Solar panel assemblies for marine vessels
A solar panel assembly for a marine vessel. A first frame is configured to be selectively fixed relative to the marine vessel. A second frame is configured to be moveably coupled to the marine vessel to be moveable relative to the first frame into a stowed position and a deployed position. A solar panel has a surface that extends between a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the first frame and the second end being coupled to the second frame, wherein positioning the second frame in the stowed position causes most of the surface of the solar panel to be obscured and inoperable to generate electricity, and wherein positioning the second frame in the deployed position causes most of the surface of the solar panel to be exposed and operable to generate the electricity.
1 . A solar panel assembly for a marine vessel, the solar panel assembly comprising:
a first frame configured to be selectively fixed relative to the marine vessel;
a second frame configured to be moveably coupled to the marine vessel to be moveable relative to the first frame into a stowed position and a deployed position;
a solar panel having a surface supported by a flexible sheet that extends between a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the first frame and the second end being coupled to the second frame, wherein positioning the second frame in the stowed position causes most of the surface of the solar panel to be obscured and inoperable to generate electricity, and wherein positioning the second frame in the deployed position causes most of the surface of the solar panel to be exposed and operable to generate the electricity, wherein the first frame and the second frame each have upright poles that extend upwardly away from the marine vessel when the second frame is in the deployed position; and
a drum upon which the flexible sheet rolls up when the second frame is in the stowed position, wherein the drum is supported vertically above the marine vessel by at least a portion of the upright poles when the second frame is in the deployed position.
2 . The solar panel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the solar panel is configured to provide shade for the marine vessel when the second frame is in the deployed position.
3 . The solar panel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the drum is rotatably coupled to the first frame, and wherein the drum is wound so as to automatically roll up the flexible sheet when the second frame is moved towards the stowed position.
4 . The solar panel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the drum is configured such that the flexible sheet is unrolled by moving the second frame towards the deployed position.
5 . The solar panel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second frame is moveably pivotally.
6 . The solar panel assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the second frame is pivotally coupled to the first frame.
7 . The solar panel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the solar panel is electrically coupled to the marine vessel via conductors that extend through the first frame and/or the second frame.
8 . The solar panel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the marine vessel is configured to be situated in a body of water, and wherein the first frame and the second frame are configured such that when the first frame is in the deployed position the surface of the solar panel is substantially parallel to a surface of the body of water.
9 . The solar panel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the marine vessel has a helm positioned therein, and wherein the first frame and the second frame are configured such that when the first frame is in the stowed position the solar panel is positioned entirely aft of the helm and when the first frame is in the deployed position the second end of the solar panel extends forward of the helm to thereby provide shade for the helm.
10 . The solar panel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the solar panel has a width that is unchanged by moving the second frame, wherein at least one of the first frame and the second frame comprises opposing side poles laterally separated by a span with an upper cross-member extending therebetween, and wherein the solar panel is coupled to the at least one of the first frame and the second frame below the upper cross-member such that the width of the solar panel is approximately equal to the span between the side poles.
11 . The solar panel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the surface of the solar panel is substantially planar when the second frame is in the deployed position and substantially non-planar when the second frame is in the stowed position.
12 . A solar panel assembly configured for selectively provided shade for a marine vessel, the solar panel assembly comprising:
a first frame configured to be selectively fixed relative to the marine vessel; and
a second frame configured to be moveably coupled to the marine vessel to be moveable relative to the first frame into a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the first frame and the second frame each have upright poles that extend upwardly away from the marine vessel when the second frame is in the deployed position;
a flexible solar panel having a surface that extends between a first end and a second end and is configured to generate electricity; and
a drum rotatably coupled to the first frame, wherein the drum is supported vertically above the marine vessel by upright poles of the first frame, wherein the first end of the flexible solar panel is coupled to the drum, and wherein the second end of the flexible solar panel is coupled to the first frame such that the flexible solar panel unrolls from the drum when moving the second frame towards the deployed position and rolls onto the drum when moving the second frame towards the stowed position, whereby unrolling the flexible solar panel provides shade for the marine vessel.
13 . The solar panel assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the drum is wound so as to automatically roll the flexible solar panel thereon when the second frame is moved towards the stowed position.
14 . The solar panel assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the first frame and the second frame are selectively movable relative to the marine vessel into a folded configuration in which the first frame and the second frame are folded onto the marine vessel.
15 . The solar panel assembly according to claim 12 , further comprising a motor operable to move the second frame relative to the marine vessel.
16 . The solar panel assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the motor is operable to rotate the drum.
17 . The solar panel assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the first frame and the second frame are configured such that the first end and the second end of the flexible solar panel are approximately a same height above the marine vessel as each other when the second frame is in the deployed position.
18 . The solar panel assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the first frame and the second frame are further configured such that the first end and the second end of the flexible solar panel are approximately the same height above the marine vessel as each other when the second frame is in the stowed position.
19 . A solar panel assembly for a marine vessel, the solar panel assembly comprising:
a first frame configured to be selectively fixed relative to the marine vessel;
a second frame configured to be pivotally coupled to the first frame to be moveable into a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the first frame and the second frame each have upright poles that extend upwardly away from the marine vessel when the second frame is in the deployed position, and wherein the second frame is farther from the first frame in the deployed position than in the stowed position;
a drum rotatably coupled to the first frame, wherein the drum is supported vertically above the marine vessel by the upright poles of the first frame; and
a flexible solar panel having a surface that extends between a first end and a second end and is configured to generate electricity, wherein the first end of the flexible solar panel is coupled to the drum so as to rotate therewith, wherein the second end of the flexible solar panel is coupled to the first frame, and wherein the drum is rotationally biased relative to the first frame such that pivoting the second frame towards the first frame causes the flexible solar panel to be automatically rolled onto the drum and pivoting the second frame away from the first frame opposes the rotational bias and causes the flexible solar panel to automatically unroll from the drum; and
a conductor that extends through the first frame and/or the second frame for electrically coupling the flexible solar panel to the marine vessel, wherein when the second frame is in the stowed position most of the surface of the solar panel is inoperable to generate electricity, and wherein when the second frame is in the deployed position most of the surface of the solar panel to be exposed and operable to generate the electricity.