Mobile power system
A mobile power system for producing power at a desired location includes a first power generating device of a first type coupled to a transportable housing, and a second power generating device of a second type coupled to the transportable housing. The first type of power generating device is different than the second type of power generating device. According to an exemplary embodiment, the mobile power system may provide easy access to different types of power outputs. Further, the housing may have the approximate size of a standard freight container.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,819, filed Sep. 15, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,819, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/410,300, filed Sep. 13, 2002, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis invention relates generally to power systems, and more particularly to mobile, self contained, power systems.
BACKGROUNDWhile electric power from traditional electrical power grids is readily available in many locations throughout the world, there remain vast regions where no electric power is available. Even in locations where electric power is available, there is a variety of situations where a supplemental or substitute power source would be desirable.
Solar and wind power generation systems are known and may be applied in many different applications. Traditional solar and wind power generation systems, however, have several shortcomings. For example, these systems generally have not been standardized. As a result, they must be custom built for each particular application and/or at each desired site, which makes these systems expensive. Custom built solar and wind power systems typically require days to assemble or disassemble. Further, traditional solar and wind power systems are not modular. Specifically, once a particular solar or wind power generator system has been designed and manufactured to include a certain number of power generating devices (such as photovoltaic or wind turbine devices), additional devices may not be added to the system without significant difficulty including, for example redesign and modification of the power system and/or redesign and modification of the power generation system site.
Additionally, conventional power generating systems generally are not designed for efficient transportation to a desired location, and are difficult to disassemble and remove once they have been constructed at the desired location. Many power generating systems are transported in a piecemeal fashion from a number of different manufactures or retailers. The components are then assembled and coupled to preexisting housing structures or to specialized housing structures constructed at the desired location of the power generating system.
Conventional power generation systems also do not provide adequate versatility for receiving power from different types of power generating devices, and for supplying power to a variety of different power receiving devices requiring different types electrical supply. Many power generation systems are designed with a single type of power generating device (such as diesel powered or wind powered generator) supplying power directly to one or more power receiving device. Accordingly, interchanging power receiving devices from the power generating device is difficult or impossible in existing power generating systems.
The present invention provides a power generating system that avoids some or all of the aforesaid shortcomings in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method of producing and delivering power at a desired location includes coupling a first power generating device of a first type to a transportable housing, and coupling a second power generating device of a second type to the transportable housing, wherein the first type of power generating device is different than the second type of power generating device. The method further includes receiving power from at least one of the first and second power generating devices within the transportable housing, and providing access to the received power in a plurality of different electrical configurations.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of producing power at a desired location includes coupling a first power generating device of a first type to a transportable housing, and coupling a second power generating device of a second type to the transportable housing, wherein the first type of power generating device is different than the second type of power generating device.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a transportable power station includes a transportable housing and a plurality of coupling elements secured to the housing and configured to allow for the attaching of more than one type of power generating device to the housing.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of transporting and assembling a power station includes storing at least one power generating device within a housing and transporting the housing to a desired location. The method further includes removing the at least one power generating device from the housing, and coupling the at least one power generating device to an outer surface of the housing.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a transportable power station includes a transportable housing; and at least one power generating device removably coupled from an operational position on an outside surface of the housing and sized to fit completely within the transportable housing.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a transportable power station includes adapting a housing to removably receive at least one power generating device thereon, the housing having a top wall, side walls and a bottom wall, a length of approximately 20 feet, a width of approximately 8 feet, and a height of approximately 8.5 feet or less, and an interior space capable for use as a human shelter.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a transportable power station includes a transportable housing having the approximate size of a standard ISO freight container, and at least one power generating device coupled to the housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will now be made in detail to the drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
The housing 12 of the mobile power system 10 is illustrated in
The housing 12 may include a door or doors 26 for allowing access to the interior compartment of the housing 12. Further, housing 12 in the form of a standard ISO container may include thick support pillars 28 arranged vertically at each corner of the housing 12. Support pillars 28 provide structural integrity for the housing 12, allow the containers to be stacked and easily moved, and serve as convenient attachment points for various components of the mobile power system 10.
