EARLIEST PRIORITY DATE:

This Application claims priority from a Provisional patent application filed in India having Patent Application No. 202111043612, filed on March 27, 2022, and titled “INNOVATIVE SOLAR CAR”.

FIELD OF INVENTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of solar powered vehicles and more particularly to a structure of a solar powered vehicle for mounting a plurality of solar modules.

BACKGROUND

Due to urbanization, the need for transportation also increases. Reducing fossil fuel reserves, vehicular emissions, and global implications of vehicular emissions are calling for an alternate way of transportation. A solar powered vehicle is coming into the picture in such a scenario. The solar powered vehicle is a vehicle that uses electric motors for propulsion. The electric motor may be powered by a battery, and the battery may be charged by solar panels.

Range of the solar powered vehicle is limited by capacity of the battery. Apart from that, charging the solar powered vehicle may take considerable time. Additionally, charging rate of the battery also depends upon the weather conditions. High cost associated with the solar powered vehicle makes the solar powered vehicle unaffordable. Limited space for accommodating passengers is another drawback of the solar powered vehicle. Scope of repurposing the solar panels associated with the solar powered vehicle is limited.

Hence, there is a need for an improved structure of a solar powered vehicle for mounting a plurality of solar modules to address the aforementioned issue(s). BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a structure of a solar powered vehicle for mounting a plurality of solar modules is provided. The structure includes an array of solar modules. The array of solar modules includes a first solar module mounted on a hood of the solar powered vehicle. The array of solar modules also includes a second solar module positioned adjacent to the first solar module and mounted on at least one door of the solar powered vehicle. The array of solar modules further includes a third solar module positioned adjacent to the second solar module and mounted on at least one window of the solar powered vehicle. The array of solar modules also includes a fourth solar module positioned adjacent to the third solar module and mounted on a roof of the solar powered vehicle. The array of solar modules also includes a fifth solar module positioned adjacent to the fourth solar module and mounted on a tailgate of the solar powered vehicle. The fifth solar module includes at least two linear actuators including a first linear actuator mechanically coupled to a rear portion of the solar powered vehicle. The first linear actuator is adapted to orient the fifth solar module towards sun in one or more positions with respect to a horizontal axis of the solar powered vehicle. The at least two linear actuators also includes a second linear actuator adapted to provide bi-directional movement to a sixth solar module positioned underneath the fifth solar module along a longitudinal axis of the fifth solar module. The fifth solar module includes at least two channels positioned along an inner periphery of the fifth solar module along respective axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fifth solar module to guide the sixth solar module during the bi-directional movement. The fifth solar module includes at least two clips to mount the second linear actuator. The at least two clips are adapted to adjust a position of the second linear actuator with respect to the fifth solar module, thereby adjusting an extent of the bidirectional movement of the sixth solar module with respect to the fifth solar module. The fifth solar module includes at least two solar modules coupled to the fifth solar module via one or more corresponding hinges. The at least two solar modules are adapted to orient towards the sun when positioned coplanar with the fifth solar module. The at least two solar modules are adapted to prevent ingress of water into a predefined area of the solar powered vehicle. The array of solar modules are adapted to generate electricity from sunlight to charge an energy storage unit associated with the solar powered vehicle, thereby increasing range of the solar powered vehicle. To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more explicit description of the disclosure will follow by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended figures. It is to be appreciated that these figures depict typical embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The disclosure will be described and explained with additional details with the appended figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a structure of a solar powered vehicle for mounting a plurality of solar modules in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of yet another embodiment of the structure of FIG. 1, depicting coplanar position of at least two solar modules in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of a structure of FIG. 1, depicting operational arrangement of a fifth solar module with at least two linear actuators in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the structure of FIG. 1, depicting an extended position of a sixth solar module with respect to the fifth solar module in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of yet another embodiment of the structure of FIG. 1, depicting operational arrangement of a fourth solar module with an umbrella in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of yet another embodiment of the structure of FIG. 1, depicting operational arrangement of a control unit with a first linear actuator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols, and the figures may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the figures with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To promote an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the figures and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the disclosure as would normally occur to those skilled in the art are to be construed as being within the scope of the present disclosure.

