Photovoltaic panel.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a photovoltaic panel .

US2012/313569A1 discloses a solar panel deployment system including a main support frame and a solar panel array providing at least one solar panel, wherein the solar panel array is coupled to the main support frame, and each of the solar panels are mounted in a solar panel frame. The solar panel deployment system requires a lift mechanism coupled to the main support frame and solar panel array, and an array extender/retractor coupled to the solar panel array. The array extender/retractor is actuated to deploy the solar panel array or to retract the solar panel array.

US2013/0240015 discloses a portable folding arrangement of panels apparatus for generation of power. The apparatus is comprised of a plurality of essentially rigid panels, each having at least a solar cell, that are connected to supply the power to charge a battery, to operate a power consumer, and the like. The plurality of panels are connected to allow the collapsing of the foldable panels face-to-face, back-to-back, or other folding arrangements. The apparatus can be unfolded when desired for the purpose of converting the solar energy into electrical power for storage or use by a power consumer.

US2011/253193A1 discloses a deployable solar panel system including a plurality of solar cell panels that are mechanically and electrically coupled to each other prior to shipment to an installation site, folded in a stacking arrangement within a packaging container for shipment to the installation site, and then unfolded to deploy the solar cell panels at a desired tilt angle during installation at the installation site. In one embodiment, the solar cell panels are mechanically coupled to each other using a hinge assembly, such as a hinge bracket and hinge pin. Each solar cell panel system is electrically coupled to each other using a series string. The series string may be electrically coupled to a DC-DC converter and/or a

DC-AC inverter.

US2009/0320898 discloses a configurable articulated photovoltaic assembly having a plurality of photovoltaic modules hingedly connected to each other to allow the assembly to fold for transportation. The assembly is unfolded at the installation site, positioned and secured in place using adhesives, mechanical fasteners or both. The angle of the solar panels may be adjusted by moving support panels from horizontal to vertical. Once secured, the panels are rigidly held in place and are integrated with the building surface such as a roof or wall. Hinges are bidirectional and include metal, fabric and sliding extension types. Each module is wired and connected to a junction box attached therein.

A photovoltaic panel in accordance with the present invention simplifies the operations of installation, maintenance and replacement offering, at the same time, the possibility of forming very large photovoltaic surfaces, especially on vertical surfaces and on curved walls, avoiding the need for scaffolding, cranes , lifting platforms and similar equipment. Furthermore, for the same photovoltaic surface, a panel according to the present invention can be packed in a more compact package facilitating its transport and storage.

This result is achieved, according to the present invention, by adopting the idea of making a photovoltaic panel having the features indicated in claim 1. Other features of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

Further advantages and characteristics of the invention will be best understood by anyone skilled in the art thanks to the following description and to the attached drawings, provided by way of example but not to be considered in a limitative sense, wherein:

• Fig.lA is a schematic rear view of a photovoltaic panel in accordance with the present invention, in a folded configuration;

• Fig. IB is a side view of the photovoltaic panel shown in Fig.lA;

• Fig.2 is a schematic side view of the photovoltaic panel of Fig.lA and Fig. IB in configuration of use;

• Fig.3 shows a further embodiment of the photovoltaic panel represented in the previous figures;

• Fig.4 schematically represents the superposition of two photovoltaic panels in accordance with the present invention mounted on a vertical wall.

Reduced to its essential structure and with reference to the attached drawings, a photovoltaic panel (1) in accordance with the present invention is of the type comprising an active surface (AS) , formed by photovoltaic cells capable of converting sunlight into electrical energy, and a structure adapted to support said active surface, i.e. said photovoltaic cells.

The structure and the operation of said active surface are known to those skilled in the art and, therefore, will not be described in greater detail. Advantageously, in accordance with the present invention, said support structure comprises two polygonal frames (20, 21) , for example of rectangular shape, joined together by a hinge (3) with axis (x-x) parallel to one of the sides (the side of the lower frame 20 in the example shown in the figure) and united by tie rods (4) placed at the sides of the same frames. The tie rods (4) are advantageously constituted by strings, i.e. flexible elements, exerting their function when the panel (1) is in the unfolded configuration.

In this way, each panel (1) can be disposed in the folded configuration of Fig.lA and Fig. IB or in the unfolded configuration of use shown in Fig.2.

The photovoltaic cells that form the active surface (AS) are fixed on the inner sides of the frames (20) and (21) , namely on the sides which, when in use, are exposed to light.

The length of the tie rods (4) is suitably chosen in such a way that, when in use, the angle (a) formed by the frames (20) and (21) is preferably comprised between 90° and 110°.

Therefore, in the configuration of use a first frame (20) will be vertical, being intended to be fixed to a vertical wall (as further described below) and a second frame (21) will be substantially horizontal. The upper side of the first frame (20) is provided with a retractable handle (5) the function of which is indicated in the following.

The rear side of the first frame (20) is provided with grooves (6) parallel to the long sides of the same frame, that is, orthogonal to the lower side and to the upper side.

Said grooves (6) allow to slide the panel (1) along two corresponding guides or rails (7) provided on a vertical wall (V) of a building.

Conversely, the frame (20) can be provided with guides projecting from its rear surface and the wall (V) of the building (B) may be provided with corresponding grooved guides.

A possible installation procedure for installing a photovoltaic panel in accordance with the present invention, referring to Fig.4, is the following. The operator, holding the panel (1) at the sides of the frame (20), inserts the panel on the rails (7), then he manually unfolds the panel, opening it and putting the tie rods (4) in tension. Then, the panel, held laterally as said before, is made to slide on the guides (7) for a distance slightly inferior to the height (h) of the frame (20) . At this point, the operator with one hand grasps the handle (5) which is extracted by allowing the completion of the sliding of the panel (1) up to the stop (70) arranged at a predetermined point on the guides (7) . The handle (5) is left in the extended position to facilitate the gripping of the panel (1) in case of subsequent removal. The same operation is repeated to place another panel (1) on top of the one already installed (with the exception of the fact that the handle 5 of the second panel is not pulled out) so as to have, on a same surface (V) , a wider active surface In fact, the surface (AS) of the vertical frames (20) is added to the surface (AS) of the horizontal frames. Said frames (20, 21) can be identical to each other or may have different dimensions. For example, the second frame (21) can be shorter in length than the first frame (20) .

The active surface (AS) can fully cover the respective frame (20, 21) , as in the example shown in Fig.2, or only in part, as in the example shown in Fig.3.

In practice the details of execution may vary in any equivalent way as for what concerns the individual elements described and illustrated and to their arrangement and shape, without departing from the scope of the adopted solution and thus remaining within the limits of the protection granted by the present patent.