DELTA LUMINAIRE - PHOTOVOLTAIC POWERED ROADWAY & AREA LIGHTING LUMINAIRE
A slimline modular inverter pod coupled to a vertical structure configured to operate unitarily or in unison with other inverter pods coupled to the same vertical structure, wherein power received by the inverter pod is generated by PV panel/s coupled to the vertical structure above, and long-lived power consuming/generating devices are coupled to and/or in proximity to the vertical structure's top and at least one short-lived power consuming device is coupled to the vertical structure assembly at two thirds the vertical structure height from grade or lower.
1 . A self-powered pole assembly, comprising:
a pole structure having a top end and a grade-level base end;
an arm mechanically attachable to the pole structure proximate the top end;
a luminaire mechanically integrated with the arm;
a photovoltaic (PV) panel mechanically coupled from above to the arm, wherein
the PV panel is positioned on the arm with two opposing corners of the PV panel aligned with the arm,
the PV panel is substantially square,
the PV panel extends outwardly from opposing sides of the arm, and the PV panel and the arm are scalable in size, and
the luminaire, and the PV panel comprise at least one long-lived device;
at least one inverter pod coupled to the pole structure at a position at or below two-thirds of a height of the pole structure from grade, wherein the at least one inverter pod has a vertical longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a vertical longitudinal axis of the pole structure,
the at least one inverter pod houses at least one short-lived electrical device which is at least one an inverter, a power storage device, a surge suppressor, a shutoff switch, a computer processor, a communication device, a sensing device, a power output device, a receptacle, a metering device, and an indicator light source; and
at least one conductor configured to convey power between the PV panel and the at least one short-lived electrical device housed in the at least one inverter pod.
2 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inverter pod comprises a housing and an access door, and the access door is positioned on a side of the housing facing away from the pole structure.
3 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inverter pod further comprises at least one air breather configured to permit airflow into the inverter pod, out of the inverter pod, or in and out of the inverter pod.
4 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inverter pod further comprises a lifting harness.
5 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inverter pod further comprises a housing, an access door, and at least one lock configured to secure the access door to the housing.
6 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical or an electromechanical support arm coupled to the pole structure, wherein the at least one inverter pod is mounted on and supported by the support arm.
7 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one guiding track coupled to the pole structure, the at least one guiding track being configured to engage a corresponding feature on the at least one inverter pod to maintain vertical alignment with the pole structure.
8 . A self-powered pole assembly, comprising:
a pole structure having a top end and a grade-level base end;
an arm mechanically attachable to the pole structure proximate the top end;
a luminaire mechanically integrated with the arm;
a photovoltaic (PV) panel mechanically coupled from above to the arm, wherein
the PV panel is positioned on the arm with two opposing corners of the PV panel aligned with the arm,
the PV panel is substantially square, and
the PV panel extends outwardly from opposing sides of the arm;
at least one pod coupled to the pole structure below the arm, the at least one pod houses a computer processor, and at least one electrical device that includes at least one of an inverter, a power storage device, a surge suppressor, a shutoff switch, a sensor, a communication device, a power output device, a receptacle, a metering device, and an indicator light source, wherein power generated by the PV panel is conveyed to the at least one pod through a power entry on a bottom surface, a side surface, or both, of the at least one pod; and
at least one power consuming device coupled to the pole assembly and electrically coupled to the at least one pod, wherein
the computer processor is configured to activate or deactivate the at least one power consuming device in response to at least one of a sensor signal indicating a presence of an object in a vicinity of the pole structure, a signal from a physical external engagement, or a wireless communication signal.
9 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one electrical device includes the sensor, the sensor being at least one of an occupancy sensor or a camera.
10 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 8 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to execute at least one artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm.
11 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one electrical device includes the power storage device, the at least one power consuming device is the luminaire, and the computer processor is configured to activate the luminaire in response to the sensor signal by drawing power from the power storage device when an external power grid source is unavailable.
12 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one electrical device includes the communication device, and the communication device is configured to convey signals between the computer processor and at least one of another pole assembly or a remote client.
13 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a speaker coupled to the pole assembly and in communication with the computer processor, wherein the computer processor is further configured to cause the speaker to announce an alert.
14 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one pod comprises a first pod and an adjacent second pod, and wherein the first pod is electrically coupled to the second pod to communicatively distribute an operational function between the first pod and the second pod.
15 . A self-powered pole assembly, comprising:
a pole structure having a top end and a grade-level base end;
an arm mechanically attachable to the pole structure proximate the top end;
a luminaire mechanically integrated with the arm;
a photovoltaic (PV) panel mechanically coupled from above to the arm, wherein
the PV panel is positioned on the arm with two opposing corners of the PV panel aligned with the arm,
the PV panel is substantially square, and
the PV panel extends outwardly from opposing sides of the arm;
at least one inverter pod coupled to the pole structure below the arm, wherein the at least one inverter pod has a vertical longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a vertical longitudinal axis of the pole structure, and wherein the at least one inverter pod houses a computer processor, a communication device, and a power storage device;
at least one conductor configured to convey power between the PV panel and the at least one inverter pod; and
a signaling device mechanically coupled to the pole structure and electrically coupled to the at least one inverter pod, wherein
the computer processor is configured to
receive an input signal and generate an output signal for transmission by the communication device to at least one of another device on the pole assembly, a mobile device, or a remote client, and
upon detection of a disruption in an external power supply, power the signaling device using power generated by the PV panel or power stored in the power storage device.
16 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a user interface coupled to the pole structure and in communication with the computer processor.
17 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a sensor coupled to the pole assembly and in communication with the computer processor.
18 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 15 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to execute artificial intelligence (AI) code to prioritize operation of power consuming devices coupled to the pole assembly based on risk to humans or machines, prioritize power use of the power consuming devices based on risk assessments, communicate a failure of at least one power consuming device to at least one remote client via the communication device, and regulate power generated by the PV panel to dispense the power to at least one power consuming device coupled to the pole assembly or to an external power grid.
19 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 15 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to, upon detecting a failure of a power consuming device coupled to the pole assembly, cause the communication device to transmit an alert to at least one remote client.
20 . The self-powered pole assembly of claim 15 , wherein the at least one inverter pod is a modular unit configured to be removed from and installed on the pole structure via a quick-connect electrical and mechanical interface.
21 . A method of coupling a pod to a pole, the pole having a support arm, the method comprising:
securing a flange bracket having a guiding track to the pole with a strap at a position above the support arm;
lifting the pod via a lifting harness coupled to the pod;
engaging a corresponding track on the pod with the guiding track on the flange bracket;
lowering the pod along the guiding track until the pod rests on the support arm;
removing an access door from the pod;
mechanically securing the pod to the flange bracket;
electrically engaging a wiring harness from an interior of the pod with a receptacle associated with the support arm; actuating a test switch to verify operation; and
securing the access door to a housing of the pod.