Abstract:
A solar panel storage and deployment system includes a container with an opening formed therein and an assembly of solar voltaic panels transitionable between a folded state and a deployed state. 
     The assembly defines a series of accordion-like folds along the length thereof when in its folded state. The assembly arrays the panels in a substantially planar arrangement when the assembly is in its deployed state. The system also includes at least one stake adapted to be anchored to a position in proximity to and outside of the container. At least one link is provided for coupling an end of the assembly to the stake(s) when the assembly is in its deployed state.

Description:
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST 
     The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for Governmental purposes without payment of any royalties thereon or therefore. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to solar panel assemblies, and more particularly to a system that provides for the storage and deployment of solar panels. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many military and civilian operations in remote areas require the generation of on-site electrical power. The cost of deploying fuel for generators and camp lighting can be quite expensive in terms of both fuel cost and the difficulty of delivering such fuel along potentially dangerous routes. In an effort to reduce the number of fuel delivery convoys, alternative energy sources are being explored. Many regions, such as the desert areas of the Middle East, are especially conducive to the use of solar power systems. Unfortunately, existing systems suffer from one or more shortcomings related to functionality and/or efficiency/optimization. Some are cumbersome to set up. Most do not consider array protection during storage and shipment. Still others do not provide for deployment angle adjustability relative to the sun&#39;s seasonal orientation to garner maximum power yield. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a storage and deployment system for solar panels. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a solar panel storage/deployment system readily adapted to become a self-contained power generator. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a solar panel storage and deployment system easily optimized for seasonal orientations of the sun. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a solar panel storage and deployment system includes a container having an opening formed therein. Also included is an assembly of solar voltaic panels transitionable between a folded state and a deployed state. The assembly defines a series of accordion-like folds along the length thereof when in its folded state. The assembly arrays the panels in a substantially planar arrangement when the assembly is in its deployed state. The assembly has a first end and a second end with the first and second ends remaining in the container when the assembly is in its folded state, and the second end positioned outside of the container when the assembly is in its deployed state. The system also includes at least one stake adapted to be anchored to a position in proximity to and outside of the container. At least one link is provided for coupling the second end of the assembly to the stake(s) when the assembly is in its deployed state. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments and to the drawings, wherein corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side schematic view of a solar panel storage and deployment system with solar panels in a folded state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a solar panel storage and deployment system with solar panels in a deployed state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an electrical system that can be used to convert DC power from the solar panels to AC power in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an isolated side view of the free end of the solar panel assembly coupled to a stake by a tension member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is an isolated side view of a stake in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, simultaneous reference will be made to  FIGS. 1 and 2  where a system for the storage and deployment of a number of solar panels is shown and is referenced generally by numeral  100 . System  100  is illustrated in its folded state (i.e., not deployed from container  10 ) in  FIG. 1  and in its deployed state in  FIG. 2 . System  100  is positioned at an installation site  200  (e.g., a natural ground location, a man-made platform or pad, etc.) having a clear view of the sun  300 . While system  100  could be permanently installed at location  200 , a great advantage of the present invention is its ability to provide for the secure/safe storage and shipping of solar panels to installation site  200  followed by the simple deployment of the solar panels into an efficient collector of solar energy. The system also provides for simple/efficient pack-up, transport, and re-deployment if needed. Accordingly the description of system  100  will focus on the features providing these capabilities. 
     System  100  includes a container  10  that houses the elements of system  100  during the storage, shipping, and deployment thereof. Some of these elements in conjunction with container  10  also provide support for one side of a solar panel assembly as will be described later herein. Container  10  can be a standardized container (e.g., an ISO container) or a specially designed container without departing from the scope of the present invention. Container  10  will typically be of rigid construction. 
