DE112021001783T5 - A SPHERE-SHAPED SOLAR-TRACKING MECHANISM - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a spherical mechanism that ensures that the shadow of an umbrella placed in the sun always falls on a surface that includes the same fixed point.

Description

scope of the invention

The present invention relates to a mechanism that ensures that the shadow of an umbrella placed under the sun always falls on a surface that includes the same fixed point.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a two degree of freedom mechanism that allows a screen to move on a spherical surface.

Background of the Invention

The position of the shadow on the ground, cast by a fixed screen exposed directly to sunlight, is constantly changing as the sun moves across the sky. This situation leads to the fact that an object (e.g. a sun lounger) that is supposed to be in the shade has to be regularly moved to where the shade is. It is possible to solve this problem by making the screen follow the sun by a mechanism with at least two degrees of freedom.

One of the simplest solutions to providing an umbrella with sun tracking capability is disclosed in Patent Document No. US3044478 described. With this construction, the screen can be rotated by hand about an axis perpendicular to its pole and therefore a two degree of freedom mechanism is achieved by incorporating the natural ability to rotate about the pole. The application of this logic with the automatic control principle is the subject of patent document no. US10250817 . With such a mechanism, since the elevation angle of the umbrella is changed by tilting the umbrella pole via a joint, the usable volume directly under the umbrella decreases as the umbrella approaches the ground.

European patent no. EP3039986A1 discloses a multi-degrees-of-freedom design that allows the umbrella to be fixed in different positions. Here the umbrella is next to the pole, not on top of it. The linkage of these two elements is provided by the crank mechanism and the fact that the canopy is highly adjustable introduces complexity.

A construction where the pole is in the shape of a pitch circle and the screen can slide on the pole is available at http://web.archive.org/web/202002292026/https://fiberbuiltumbrellas.com/wp-content /uploads/2018/09/Bali.pdf”. The second degree of freedom is achieved with the rotation of the bar around the vertical axis of the floor.

Although the umbrella constructions mentioned above give some authority over the position of the shadow, they are unable to meet the need for the shadow to always fall on the same fixed point.

aim of the invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a screen system that always projects the shadow on a surface that includes the same fixed point, regardless of the position of the sun in the sky.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella system that does not reduce the usable volume underneath while tracking the sun.

character list

• 1 Figure 13 is an isometric view of the spherical mechanism according to the present invention with an attached screen shown in phantom lines as it is not part of the invention.
• 2a is an isometric view of the spherical mechanism.
• 2 B is a side view of the spherical mechanism.
• 3 Fig. 12 is a view of the sliding part with a handle that can be attached thereto when the ball mechanism is operated by human power.
• 4a Figure 13 is an isometric view including an example solution of an alternative configuration of the spherical mechanism where the rotating part can be folded over the rod.
• 4b Figure 12 is a side view of the alternative configuration of the spherical mechanism in which the rotating part can be folded over the rod, showing the rotating part folded onto the rod.

Description of the reference numbers in the figures

1: rod

2: rotating part

3: sliding part

Description of the invention

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the spherical mechanism of the present invention are described only to provide a better understanding of the invention without creating a limiting effect.

To rotate from a point on Earth to the Sun, one should use appropriate azimuth and elevation angles. The mechanism of the present invention provides these two angular degrees of freedom and always projects the shadow of an attached screen onto an area that always encompasses the same fixed point.

• - eine Stange (1);
• - ein drehendes Teil (2), das über ein Drehgelenk mit der Stange (1) verbunden ist,
• - ein gleitendes Teil (3), das sich entlang einer Kreisbahn auf dem drehenden Teil (2) bewegt.

In its broadest form, the spherical mechanism of the present invention comprises

• - a rod (1);
• - a rotating part (2) connected to the rod (1) by a swivel joint,
• - a sliding part (3) moving along a circular path on the rotating part (2).

The rod (1) is fixed to the floor and supports the weight of the system. The rotating part (2) is connected to the rod (1) by a swivel joint located on the upper part of the rod (1). This joint gives the rotating part (2) the ability to rotate while remaining parallel to the ground. The sliding part (3) connected to the rotating part (2) has the ability to move on the rotating part (2) through a circular motion. For this purpose; both the sliding part (3) and the relevant part of the rotating part (2) on which it moves have a part-circular profile in view of the general structure. Said capabilities of rotation and movement allow the sliding part (3), having thereon a mechanical interface necessary for mounting the payload, to ride on a spherical surface. This allows adjustment of the mechanism's azimuth and elevation angles, and thus tracking of the sun.

The spherical mechanism of the present invention can be moved by human power or motor power. If the mechanism is moved by muscle power, a handle can be built into the sliding part (3), as in 3 shown.

For reasons such as packability concerns and/or to prevent inclement weather from damaging the system, an alternative mechanism configuration where the rotating part (2) folds onto the rod (1) may be preferred. An example solution for this requirement is in 4 shown.

While the spherical mechanism may include a locking mechanism allowing the sliding part (3) to be fixed to the rotating part (2), it may also include a locking mechanism allowing the rotating part (2) to be fixed to the rod ( 1) to attach.

Industrial Applicability of the Invention

It is possible to realize the spherical mechanism mentioned above with common mechanical manufacturing techniques. The resulting screen system can be used to get effective sun protection in places like parks, gardens, beaches and balconies.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• US3044478 [0004]
• US10250817 [0004]
• EP 3039986 A1 [0005]

Claims (3)

A spherical mechanism enabling the shadow of a parasol to be formed under the sun in such a way that the shadow always covers a fixed point on the ground or at a certain height above the ground, characterized in that it comprises - a rod (1 ), - a rotating part (2) connected to the rod (1) by a joint allowing rotation about an axis perpendicular to the ground, - a sliding part (3) moving in a circular path on the rotating part (2) moves and includes an interface required for mounting the payload. A spherical mechanism after claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises - a locking mechanism allowing to fix the sliding part (3) relative to the rotating part (2), - a locking mechanism allowing to fix the rotating part (2) relative to the rod (1) to fix. A spherical mechanism after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that it comprises a mechanism that allows the rotating part (2) to fold over the rod (1).

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