While
The exemplary top mounted side bracket 32 illustrated in
The exemplary bottom mounted side bracket 34 illustrated in
A plurality of the photovoltaic devices 64 may be coupled together in any conventional manner to form the solar panel array 18. For example, as illustrated in
Appropriate electrical connections are provided for electrically coupling the photovoltaic devices 64 together and allowing for the connection thereto of a unitary power output cord for an input to the housing 12. For example, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The inner tubular member 76 of the adjustable strut assembly 20 further includes an end portion 84 having one or more coupling arms 86. Each of the coupling arms 86 may include at least one coupling passage 88. The outer receiving member 78 also includes an end portion 90 having one or more coupling arms 92. As with the inner tubular member 76, the coupling arms 92 of the outer receiving member 78 each include at least one passage 94 extending therethrough. As will be described in more detail below, coupling arms 86 and 92 may assist in connecting the solar panel array 18 to the brackets 14, or to a foot member 96 to be described below (
It is understood that the adjustable strut assembly 20 may be formed in many alternative configurations. For example, outer receiving member 78 may be formed as a tubular member, or inner tubular member 76 may be formed with a square cross-section shape. Further, inner tubular member 76 and outer receiving member 78 may provide for an adjustable length with a structure other than the telescoping connection with pin member 82. The adjustable strut assembly, like many of the components of the mobile power system, may be made from various materials, including, for example, steel or other metals, carbon fiber, structural polymers, and/or pultrusion materials.
Assembly of the above described components to the housing 12 of the mobile power system 10 will now be described. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, interior and exterior components of the mobile power system may all be stored within the housing 12 during transport of the mobile power system 10 to a desired location.
As noted above, housing 12 may be in the form of a standard ISO freight container. Using a standard ISO freight container as the housing 12 of the mobile power system 10 provides many benefits. For example, using a standard ISO freight container provides access to the numerous worldwide transportation systems that are designed to facilitate movement of such standard containers throughout the world. When it is moving through the transportation systems it can serve as a stealth biohazard or other detection station, detecting biohazards or other hazards in the other containers around it. This is done by having all or most of its power supplies, communications systems and detection devices contained within the housing so that they can perform this role unnoticed and undetected. Additionally, the use of a standard ISO freight container for the housing 12 provides a sturdy, protective structure for storage of the interior and exterior components of the mobile power system 10 during transportation. In addition, the housing 12 protects interior components, equipment, and humans from the environment once the mobile power system 10 has been delivered to a desired location. Further, the size and weight of the standard ISO freight container protects against unintended movement of the housing 12, be it by weather forces or human influence. Finally, the sturdy, secure construction of a standard ISO freight container provides protection against vandalism and theft of interior components of the mobile power system 10.
In order to take advantage of the numerous benefits of using a standard ISO freight container as the housing 12 of the mobile power system 10, it is understood that the container should be designed to allow for rapid assembly and disassembly of the exterior components to and from the housing 12, while not altering or modifying the housing 12 so that it no longer conforms to the appropriate standards for shipping. Accordingly, housing 12 may be configured to allow for a shipping condition where all of the exterior components are removed from the housing 12. For example, housing 12 may include a number of holes or passages (e.g. passages 39 (
With the brackets 32, 34 secured to the housing 12, one end of solar panel arrays 18 may be coupled to the top mounted side bracket 32. This connection may include coupling one end of support member 68 of the solar panel array 18 to the flanges 48 of the top mounted side bracket 32. In particular, the passages 74 extending through the support member 68 may be aligned with the passages 50 of the flanges 48 and secured by placement of a locking pin 126 through the aligned passages 74 and 50. Such a connection allows the solar panel array 18 to pivot with respect to the housing 12.
Next, adjustable strut assembly 20 is coupled to the housing 12 and to the uncoupled end of the solar panel assembly 18. With respect to the side solar panel array 18 illustrated in
In an alternative coupling arrangement, the coupling arms 92 of the outer receiving member 78 may be coupled to a foot member 96 (
It is understood that the top solar panel array 18 shown in
The availability of coupling supplemental solar panel arrays 128 to the mobile power system permits the user the option of tailoring the mobile power system 10 to a desired power output. It is understood that the number of supplemental solar panel arrays 128 coupled to the housing is restricted by the angular orientation of the arrays, but could be virtually unlimited if the supplemental solar panel arrays 128 were orientated in a generally horizontal plane.
The next step in assembling the mobile power system 10 is illustrated in
Once the pole assembly 22 is secured to the housing 12, any of a number of components may be coupled to or within the top end portion 120 of the pole assembly 22. As noted above, such components may include a wind powered generating device 24, telecommunications equipment, speakers, lights, radar, flagpoles, video equipment, extension poles 129, and/or electrical or cable television lines. It is understood that more than one pole assembly 22 may be coupled to housing 12, and that the pole assemblies 22 may be coupled at various locations around the housing 12, in addition to, or other than, at the corner support pillars 28 of the housing 12.
According to one exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, and as noted above with respect to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As described above in connection with
Additional components housed within interior compartment 124 may include other electronic devices 153, such as charge controllers, control systems, telecommunication systems, HVAC systems, lights, computer systems (including commercially available and/or custom designed software), remote control telecommunications system for remotely controlling or monitoring the mobile power system 10, self-powered biohazard and other hazard detection devices to detect hazards in other containers with which housing 12 travels in commerce (in such a use, the housing 12 may be configured externally to look like any other standard freight container), and alarm systems.
Control panel 152 may include, for example, an air outlet 156 for ventilation of the interior compartment 124 of the housing 10, a telecommunications interface 158, one or more input connectors 160 for the solar powered generating devices 18, one or more input connectors 162 for the wind powered generating devices 24, one or more AC load output connectors 164 for supplying 120 VAC, one or more AC load output connectors 166 for supplying 240 VAC, and one or more AC inputs 168 for receiving 240 VAC from a gas/diesel generator or other source. In addition, control panel 152 may include one or more coax cable connections 170 for receiving or sending, among other things, cable television signals, one or more antennae input or output connections 172, one or more circuit breaker panels 174 having appropriate circuit breakers for the mobile power system 10, and one or more grid tie interfaces 173.
Once the exterior components have been removed from the interior compartment 124, the interior compartment 124 may be used for a variety of purposes. For example, the interior compartment 124 may be configured for use as a human shelter or for the storage of equipment, or both. When used as a human shelter, the interior compartment 124 may include equipment or furnishings corresponding to, for example, a medical or laboratory facility, emergency operations control center, office facility, or human dwelling. Such furnishings and equipment may include, for example, lights 175 (
The loading, transportation and use of the mobile power system 10 will now be described. Prior to delivery of the mobile power system 10, a determination may be made regarding the power output desired at a particular location, and the use of housing 12 once it has been delivered to the desired location. Based on these determinations or specifications, the housing 12 may be filled with stock from standardized parts to meet the desired power output (e.g. solar panel arrays 18, supplemental solar panel arrays 128, pole assemblies 22, supplemental pole assemblies 136, wind powered generating devices 24, brackets 14, adjustable strut assemblies 20, and foot members 96). Further, the interior compartment 124 may be configured for its desired use.
The standardized, modular nature of the mobile power system 10 enables the system to be at least partially assembled before the specific requirements of an end user are known. For example, several mobile power systems 10 may be assembled and inventoried for specific military or homeland security uses such as pumping water in remote locations or providing an emergency command and control center. When a request for a mobile power system 10 of a particular power output is received from a user, one or more of the mobile power systems 10 in inventory may be retrieved. Because of the modularity of the mobile power system 10, various components of the system may simply be removed or added to the inventoried mobile power system 10 to meet the particular power output requirements of the user. Thus, in certain instances such as an emergency need for power, a mobile power system 10 may be finally assembled and operational within a few hours of its arrival at the desired location.
Once the housing 12 has been filled with the appropriate exterior components and the interior compartment 124 has been configured for its intended use, the mobile power system 10 may be shipped to a desired location. The mobile power system may be delivered to locations to provide power to, for example, clinics, disaster relief and homeland security and military efforts, water pumping stations, office facilities, storage space, stand-alone buildings, emergency facilities, environmental monitoring facilities, security applications, and telecommunications facilities. Not only can the mobile power system 10 provide power for these and other facilities, but the mobile power system 10 may itself actually serve as any of these facilities by incorporating and integrating appropriate equipment or space within the housing 12 of the mobile power system 10. The mobile power system 10 may be located in remote areas where electric power is unavailable, at disaster or power blackout sites, or where electric power is available but unreliable or inadequate. Additionally, the mobile power system 10 may provide high quality power and green power sales into a power grid.
As noted above, the housing 12 may be in the form of a standard ISO freight container to facilitate shipment of the mobile power system 10. Also as noted above, to the extent that the standard freight container requires modification to serve as the housing 12 of the mobile power system 10, such modifications are not contrary to the required specifications of a standard ISO freight container.
Once the mobile power system 10 is delivered to a desired location, the station can be assembled as described above. While the weight and shape of the housing 12 protects against unintended movement of the power station, the housing may be further anchored at its desired location by way of, for example, a plurality of tie-down cables.
During operation, the mobile power system 10 may receive power within housing 12 in a variety of electrical configurations, such as varying voltages of direct current and varying voltages of alternating current. The mobile power system 10 may provide a power output of about 0.5 kW to about 50 kW, or more. Regardless of the electrical configuration of the power received, the internal components of the mobile power system are designed to transform and/or store the received power in a manner allowing for access to the power in a plurality of different electrical configurations. For example, mobile power system may provide access in the form of alternating current of varying voltages, and direct current of varying voltages.
Mobile power system 10 also allows for easy disassembly of the exterior components for further transportation of the mobile power system 10 to another desired location. The disassembled components may be again located within the interior compartment 124 of the housing 12 during transportation of the mobile power system 10.
Further uses of the mobile power system include electrically connecting a plurality of mobile power systems together to form a network for supplying or supplementing power to a community, to an existing power network, or for providing a remote power network for the military. In such a use, the remote control devices 153 mentioned above may be used to remotely monitor and control the mobile power system 10. Such remote control could be provided, for example, through a wireless connection, or other appropriate communication system.
The mobile power system 10 may serve as an environmentally benign source of both primary and backup power. Because in some configurations there are no emissions from the mobile power system 10, there would be no impact to the environment as a result of operating the mobile power system 10 of the present disclosure. Also, the solar and/or wind powered generating devices 16, 24 of the mobile power system 10 qualify as “green power” under government and other programs to provide tax and other incentives for increased supply of environmentally benign power.
Some of the benefits provided by the mobile power system 10 may be highlighted by analogy to the highly mobile, laptop personal computer. Laptop computers provide a base unit for easy and rapid coupling and decoupling of numerous different components, such as printers, displays, speakers, etc. In order to achieve this, the laptop computer includes a system of coupling assemblies to receive the different types of component connectors and different manufacturers' products. Accordingly, the laptop computer can be assembled into a variety of different configurations depending on the user's requirements and used in various locations.
Similar to the laptop personal computer and according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the mobile power system 10 provides a base housing 12 configured to allow a number of different components by different manufacturers to be easily coupled thereto. This “open architecture” power station allows both different power input sources and different types of power outputs. As noted above, these components may include one or more of a solar powered generating device 16, wind powered generating device 24, natural gas driven generator, oil driven generator, propane driven generator, diesel fuel driven generator, fuel cells, gasoline driven generator, telecommunications equipment, speakers, lights, radar, flagpoles, video equipment, extension poles, and/or electrical or cable television lines. Thus, similar to the laptop computer, the mobile power system 10 may be easily transported to wherever it is needed, and configured in a “plug and play” fashion to include a number of different components by different manufacturers depending on the user's requirements.
In addition, the benefits associated with the capability of the mobile power system 10 to be connected to an electric power grid are analogous to the benefits of connecting a personal computer to a computer network. Namely, the connecting of the mobile power system 10 to an electric power grid enhances the capabilities of both the power grid and the mobile power system 10 commensurate to the capabilities of the other. For example, the mobile power system can be deployed close to the end user of electricity, thus relieving the overloading and congestion problems currently faced by electric transmission lines. This can help alleviate power blackouts, provide emergency power during blackouts, and, and provide a self-powered command and control center to deal with those blackouts.
Also, because the mobile power system is contained in a standard freight container and can be shipped in world commerce with millions of other containers each year, it has unique homeland security and military security advantages. When it is moving through the transportation system, such as on a ship or at a vulnerable port, it is ideally suited to serve as a stealth biohazard or other hazard detection station, detecting hazards in the other containers around it. This is done by having most or all of its power supplies, communications equipment, and hazard detection devices contained within the container's housing so that it blends in with other containers in commerce and its role as a detection container can go unnoticed and undetected.
Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. For example, the housing 12 of mobile power system 10 may include a cargo compartment of a shipping truck. The housing 12 may be configured as either a component that permanently attaches to a truck or trailer, or as a component that is removable from the truck or trailer. Additionally, the mobile power system 10 may be integrated with a smaller container that can be attached to a flat-bed truck or placed into the cargo space of a pickup truck. In addition, the mobile power system 10 may be integrated directly with a van or similar panel-type vehicle, a barge or other type of water vehicle, or integrated with a rail car or other type of locomotive vehicle. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
Claims
1.-141. (canceled)
142. A closeable housing comprising:
- a solar power generating device storable inside the closeable housing and configured to be removed from within the closeable housing;
- a plurality of coupling components storable inside the closeable housing and capable of coupling the solar power generating device to an exterior surface of the closeable housing;
- a power unit integrated within the closeable housing, the power unit being capable of receiving power from the solar power generating device; and
- a control panel located on the exterior surface of the closeable housing and connected to the power unit, the control panel including a connector configured to transmit power to a load device connected to the control panel;
- wherein the closeable housing is configured to be transported to a desired location when the solar power generating device and the plurality of coupling components are stored inside the closeable housing.
143. The closeable housing of claim 142, wherein the power unit includes at least one of a battery and a fuel cell.
144. The closeable housing of claim 142, further including a wind power generating device storable inside the closeable housing and configured to be removed from within the closeable housing, the plurality of coupling components being capable of coupling the wind power generating device to the exterior surface of the closeable housing, the power unit being capable of receiving power from the wind power generating device, wherein the closeable housing is configured to be transported to the desired location when the wind power generating device is stored inside the closeable housing.
145. The closeable housing of claim 144, wherein the control panel includes connectors configured to connect to the solar and wind power generating devices.
146. The closeable housing of claim 142, wherein the solar power generating device includes at least one solar array stored in the closeable housing in a folded configuration.
147. The closeable housing of claim 142, wherein the control panel includes a connector configured to connect to an external power unit, the external power unit capable of transmitting power to the control panel.
148. The closeable housing of claim 142, wherein the control panel includes a telecommunications interface for communicating signals.
149. The closeable housing of claim 142, wherein the plurality of coupling components includes at least one coupling component configured to electrically couple the solar power generating device to the control panel.
150. A closeable housing comprising:
- a solar power generating device storable inside the closeable housing;
- a wind power generating device storable inside the closeable housing, the solar and wind power generating devices being configured to be removed from within the closeable housing;
- a plurality of coupling components storable inside the closeable housing and capable of coupling the solar and wind power generating devices to an exterior surface of the closeable housing; and
- a power unit integrated within the closeable housing and including at least one power storage device, the power unit being capable of receiving power from the solar and wind power generating devices;
- wherein the closeable housing is configured to be transported to a desired location when the solar power generating devices and the plurality of coupling components are stored inside the closeable housing; and
- the closeable housing is capable of being stacked on top of a similar closeable housing.
151. The closeable housing of claim 150, wherein the closeable housing is a first closeable housing configured to be connected to a second closeable housing.
152. The closeable housing of claim 150, wherein the closeable housing is connected electrically to a power grid.
153. The closeable housing of claim 150, wherein the closeable housing is connected to at least one wheel provided externally to the closeable housing.
154. The closeable housing of claim 150, further including a back-up power unit integrated within the closeable housing, the back-up power unit including at least one fuel cell.
155. The closeable housing of claim 150, further including a back-up power unit integrated within the closeable housing, the backup power unit including at least one of a natural gas driven generator, an oil driven generator, a propane driven generator, a diesel fuel driven generator, and a gasoline driven generator.
156. The closeable housing of claim 150, further including a control panel located on the exterior surface of the closeable housing, the control panel including a connector configured to transmit power to a load device.
157. The closeable housing of claim 150, further including a control panel located on the exterior surface of the closeable housing, the control panel including a connector configured to receive power from an external power unit and the solar and wind power generating devices.
158. The closeable housing of claim 150, wherein the plurality of coupling components includes at least one coupling component configured to electrically couple at least one of the solar and wind power generating devices to the exterior surface of the closeable housing.
159. A method of producing and delivering power at a desired location, comprising:
- coupling a solar power generating device to an exterior surface of a transportable housing using a plurality of coupling components;
- storing a power unit in the transportable housing, the power unit including at least one power storage device;
- receiving power from the solar power generating device;
- transmitting power to the power unit;
- transmitting data via a communications system to a remote location;
- detaching the solar power generating device from the transportable housing;
- storing the solar power generating device and the plurality of coupling components within the transportable housing, the storing including storing components necessary to couple the solar power generating device to the exterior surface of the transportable housing; and
- transporting the transportable housing to a desired location.
160. The method of claim 159, further including connecting the transportable housing to a second transportable housing.
161. The method of claim 159, further including electrically connecting the transportable housing to a power grid.
162. The method of claim 159, wherein at least one wheel is provided externally to the transportable housing.
163. The method of claim 159, further including remotely monitoring or controlling at least one device in the transportable housing.
164. The method of claim 159, wherein the data is transmitted for remotely monitoring or controlling the transportable housing.
165. The method of claim 159, wherein the data is transmitted wirelessly.
166. The method of claim 159, further including providing access to the received power via a control panel located on an external surface of the transportable housing.
167. The method of claim 166, further including providing power to a load device connected to the control panel.
168. The method of claim 166, further including receiving power from an external power unit connected to the control panel.
169. The method of claim 159, further including detecting a characteristic of an environment.
170. The method of claim 159, wherein the plurality of coupling components includes at least one coupling component configured to electrically couple the solar power generating device to the exterior surface of the transportable housing.
171. A closeable housing comprising:
- a solar power generating device storable inside the closeable housing, the solar power generating device being configured to be removed from within the closeable housing;
- a telecommunications system for communicating signals;
- a plurality of coupling components storable inside the closeable housing and capable of coupling the solar power generating device to an exterior surface of the closeable housing;
- a power unit integrated within the closeable housing, the power unit including at least one power storage device, the power unit being capable of receiving power from the solar power generating device;
- a back-up power unit integrated within the closeable housing, the back-up power unit including at least one power generating device; and
- a control panel located on the exterior surface of the closeable housing and connected to the power unit, the control panel including a connector configured to transmit power to a load device connected to the control panel;
- wherein the closeable housing is configured to be transported to a desired location when the solar power generating device and the plurality of coupling components are stored inside the closeable housing.
172. The closeable housing of claim 171, wherein:
- the at least one power storage device includes at least one of a battery and a fuel cell; and the at least one power generating device includes at least one of a fuel cell and a generator.
173. The closeable housing of claim 171, wherein the closeable housing is a first closeable housing configured to be connected to a second closeable housing.
174. The closeable housing of claim 171, wherein the closeable housing is connected electrically to a power grid.
175. The closeable housing of claim 171, wherein the closeable housing is connected to an external power source.
176. The closeable housing of claim 171, wherein the closeable housing is connected to at least one wheel provided externally to the closeable housing.
177. The closeable housing of claim 171, wherein the signals are communicated for remotely controlling or remotely monitoring at least one device in the closeable housing.
178. The closeable housing of claim 171, wherein the plurality of coupling components includes at least one coupling component configured to electrically couple the solar power generating device to the exterior surface of the closeable housing.
179. A mobile power station comprising:
- a trailer;
- a solar power generating device storable on the trailer;
- a wind power generating device storable on the trailer;
- a plurality of coupling components storable on the trailer and capable of coupling the solar and wind power generating devices to the trailer; and
- a power unit storable on the trailer and including at least one power storage device, the power unit being capable of receiving power from the solar and wind power generating devices;
- wherein the trailer is configured to be transported to a desired location when the solar and wind power generating devices and the plurality of coupling components are stored on the trailer.
180. The mobile power station of claim 179, wherein the plurality of coupling components includes at least one coupling component configured to electrically couple at least one of the solar and wind power generating devices to the trailer.
181. The mobile power station of claim 179, further including a housing storable on the trailer and removable from the trailer, the wind and solar power generating devices being storable in the housing.
182. The mobile power station of claim 179, further including a housing permanently attached to the trailer, the wind and solar power generating devices being storable in the housing.
183. The closeable housing of claim 179, further including a control panel located on the trailer, the control panel including a first connector configured to transmit power to a load device and a second connector configured to receive power from an external power unit and the solar and wind power generating devices.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 30, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 20, 2008
Applicant:
Inventors: David Muchow (Arlington, VA), George Bockelmann (Vienna, VA), Michael Hull (Rockville, MD), Charles Bigelow (Round Hill, VA)
Application Number: 11/797,079
International Classification: H02B 1/00 (20060101); H02B 1/48 (20060101); H02J 9/00 (20060101);