     As used herein, the term “solar panel” refers to a flexible or rigid solar voltaic panel that, when exposed to solar energy, generates DC power. One commercial source for flexible solar voltaic panels is Xunlight Corporation, Toledo, Ohio. One commercial source for a rigid solar panel (e.g., poly crystalline cells mounted in a rigid metal frame) is Suntech, San Francisco, Calif. Thus, the term “solar panel assembly” as used herein includes pre-made solar panels as well as a plurality of solar cells arranged into solar voltaic panels where the panels can be flexible or rigid without departing from the scope of the present invention. By way of illustrative example, the embodiment in  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrates a number of spaced-apart solar panels  12  mounted/coupled to a flexible substrate  14  where width-spanning regions  140  of substrate  14  can be folded. Such folding occurs in an alternating or accordion-like fashion. To facilitate such accordion-like folding, each of regions  140  can incorporate a hinge  16  such that the solar panel assembly is thereby defined by panels  12 , substrate  14 , and hinges  16 . Each hinge  16  is capable of movement that will support the solar panel assembly in its folded state ( FIG. 1 ) and in its deployed state ( FIG. 2 ). That is, in the assembly&#39;s folded state ( FIG. 1 ), arms  160  and  162  of each hinge  16  oppose one another to form an angle of approximately 0°. However, in the assembly&#39;s deployed state ( FIG. 2 ), arms  160  and  162  of each hinge  16  align with one another to form an angle of approximately 180°. For the above-described accordion folding, hinges  16  alternate in terms of their opening orientation as would be understood in the art. If hinges  16  incorporate a spring bias to the 180° position ( FIG. 2 ), hinges  16  can facilitate the transition from the assembly&#39;s folded state to its deployed state. Conversely, if hinges  16  incorporate a spring bias to the 0° position ( FIG. 1 ), hinges  16  facilitate the transition from the assembly&#39;s deployed state to its folded state. Spring biasing of hinges  16  can be achieved in a variety of ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The number of solar panels  12  used in the above-described solar panel assembly is not a limitation of the present invention. Flexible substrate  14  can be any material that can support panels  12  and withstand the rigors of an operational environment. For example, flexible substrate  14  could be a tensile fabric such as fabrics made from commercially-available fibers such as KEVLAR or SPECTRA fibers. Hinges  16  can be simple one-piece plastic hinges or multiple-piece hinges without departing from the scope of the present invention. The coupling of hinges  16  to substrate  14  can be achieved in a variety of ways that are not limitations of the present invention. Substrate  14  can extend the full length of the solar panel assembly (as shown) or between adjacent ones of hinges  16  without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Deployment and retraction of the assembly from and into container  10  is made via opening  10 A formed in container  10  where opening  10 A can be sealable. While the solar panel assembly is in its folded state, solar panels  12  are in a substantially vertical orientation within container  10  and the assembly can be supported on a bearing support  20  mounted/housed in container  10 . In general, bearing support  20  (e.g., slide rails, slide table, etc.) provides a sliding support platform on which the lowermost ones of hinges  16  slide as the solar panel assembly transitions to its deployed state and transitions back to its folded state. More specifically, one end of the assembly (e.g., an end  14 A of substrate  14 ) remains attached to bearing support  20  as the other end of the assembly (e.g., an opposing end  14 B of substrate  14 ) is drawn out through opening  10 A of container  10 . 
     When the solar panel assembly is deployed as shown in  FIG. 2 , end  14 B is coupled to a stake  22  by a link  24 . Stake  22  is any rigid support that can be fixed at a point outside of container  10  at installation site  200 . Link  24  can be integrated with substrate  14  or stake  22 , or can be attachable thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. In general, stake  22  and link  24  cooperate to place substrate  14  and hinges  16  in tension (i.e., hinges in the 180° position) to thereby define a planar support for panels  12 . Further, stake  22  and link  24  cooperate to set the angle (relative to sun  300 ) of the planar support provided by substrate  14  and hinges  16  to thereby set the angle of panels  12  with respect to sun  300 . In this way, the present invention can optimize the angular orientation of panels  12  relative to the seasonal orientation of sun  300 . Link  24  can be adjustable in length (e.g., a ratchet strap) and/or made from an elastic material (e.g., elastic band, bungee cord, etc.) to provide the requisite amount of tension in flexible substrate  14 /hinges  16  to help maintain a substantially planar orientation of substrate  14 /hinges  16  in the deployed state of the solar panel assembly. 
