greater power
distribution capacity. Consequently, much opportunity exists to generate a
substantial
portion of electricity required for everyday use through the generation of
electricity
using sunlight, referred to in technical circles as solar insolation.
Unfortunately, there
has always been a divide between the capability to produce power from sunlight
and
the desire to actually install a system.
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There have been several barriers to the adoption of photovoltaic systems. One
barrier is the cost of installation. Not only do the solar cells need to be
purchased, but
they must also be installed in a manner that allows them to withstand the
vagaries of
the environment. Typically this includes wind and ice loading. Even when
properly
designed, the solar panels may become
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CA 3187703 2023-01-24
detached in an exceptional wind storm or hurricane, perpetrating damage to the
supporting
structure. Furthermore, when the solar cells are mounted to an existing
building, the very act of
installation can and often does harm the building. For example, a roof-mounted
system will
have fasteners that penetrate the roof of the structure. Over time, these
"holes" in the roof may
develop leaks that cause far more damage than the system will return in power
savings.
Consequently, the installation systems are necessarily expensive, and require
expertise that in
turn translates into high labor costs.
Yet another barrier has been adverse alteration to the aesthetic appearance of
a building.
The panels are very difficult to incorporate into the appearance of a
building, often detracting
therefrom. A homeowner or commercial property owner will often forego the
installation
purely due to aesthetic factors.
However, a utility pole may also be used to support solar cell arrays. In this
case, the
photovoltaic array does not detract from the appearance of the pole and
transmission line, and
the utility pole is already securely anchored into the earth. US patent
8,466,581 by Kuran, also
published as 2010/0327657 and entitled "System and method for utility pole
distributed solar
power generation," shows multiple poles with the one or more PV cells mounted
on them, and
provides an extensive discussion of the interface between the solar panels and
the grid.
Unfortunately, the Kuran construction is very exposed, leaving the system
vulnerable to wind
and ice loading. Furthermore, the panels are oriented for peak power
production at or around
midday, and so will only produce power for a few hours each day.
In US patent 8,097,980 by Cyrus et al, entitled "Distributed solar power plant
and a
method of its connection to the existing power grid," another PV system using
utility poles is
illustrated. This patent fails to describe how the panels are mounted.
Several additional US patents and published applications illustrate solar
cells coupled
with poles, including 2013/0322063 by Tittle, entitled "Solar retrofit
lighting system";
8,029,154 by Myer, entitled "Solar-powered light pole and LED light fixture";
and 6,060,658
by Yoshida et al, entitled "Pole having solar cells".
Other US patents and published applications,
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CA 3187703 2023-01-24
illustrate PV panels used to power a light on the pole or other somewhat less
relevant concepts,
but that nevertheless represent the state of the industry and provide a
representation of the level
of skill in the field: 4,200,904 by Doan, entitled "Solar powered street
lighting system";
4,281,369 by Bane, entitled "Method and apparatus for solar power lighting";
4,319,310 by
Kingsley, entitled "Solar signs"; 5,149,188 by Robbins, entitled "Solar
powered exterior lighting
system"; 5,155,668 by Tanner et al, entitled "Solar powered lamp utilizing
cold cathode
fluorescent illumination and method of facilitating same"; 7,976, 180 by Haun
et al, entitled
"Solar powered rechargeable street light with tamper resistant networkable
system"; 7,980,725
by Yu et al, entitled "Solar energy street lamp structure with air
passageway"; 7,988,320 by
Brumels, entitled "Lighting device having adjustable solar panel bracket";
7,997,754 by Zhang
et al, entitled "Solar component and devices containing the same"; 8,007,124
by Kim, entitled
"Self-generating streetlight"; 8,097,980 by Cyrus et al, entitled "Distributed
solar power plant
and a method of its connection to the existing power grid"; 8,106,593 by
Nevins, entitled
"Hybrid lighting device"; 8,215,807 by Brunesti, entitled "Illuminating
flagpole assembly";
8,246,207 by Chen et al, entitled "LED solar traffic marking panel fitted with
integrated
dimming controller"; 8,267,541 by Watanabe et al, entitled "Outdoor
illuminating device and
illuminating method"; 8,313,210 by Zheng, entitled "Solar-powered LED
indicator lamp";
8,342,706 by Zheng, entitled "LED lamp"; 2008/0137327 by Hodulik, entitled
"Grid-tied solar
streetlighting"; 2013/0118555 by Samuels, entitled "Solar energy collectors
and methods for
capturing solar energy"; and 2013/0234605 by Burrows, entitled "Hybrid outdoor
streetlamp
assembly".
