Patent Application
20130008485
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a solar generator apparatus with a sun-tracking function.
2. Related Art
Usually, a solar generator system is mounted on a building or at a fixed manner, and cannot be adjusted according to the azimuth angle of the sun, so that the received availability of the solar energy is significantly limited.
An alternative conventional solar generator system is disposed on a movable support. The angle of this solar generator system can be adjusted with the change of the position of the sun, so that the received availability of the solar energy is increased. This solar generator system traces the sun by adjusting the angle according to the position of the sun in the sky, and is only suitable for the application with the small-scale generator, but is disadvantageous to the application with the large-scale generator. Thus, the conventional solar generator system still has to be improved.
It is an object of the invention to provide a solar generator apparatus, which has a sun-tracking function and is feasible to the application with either the small-scale generator or the large-scale generator.
To achieve the above-identified object, the invention provides a solar generator apparatus including a movable module, a first support structure, a connection structure, a second support structure, a carrying structure and a solar generator module. The first support structure has a first end connected to the movable module. The connection structure has a first end connected to the movable module. The second support structure has a first end connected to a second end of the connection structure. The carrying structure has a first end connected to a second end of the second support structure, and a second end connected to a second end of the first support structure. The solar generator module is disposed on the carrying structure. The movable module is rotatable about the second support structure, and a difference between lengths of the first support structure and the second support structure may be adjusted so that the solar generator module has a sun-tracking function.
Accordingly, the solar generator apparatus with the sun-tracking function according to the invention is feasible to the application with either the small-scale generator or the large-scale generator, can be rotated and moved with multiple degrees of freedom, and can be adopted to various applications to effectively enhance the received availability of the solar energy.
Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention will become more fully understandable from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention.
The present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements.
The following term “connection” includes, without limitation to, direct connection or indirect connection.
The movable module 10 is a movable module providing multiple degrees of freedom of movements on the X-Z plane. The detailed structure thereof will be described later. At least one of the first support structure 20 and the second support structure 40 is retractable. For example, the first support structure 20 and the second support structure 40 are disposed in a manner perpendicular to the floor or ground. However, the invention is not particularly restricted thereto. In another embodiment, the first support structure 20 and the second support structure 40 may also be disposed on the floor or ground slantingly.
The first support structure 20 has a first end 21 connected to the movable module 10. The first support structure 20 includes a lower column 23 and an upper column 24. The lower column 23 is connected to the connection structure 30. The upper column 24 is fit with the lower column 23, connected to the carrying structure 50, and retractable relative to the lower column 23.
The connection structure 30 has a first end 31 connected to the movable module 10. For example, the connection structure 30 is disposed in the horizontal direction. However, the invention is also not restricted thereto, and the connection structure 30 may also be disposed slantingly.
The second support structure 40 has a first end 41 connected to a second end 32 of the connection structure 30, and is mounted to the fixed structure, such as the floor, ground or roof. In one example, the second support structure 40 includes a lower column 43 and an upper column 44. The lower column 43 is connected to the connection structure 30. The upper column 44 is fit with the lower column 43, connected to the carrying structure 50, and is retractable and rotatable relative to the lower column 43.
The carrying structure 50 has a first end 51 connected to a second end 42 of the second support structure 40, and a second end 52 connected to a second end 22 of the first support structure 20.
The solar generator module 60 is disposed on the carrying structure 50. For example, screws can be provided to screw the solar generator module 60 to the carrying structure 50. The carrying structure 50 is rotatable relative to the first support structure 20 and the second support structure 40. The solar generator module 60 includes several solar panels 61. That is, the movable module 10 is rotatable about the second support structure 40, and the difference between the lengths of the first support structure 20 and the second support structure 40 can be manually or automatically adjusted so that the solar generator module 60 has the sun-tracking function.
In this embodiment, the carrying structure 50 is rotatably connected to the first support structure 20 and the second support structure 40. Thus, the solar generator module 60 can be rotated about a line, which connects the first end 51 of the carrying structure 50 to the second end 52 of the carrying structure 50 and serves as a center axis, so that the angle of the solar generator module 60 can be manually or automatically adjusted in a convenient manner.
In addition, the solar generator apparatus 1 may further include a cable 70 having one end 71 connected to the solar generator module 60. The cable 70 is disposed in the second support structure 40, and may be connected to a charge controller or a grid tie inverter to store the electric energy or power the electric equipment. The second support structure 40 may be a hollow cylinder.
The detailed structure of the carrying structure 50′ will be described in the following.
As shown in
Accordingly, the solar generator apparatus with the sun-tracking function according to the invention is feasible to the application with either the small-scale generator or the large-scale generator, can be rotated and moved with multiple degrees of freedom, and can be adopted to various applications to effectively enhance the received availability of the solar energy.
While the present invention has been described by way of examples and in terms of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications.
