INFRASTRUCTURE COMPRISING TREELIKE SYSTEMS

DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention refers to a treelike system comprising a canopy-like top element presenting at least solar energy means.

The present invention further refers to a distributed multipurpose infrastructure presenting at least one, preferentially a plurality of treelike systems at least presenting solar energy means, eventually also other energy means and/or information means.

Background of the invention

Many urban areas present a high density of pole-like structures, including streetlights, power lines and antennas ensuring the distribution of a plurality of energy and information services to a respective surrounding area. However, this type of infrastructure is often below a respective economic optimum because it does not provide a multipurpose platform (i.e., one pole for different types of means and services) , and because it is associated with a negative visual impact (e.g., wireless antennas) . Moreover, for the operators of such energy and information services, the prevailing pole-like solution also presents issues relating to structural safety (in particular in the case of extreme weather conditions) and to density distribution (for example in the case of wireless antennas) . In fact, utility pole-like structures present specific requirements, different from structures for example only carrying solar energy means.

There are several suggestions in the prior art for combining solar energy means with pole-like structures. Most propose a relatively small area of solar means, such as the WO 2012/122507 A2 and US 2011/0310596 Al . These do not provide supports for top elements of bigger dimensions, so-called wide-area canopy-like, do not account for the possibility of installation of distribution means such as power transmission lines or antennas and therefore do not foresee the possibility of visually masking said energy and information distribution means. Examples of use of utility pole-like structures in energy and/or information networks include the US 6,483,470 Bl and WO 2012/064906 A2.

It is a first object of the present invention to provide a pole-like system maximizing the size and the possibilities associated with its canopy-like element, notably by means of optimizing respective structural supports in view of different spatial and operational constrains and requirements, while thereby maximizing the simplicity of its components and minimizing the materials and assembly effort that it requires.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a distributed infrastructure that provides for added economic and technical benefits arising from using pole-like systems presenting at least solar energy means, for different energy and/or information services, including different uses thereof in different typology arrangements . General description of the invention

A first goal of the present invention is to provide a treelike system, in particular presenting a pole-like base element supporting a wide-area canopy-like top element, or similar structural form, that presents an efficient structural solution for maximizing the area available for solar energy means at said top element, at least in view of different sizes, configurations and spatial orientations of said area of solar energy means.

According to claim 1, this goal is achieved by means of a treelike system presenting at least one base element of pole-like, pylon-like or similar structural form, whereby at least one, preferentially each of said base elements is adapted at a respective distal portion with a structure presenting an at least approximately inverted tripod-like arrangement so as to support a preferentially substantially continuous and wide-area canopy-like top element in three respective supporting locations distanced apart. Moreover, the position of said three supporting locations and preferentially also the position of a respective geometric center relative to the vertical alignment of a respective base element, are determined according to parameters including the number and position of said base elements and the dimension, configuration and spatial orientation of said top element, preferentially also of any further energy means and/or information means, so as to provide reliable structural support for an in each case maximized area of said top element at minimal construction complexity and costs. Moreover, it is preferred when the dimension and configuration of said each of said three support locations are also determined as a function of the aforementioned parameters. It is further preferred when only said tripod-like frames in respective base elements support each top element. It is preferred when said three support elements present similar cross-sections and standard manufacturing design and dimensions.

Moreover, the supporting locations provided by said three tripod-like support elements thereby define a reference triangular supporting area that is preferentially smaller, more preferentially much smaller than the area of a respective top element. In particular, it is preferred when the sum of said triangular supporting areas corresponds to at least 10% of a respective top area and does not exceed 90% thereof, preferentially corresponds to between about 30% to about 60% of said top area, and when said top area is of at least 4 m ² , more preferentially at least 9 m ^z . Moreover, it is preferred when said top element extends by at least 1 m, preferentially by at least 3 m, all around each respective base element.

According to a preferred embodiment, said three supporting locations are provided at similar or different distances apart, and are spatially arranged in relation to a respective top element so as to best distribute at least the static weight loads thereof, preferentially in an overall substantially symmetrical supporting structural form, upon at least two of said three support locations, whereby it is preferred when the center of said three supporting locations is at least in the proximity of the vertical alignment of a respective base element .

The invention thus provides many possibilities for obtaining a structural form that is distributed, eventually substantially symmetrically supported, in terms of the relative position of pole-like base elements and respective three tripod-like support elements in relation to a wide-area top element. This advantageously dilutes constrains resulting from non-distributed and substantially asymmetrical structural arrangements, in particular associated with cantilevered loads. Moreover, this means that with only three substantially similar and simple to produce tripod-like support elements eventually presenting minor variations among them, one can provide reliable support to top elements (i.e., solar energy means) of many different sizes, forms and spatial orientations. In the scope of the present invention, it is very relevant to note that such an effective and yet simple solution based upon an inverted tripod-like frame, could be attained neither with only two support elements (because of much less structural support capacity and hence much smaller area of solar energy means) nor with four support elements (because of substantially more structural materials without a corresponding structural benefit for the top element, actually thereby substantially spatially constraining the disposition of other energy and/or information means underneath thereof) .

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a treelike structure presenting reduced construction complexity and enhanced possibilities for carrying different energy means and/or information means, thereby maximizing its economic value carrying capacity.

This objective is achieved according to a preferred embodiment in that said three support elements present a similar or different configuration and are provided in similar or different relative spatial dispositions including at an angle of at most 60°, preferentially at most 45° relative to a vertical direction, and preferentially with a spacing of at least 90°, preferentially of 120° between any two of them along a horizontal plane, along at least part, preferentially at least most part of a respective extension. Moreover, it is advantageous when at least one, preferentially at least two of said three support elements in a given tripod-like frame develop in a single straight extension or present two angled parts, whereby a first part closer to said base level is preferentially disposed at an angle of between 30° and 60°, preferentially about 45° relative to the vertical direction, and a second part farther from said base level is preferentially disposed at an angle smaller than 45° relative to the vertical, preferentially along a substantially vertical direction. Other spatial dispositions are also feasible, but should present less structural efficiency. Moreover, it is preferred when the extension and spatial orientation at least of said second part of said three support elements is determined as a function of the number of said base elements, the size, form and spatial orientation of a respective top element and/or the type, operative spatial function, number and size of further energy and/or information means.

Moreover, it is particularly preferred when at least two of said three support elements in a given inverted tripod-like frame are provided at an average distance of at least 1 m from each other over a respective extension height of at least 1 m.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, said three tripod-like support elements are provided so as to define in their interior a first technical space presenting at least 1 m ^J volume and at least 0,5 m, preferentially at least 1 m extension height under said top element. This advantageously provides for possibilities of installing further energy and/or information means, while benefiting from a common structural support and shadowing from the top element.

According to another preferred embodiment, at least one of said support elements in a given tripod-like frame is adapted to support at least one energy conductor and/or connection, including outside and/or inside thereof, preferentially there is at least one energy conductor in at least one of said three support elements in connection to said solar energy means and/or to other a respective energy and/or information means.

Moreover, it is advantageous in terms of manufacturing and assembling of the treelike structure when said support elements are provided as a separate structure adapted to be mounted on at least one pole-like or pylon-like base element. Alternatively, said support elements may also be provided at least in part as an integral portion of said base element. The three support elements are preferentially disposed at the top or at a partial height of said base element, eventually at different heights thereof.

According to another embodiment, said three tripodlike support elements are provided with at least one enveloping element disposed at least in part around at least part of their height extension, preferentially provided in a mesh-like form, ripped-like form or similar, and preferentially adapted to allow passage of cables while mitigating the visual perception of its interior .

According to another embodiment, it is preferred when said treelike structure presents more than one base element, whereby at least two of said base elements are structurally connected to each other by at least one connecting element. Moreover, one of said base elements may be provided with at least one supporting element structurally connecting it a base level. This is particularly advantageous in terms of structural resistance of the pole-like system, including against natural hazards =

According to a preferred embodiment, at least one, preferentially all of said base elements is/are installed in a base anchoring element provided as high mass relative to said base elements, and preferentially configured in a hollow construction provided above-level and/or under-level relative to said base level and presenting at least one second technical space adapted to house energy and/or information means and with at least one access to its interior.

According to another preferred embodiment, the operation efficiency of the solar energy means in said top element is increased by means of adapting at least one of said three support elements to be movable, for example in a telescopic manner, so as to displace the top element along at least one spatial plane.

Another goal of the present invention is to provide a distributed multipurpose infrastructure comprising a plurality of treelike systems presenting a pole-like or similar base element and providing enhanced economic value including in view of distributed, higher density energy generation and telecommunications access.

This goal is attained according to claim 11 by means of a distributed infrastructure comprising at least one, preferentially a plurality of treelike systems presenting solar energy means, especially treelike systems according to the present invention, at least some of which presenting at least one pole-like, pylon-like or similar base element installed at a base level and adapted with support elements supporting at least one preferentially substantially continuous canopy-like top element comprising solar energy means, and preferentially also other energy means, such as for example lighting means, energy transmission means, and/or information means, such as for example telecommunication means, visual displays means, or similar, whereby at least some, preferentially at least most of said treelike systems present at least one respective first technical space underneath at least part of said top element, whereby said respective first technical spaces are disposed at least in part, at respective at least approximately similar heights above a base level, and preferentially extend along respective at least approximately similar extension heights.

According to a preferred embodiment, at least some of said treelike systems present at least one respective second technical space in a respective at least one base anchoring element, whereby said respective second technical spaces are disposed at least in part, at at least approximately similar heights relative to said base level .

According to another embodiment, there is provided at least one energy conductor and/or connection between at least one of said first and second technical spaces of at least one treelike system and/or between first technical spaces and/or between second technical spaces in different preferentially successive treelike systems.

According to another embodiment, at least some of said treelike systems present at least one, preferentially at least two of respective support elements preferentially provided in an inverted tripodlike arrangement supporting and/or combined with at least one, preferentially a plurality of energy means and/or information means, whereby these are preferentially modularly distributed along at least part of the extension height of respective first technical spaces.

According to another embodiment, said treelike systems are disposed directly adjacent and/or spaced at regular and/or irregular distances apart, in substantially extension-like and/or cluster-like arrangements, whereby at least two of said treelike systems preferentially present a different base element and/or support elements and/or top element.

According to another embodiment, at least some of the treelike systems present energy and/or information means in at least one of base element, top element and base anchoring element. Moreover, at least some of said treelike structures present telecommunication means, including antennas and auxiliary devices, preferentially within said first technical space and so as to result substantially imperceptible at least from said base level .

According to a preferred use, the aforementioned distributed multipurpose infrastructure is used as an energy and/or information infrastructure developing along certain extensions, including in the form of streetlights and power distribution lines, wireless antennas network in an urban, industrial or rural area, or otherwise in any energy and/or information infrastructure using a pole-like structural support. The distributed multipurpose infrastructure can also be adapted to be used in a particularly contained area, such as for example in vehicle fuelling stations, parking lots, urban parks and industrial sites.

In the scope of the present application, the following terms are used with the following generally descriptive, non-limiting meanings: 1) "wide-area" is to be understood as having more than 2 m ² , preferentially more than 10 nr top surface area;

2) "energy means" are energy processing means including energy generation means, in particular of renewable energy, energy distribution means, such as for example transmission cables, power transformers, energy storage means, and final energy use means including lighting means, energy charging means, and respective auxiliary devices as applicable;

3) "information means" are information processing means including data monitoring and collection means, such as for example sensors, information transmission means, including wired and wireless telecommunication means including in the radio, microwave, infrared and visible spectra, such as for example transmission antennas, signaling means, such as for example traffic signaling, data storage and processing means, including in digital supports, and respective auxiliary devices as applicable;

4) "solar energy means" are any devices using electromagnetic radiation including in the visible light and other spectra, for generating energy;

5) "lighting means" are any devices using energy to produce variation of luminosity conditions in a given area or to visually display signals and/or information contents or otherwise emit electromagnetic radiation in the visible range of the spectrum and adjacent spectra.

List of figures

The present invention shall now be described in greater detail based upon preferred embodiments and accompanying figures presenting schematic representations thereof. These show: Figure 1 : a perspective view of two embodiments of treelike structures (1) according to the present invention;

Figure 2: side views of two embodiments of treelike structures (1) according to the present invention;

Figure 3: side views of two embodiments of treelike structures (1) according to the present invention;

Figure 4: top views of four embodiments of treelike structures (1) according to the present invention;

Figure 5: side views of two embodiments of treelike structures (1) according to the present invention;

Figure 6: side views of two embodiments of a distributed infrastructure (10) according to the present invention and used as network utility poles;

Figure 7: side views of two embodiments of a distributed inf astructure (10) according to the present invention and used as streetlights.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

Figure 1 is a perspective representation of two embodiments of a treelike system (1) according to the invention, comprising a substantially planar top element (3) presenting solar energy means (4) defining a reference top area (A ₃ ) and supported by one pole-like base element (2) , as represented on the left-hand side embodiment, or more than one base element (2, 2'), as represented on the right-hand side. According to a first inventive aspect, said base elements (2) are provided, for example in their distal end with respect to a base level (A) , with three inverted tripod-like support elements (21, 22, 43) supporting the top element (3) thereby defining a reference triangular support area (A ₂ ) that is smaller than the area (A ₃ ) of said top element (3) . In particular, said reference support area (A ₂ ) corresponds to at least 10% and does not exceed 90% of said top area (A ₃ ) , preferentially corresponds to between about 30% to about 60% thereof. This provides for the possibility of having a much larger area of solar energy means (4) - not individually represented for better perception of the drawing - and, in particular in the case of treelike structures (1) presenting multiple base elements (2, 2'), provides for enhanced structural resistance of said top element (3) .

According to a preferred aspect, said reference support area (A ₂ ) corresponds to a regular or irregular triangular form, and is spatially arranged in relation to the top area (A ₃ ) so as to best distribute the loads thereof upon at least two of said three support locations. Moreover, said support elements (21, 22, 23) jointly define a first technical space (Vi ) as a substantially continuous volume of inverted pyramidal form as in the depicted embodiments. The disposition of said three, and only three, support elements (21, 22, 23) advantageously allows to use said first technical space (Vi) for disposing other energy and/or information means underneath the top element (3) .

Figure 2 shows side views of preferred embodiments of the treelike structure (1) whereby respective three support elements (21, 22, 23) are disposed in said inverted tripod-like arrangement and configured as elongated beam-like elements, preferentially of similar tubular-like cross-section, developing along a single extension.

Figure 3 depicts embodiments of treelike systems (1) whereby, according to a further preferred aspect, at least one of the support elements (21, 22, 23) is provided in two angled portions (211, 212) . In particular, a farther portion (212) is thereby provided in a substantially vertical direction. This is very advantageous in terms of providing a support for energy and/or information means, such as for example power transmission cables or antennas. There are preferentially provided at least two support elements presenting such a second vertical portion developing in each case along a common extension height. These would benefit from shadowing projected by the top element (3) and preferentially also from energy provided by respective solar energy means (4) .

Figure 4 shows top views corresponding to the embodiments of treelike systems (1) depicted in Figure 1 (on the right-hand side) and in Figure 2 (left-hand side) . In particular, it illustrates different arrangements of the resulting, including regular and irregular, reference triangular supporting area (A2) , as well as of the at least one base element (2) relative to a respective top area (A3) . Figure 5 shows side views of preferred embodiments of treelike systems (1) whereby respective support elements (21, 22, 23) are provided with at least one enveloping element (5) , such as a mesh-like element (on the left-hand side) , so that any objects in its interior volume (Vi) result substantially visually imperceptible from the outside. As represented by the treelike system (1) on the left-hand side, said volume (Vi) presents a height (h ₂ ) and is disposed at a height (hi) above a base level (A). The treelike system (1') on the right-hand side presents two pylon-like base elements (2, 2') presenting a common enveloping element (5) that may be provided with lighting or visual display means (8) . Moreover, there is provided a base anchoring element (6) providing a second technical space (V ₂ ) at said base level (A) .

Figure 6 schematically represents a side view of a distributed multipurpose infrastructure (10) presenting a plurality of treelike structures (1, 1'), whereby at least part, preferentially most part of respective first technical spaces (Vi) is at a similar height (hi) above the base level (A) . Moreover, Figure 6 represents the use of such distributed multipurpose infrastructure (10) as utility poles whereby at least some of said plurality of treelike structures (1, 1') carry energy and/or communication transmission lines along a given extension, supported in each case by at least one of said three support elements.

In the top representation, the pair of cables (7) is disposed at two respective support elements, in each case either at a substantially vertical part or at a substantially horizontal part thereof. It is preferred when said disposition of pair of cables' (7) results at a distance of at least 1 m between cables. This advantageously combines the efficiency of said support elements in supporting the top element (3) and further supporting other energy and/or information means,. Moreover, in this embodiment, structural resistance is further enhanced by base anchoring elements (6) disposed at the base level (A) , eventually provided at least partly underground and eventually housing energy and/or information means in a respective second technical space (V ₂ ) . In the embodiment depicted below, at least some of the treelike systems (1, 1') present two base elements (2, 2') linked together by a connecting element (24), while one other treelike system (1) presents a supporting element (25) .

Figure 7 shows two embodiments of a distributed multipurpose infrastructure (10) according to the invention and used in a sort of streetlights arrangement in an urban environment. In the top representation, respective treelike structures (1, 1') present lighting means (7) disposed on the downward facing side of the top element (3) and/or in at least one of the support elements (21, 22, 23) themselves. In the bottom representation, treelike systems (1, 1') present lighting means (7) on the downward facing side of an envelope element (5) or acting as such enveloping element (5), and eventually also with visual representation functions (for example, as digital displays) . In the bottom representation, at least some of the treelike systems (1) carry wireless communication antennas or similar device, preferentially disposed within said first technical space (Vi ) and made visually imperceptible from the outside. In a preferred embodiment, some of the cabling and wiring associated with at least some of the energy and/or information means is passed along at least one, preferentially a respective support element of the inverted tripod-like structure. For example, wiring for solar energy means (4) and lighting means (7) are passed along one of the support elements (21) , whereas wiring for wireless communication antennas is passed along another of the support elements (22) .

Lisboa, 30 ^th October 2013