Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Photoelectric – Panel or array
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-13
2001-11-20
Diamond, Alan (Department: 1753)
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Photoelectric
Panel or array
C136S244000, C136S251000, C136S256000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320114
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to solar panels interconnected by hinges to form a flexible solar generator
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The backsides of flexible solar generators must be electrically conductive for certain uses to dissipate electrostatic charges. Support films, so-called blankets or panels carrying solar cells, are coated on their backside with conductive material or with electrically conductive support films, such as black kapton (Trademark), are used as carrier panels or blankets. In an array of a flexible solar generator comprising several panels or blankets interconnected by hinges, the electrically-conductive surfaces of the blanket or panel must be electrically interconnected for dissipating static charges. Conventionally flexible conductors are bridging the hinge joints. These flexible conductors or bridging elements can cause the solar generators to fail due to thermal and mechanical stress. Further, such bridging elements add to the costs of the panels due to quality requirements which the installation of the bridging elements must satisfy.
European Patent Publication EP 0,219,734 A2 discloses large area solar power collector panels connected into arrays by hinges which are made of synthetic polymeric material including the hinge pin. For example, the hinge pin is a thin rod of polypropylene having a diameter of about 2 mm to keep the entire hinge flexible for rolling up the panels.
German Patent DE 32 10 312 C3 discloses a flexible, rollable solar generator with hinge connected panels. The hinges are formed by folded over sleeves. Aluminum bushings are glued into the sleeves. A thin flexible hinge pin (
7
) is inserted into the sleeves to mechanically connect the panels. No electrical connection is formed by this mechanical connection by the flexible hinge pin.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above it is the aim of the invention to achieve the following objects singly or in combination:
to provide a reliable and economical electrical interconnection between the conductive backside surfaces of the panels forming a flexible solar generator; and
to construct a flexible panel connection to have mechanical and electrical connector qualities with low electrical transition resistances.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A flexible solar generator comprising a plurality of panels having electrically conducting panel backsides, is characterized according to the invention by an electrically conducting hinge joining neighboring panels of said plurality of panels to each other to form at least one solar generator array, said electrically conducting hinge comprising electrically conducting tubular hinge elements, an electrically conducting hinge pin extending through said tubular hinge elements for joining said electrically conducting tubular hinge elements to form said electrically conducting hinge and means electrically and mechanically connecting said electrically conducting tubular hinge elements to edges of said panel backsides so that all electrically conducting panel backsides of said array are electrically interconnected with one another.
The hinged electrical and mechanical interconnection according to the invention can function without damage over the entire life of a flexible solar generator exposed to 36000 thermal cycles of +100° C. to −100° C. in low earth orbit or 2000 thermal cycles of +100° C. to −180° C. in geostationary orbit. The present panels can be folded and unfolded or rolled and unrolled repeatedly for any purpose such as testing, system integration, stowing on earth and unfolding or unrolling in orbit. Furthermore, the hinged inter-connection according to the invention is economical since no additional bridge elements nor associated installation steps are required. According to the invention, the hinge connections between the panels or so-called blankets are additionally used as electrical connections for electrically interconnecting the electrically conductive back surfaces of the blankets for static charge dissipation from all panels to common ground through low transition resistances in the hinges.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4193820 (1980-03-01), Thomas
patent: 4713492 (1987-12-01), Hanak
patent: 4755231 (1988-07-01), Kurland et al.
patent: 5855692 (1999-01-01), Kaji et al.
patent: 3210-312 (1983-09-01), None
patent: 3240327-A1 (1984-05-01), None
patent: 8802500 (1988-06-01), None
patent: 0219734 (1987-04-01), None
patent: 2525393 (1983-10-01), None
Daimler-Chrysler AG
Diamond Alan
Fasse W. F.
Fasse W. G.
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