Solar panel installation system
A solar panel installation system includes solar panels with orientations or positions changeable. A solar panel installation system ( 1 B) includes a first rail ( 20 ) on a rooftop of a building ( 33 ), a support carrier ( 23 a ) located on the first rail ( 20 ), including a portion protruding outward from the building ( 33 ), and movable along the first rail ( 20 ), a post ( 10 ) extending in a vertical direction along a side surface of the building ( 33 ) and directly or indirectly supported by the portion of the support carrier ( 23 a ) protruding outward from the building ( 33 ), a plurality of solar panels ( 13 ) fixed to the post ( 10 ), and a carrier driver that moves the support carrier ( 23 a ) in a first direction along a length of the first rail ( 20 ) or in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
1. A solar panel installation system ( 1 , 1 B′), comprising:
a first rail ( 20 ) on a rooftop of a building ( 33 ) or on a structure;
a first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) located on the first rail ( 20 ) and including a portion protruding outward from the building ( 33 ) or from the structure, the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) being movable along the first rail ( 20 );
a first post ( 10 ) directly or indirectly supported by the portion of the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) protruding outward from the building ( 33 ) or from the structure, the first post ( 10 ) extending in a vertical direction along a side surface of the building ( 33 ) or of the structure;
a plurality of solar panels ( 13 ) fixed to the first post ( 10 ); and
a carrier driver configured to move the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) in a first direction along a length of the first rail ( 20 ) or in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
2. The solar panel installation system ( 1 , 1 B′) according to claim 1 , wherein
the building ( 33 ) or the structure includes the side surface including a first side surface and a second side surface,
the first rail ( 20 ) includes a first portion being straight and extending along the first side surface, a second portion being straight and extending along the second side surface, and a curved portion connecting the first portion and the second portion, and
the carrier driver moves the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) from the first portion to the second portion through the curved portion, and moves the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) from the second portion to the first portion through the curved portion.
3. The solar panel installation system ( 1 B, 1 B′) according to claim 2 , wherein
the carrier driver moves the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) from the first portion to the second portion in response to a predetermined time point being reached.
4. The solar panel installation system ( 1 B, 1 B′) according to claim 1 , wherein
the carrier driver includes a first winder ( 29 ) configured to move the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) in the first direction and a second winder ( 30 ) configured to move the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) in the second direction,
the first winder ( 29 ) winds a first wire ( 31 ) connected to an end of the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) in a movement direction of the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) to move the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) in the first direction, and
the second winder ( 30 ) winds a second wire ( 32 ) connected to another end of the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) in the movement direction to move the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) in the second direction.
5. The solar panel installation system ( 1 B, 1 B′) according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a second support carrier ( 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) spaced from the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c ) in a movement direction of the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c ), the second support carrier ( 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) being movable along the first rail ( 20 ), the second support carrier ( 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) being coupled to the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c ) with a coupler ( 24 a , 24 b , 24 c ), the second support carrier ( 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) being located on the first rail ( 20 ) and including a portion protruding outward from the building ( 33 ) or from the structure;
a second post ( 10 ) directly or indirectly supported by the portion of the second support carrier ( 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) protruding outward from the building ( 33 ) or from the structure, the second post ( 10 ) extending in the vertical direction along the side surface of the building ( 33 ) or of the structure; and
a plurality of solar panels ( 13 ) fixed to the second post ( 10 ),
wherein the carrier driver moves the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c ) and the second support carrier ( 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) from the first portion to the second portion through the curved portion, and moves the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c ) and the second support carrier ( 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) from the second portion to the first portion through the curved portion.
6. The solar panel installation system ( 1 B′) according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a gear ( 12 ) fixed directly or indirectly to the first post ( 10 ); and
a drive included in the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ), the drive being configured to rotate the gear ( 12 ) to rotate the first post ( 10 ) in a circumferential direction of the first post ( 10 ).
7. The solar panel installation system ( 1 B′) according to claim 6 , wherein
the drive includes a drive gear ( 16 ) meshing with the gear ( 12 ), and a motor ( 15 ) configured to rotate the drive gear ( 16 ), and
the gear ( 12 ) rotates in response to rotation of the drive gear ( 16 ).
8. The solar panel installation system ( 1 B′) according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a base ( 5 ) at a lower end of the first post ( 10 );
a connecting wire ( 7 ) placed in a hollow in the first post ( 10 ) being tubular, the connecting wire ( 7 ) connecting the base ( 5 ) to the portion of the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) protruding outward from the building ( 33 ) or from the structure;
a hook ( 9 ) at a lower end of the connecting wire ( 7 ); and
a hook engagement portion ( 6 ) on the base ( 5 ),
wherein the connecting wire ( 7 ) has the lower end connected to the base ( 5 ) with the hook ( 9 ) being hooked on the hook engagement portion ( 6 ).
9. The solar panel installation system ( 1 B′) according to claim 6 , wherein
the first post ( 10 ) includes a plate ( 11 ) fixed to an upper end of the first post ( 10 ), and
the gear ( 12 ) is fixed to the first post ( 10 ) with the plate ( 11 ) between the gear ( 12 ) and the first post ( 10 ).
10. The solar panel installation system ( 1 B′) according to claim 1 , wherein
the first rail ( 20 ) comprises steel,
the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ) includes a first movable portion ( 35 ) movable along the first rail ( 20 ), and
the first movable portion ( 35 ) includes an electromagnet ( 37 a ).
11. The solar panel installation system ( 1 B′) according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second rail ( 34 ) at a lower end of the first post ( 10 ),
wherein the first post ( 10 ) moves with the lower end along the second rail ( 34 ) in response to movement of the first support carrier ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c , 23 d ).
12. The solar panel installation system ( 1 B′) according to claim 11 , wherein
the second rail ( 34 ) comprises steel,
the first post ( 10 ) includes a second movable portion ( 36 ) at the lower end, and the second movable portion ( 36 ) is movable along the second rail ( 34 ), and
the second movable portion ( 36 ) includes an electromagnet ( 37 b ).