In addition to the foregoing patents, Webster's New Universal Unabridged
Dictionary,
Second Edition copyright 1983, define various words and terms used herein.
Disclosure of Invention
In a first manifestation, the invention is an electrical transmission system
having plural
electrical supply sources distributed along one or more load circuits carried
by one or more
transmission lines. A utility pole suspends transmission lines. At least one
solar electric
generation station supplies electrical energy and has at least three separate
and distinct solar
collector surfaces, defined by at least one generally East facing panel, at
least one generally South
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facing panel, and at least one generally West facing panel. A plurality of
spacer members support
the at least three separate and distinct solar collector surfaces in a fixed
position relative to the
utility pole and have a plurality of clamp passages. A plurality of clamps are
adapted to
operatively pass through the plurality of clamp passages which are adapted to
operatively guide
and retain the plurality of clamps. A power coupling conducts electricity
generated by the at least
one solar electric generation station into the transmission lines.
In a second manifestation, the invention is an electrical transmission system
having plural
electrical supply sources distributed along one or more load circuits carried
by one or more
transmission lines. A utility pole suspends transmission lines. At least one
solar electric
generation station supplies electrical energy and has at least three separate
and distinct solar
collector surfaces, defined by at least one generally East facing panel, at
least one generally South
facing panel, and at least one generally West facing panel. A plurality of
spacer members support
the at least three separate and distinct solar collector surfaces in a fixed
position relative to the
utility pole. A plurality of adjustable brackets are adapted to operatively
affix with the plurality
of spacer members adjacent a first end and to the utility pole adjacent a
second end distal to the
first end. A power coupling conducts electricity generated by the at least one
solar electric
generation station into the transmission lines.
In a third manifestation, the invention is an electrical transmission system
having plural
electrical supply sources distributed along one or more load circuits carried
by one or more
transmission lines. A utility pole suspends transmission lines. At least one
solar electric
generation station supplying electrical energy has at least one frame member
supporting a
plurality of individual solar panels on the utility pole. A pivot couples an
upper portion of a one
of the individual solar panels to the at least one frame member. A slide frame
that is adjustable
in length is adjacent to a first end affixed to the frame member and adjacent
to a second end distal
to the first end to one of the individual panels. A change of length of the
slide frame causes one
of the individual panels to rotate about the pivot and thereby adjusts an
angle of orientation of
the one of the individual panels relative to the frame member. A power
coupling conducts
electricity generated by the at least one solar electric generation station
into the transmission
lines.
Brief Description of the Drawings
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The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present
invention
can be understood and appreciated by reference to the following detailed
description of the
invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment electrical transmission system
designed in
accord with the teachings of the present invention from a front elevational
view.
FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment solar electric generation station
used in the
preferred embodiment electrical transmission system of Figure 1, the present
view of Figure 2
taken along section line 2' of Figure 1 to reveal a top plan view of an
installed preferred
embodiment solar electric generation station.
FIG. 3 illustrates a rear elevational view of the preferred embodiment solar
electric
generation station of Figure 2, but removed from the utility pole and with the
screw-based clamps
removed therefrom.
FIG. 4 illustrates a first alternative embodiment solar electric generation
station used in
the preferred embodiment electrical transmission system of Figure 1, the
present view of Figure
4 taken along section line 2' to reveal a top plan view of an installed first
alternative embodiment
solar electric generation station.
FIG. 5 illustrates a rear elevational view of the first alternative embodiment
solar electric
generation station of Figure 4, but removed from the utility pole.
FIG. 6 illustrates a second alternative embodiment electrical transmission
system
incorporating a second alternative embodiment solar electric generation
station from a front
projected view.
FIG. 7 illustrates the second alternative embodiment electrical transmission
system of
Figure 6 from a rear projected view.
FIG. 8 illustrates the second alternative embodiment electrical transmission
system of
Figure 6 from an enlarged front projected view.
FIG. 9 illustrates the second alternative embodiment electrical transmission
system of
Figure 7 from an enlarged rear projected view.
FIG. 10 illustrates the second alternative embodiment electrical transmission
system of
Figure 6 from an enlarged front projected view, but with the solar
photovoltaic panels removed
therefrom.
FIGs. 11-13 illustrate a preferred set of spacer members used in the second
alternative
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embodiment electrical transmission system of Figure 6 from front projected,
side, and rear
projected views, respectively.
FIGs. 14-16 illustrate a preferred set of solar photovoltaic panels used in
the second
alternative embodiment electrical transmission system of Figure 6 from top,
front, and side
views, respectively.
FIG. 17 illustrates a third alternative embodiment electrical transmission
system
incorporating a third alternative embodiment solar electric generation station
from a front
projected view.
FIG. 18 illustrates the third alternative embodiment electrical transmission
system of
Figure 17 from a rear projected view.
FIG. 19 illustrates the third alternative embodiment electrical transmission
system of
Figure 17 from an enlarged front projected view.
FIG. 20 illustrates the third alternative embodiment electrical transmission
system of
Figure 18 from an enlarged rear projected view.
FIG. 21 illustrates the third alternative embodiment electrical transmission
system of
Figure 17 from an enlarged front projected view, but with the solar
photovoltaic panels removed
therefrom.
FIG. 22 illustrates the third alternative embodiment electrical transmission
system of
Figure 17 from an enlarged front projected view, but with a second set of
solar photovoltaic
panels incorporated therein.
FIG. 23 illustrates the third alternative embodiment electrical transmission
system of
Figure 17 from a schematic view, illustrating the electrical wiring and
mechanical coupling to
a pole.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Manifested in the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the present
invention
provides an electrical transmission system 100 having plural electrical supply
sources distributed
along one or more load circuits such as carried by transmission lines 114,
116. A typical prior
art utility pole 110 may, for exemplary purposes only and not solely limiting
thereto be provided
with a support arm 112 which suspends transmission lines 114, 116 from utility
pole 110 and
may provide electrical isolation.
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The electrical supply sources are most preferably one or more solar electric
generation
stations 120. Each solar electric generation station 120 will preferably be
provided with a Direct
Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC) inverter 122, which will preferably
include various
functions, such as the ability to synchronize with the power grid and the
ability to disconnect
therefrom in the event of a power failure such as a downed transmission line
or other electrical
transmission system 100 failure. These inverters are well known in the field
of solar electric
generation and widely commercially available.
While a DC to AC inverter 122 is preferred, it will be understood that any
suitable
method of coupling electricity generated by solar electric generation station
120 into inverter
output lines 124, 126 and from there to transmission lines 114, 116 will be
understood to be
incorporated herein. Consequently, inverter 122 might not perform any
conversion from DC to
AC, and may instead be a simple switch that allows solar electric generation
station 120 to be
disconnected from transmission lines 114, 116 in the event a repair is
required within electrical
transmission system 100, to protect the safety of a technician.
Preferred embodiment solar electric generation station 120 has three separate
and distinct
solar collector surfaces, defined by East facing panel 132, South facing panel
134, and West
facing panel 136. These panels 132, 134, 136 may be curved, such as
illustrated in Figure 2, in
which case they will either have photovoltaic cells deposited or otherwise
formed thereon, or
will have flexible photovoltaic panels affixed thereto. Alternatively, panels
132, 134, 136 may
each be planar, and angularly offset from each other to face approximately
East, South, and
West, respectively. While three panels are illustrated for exemplary purposes,
it will be
understood that more or fewer panels may be used, though three are
illustrated.
By providing these three panels 132, 134, 136, solar electric generation
station 120 does
not require a tracking mount, and is still capable of producing electricity
throughout the daylight
hours. Several manufacturers are able to produce solar cells that are of
sufficiently low cost that
the benefit from a tracking mount in increased power output throughout a daily
cycle is not
sufficient to justify the added expense and maintenance of the tracking
components. Solar
electric generation station 120 additionally is defined by a bottom 131, a top
133, an exterior face
135, and an interior face 137. As may be appreciated, exterior face 135 will
preferably have one or
more solar cells either formed in place or mounted thereon. For exemplary
purposes only, and
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CA 3187703 2023-01-24
=
not solely limiting the invention thereto, exterior face 135 may have a Copper
Indium Gallium
Selenide (CIGS) thin film material, which is easily deposited onto flexible
substrates, wrapped
or glued to the exterior face or may in another extreme have many small fixed
flat glass panels
or panes containing mono-crystalline photovoltaic cells angularly stepped
about utility pole 110.
Preferred embodiment solar electric generation station 120 is illustrated in
greater detail
in Figures 2 and 3. Supporting the three panels 132, 134, 136 in a fixed
position relative to utility
pole 110 are a plurality of spacer members, such as spacer members 142, 144,
146, 148. The
number and location of these spacer members 142, 144, 146, 148 is not critical
to the present
invention, and will be determined when a number of design factors are taken
into consideration.
For exemplary and non-limiting purposes, factors such as wind, ice and snow
loading may be
used to determine a maximum load that might be placed upon preferred
embodiment solar
electric generation station 120. Once the maximum load is determined, then the
type of material,
the thickness and geometry, and other such design computations may be made.
Preferably, a
plurality of screw-based clamp passages 152, 154, 156 are also provided which
serve to guide
and retain a plurality of screw-based clamps 170 that may for exemplary
purposes include a
perforated strap 172, fixed screw mount 174, and worm-drive screw 176. This
type of screw-
based clamp 170 is commercially referred to as metal banding with worm gear
type adjustment
screws, and is commonly sold as hose and pipe clamp and for other purposes by
such vendors
as Vertex Distribution ofAttleboro, Massachusetts, Signs Direct of
Bloomington, Illinois, and
MOWCO Industry Limited of Shenzen, China. While other types of clamps may be
provided
in association with preferred embodiment solar electric generation station
120, including but not
limited to other types of strap, band, and even webbing, screw-based clamp 170
provides very
rapid, secure, intuitive, familiar, and low-cost coupling to utility pole 110,
which is preferred to
decrease the cost of installation and maintenance.
For many installations, the clamping force generated by screw-based clamp 170
will be
sufficient to adequately support solar electric generation station 120.
However, and particularly
for coupling with wooden utility poles, one or more gripping teeth 162, 164,
166, 168 may be
provided that protrude from spacer members 142, 144, 146, 148. The specific
geometry of these
gripping teeth 162, 164, 166, 168 may be altered to suit the characteristics
most desired by a
designer, such as penetration depth, inter-tooth spacing, and so forth.
Alternatively, gripping
teeth 162, 164, 166, 168 may be an alternative material that provides
increased adhesion to a
8
CA 3187703 2023-01-24
particular surface, such as a rubber or similar elastomeric material having a
relatively high co-
efficient of friction. Such materials may be useful for coupling with a steel
utility pole.
As may be appreciated, preferred embodiment solar electric generation station
120 will
be designed to directly attach to most existing utility poles, thereby using
the existing utility pole
110 as the main support and as immediate access to the electric power grid.
This in turn means
that there is minimal mounting hardware required, no special anchoring into
the earth, and no
special permitting required, since the present electrical transmission system
100 uses existing
infrastructure. This in turn means that preferred embodiment electrical
transmission system 100
may be produced, installed, and maintained for substantially less capital than
required for prior
art systems.
The materials used to fabricate preferred embodiment solar electric generation
station 120
are not critical to the present invention. For exemplary purposes, a base
material used to
fabricate panels 132, 134, 136 may be galvanized steel. In such case, the
steel may be stamped
or otherwise formed to shape, though again the particular method of deriving
the shape is not
critical to the present invention. As already discussed herein above,
photovoltaic cells may be
formed upon or affixed to the exterior face 135.
Alternative embodiments of apparatus designed in accord with the present
invention have
been illustrated in Figures 4 - 23. The embodiments are distinguished by the
hundreds digit, and
various components within each embodiment designated by the ones and tens
digits. However,
many of the components are alike or similar between embodiments, so numbering
of the ones
and tens digits have been maintained wherever possible, such that identical,
like or similar
functions may more readily be identified between the embodiments. If not
otherwise expressed,
those skilled in the art will readily recognize the similarities and
understand that in many cases
like numbered ones and tens digit components may be substituted from one
embodiment to
another in accord with the present teachings, except where such substitution
would otherwise
destroy operation of the embodiment. Consequently, those skilled in the art
will readily
determine the function and operation of many of the components illustrated
herein without
unnecessary additional description.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a first alternative embodiment solar electric
generation station
220. In this embodiment, rather than using screw-based clamps, a set of
adjustable mounting
brackets 252, 254, 256, 258 are used to terminate spacer members 242, 244,
246, 248. The
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CA 3187703 2023-01-24
adjustable mounting brackets 252, 254, 256, 258 may, for exemplary purposes
only and not
solely limiting thereto, comprise L-shaped brackets that bolt, screw or
otherwise affix to spacer
members 242, 244, 246, 248, and also bolt, screw or otherwise affix at a
distal end to utility pole
110. This method of attachment is limited, since adjustable mounting brackets
252, 254, 256,
258 are adjacent to interior face 237 and therefore hard to access.
Nevertheless, adjustable
mounting brackets 252, 254, 256, 258 may be provided near to the top and
bottom of solar
electric generation station 220, and in such case sufficient access clearance
will exist.
While the embodiments of Figures 2 and 4 each illustrate the spacing between
utility pole
110 and exterior face 135, 235 as being equidistant at both bottom 131, 231
and top 133, 233,
the present invention also contemplates changing the spacing to suit a
particular application. The
present invention may be readily modified to optimize solar incidence upon the
solar electric
generation station at various latitudes and for various times of day.
At sunrise and sunset, the solar rays are arriving in a pearly horizontal
plane. In this case,
the spacing between utility pole 110 and the exterior face 135 adjacent to top
133 and East facing
panel 132 may be approximately equal to the spacing between utility pole 110
and the exterior
face 135 adjacent to bottom 131 and East facing panel 132. This means that
East facing panel
132 is oriented in an approximately vertical plane, which may be appropriate
for morning and
evening solar exposure. Consequently, West facing panel 136 may also be
oriented in an
approximately vertical plane. However, except at the most northern latitudes,
at midday the solar
rays will be traveling at some angle generally between horizontal and
vertical, such as at between
33 and 66 degrees from horizontal. To better align South facing panel 134 with
the
approximately midday sun, and thereby improve the collection of midday solar
radiation and
solar electric generation, South facing panel 134 may also be tilted from
vertical. While not
illustrated, it will be apparent that the spacing between utility pole 110 and
the exterior face 135
adjacent to top 133 and South facing panel 134 may be very different from the
spacing between
utility pole 110 and the exterior face 135 adjacent to bottom 131 and South
facing panel 134.
Similarly, if more than three panels are used to defme solar electric
generation station 120, the
panels that are more south facing may also tilt more out of the vertical plane
towards the
horizontal plane than less south facing panels.
Figures 6 - 16 illustrate a second alternative embodiment electrical
transmission system
300 having plural electrical supply sources distributed along one or more load
circuits such as
CA 3187703 2023-01-24
carried by transmission lines 314, 316. A typical prior art utility pole 310
may, for exemplary
purposes only and not solely limiting thereto be provided with a support arm
312 which
suspends transmission lines 314, 316 from utility pole 310 and may provide
electrical isolation.
The electrical supply sources are most preferably one or more solar electric
generation
stations 320. Each solar electric generation station 320 will preferably be
provided with a Direct
Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC) inverter 322, which will preferably
include various
functions, such as the ability to synchronize with the power grid and the
ability to disconnect
therefrom in the event of a power failure such as a downed transmission line
or other electrical
transmission system 300 failure. These inverters are well known in the field
of solar electric
.. generation and widely commercially available.
While a DC to AC inverter 322 is preferred, it will be understood that any
suitable
method of coupling electricity generated by solar electric generation station
320 into inverter
output lines 324, 326 and from there to transmission lines 314, 316 will be
understood to be
incorporated herein. Consequently, inverter 322 might not perform any
conversion from DC to
AC, and may instead be a simple switch that allows solar electric generation
station 320 to be
disconnected from transmission lines 314, 316 in the event a repair is
required within electrical
transmission system 300, to protect the safety of a technician.
Preferred embodiment solar electric generation station 320 has a plurality of
separate and
distinct solar collector surfaces 336. These panels 336 may be curved, in
which case they will
either have photovoltaic cells deposited or otherwise formed thereon, may have
flexible
photovoltaic panels affixed thereto, or may be fabricated in smaller flat
support segments 345
such as illustrated in Figures 14 - 16. In the embodiment as illustrated,
panels 336 may each be
planar, and angularly offset from each other to face approximately East, South
and West,
respectively. While three panels are illustrated for exemplary purposes, it
will be understood that
more or fewer panels may be used, though three are illustrated.
By providing these three panels 336, solar electric generation station 320
does not
require a tracking mount, and is still capable of producing electricity
throughout the daylight
hours. Several manufacturers are able to produce solar cells that are of
sufficiently low cost that
the benefit from a tracking mount in increased power output throughout a daily
cycle is not
sufficient to justify the added expense and maintenance of the tracking
components.
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CA 3187703 2023-01-24
Preferred embodiment solar electric generation station 320 is illustrated in
greater detail
in Figures 7 - 9. Supporting the panels 336 in a fixed position relative to
utility pole 310 are a
plurality of spacer members 342. The number and location of these spacer
members 342 is not
critical to the present invention, and will be determined when a number of
design factors are
taken into consideration. For exemplary and non-limiting purposes, factors
such as wind, ice and
snow loading may be used to determine a maximum load that might be placed upon
preferred
embodiment solar electric generation station 320. Once the maximum load is
determined, then
the type of material, the thickness and geometry, and other such design
computations may be
made. Preferably, a plurality of screw-based clamp passages 352, 354, 356 are
also provided
which serve to guide and retain a plurality of screw-based clamps 370 that may
for exemplary
purposes include a perforated strap 372, fixed screw mount 374, and worm-drive
screw. While
other types of clamps may be provided in association with preferred embodiment
solar electric
generation station 320, including but not limited to other types of strap,
band, and even webbing,
screw-based clamp 370 provides very rapid, secure, intuitive, familiar, and
low-cost coupling to
utility pole 310, which is preferred to decrease the cost of installation and
maintenance.
As may be appreciated, preferred embodiment solar electric generation station
320 will
be designed to directly attached to most existing utility poles, thereby using
the existing utility
pole 310 as the main support and as immediate access to the electric power
grid. This in turn
means that there is minimal mounting hardware required, no special anchoring
into the earth, and
no special permitting required, since the present electrical transmission
system 300 uses existing
infrastructure. This in turn means that preferred embodiment electrical
transmission system 300
may be produced, installed, and maintained for substantially less capital than
required for prior
art systems.
Figures 17 - 23 illustrate a third alternative embodiment electrical
transmission system
400 having plural electrical supply sources distributed along one or more load
circuits such as
carried by transmission lines 414, 416. A typical prior art utility pole 410
may, for exemplary
purposes only and not solely limiting thereto be provided with a support arm
412 which suspends
transmission lines 414,416 from utility pole 410 and may provide electrical
isolation.
The electrical supply sources are most preferably one or more solar electric
generation
stations 420. Each solar electric generation station 420 will preferably be
provided with a Direct
Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC) inverter 422, which will preferably
include various
12
CA 3187703 2023-01-24
functions, such as the ability to synchronize with the power grid and the
ability to disconnect
therefrom in the event of a power failure such as a downed transmission line
or other electrical
transmission system 400 failure. These inverters are well known in the field
of solar electric
generation and widely commercially available.
While a DC to AC inverter 422 is preferred, it will be understood that any
suitable
method of coupling electricity generated by solar electric generation station
420 into inverter
output lines 424, 426 and from there to transmission lines 414, 416 will be
understood to be
incorporated herein. Consequently, inverter 422 might not perform any
conversion from DC to
AC, and may instead be a simple switch that allows solar electric generation
station 420 to be
disconnected from transmission lines 414, 416 in the event a repair is
required within electrical
transmission system 400, to protect the safety of a technician.
Preferred embodiment solar electric generation station 420 has a plurality of
separate and
distinct solar collector panels 436. These panels 436 are preferably
fabricated to support a
plurality of smaller hexagonal Concentrated Photo Voltaic (CPV) modules 445,
such as are
available for exemplary purpose from Morgan Solar of Toronto, Canada, though
other
geometries and types of photovoltaic cells may be used. In the embodiment as
illustrated, panels
436 may each be planar, are illustrated as having a geometry supporting three
CPV modules 445
on each panel 436, and are angularly repeating about pole 410 to face
approximately East, South
and West, respectively. While three panel directions are illustrated for
exemplary purposes, it
will be understood that more or fewer panels 436 maybe used, though three are
illustrated.
Likewise, more or fewer than three CPV modules 445 may be supported on each
panel 436.
By providing these panels 436, solar electric generation station 420 does not
require a
tracking mount, and is still capable of producing electricity throughout the
daylight hours.
Several manufacturers are able to produce solar cells that are of sufficiently
low cost that the
benefit from a tracking mount in increased power output throughout a daily
cycle is not
sufficient to justify the added expense and maintenance of the tracking
components.
Preferred embodiment solar electric generation station 420 is illustrated in
further detail
in Figures 18 - 23. Supporting panels 436 in a fixed position relative to
utility pole 410 are a
plurality of frame members 442 visible in Figure 23. Frame members 442
preferably comprise
hollow members, such as four-sided tubes of metal or the like. The size, wall
thickness, number,
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and location of these frame members 442 is not critical to the present
invention, and will be
determined when a number of design factors are taken into consideration. For
exemplary and
non-limiting purposes, factors such as wind, ice and snow loading may be used
to determine a
maximum load that might be placed upon preferred embodiment solar electric
generation station
420. Once the maximum load is determined, then the type of material, the
thickness and
geometry, and other such design computations may be made. A plurality of screw-
based clamps
470 that may for exemplary purposes include a perforated strap 472, fixed
screw mount 474, and
worm-drive screw are used to secure frame members 442 to pole 410. While other
types of
clamps may be provided in association with preferred embodiment solar electric
generation
station 420, including but not limited to other types of strap, band, and even
webbing,
screw-based clamp 470 provides very rapid, secure, intuitive, familiar, and
low-cost coupling to
utility pole 410, which is preferred to decrease the cost of installation and
maintenance. Where
utility pole 410 is fabricated from wood, a plurality of gripping teeth or
spikes 462 may be
affixed, for exemplary but non-limiting purpose to frame members 442.
Each frame member 442 may support a number of individual panels 436, such as
illustrated in Figure 23. Individual panels 436 may optionally and as
illustrated are preferably
configured for angular adjustment using a combination of an adjustable slide
frame 447 and a
pivot 449, also visible in Figure 23. Pivot 449 might, for exemplary and non-
limiting purposes,
be comprised by a simple hinge. Adjustable slide frame 447 can be any suitable
member that
permits length adjustment known in the hardware arts. For exemplary purposes
only, and not
solely limiting the invention thereto, adjustable slide frame 447 may be
comprised of two strips
of metal, one with a circular hole and the other with a slot, and a small bolt
and wing nut used
to lock the two strips of metal together. Pivot 449 couples an upper portion
of panel 436 to frame
442. Adjustable slide frame 447 is affixed adjacent to one end to frame 442
and adjacent the
other end to panel 436. Adjustable slide frame 447 may then be shortened or
lengthened, causing
panel 436 to rotate about pivot 449, to adjust the angle of orientation of
each CPV module 445.
Adjusting the length of adjustable slide frame 447 can be used to adjust for
seasonal
variances, but would most commonly be only adjusted once, at the time of
installation, to
compensate for latitudinal variances between different installation sites.
Furthermore, preferred
angular orientation will vary around pole 410. For exemplary purposes, panels
436 facing
directly east and west will be more nearly vertical than those facing south,
corresponding to the
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angle of incidence of the sunlight for the compass orientation of the
individual panel. This
adjustable length is also beneficial for shipping prior to installation, since
individual panels 436
may be laid flat against the supporting frame member 442.
Figure 21 illustrates solar collector panels 436 without or prior to
installation of CPV
modules 445. Each panel 436 in the preferred embodiment is provided with three
support surface
regions 482, 484, 486, each of the support surface regions which are adapted
to receive a CPV
module 445. Extending from the center support surface region 484 is a tab 488
containing a wire
raceway 443 which provides electrical connection to each one of the CPV
modules 445 mounted
upon panel 436.
Figure 22, which is very similar to Figure 17, illustrates the addition of a
second solar
electric generation station 420', simply by mounting solar electric generation
station 420' on
utility pole 410 just below solar electric generation station 420. The output
from solar electric
generation station 420' may be joined with the output from solar electric
generation station 420
simply by coupling the wires therewith, or, if so desired, by coupling
directly into inverter 422.
As may be appreciated, preferred embodiment solar electric generation station
420 will
be designed to directly attached to most existing utility poles, thereby using
the existing utility
pole 410 as the main support and as immediate access to the electric power
grid. This in turn
means that there is minimal mounting hardware required, no special anchoring
into the earth, and
no special permitting required, since the present electrical transmission
system 400 uses existing
infrastructure. This in turn means that preferred embodiment electrical
transmission system 400
may be produced, installed, and maintained for substantially less capital than
required for prior
art systems.
Industrial Applicability
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention solve inadequacies of the prior
art by
providing solar panels and securing brackets that defme solar electric
generation stations. These
solar electric generation stations mount to existing utility poles to define
an electrical
transmission system.
The present invention and the preferred and alternative embodiments have been
developed with a number of objectives in mind. While not all of these
objectives are found in
every embodiment, these objectives nevertheless provide a sense of the general
intent and the
CA 3187703 2023-01-24
many possible benefits that are available from embodiments of the present
invention.
A first object of the invention is to provide a solar electric generation
station that may be
directly attached to most existing utility poles, thereby using the existing
utility pole as the main
support and as immediate access to the electric power grid. A second object of
the invention is
to provide a solar electric generation station that is easily installed upon
the utility pole. Another
object of the present invention is to provide a solar electric generation
station that does not
require a tracking mount, and yet which is capable of producing electricity
throughout the
daylight hours. A further object of the invention is to reduce the capital
outlay required for a
solar electric generation station and avoid the need for special permitting by
using existing utility
poles as the main support. Yet another object of the present invention is to
readily enable design
variations to optimize solar incidence upon the solar electric generation
station at various
latitudes.
While the foregoing details what is felt to be the preferred embodiment of the
invention,
no material limitations to the scope of the claimed invention are intended.
Further, features and
design alternatives that would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art
are considered to be
incorporated herein. The scope of the invention is set forth and particularly
described in the
claims herein below.
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