Patent Publication Number: US-2013250561-A1

Title: Solar and Fuel Powered Portable Light Tower

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to an apparatus that provides light to a large area, more specifically, through allowance of utilizing energy from either a solar powered source or a fuel powered source which have been combined into a single device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Most large scaled operations such as, construction, public events, and emergency situations require many different components and devices to complete an assigned task. Portable light towers are one of the components required during those assigned situations. Traditional portable light towers are mainly powered from fuel powered generators. The present invention relates to the portable light tower where the portable light tower offers a combination unit of a primary solar powered source and a fuel powered source as the contingent backup plan. Both power sources are combined within a single unit/frame. In addition to acting as the backup power source in the event that the solar battery supply were to run out during operations or were to be unavailable for charging (due to cloudy, rainy day, etc), the combination unit can allow for light panels to be powered by the solar powered source while the fuel powered source provides an onsite generator for use. Using the solar powered source as its primary source of power, the present invention can provide added benefits within the latest push towards the use of renewable resources within the commercial construction industry without compromising any functionality. Many new construction projects are setting goals for LEED (leadership in energy and environmental design) Certification. In order to achieve LEED Certification, the utilization of building equipment needs to become more increasingly involved with the idea of healthy working environment. This is the primary objective that has led to the creation of the present invention. The present invention provides a drastic reduction in noise levels, while allowing the use of light panels during night shifts. The present invention also allows for increased use of renewable resources, such as solar energy, as well as providing a reduced fuel consumption costs and an available option for dual uses such as a simultaneous operational of the light panels and the onsite generator. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a right view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a left view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a back view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a left view of the present invention showing the light tower in a down (transit) position. 
         FIG. 6  is a back view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross section view of the  FIG. 6 . Showing the inside components of the primary and secondary power source. 
         FIG. 8  is a system diagram of the electrical connection between the primary power source, the secondary power source, the light tower, and the control panel. 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     The present invention is a solar and fuel powered light tower that comprises a portable base  1 , a light panel arm  3 , a first power source  5 , a second power source  7 , and a control panel  9 . In reference to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 7 , the portable base  1  comprises a top surface  11 , a first surface  12 , a second surface  15 , an insulated wall  17 , a first enclosure  18 , a second enclosure  19 , and a bottom surface  20 . The top surface  11  is perpendicularly connected to the first surface  12  and the second surface  15  from top. The bottom surface  20  is perpendicularly connected to the first surface  12  and the second surface  15  and positioned oppositely from the top surface  11 . The bottom surface  20  comprises an axle  21  and a pair of wheels  22 . The axle  21  is connected to the bottom surface  20  and the pair of wheels  22  is connected to the axle  21 . The axle  21  and the pair of wheels  22  assist the present invention to transport from one location to another. The top surface  11 , the first surface  12 , and the second surface  15  are made by high strength and light weighted material such as, aluminum. The material has to withstand the elevated heat created by the present invention. The insulated wall  17  is centrally positioned between the first surface  12  and the second surface  15 . The insulated wall  17  is equipped with fire resistant materials to improve the factor of safety in the present invention. The first enclosure  18  is positioned between the first surface  12  and the insulated wall  17  and the second enclosure  19  is positioned between the second surface  15  and the insulated wall  17 . The first power source  5  is positioned inside the first enclosure  18  and the second power source  7  is positioned inside the second enclosure  19 . The insulated wall  17  acts as a protective barrier between the first power source  5  and the second power source  7  separating the both power sources which reduce any kind of fire hazards within the present invention. 
     In reference to  FIG. 5 , the first surface  12  comprises a hitch connector  13  and a connector jack  14 . The hitch connector  13  is centrally positioned outside from the first surface  12 . The hitch connector  13  is connected to the first surface  12  from below and extended out from the first surface  12 . The connector jack  14  is connected to the hitch connector  13  away from the first surface  12 . The hitch connector  13  is hooked to another vehicle during transportation so the present invention can be easily transported. Since the present invention only has one set of wheels, the present invention requires the connector jack  14 . The connector jack  14  supports the frontend of the present invention. The connector jack  14  extends toward the ground surface so the portable base  1  can be stationed parallel to the ground surface. During transportation, the connector jack  14  is pulled back toward the hitch connector  13  so the connector jack  14  does not make contact with the ground surface. The present is also comprises a license plate, brake lights and signal lights making the present invention street legal for transporting purposes. 