The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such a process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components preceded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices, sub-systems, elements, structures, components, additional devices, additional sub-systems, additional elements, additional structures, or additional components. Appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment", "in another embodiment" and similar language throughout this specification may, but not necessarily do, all refer to the same embodiment.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are only illustrative and not intended to be limiting.

In the following specification and the claims, reference will be made to a number of terms, which shall be defined to have the following meanings. The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the discussion that follows, references will be made to “first solar module”, “second solar module” , “third solar module”, “fourth solar module”, “fifth solar module”, “sixth solar module” with reference to an entity (solar module) that are positioned on a solar powered vehicle for generating electricity from sunlight. References will be made to “first linear actuator”, “second linear actuator”, and “actuator lever” with respect to an entity (actuator) for orienting the solar module towards the sun.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a structure of a solar powered vehicle for mounting a plurality of solar modules. The structure includes an array of solar modules. The array of solar modules includes a first solar module mounted on a hood of the solar powered vehicle. The array of solar modules also includes a second solar module positioned adjacent to the first solar module and mounted on at least one door of the solar powered vehicle. The array of solar modules further includes a third solar module positioned adjacent to the second solar module and mounted on at least one window of the solar powered vehicle. The array of solar modules also includes a fourth solar module positioned adjacent to the third solar module and mounted on a roof of the solar powered vehicle. The array of solar modules also includes a fifth solar module positioned adjacent to the fourth solar module and mounted on a tailgate of the solar powered vehicle. The fifth solar module includes at least two linear actuators including a first linear actuator mechanically coupled to a rear portion of the solar powered vehicle. The first linear actuator is adapted to orient the fifth solar module towards sun in one or more positions with respect to a horizontal axis of the solar powered vehicle. The at least two linear actuators also includes a second linear actuator adapted to provide bi-directional movement to a sixth solar module positioned underneath the fifth solar module along a longitudinal axis of the fifth solar module. The fifth solar module includes at least two channels positioned along an inner periphery of the fifth solar module along respective axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fifth solar module to guide the sixth solar module during the bi-directional movement. The fifth solar module includes at least two clips to mount the second linear actuator. The at least two clips are adapted to adjust a position of the second linear actuator with respect to the fifth solar module, thereby adjusting an extent of the bidirectional movement of the sixth solar module with respect to the fifth solar module. The fifth solar module includes at least two solar modules coupled to the fifth solar module via one or more corresponding hinges. The at least two solar modules are adapted to orient towards the sun when positioned coplanar with the fifth solar module. The at least two solar modules are adapted to prevent ingress of water into a predefined area of the solar powered vehicle. The array of solar modules are adapted to generate electricity from sunlight to charge an energy storage unit associated with the solar powered vehicle, thereby increasing range of the solar powered vehicle.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a structure (10) of a solar powered vehicle for mounting a plurality of solar modules in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The structure (10) includes an array of solar modules. In one embodiment, the array of solar modules may include at least one of a mono crystalline solar module, a poly crystalline solar module, and an amorphous solar module. The array of solar modules includes a first solar module (20) mounted on a hood of the solar powered vehicle. In one embodiment, the solar powered vehicle may be a car. In one embodiment, the first solar module (20) may be mechanically coupled to an actuator lever (130) adapted to orient the first solar module (20) towards the sun. In such an embodiment, the actuator lever (130) may be adapted to provide a predefined elevation to the first solar module (20) with respect to the longitudinal axis of the solar powered vehicle while orienting the first solar module (20) towards the sun. In one embodiment, the predefined elevation may lie in a range between 0 degrees and 80 degrees.

Further, the array of solar modules also includes a second solar module (30) positioned adjacent to the first solar module (20) and mounted on at least one door of the solar powered vehicle. In one embodiment, the at least one door of the solar powered vehicle may include a gull wing door (140) adapted to orient the second solar module (30) towards the sun when opened. In such an embodiment, the gull wing door (140) may be mounted on the solar powered vehicle through a plurality of hydraulic gas springs (150) adapted to prevent vibrations being formed on the gull wing door (140) during opening and closing of the gull wing door (140), thereby protecting the second solar module (30) from mechanical damage.

Furthermore, the array of solar modules further includes a third solar module (40) positioned adjacent to the second solar module (30) and mounted on at least one window of the solar powered vehicle. The array of solar modules also includes a fourth solar module (FIG. 2, (50)) positioned adjacent to the third solar module (40) and mounted on a roof of the solar powered vehicle. The array of solar modules also includes a fifth solar module (60) positioned adjacent to the fourth solar module (50) and mounted on a tailgate of the solar powered vehicle. The fifth solar module (60) includes at least two solar modules (120) coupled to the fifth solar module (60) via one or more corresponding hinges (not shown in FIG. 1). The at least two solar modules (120) are adapted to orient towards the sun when positioned coplanar with the fifth solar module (60).

Moreover, the at least two solar modules (120) are adapted to prevent ingress of water into a predefined area of the solar powered vehicle. In one embodiment, the predefined area may include, but not limited to, a trunk of the solar powered vehicle, a plurality of rear seats of the solar powered vehicle. The array of solar modules are adapted to generate electricity from sunlight to charge an energy storage unit associated with the solar powered vehicle, thereby increasing range of the solar powered vehicle. In one embodiment, the energy storage unit may include, but not limited to, a battery, and a super capacitor.

Additionally, in such an embodiment, the battery may include, but not limited to, lead acid battery, lithium ion battery and the like. The fifth solar module (60) includes at least two linear actuators including a first linear actuator (70) mechanically coupled to a rear portion of the solar powered vehicle. The first linear actuator (70) is adapted to orient the fifth solar module (60) towards sun in one or more positions with respect to a horizontal axis of the solar powered vehicle. Coplanar position of the at least two solar modules (120) are shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of yet another embodiment of the structure (10) of FIG. 1, depicting coplanar position of the at least two solar modules (120) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed explanation of the at least two solar modules (120) is provided in the description of FIG. 1. Operational arrangement of the fifth solar module (60) with the at least two liner actuators is shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of a structure (10) of FIG. 1, depicting operational arrangement of the fifth solar module (60) with the at least two linear actuators in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The at least two linear actuators also includes a second linear actuator (80) adapted to provide bi-directional movement to a sixth solar module (90) positioned underneath the fifth solar module (60) along a longitudinal axis of the fifth solar module (60). In one embodiment, the bi-directional movement may include an extension of the sixth solar module (90) with respect to the fifth solar module (60) in a first predefined direction. In some embodiments, the bi-directional movement may include a retraction of the sixth solar module (90) with respect to the fifth solar module (60) in a second predefined direction.

Further, the fifth solar module (60) includes at least two channels (100) positioned along an inner periphery of the fifth solar module (60) along respective axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fifth solar module (60) to guide the sixth solar module (90) during the bi-directional movement. The fifth solar module (60) includes at least two clips (110) to mount the second linear actuator (80). The at least two clips (110) are adapted to adjust a position of the second linear actuator (80) with respect to the fifth solar module (60), thereby adjusting an extent of the bidirectional movement of the sixth solar module (90) with respect to the fifth solar module (60). Extended position of the sixth solar module (90) with respect to the fifth solar module (60) is shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the structure (10) of FIG. 1, depicting the extended position of the sixth solar module (90) with respect to the fifth solar module (60) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Extension of the sixth solar module (90) with respect to the fifth solar module (60) is explained in FIG.3. Operational arrangement of the fourth solar module (50) with an umbrella (160) is shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of yet another embodiment of the structure (10) of FIG. 1, depicting operational arrangement of the fourth solar module (50) with an umbrella (160) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the fourth solar module (50) may be detachably connected to the roof of the solar powered vehicle. In such an embodiment, the fourth solar module (50) may be adapted to power one or more electrical devices associated with an umbrella (160) upon mounting the fourth solar module (50) on the umbrella (160). Further, in one embodiment, the one or more electrical devices may include, but not limited to, a fan, a mobile charger, a light and the like. In one embodiment, the fourth solar module (50) may include a hole (180) for accommodating an end tip (190) of the umbrella (160). In such an embodiment, the fourth solar module (50) may be connected to the umbrella (160) via one or more buttons (200) provided on the umbrella (160). Operational arrangement of a control unit (170) with the first linear actuator (70) is shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of yet another embodiment of the structure (10) of FIG. 1, depicting operational arrangement of the control unit (170) with the first linear actuator (70) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the structure (10) may include a control unit (170) adapted to provide one or more control signals to each of the first linear actuator (70), the second linear actuator (80) and an actuator lever (130) to actuate the first linear actuator (70), the second linear actuator (80) and the actuator lever (130) based on one or more inputs received from a user.

Moreover, in one embodiment, the control unit (170) may receive the one or more inputs from the user wirelessly. Working of the first linear actuator (70) in association with the control unit (170) is described as follows. Working of the second linear actuator (80) and the actuator lever (130) with the control unit (170) is similar to the working of the first linear actuator (70) with the control unit (170). The control unit (170) may include a first relay (210), a second relay (220) and a switch (230) electrically coupled to the energy storage unit (240). The switch (230) may turn ON the first relay (210) and the second relay (220) one at a time upon receiving the one or more signals from the user. The first relay (210) may prompt the first liner actuator (70) to extend when turned ON by the switch (230). Similarly, the second relay (220) may prompt the first liner actuator (70) to retract when tuned ON by the switch (230).

Various embodiments of the structure of a solar powered vehicle for mounting a plurality of solar modules described above enable various advantages. Provision of the array of solar modules increases charging rate of the energy storage unit, thereby reducing down time of the solar powered vehicle. The fourth solar module mounted on the solar powered vehicle may be detached from the roof of the vehicle to power the one or more electric devices associated with the umbrella, thereby increasing repurposing possibilities of the fourth solar module. The at least two solar modules associated with the fifth solar module are capable of capturing the sunlight when placed coplanar with the fifth solar module, thereby increasing energy harvesting capability of the solar powered vehicle.

Further, the first solar module and the fifth solar module may be oriented towards sun by means of the actuator lever and the first linear actuator thereby supplementing the energy harvesting capability of the solar powered vehicle. The second solar module mounted on the gull wing type doors of the solar powered vehicle may also capture sunlight when oriented towards the sun to capture solar energy, thereby increasing over all efficiency of the solar powered vehicle. Provision of the second linear actuator enables bidirectional movement of the sixth solar module with respect to the fifth solar module thereby increasing surface area of the plurality of solar modules for capturing the sunlight.

Furthermore, the first linear actuator, the second linear actuator, and the actuator liver may be controlled remotely by means of a remote controller, thereby providing a way for deploying the array of solar modules from a distance. The at least two solar modules may be repurposed to prevent water ingress into the predefined portion of the solar powered vehicle. The structure is simple, easy to install and operate. Components used for fabricating the structure are inexpensive and readily available, thereby making the solar powered vehicle affordable. Regenerative breaking unit associated with the solar powered vehicle enables charging of the energy storage unit during breaking, thereby increasing effective range of the solar powered vehicle.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the disclosure and are not intended to be restrictive thereof. While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended.

The figures and the forgoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, the order of processes described herein may be changed and is not limited to the manner described herein. Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all the acts need to be necessarily performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples.