Modular photovoltaic light and power cube
Submitted is a modular stationary portable photovoltaic solar powered electrical generation, storage and supply device and light tower. The device consists of an elongated cube or rectangular prism shaped support structure with a flat base, flat sides and a flat decked top to form a protective crate shaped module when the various components, such as the solar panel arrays, telescoping mast, and light assembly or outriggers of the device are retracted to where the boundaries may be defined by the perimeters of the cube or prism. This modular design can allow for the modules to be stored, loaded, or shipped quickly, efficiently, and in greater quantities on flatbeds, in shipping containers, in warehouses, and other settings and modes where they can not only be packed end to end and side to side with no unused space, but can also be stacked up to three modules high for significantly higher storage density. The interconnectivity of multiple modules to create incrementally larger power generation, storage and distribution systems provides an easily adaptable solution to larger temporary power demands.
1. A solar powered energy generation module, comprising:
a first plurality of rails forming a base perimeter and defining a footprint of a support structure; at least two openings extending laterally into one rail of the first plurality of rails;
at least two stabilizer rails extending through at least two corresponding ones of the first plurality of rails;
vertical posts extending perpendicularly from the first plurality of rails;
a second plurality of rails forming an upper platform and extending perpendicularly from the vertical posts;
at least one mounting frame comprising a solar panel array; the at least one mounting frame connected to the upper platform by an articulating means to provide a range of motion for the at least one mounting frame with respect to the upper platform;
a telescoping mast comprising a vertical axis and at least one of a light, a communication transmitter, a communication receiver, an antenna, or a camera attached to an upper portion of the telescoping mast, wherein the telescoping mast is extendable to a first vertically oriented position above the upper platform and retractable to a second vertically oriented position below the upper platform and within the boundaries of the support structure defined by the first plurality of rails, the second plurality of rails, and the vertical posts;
a hatch cover attached to an upper end of the telescoping mast and extending outwardly from the telescoping mast in a direction perpendicular to the vertical axis, wherein the hatch cover forms a part of the upper platform when the telescoping mast is retracted to the second vertically oriented position,
a rotating base mechanism attached at a base of the telescoping mast, the rotating base mechanism enabling adjustments to the height of the telescoping mast and enabling rotation of the telescoping mast about the vertical axis; and
a locking mechanism attached to the telescoping mast, the locking mechanism configured to prevent mast rotation about the vertical axis when in an activated configuration.
2. The solar powered energy generation module of claim 1 , further comprising a winch operatively connected to the mast for adjusting the height of the telescoping mast and a rotation direction of the telescoping mast.
3. The solar powered energy generation module of claim 1 , wherein the articulating means includes at least one of a hinge, roller or sliding track.
4. The solar powered energy generation module of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator connected to the articulating means for adjusting a position of the articulating means to a desired position.
5. The solar powered energy generation module of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of rails include a pair of long rails and a pair of short rails, wherein the short rails are attached to the long rails to form a rectangular shaped base perimeter.
6. The solar powered energy generation module of claim 5 , wherein the short rails each comprise at least two hollow tubes secured to form a rectangular tube comprising two bays.
7. The solar powered energy generation module of claim 6 , wherein the stabilizer rails are inserted into the bays.
8. The solar powered energy generation module of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of adjustable feet, the feet each corresponding to a respective end of one of the stabilizer rails.
9. The solar powered energy generation module of claim 1 , further comprising one or more batteries.
10. The solar powered energy generation module of claim 1 , further comprising a DC/AC inverter.
11. A power generation device comprising a plurality of solar powered energy generation modules, each module of the plurality in electrical communication with another of said modules, each module comprising:
a first plurality of rails forming a base perimeter and defining a footprint of a support structure; at least two openings extending laterally into one rail of the first plurality of rails;
at least two stabilizer rails extending through at least two corresponding ones of the first plurality of rails;
vertical posts extending perpendicularly from the first plurality of rails;
a second plurality of rails forming an upper platform and extending perpendicularly from the vertical posts;
at least one mounting frame comprising a solar panel array; the at least one mounting frame connected to the upper platform by an articulating means to provide a range of motion for the at least one mounting frame with respect to the upper platform;
a telescoping mast comprising a vertical axis and at least one of a light, a communication transmitter, a communication receiver, an antenna or a camera attached to an upper portion of the telescoping mast, wherein the telescoping mast is extendable to a first vertically oriented position above the upper platform and retractable to a second vertically oriented position below the upper platform and within the boundaries of the support structure defined by the first plurality of rails, the second plurality of rails, and the vertical posts;
a hatch cover attached to an upper end of the telescoping mast and extending outwardly from the telescoping mast in a direction perpendicular to the vertical axis, wherein the hatch cover forms a part of the upper platform when the telescoping mast is retracted to the second vertically oriented position,
a rotating base mechanism attached at a base of the telescoping mast, the rotating base mechanism enabling adjustments to the height of the telescoping mast and enabling rotation of the telescoping mast about a vertical axis of the telescoping mast;
a locking mechanism attached to the telescoping mast, the locking mechanism configured to prevent mast rotation about the vertical axis when in an activated configuration; and
a DC/AC inverter.
12. The solar powered energy generation module of claim 5 , wherein each of the at least two openings extend laterally through one of the long rails at a position spaced from an end of the long rail and at an angle perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the long rail.
13. The power generation device of claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of rails include a pair of long rails and a pair of short rails attached to the long rails to form a rectangular shaped base perimeter, and wherein each of the at least two openings extend laterally through one of the long rails at a position spaced from an end of the long rail and at an angle perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the long rail.
14. The solar powered energy generation module of claim 1 , wherein the upper platform further comprises four opposing corners and lifting points positioned at or near the four opposing corners, and wherein the lifting points provide connections for a lifting cable, sling, or other handling device.
15. The solar powered energy generation module of claim 14 , wherein the lifting points act as stacking alignment fixtures.
16. The power generation device of claim 11 , further comprising a winch operatively connected to the mast for adjusting a height of the telescoping mast and a rotation direction of the telescoping mast.
17. The power generation device of claim 11 , further comprising an actuator connected to the articulating means for adjusting a position of the articulating means to a desired position, wherein the articulating means includes at least one of a hinge, roller or sliding track.
18. The power generation device of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of adjustable feet, the feet each corresponding to a respective end of one of the stabilizer rails.
19. The power generation device of claim 11 , further comprising one or more batteries.