     The second surface  15  comprises a pair of supporting jacks  16 . The pair of supporting jacks  16  is connected to the second surface  15  and positioned outside of the second surface  15 . The pair of supporting jacks  16  supports the backend of the present invention. The backend weight of the portable base  1  is evenly distributed to the pair of supporting jacks  16  so the present invention can be stationed parallel to the ground surface. During transportation, the pair of supporting jacks  16  is pulled upward so the pair of jacks does not make contact with the ground surface. 
     In reference to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the light panel arm  3  is positioned on the top surface  11  between a plurality of photovoltaic panels  54  and the first surface  12 . The light panel arm  3  comprises a telescopic arm  31 , a vertical arm  34 , a connecting pin  35 , and a plurality of light panels  36 . The vertical arm  34  is connected to the telescopic arm  31  with a connecting pin  35 . The vertical arm  34  is also connected to the top surface  11  from the free end so the telescopic arm  31  pivots from zero degrees to ninety degrees around the connecting pin  35 . The telescopic arm  31  can be positioned into an up position and a down position where the up position is perpendicular to the top surface  11  and the down position is parallel to the top surface  11 . The telescopic arm  31  is pivoted into the down position during transportation so the telescopic arm  31  and its components are protected. The telescopic arm  31  comprises a first extension arm  32  and a second extension arm  33 . The first extension arm  32  and the second extension arm  33  extend out from the telescopic arm  31 . The plurality of light panels  36  is adjacently positioned on the first extension arm  32  and the second extension arm  33 . The plurality of light panels  36  can be tilted up and down so the plurality of light panels  36  is able to aim a given location. The plurality of light panels  36  is tilted away from the top surface  11  during transportation so the plurality of light panels  36  is protected. The plurality of light panels  36  is made of many LED lights for superior functionality. The plurality of light panels  36  is connected to the control panel  9  by an insulated conduit line. When the plurality of light panels  36  is operated, the telescopic arm  31  is positioned in the up position. 
     In reference to  FIG. 7 , the control panel  9  is positioned within the portable base  1  and the control panel  9  controls all of the functionality in the present invention. The control panel  9  comprises a junction box  91 , a first switch, a second switch  93 , and a battery monitoring unit  94 . The first switch, the second switch  93 , and the battery monitoring unit  94  are positioned on the control panel  9  and only the junction box  91  is positioned next to the control panel  9 . The first switch  92  and the second switch  93  are electrically connected to the junction box  91 . The first switch  92  is assigned to control the first power source  5  and the second switch  93  is assigned to control the second power source  7 . The insulated conduit line which connects the plurality of light panels  36  and the control panel  9  can be further described as follow; the insulated conduit line electrically connects the plurality of light panels  36  and the junction box  91 . The battery monitoring unit  94  is electrically connected to the first power source  5 . 
     Power distribution of the present invention is accomplished by the first power source  5  and the second power source  7 . All the electrical connections in the first power source  5  and the second power source  7  are finished with the insulated conduit lines. The first power source  5  and the second power source  7  are electrically connected to the control panel  9 . The first power source  5  is considered as the primary power source of the present invention. The second power source  7  acts either as a backup power source of the present invention or it can use as a standalone generator. 