     Retraction and re-packing of the solar panel assembly from its deployed state ( FIG. 2 ) to its folded state ( FIG. 1 ) is simply a reversal of the deployment process. That is, in general, link(s)  24  are detached from stake(s)  22  (and, possibly, the solar panel assembly). The solar panel assembly is then accordion folded where such accordion folding can be aided by hinges  16  if they incorporate a spring bias to the 0° position as explained above. While this can be accomplished manually, retraction and re-packing could also be facilitated by a spool cooperating with a retraction member(s) as illustrated by the embodiment in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . More specifically, a spool  30  is housed/mounted in container  10  for rotation in two directions about its central axis (as indicated by two-headed arrow  32 ). Rotation  32  can be induced by manual rotation of spool  30 . Spool  30  can be torsionally biased to facilitate retraction of the solar panel assembly when it is being re-packed. Still another option is to provide a motor  34  in container  10  that is operationally coupled to spool  30  to induce rotation  32 . During retraction/re-packing, rotation  32  is used to refold the solar panel assembly at hinges  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, one (or more) flexible retraction cords  36  are coupled one end thereof to spool  30  and on the other end thereof to end  14 B of substrate  14 . To keep the solar panel assembly aligned during the refolding operation, cords  36  can also be passed through rings  38  attached to hinges  16  near the outside edges thereof and at, for example, the top of the folded assembly as shown. In this way, as cords  36  are wound on spool  30 , end  14 B is pulled back towards container  10  as the solar panel assembly refolds along the lines defined by cords  36  until it is ultimately stored in container  10  on bearing table  20 . Rings  38  could be replaced by holes in hinges  16  without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     In addition to the mechanical storage and deployment features provided by the present invention, an electrical system can be provided to cooperate with solar panels  12  so that the present invention is a self-contained power provider.  FIG. 3  presents a schematic view of an embodiment of a simple electrical system coupled to panels  12 . Since panels  12  typically generate DC power, an AC/DC converter  40  converts the panels&#39; DC power to AC power. One or more AC power outlets  42  can be coupled to converter  40 . One or more batteries  44  could also be provided between panels  12  and converter  40  to store the panels&#39; generated DC power until it is needed by appliances or other systems (not shown) coupled to AC power outlets  42 . The electrical system can include different and/or additional elements as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The electrical system can be housed within container  10 . 
     As mentioned above, stake  22  and link  24  cooperate to tension and angularly orient the solar panel assembly of panels  12 /substrate  14 /hinges  16 . An example of a stake  22  and link  24  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Stake  22  includes an anchoring end  220  designed to be readily driven into the ground at location site  200 . The particular design of end  220  is not a limitation of the present invention. The exposed portion  222  of stake  22  defines a number of attachment points  224  along its length/height. For example, attachment points  224  could be notches formed in stake  22 . Link  24  could be a tension member (e.g., elastic band, bungee cord, ratchet strap, etc.) coupled to end  14 B of substrate  14  and to one of attachment points  224 . The choice of attachment point  224  will determine the angular orientation of substrate  14  and, therefore, the angular orientation of panels  12  coupled thereto. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another type of stake  22  having a screw-shaped anchoring end  220  and a T-handle  226  formed at the top of stake  22 . This type of stake can be screwed into the ground at location site  200  without the use of any tools. 
     The advantages of the present invention are numerous. Solar arrays are safely and securely stored for shipping, but readily deployed once on site. A simple angular orientation system allows the orientation of the panels to be easily adjusted for optimum capture of solar energy. By using a foldable solar panel assembly, the storage size of the assembly is optimized for storage. An onboard electrical system can be added to make the entire system a self-contained AC power source. 
     Although the invention has been described relative to specific embodiments thereof, there are numerous variations and modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.