| CPC H02S 30/20 (2014.12) [B60L 8/003 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. A solar system configured to be carried by a vehicle, the system comprising:
a) an array of solar wings configured to be mounted to a top of a vehicle, each solar wing comprising:
i) a series of interconnected solar panels including:
A) a base panel configured to be fixed to the top of the vehicle;
B) an intermediate panel with a proximal edge pivotally coupled to a distal edge of the base panel;
C) a proximal hinge pivotally coupling the intermediate panel to the base panel and having a proximal axle;
D) a tip panel with a proximal edge pivotally coupled to a distal edge of the intermediate panel; and
E) a distal hinge pivotally coupling the tip panel to the intermediate panel and having a distal axle;
ii) a motor associated with and coupled to the solar wing;
iii) a drive coupled to the motor and operatively coupled to the solar panels, the drive including:
A) a proximal segment coupling the motor to the proximal axle of the proximal hinge, the proximal segment coupled to the proximal axle, the proximal axle being rotationally fixed with respect to the intermediate panel, and the proximal segment of the drive configured to rotate the proximal axle to pivot the intermediate panel with respect to the base panel; and
B) a distal segment coupled to the distal axle of the distal hinge, the distal axle being rotationally fixed with respect to the tip panel, and the distal segment of the drive configured to rotate the distal axle to pivot the tip panel with respect to the intermediate panel;
b) each solar wing having at least two configurations, including:
i) a retracted configuration in which the solar panels are folded together in a stack with the intermediate panel over the base panel and the tip panel over the intermediate panel; and
ii) a deployed configuration in which the solar panels extend substantially horizontal in series with the intermediate panel extending from the base panel and the tip panel extending from the intermediate panel;
c) a power source associated with the array of solar wings and coupled to each motor; and
d) a controller operatively coupled to each motor of each solar wing of the array of solar wings, the controller configured to:
i) sequentially activate each motor to sequentially deploy each solar wing from the retracted configuration to the deployed configuration; and
ii) sequentially activate each motor to sequentially retract each solar wing from the deployed configuration to the retracted configuration.
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