U.S. patent application number 11/972920 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-23 for strong wind protection system for a solar panel.
This patent application is currently assigned to Jeffery LIN. Invention is credited to Hsi-Hsun TSAI.
Application Number | 20090101135 11/972920 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40562205 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090101135 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TSAI; Hsi-Hsun |
April 23, 2009 |
STRONG WIND PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR A SOLAR PANEL
Abstract
A detector is used on a solar panel to detect the strength of
the wind blowing at it. A height-adjustable support decreases the
height of the solar panel, based on the wind strength detection,
for protecting the solar panel from potential damages caused by
strong winds.
Inventors: |
TSAI; Hsi-Hsun; (Miaoli,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LOWE HAUPTMAN HAM & BERNER, LLP
1700 DIAGONAL ROAD, SUITE 300
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
LIN; Jeffery
Miaoli
TW
FENG; Yen-Jung
Miaoli
TW
|
Family ID: |
40562205 |
Appl. No.: |
11/972920 |
Filed: |
January 11, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/593 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24S 50/60 20180501;
F24S 25/10 20180501; F24S 25/70 20180501; Y02E 10/47 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/593 |
International
Class: |
F24J 2/40 20060101
F24J002/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 17, 2007 |
TW |
096138764 |
Claims
1. A strong wind protection system for a solar panel, comprising: a
detector for detecting the strength of the wind; a support, on
which the solar panel is mounted and which has an adjustable
height; and a control unit, coupled to the support, for adjusting
the height of the support according to a predetermined rule and the
detected wind strength.
2. A strong wind protection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said detector is an acceleration detector.
3. A strong wind protection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said detector is a gravitation detector.
4. A strong wind protection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said support is a telescopic support.
5. A strong wind protection system as claimed in claim 4, further
comprising a motor controlled by the control unit for driving an
inner shaft of the telescopic support to rotate relative to an
outer shaft of the telescopic support, thereby raising or lowering
the outer shaft which is coupled to the solar panel.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is based on, and claims priority
from Taiwan Application Serial Number 096138764, filed Oct. 17,
2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference
herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates to a strong wind protection system
for protecting a solar panel from being damaged by strong
winds.
BACKGROUND
FIG. 1 Prior Art
[0003] A traditional solar panel 10 is mounted on the top of a
stationary post 11, the stationary post 11 is fixed in a pedestal
12 which is anchored in the ground 100. The drawback of the prior
art system is that the stationary post 11 has a specific height
which is not adjustable. The high-rising solar panel 10 can be
damaged by strong winds blowing at it. Solar panels are mostly
promoted to be installed in regions such as the Pacific and/or
Atlantic rims. However, hurricanes frequently occur in those
places, and will likely damage the solar panels. There is a demand
to develop a strong wind protection system for a solar panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 shows a prior art device.
[0005] FIG. 2 shows a first state of an embodiment according to
this invention.
[0006] FIG. 3 shows a second state of the embodiment according to
this invention.
[0007] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of embodiments according to
this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a first state of an embodiment according to
this invention
[0009] A pedestal 20 is anchored in the ground 100. A telescopic
support 21 extends upward from the pedestal 20. A solar panel 10 is
mounted on the top of the telescopic support 21. The telescopic
support 21 has a bottom sliding block 22 coupled, e.g., by thread,
to a rotation axle 202 within the pedestal 20. The rotation axle
202 is coupled to an electric motor 201 which provides a clockwise
or anti-clockwise rotation according to instructions from a control
unit 24. The telescopic support 21 is driven by the clockwise or
anti-clockwise rotation of the rotation axle 202 to go up or down
so as to raise or lower the solar panel 10 on top of it.
[0010] A gravitation detector or an acceleration detector 23 is
mounted on the solar panel 10 to detect the strength of the wind
blowing at it. When the wind strength is equal to or greater than a
predetermined value, the control unit 24 notifies the motor 201 to
rotate in the appropriate direction to lower the solar panel 10 to
a predetermined height according to a predetermined rule. When the
wind strength is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the
control unit 24 notifies the motor 201 to rotate to raise the solar
panel 10 to a predetermined height according to a predetermined
rule. FIG. 2 shows that the telescopic support 21 extends to a
maximum height, and the solar panel 10 is raised to its highest
position.
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a second state of the embodiment according to
this invention
[0012] FIG. 3 shows that the telescopic support 21 is retracted to
a minimum height, and the solar panel 10 is lowered to its lowest
position. Stops 203 and 204 (FIG. 2) define the maximum and minimum
heights of the solar panel 10.
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of embodiments according to
this invention
[0014] A wind speed detector 23 is coupled to a control unit 24.
The wind speed detector 23 provides detected information to the
control unit 24. The control unit 24 determines the strength of the
wind according to the following two algorithms:
[0015] (1) Whether the wind speed is equal to or greater than a
predetermined value "A"?
[0016] If "No", the control unit 24 continues to receive the
information from the wind speed detector 23 and no further action
will be taken.
[0017] If "Yes", the control unit 24 instructs the motor 201 to
rotate according to a predetermined rule, so that the telescopic
support 21 lowers the solar panel 10 to a predetermined
position.
[0018] (2) Whether the wind speed is equal to or smaller than a
predetermined valued "B"?
[0019] If "No", the control unit 24 continues to receive the
information from the wind speed detector 23 and no further action
will be taken.
[0020] If "Yes", the control unit 24 instructs the motor 201 to
rotate according to a predetermined rule, so that the telescopic
support 21 raises the solar panel 10 to a predetermined
position.
[0021] While several embodiments have been described by way of
example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
various modifications may be made in the embodiments without
departing from the spirit of the present invention. Such
modifications are all within the scope of the present invention, as
defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *