Closable Solar Collector

The closable solar collector has a stand, a solar panel body, a ball screw and a linking assembly. The solar panel body is mounted on the stand and has a base solar panel, multiple side solar panels and multiple folding solar panels. The side solar panels are mounted pivotally around the base solar panel. Every two folding solar panels are mounted pivotally between two adjacent side solar panels. The ball screw is mounted through the base solar panel. The linking assembly is mounted pivotally between the ball screw and the stand and has multiple upper linking rods and multiple lower linking rods. The ball screw is actuated to drive the linking assembly and the solar panel body to move so the solar panel body can be open or closed. Therefore, the solar collector is convenient and easy to use and store.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a solar collector, and more particularly to a closable solar collector that is convenient to store and transport.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

A solar collector is a device for collecting energy from the sun direct use or storage. A conventional solar collector comprises at least one solar panel mounted securely on a frame and mounted in a place facing the sky like a roof, or a square other altitudes. The solar panel has multiple solar cells mounted securely on the solar panel to form an absorbing surface. The absorbing surface absorbs solar energy striking the absorbing surface and transformed solar energy into electricity for commercial and residential applications. The absorbing surface with a larger surface area absorbs more solar energy to result in more power being provided by the solar collector.

However, the absorbing surface with a larger surface area is difficult to transport and store. Besides, the absorbing surface is exposed all the time and consequently covering or storing the solar panel during the sudden onset of a typhoon, rain or snow may be difficult or impossible, which could easily lead to the absorbing surface being damaged.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a closable solar collector to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a closable solar collector that is convenient to transport and store.

To achieve the objective, the closable solar collector in accordance with present invention comprises a stand, a solar panel body, a ball screw and a linking assembly. The solar panel body is mounted on the stand and has a base solar panel, multiple side solar panels and multiple folding solar panels. The side solar panels are mounted pivotally around the base solar panel. Every two folding solar panels are mounted pivotally between two adjacent side solar panels. The ball screw is mounted through the base solar panel and has a nut. The linking assembly is mounted pivotally between the nut and the stand and has multiple upper linking rods and multiple lower linking rods. Each lower linking rod has a top end mounted slidably between two adjacent folding solar panels. The ball screw is actuated to drive the linking assembly and the solar panel body to move so the solar panel body can be open or closed. Therefore, the solar collector is convenient and easy to use and store.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closable solar collector in accordance with the present invention, showing a solar panel body is open;

FIG. 2 is an operational side view of the closable solar collector in FIG. 1, showing the solar panel body is open;

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged top view of the solar panel body of the closable solar collector in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the solar panel body of the closable solar collector in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an operational side view of the closable solar collector in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an operational side view of the closable solar collector in FIG. 1, showing the solar panel body is closed; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the closable solar collector in FIG. 1, showing the solar panel body is closed.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a closable solar collector in accordance with the present invention comprises a stand (10), a solar panel body (20), a ball screw (30) and a linking assembly (40).

The stand (10) is hollow, has a cavity, a board (11) and a frame (12). The board (11) is mounted inside the cavity of the stand (10) and has a central hole (111). The frame (12) is mounted on the board (11) and has a central hole (13) aligns with the central hole (111) of the board (11). A motor (50) may be mounted inside the stand (10) under the board (11) and has an output shaft.

With further reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the solar panel body (20) is mounted on the stand (10) and has a base solar panel (21), multiple side solar panels (22), multiple folding solar panels (23), multiple top solar panels (24), multiple side hinges (26), multiple side bevel gears (27), multiple top hinges (26A), multiple top bevel gears (27A) and multiple folding hinges (26B). The base solar panel (21) is mounted securely on the stand (10) and has a central hole (211) and multiple slots (212). The central hole (211) aligns with the central holes (111,12) of the board (11) and the frame (12) of the stand (10). The slots (212) are formed radially through the base solar panel (21) and around the central hole (211). The side solar panels (22) are mounted pivotally around the base solar panel (21). Every two folding solar panels (23) are mounted pivotally between two adjacent side solar panels (22). Each top solar panel (24) is mounted pivotally on a corresponding side solar panel (22) away from the base solar panel (21) and has a top edge.

Each side hinge (26) is mounted between adjacent side solar panel (22) and folding solar panel (23) and has two hinge pieces and a side pivot (25). One hinge piece of the side hinge (26) is attached to the side solar panel (22). The other hinge piece of the side hinge (26) is attached to the folding solar panel (23). The side pivot (25) is mounted through the hinge pieces of the side hinge (26) and fixed to the hinge piece attached to the folding solar panel (23) and has an end near a corresponding top solar panel (24). The side bevel gears (27) are respectively mounted securely on the ends of corresponding side pivots (25). Each top hinge (26A) is mounted between adjacent side solar panel (22) and top solar panel (24) and has two hinge pieces and a top pivot (25A). One hinge piece of the top hinge (26A) is attached to the side solar panel (22). The other hinge piece of the top hinge (26A) is attached to the top solar panel (24). The top pivot (25A) is mounted through the hinge pieces of the top hinge (26A) and fixed to the hinge piece attached to the top solar panel (24) and has two ends. The top bevel gears (27A) are respectively mounted securely on the ends of corresponding top pivots (25A) and engage corresponding side bevel gears (27).

Each folding hinge (26B) is mounted between two adjacent folding solar panels (23) and has two hinge pieces and a rod (25B). The hinge pieces of the folding hinge (26B) are respectively attached to corresponding folding solar panels (23). The rod (25B) is mounted through the hinge pieces of the folding hinge (26B).

The ball screw (30) is a mechanical device for translating rotational motion to linear motion with little friction and is mounted through the base solar panel (21) and has a threaded shaft (31) and a nut (32). The threaded shaft (31) is mounted through the central holes (211,13,111) of the base solar panel (21), the frame (12) and the board (11) of the stand (10) and has a bottom end connected to the output shaft of the motor (50). The nut (32) is mounted movably around the threaded shaft (31).

The linking assembly (40) is mounted pivotally between the nut (32) and the stand (10) and has multiple upper linking rods (41), multiple lower linking rods (42), a cover (43) and multiple sleeves (44). The upper linking rods (41) are mounted radially around the threaded shaft (31) and each upper linking rod (41) has a top end and a bottom end. Each lower linking rod (42) is mounted pivotally on the bottom end of a corresponding upper linking rod (41), mounted movably through a corresponding slot (212) of the base solar panel (21) and has a top end and a bottom end. The bottom ends of the lower linking rods (42) are mounted pivotally on the board (11) around the central hole (111) of the board (11) of the stand (10). The cover (43) is mounted pivotally on the top ends of the upper linking rods (41) and mounted securely on the nut (32) and has a hole and multiple sides. The hole of the cover (43) is mounted around the threaded shaft (31). The sides of the cover (43) respectively correspond to top edges of the top solar panels (24). Each sleeve (44) is mounted pivotally on the top end of a corresponding lower linking rod (42) and mounted slidably around a corresponding rod (25B).

In a preferred embodiment, the base solar panel (21) is hexagonal and has six sides, each side is connected pivotally to a corresponding side solar panel (22) and the side solar panel (22) is rectangular. The folding solar panels (23) are triangle and every two folding solar panels (23) are mounted pivotally between two adjacent side solar panels (22). The linking assembly (40) has six upper linking rods (41) and six lower linking rods (42). The top solar panels (24) are trapezoidal, the cover (43) is hexagonal and has six sides respectively correspond to top edges of the top solar panels (24).

With reference to FIG. 5, the threaded shaft (31) is powered by the motor (50) or manpower and the nut (32) and the cover (43) move along the threaded shaft (31) upwards and drive the upper and lower linking rods (41,42) to move. When the upper and lower linking rods (41,42) moves toward the threaded shaft (31), the folding solar panels (23) and the side solar panels (22) are pulled to fold. With further reference to FIG. 3, the side pivots (25) between the folding solar panels (23) and the side solar panels (22) rotate so the side bevel gears (27) rotate as well and drive the top bevel gears (27A) to rotate and allow the top solar panels (24) to close synchronously.

When the nut (32) and the cover (43) move along the threaded shaft (31) downwards and drive the upper and lower linking rods (41,42) to move. The solar panels (21.22.23.24) is expanded and located in a same plane to allows absorbing surfaces of the solar panels (21,22,23,24) to face up and absorb solar energy.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the solar panel body (20) is closed. The top edges of the top solar panels (24) abut the sides of the cover (43). The side solar panels (23) is in an upright state to form a hexagonal prism and a chamber inside the hexagonal prism. Every two adjacent folding solar panels (23) are close to each other and in the chamber. An area of the closed solar panel body (20) is smaller than an area of the open solar panel body (20) so the solar collector with the closed solar panel body (20) is convenient to transfer and store. Besides, the closed solar panel body (20) allows the absorbing surfaces of the solar panels (21,22,23,24) to face inside and prevents damage.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A closable solar collector comprising:

a stand having a board mounted inside the stand;
a solar panel body mounted on the stand and having a base solar panel mounted securely on the stand and having a central hole; and multiple slots formed radially through the base solar panel and around the central hole; multiple side solar panels mounted pivotally around the base solar panel; and multiple folding solar panels and every two folding solar panels mounted pivotally between two adjacent side solar panels;
a ball screw mounted through the base solar panel and having a threaded shaft mounted through the central hole of the base solar panel; and a nut mounted movably around the threaded shaft; and
a linking assembly mounted pivotally between the nut and the stand and having multiple upper linking rods mounted radially around the threaded shaft and each upper linking rod having a top end and a bottom end; multiple lower linking rods and each lower linking rod mounted pivotally on the bottom end of a corresponding upper linking rod, mounted movably through a corresponding slot of the base solar panel and having a top end mounted slidably between two adjacent folding solar panels; and a bottom end mounted pivotally on the board; and a cover mounted pivotally on the top ends of the upper linking rods and mounted securely on the nut and has a hole mounted around the threaded shaft.

2. The closable solar collector as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the solar panel body further has multiple folding hinges and each folding hinge is mounted between two adjacent folding solar panels and has a rod; and
the linking assembly further has multiple sleeves and each sleeve is mounted pivotally on the top end of a corresponding lower linking rod and mounted slidably around a corresponding rod.

3. The closable solar collector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solar panel body further has

multiple top solar panels and each top solar panel mounted pivotally on a corresponding side solar panel away from the base solar panel;
multiple side hinges and each side hinge mounted between adjacent side solar panel and folding solar panel and having two hinge pieces, one hinge piece of the side hinge attached to the side solar panel and the other hinge piece of the side hinge attached to the folding solar pane; and a side pivot mounted through the hinge pieces of the side hinge and fixed to the hinge piece attached to the folding solar panel and has an end near a corresponding top solar panel;
multiple side bevel gears respectively mounted securely on the ends of corresponding side pivots;
multiple top hinges and each top hinge mounted between adjacent side solar panel and top solar panel and having two hinge pieces, one hinge piece of the top hinge attached to the side solar panel and the other hinge piece of the top hinge attached to the top solar panel; and a top pivot mounted through the hinge pieces of the top hinge and fixed to the hinge piece attached to the top solar panel and has two ends; and
multiple top bevel gears respectively mounted securely on the ends of corresponding top pivots and engaging corresponding side bevel gears.

4. The closable solar collector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the solar panel body further has

multiple top solar panels and each top solar panel mounted pivotally on a corresponding side solar panel away from the base solar panel;
multiple side hinges and each side hinge mounted between adjacent side solar panel and folding solar panel and having two hinge pieces, one hinge piece of the side hinge attached to the side solar panel and the other hinge piece of the side hinge attached to the folding solar pane; and a side pivot mounted through the hinge pieces of the side hinge and fixed to the hinge piece attached to the folding solar panel and has an end near a corresponding top solar panel;
multiple side bevel gears respectively mounted securely on the ends of corresponding side pivots;
multiple top hinges and each top hinge mounted between adjacent side solar panel and top solar panel and having two hinge pieces, one hinge piece of the top hinge attached to the side solar panel and the other hinge piece of the top hinge attached to the top solar panel; and a top pivot mounted through the hinge pieces of the top hinge and fixed to the hinge piece attached to the top solar panel and has two ends; and
multiple top bevel gears respectively mounted securely on the ends of corresponding top pivots and engaging corresponding side bevel gears.

5. The closable solar collector as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the base solar panel is hexagonal and has six sides, each side is connected pivotally to the side solar panel being rectangular, the folding solar panels are triangle and the top solar panels are trapezoidal; and
the linking assembly has six upper linking rods and six lower linking rods, the cover is hexagonal.

6. The closable solar collector as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the base solar panel is hexagonal and has six sides, each side is connected pivotally to the side solar panel being rectangular, the folding solar panels are triangle and the top solar panels are trapezoidal; and
the linking assembly has six upper linking rods and six lower linking rods, the cover is hexagonal.

7. The closable solar collector as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the base solar panel is hexagonal and has six sides, each side is connected pivotally to the side solar panel being rectangular, the folding solar panels are triangle and the top solar panels are trapezoidal; and
the linking assembly has six upper linking rods and six lower linking rods, the cover is hexagonal.

8. The closable solar collector as claimed in claim 4, wherein

the base solar panel is hexagonal and has six sides, each side is connected pivotally to the side solar panel being rectangular, the folding solar panels are triangle and the top solar panels are trapezoidal; and
the linking assembly has six upper linking rods and six lower linking rods, the cover is hexagonal.

9. The closable solar collector as claimed in claim 1 further having a motor mounted inside the stand and having an output shaft, where in the threaded shaft has a bottom end connected to the output shaft of the motor.

10. The closable solar collector as claimed in claim 2 further having a motor mounted inside the stand and having an output shaft, where in the threaded shaft has a bottom end connected to the output shaft of the motor.

11. The closable solar collector as claimed in claim 3 further having a motor mounted inside the stand and having an output shaft, where in the threaded shaft has a bottom end connected to the output shaft of the motor.

12. The closable solar collector as claimed in claim 4 further having a motor mounted inside the stand and having an output shaft, where in the threaded shaft has a bottom end connected to the output shaft of the motor.

13. The closable solar collector as claimed in claim 5 further having a motor mounted inside the stand and having an output shaft, where in the threaded shaft has a bottom end connected to the output shaft of the motor.

14. The closable solar collector as claimed in claim 6 further having a motor mounted inside the stand and having an output shaft, where in the threaded shaft has a bottom end connected to the output shaft of the motor.

15. The closable solar collector as claimed in claim 7 further having a motor mounted inside the stand and having an output shaft, where in the threaded shaft has a bottom end connected to the output shaft of the motor.

16. The closable solar collector as claimed in claim 8 further having a motor mounted inside the stand and having an output shaft, where in the threaded shaft has a bottom end connected to the output shaft of the motor.

Patent History
Publication number: 20110277748
Type: Application
Filed: May 12, 2010
Publication Date: Nov 17, 2011
Inventor: Raymond Chu (Jhongli City)
Application Number: 12/778,276
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Foldable Collector Unit Of Rigid Material (126/627)
International Classification: F24J 2/46 (20060101);