     In reference to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 8 , the first power source  5  comprises a plurality of batteries  51 , a charge controller  52 , an inverter box  53 , the plurality of photovoltaic panels  54 , and a combiner box  56 . The plurality of photovoltaic panels  54  comprises a connecting frame  55 . The plurality of photovoltaic panels  54  is connected to the connecting frame  55  and the connecting frame  55  is attached to the top surface  11 . The plurality of photovoltaic panels  54  is positioned in line on the connecting frame  55  and mounted with a 1% slope from front to back. The plurality of photovoltaic panels  54  can also be mounted side by side. However, side by side mounting results in the plurality of photovoltaic panels  54  to further overhang from the top surface  11 . If the plurality of photovoltaic panels  54  overhangs from sides, it is recommended that the portable base  1  width be enlarged for protection purposes. Each of the photovoltaic panels  54  should be at least 280 watts. The combiner box  56  is connected to the connecting frame  55  and the plurality of photovoltaic panels  54  is electrically connected to the combiner box  56 . The combiner box  56  is an electrical component which combines multiple sets of wires from the plurality of photovoltaic panels  54  into a single set of wires (positive, negative, and ground). The combiner box  56  is made of sheet metal or fiberglass. The single set of wires from the combiner box  56  is then electrically connected to the charge controller  52  where the charge controller  52  is positioned above the plurality of batteries  51  and connected to the portable base  1 . The plurality of photovoltaic panels  54  absorbs solar radiation and the solar radiation is transferred through the combiner box  56  and then to the charge controller  52 . The plurality of batteries  51  is also electrically connected with the charge controller  52 . The charge controller  52  is electrically connected with the battery monitoring unit  94 . The battery monitoring unit  94  can be a built-in or an attached system that monitors the energy level of the plurality of batteries  51 . The plurality of batteries  51  are positioned inside the first enclosure  18  and connected to the bottom surface  20 . The charge controller  52  limits the rate at which electric current is drawn from the plurality of batteries  51  and prevents the plurality of batteries  51  from overcharging. At least four gel cell batteries are used in the plurality of batteries  51  for proper storage of the electric current energy. The energy from the charge controller  52  charges the plurality of batteries  51  creating energy. Then the charge controller  52  extracts the energy out from the plurality of batteries  51  and re-routed to the inverter box  53 . The charge controller  52  is electrically connected with the inverter box  53  where the inverter box  53  is positioned above the plurality of batteries  51  and connected to the portable base  1 . The inverter box  53  converts the low voltage direct current from the plurality of batteries  51  into  120  volt alternating current so the plurality of light panels  36  can be powered. The first power source  5  is completed when inverter box  53  electrically connects with the first switch. 
     In reference to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the second power source  7  is a fuel powered generator. The fuel powered generator can be powered by gasoline, diesel, propane, or clean diesel. Since propane and clean diesel maintain maximum clean energy efficiency, they are the recommendation as the fuel resources for the fuel powered generator. The second power source  7  is electrically connected to the second switch  93 . The fuel powered generator functions similarly to traditional generators and is controlled using the control panel  9 . 
     The present invention can be used in night construction situations, events, utility works, emergency situations, or any kind of general nighttime operation. An operator can easily control the present invention through the control panel  9 . Since the plurality of photovoltaic panels  54  charges the plurality of batteries  51  during the daytime, the plurality of light panels  36  can be turned on during nighttime. The first switch  92  turns on and off the plurality of light panels  36 . Since the first switch  92  is connected to the first power source  5 , the plurality of light panels  36  is operated through the plurality of batteries  51 . The battery monitoring unit  94  displays the energy level of the plurality of batteries  51 . The present invention can also be powered from the second power source  7  when the first power source  5  is not available. For example, if the plurality of batteries  51  drains during operation, the operator can turn off the first switch  92  and turn on the second switch  93 . Then the second power source  7  is able to power the plurality of lights. In another situation: the plurality of batteries  51  may not be charged on a cloudy day due to the lack of solar radiation. Since there is not enough power created by the first power source  5 , the present invention can be powered from the second power source  7 . The second power source  7  can also be utilized to power other equipment such as, drills and saws while the plurality of lights is powered by the first power source  5 . The simultaneous operation of the plurality of lights and the standalone generator improves the efficiency of the present invention compared to traditional light towers. 
     Since the first power source  5  drastically reduces the air and noise pollution, the present invention is an earth and human, friendly device which could gain LEED (leadership in energy and environmental design) points from the U.S. Green Building Council as it may create a healthy working environment. The present invention is also an efficient solution for the rising fuel cost because of the low fuel consumption of the present invention compared to traditional light towers. When the present invention is powered from the first power source  5 , noise level is drastically reduced compared to the traditional light towers. Because of the reduced noise level in the present invention, the present invention can be used in locations such as, residential areas, active hospitals, occupied hotels, concerts, and many other places where the noise levels need to be maintained at lower levels. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.