FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to harnessing of solar energy in a two-wheeled vehicle and more particularly to location of solar panels in a two-wheeler for efficient harnessing of solar energy.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] ' Solar panels mounted on the four wheelers normally have an access to a larger area and hence, they can accommodate bigger solar panels very easily. A four-wheeled vehicle incorporating solar panels for various applications is well' known. These applications include use of solar panel for converting the solar energy into electrical energy and using this generated electrical energy for aiding the battery bank of the vehicle. As described in the patent application US20020153178, the patent discloses a solar panel mounted on the top roof of the four-wheeler and thereby harnessing the solar energy and using it for charging the battery bank of the vehicle. Also in the patent application document, titled - "Means for generating electrical energy for vehicle", granted as US4141425, solar panel generated electrical energy aiding recharging of batteries is disclosed. The electricity generated through the solar panel in the vehicle can meet various electrical needs of the four-wheeler.

[0003] On the other hand, in a two-wheeler, such an area where direct sunlight can fall is very negligible. Hence, a similar approach if applied in two wheelers, the implementation faces a bigger challenge in terms of location of the solar panel and size of the solar panel that can be mounted.

This limitation on area receiving direct sunlight, subsequently limits the power available for the electrically passive devices. Here, an electrically passive device includes all electronic and electrical devices that need electrical power for their functioning.

[0004] In a two-wheeler, the constraints in the size of solar panel, limits maximum wattage obtained from the solar panel. Many a times in a two-wheeler, either the rider or the pillion rider covers maximum possible area where solar panel can be mounted for efficient generation of electricity. Hence locating area on a two-wheeler for placing a solar panel is a challenging process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In particular, this invention describes a system for harnessing solar energy in a two-wheeler by placing solar panels at the locations, which provide maximum possible area of exposure. Capturing maximum area of exposure is very crucial in a two-wheeler due to various space constraints. The current invention also describes a system for recharging vehicle battery and electrically passive devices in a two-wheeler while the vehicle is in running or in the stationary state.

[0006] The mobile phones and other electrically passive devices currently have low battery life per charging, hence frequent charging of the devices is required for using them as they run out of battery very frequently. Hence, there is a requirement for charging of such electrically passive devices on the go. Since while driving, the electrically passive devices are not used, and it is not desirable to use them due to safety reasons, this time can be utilized for charging such electrically passive devices. Apart from this, when the vehicle is stationary, those devices which are not to be used, if can be put on charging under safety lock, which can further save electricity generated by non-renewable sources of energy. Hence, the current invention and the embodiments herein describe an efficient location of solar panel(s) in a two-wheeler and system with housing cum mounting arrangement for recharging electrically passive devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure lillustrates a solar panel mounted on a typical two-wheeler.

Figure 2 illustrates the front storage box of a typical two-wheeler.

Figure 3 illustrates the electrically passive device housing in the front storage box of a two-wheeler.

Figure 4 illustrates a typical example for an electrically passive device used in housing of the storage box in a two-wheeler.

Figure Sillustrates the electrically passive device mounted in the housing of storage box.

Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment for placing solar panel on the two-wheeler.

Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment for placing solar panel on the two-wheeler.

Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment for placing solar panel on the two-wheeler.

Figure 9 illustrates an embodiment for placing solar panel on the two-wheeler.

Figure 10 illustrates the block diagram for performing of switching of recharging process of primary and secondary battery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In the present invention, solar energy is used as an auxiliary power source for a two-wheeler vehicle. The main energy source of the vehicle can be either fuel-engine system, motor-battery i.e. EV (Electric vehicle) or fuel-engine along with motor-battery i.e. HEV (Hybrid Electric vehicle). In the current invention, a solar module is connected to a rechargeable energy storage device through a smart switch, that selects either solar or magneto to charge the energy storage device based on their individual voltage levels. The vehicle is further equipped with a secondary rechargeable energy storage device, also called as the "green battery", of a smaller capacity than the main battery. The green battery is charged by solar modules (after main energy storage device is fully charged), which is used to power some of the less energy consuming electrical loads in the vehicle like TSL (Turn signal lamp), speedometer etc., in the increasing order of their power consumption. Locational aspects of the vehicle where the thin-film flexible solar modules can be mounted for energy generation is also discussed.

[0008] There can be more than one solar module mounted on-board the two-wheeler vehicle, functioning either independently or connected in series/parallel to charge the main/green energy storage device in the vehicle. While the main energy storage device powers the high power consuming loads, the green energy storage device (of lesser capacity than the main) will be used for lesser energy consuming loads like TSL/TL/BL/position Lamp/speedometer etc., solar power being the only energy source for the later. When the green energy storage device is discharged, the main energy storage device will power the lesser energy consuming loads, until the green energy storage device is charged again. The green energy storage device can also be used exclusively for giving power to the starter motor, which will significantly reduce the load off the main energy storage device.

[0009] For fuel-engine or HEV, the solar modules may charge the rechargeable energy storage devices on-board the vehicle through a smart switch. The smart switch is located inside the switching module, which is described later in the specification. The switching module applies the logic based upon the inputs from the comparator module (Cm) that will let either the solar panel or the magneto charge the energy storage devices based on their individual output voltages. In cases, where in the storage device state of charge (SOC) is low and both solar as well as magneto are giving sufficient voltage both will be allowed by the smart switch to charge the energy storage devices.

[00010] As shown in Figure 1, a typical two-wheeler 10, with a solar panel 2 mounted on the side panel 4 are shown. In the Figure 1, also is shown a seat 1, footboard 3, wiring harness 5, and battery controller box 7 and front storage box 6. The electrical energy produced from the solar panel 2 is first sent to the battery controller box 6; this battery controller box 6 decides whether the electrical energy produced by the solar panel 2 is to be used to charge the primary battery or the secondary battery depending upon the "state of charge" of the two batteries. The battery controller box 7 is a box, which houses the two primary and secondary batteries and also the switching module. 'F' shows front direction of the vehicle and 'R' shows rear direction of the vehicle.

[00011] Figure 2 shows the front storage box 6, with the front storage box opening knob 21, the seat 1 and the foot board 3.

[00012] Figure 3 shows the front storage box 6 in an opened position with the front storage box-opening knob 21, the utility box charging point 31 and the electrically passive device housing 32. The electrically passive device housing 32 in the current invention is located on the top portion of the storage box 32 is customizable according to shapes of various electrically passive devices to be used for charging. The utility box charging point 31 gets the electric supply for charging the electrically passive devices, from any one of the two batteries namely the primary battery and the secondary battery.

[00013] Figure 4 shows an electrically passive device 41 in shape of a torch with electrically passive device power pins 43 and electrically passive device switch 42. This electrically passive device 41 is shown only for illustration purposes; any other electrically passive device for example, mobile, tab etc may replace it. In case the electrically passive device 41 is not equipped with electrically passive device power pins 43, a suitable adapter for the same may be used.

[00014] Figure 5 shows the electrically passive device 41 in the charging process placed inside the electrically passive device housing 32. Figure 6 shows first embodiment of the current invention in which the solar panel 2 is located on the side panel 4 at the rearmost position of two wheeler 10.

[00015] Figure 7 shows second embodiment of the current invention in which the solar panel 2 is located on the side panel 4 at the rearmost position 71 of two-wheeler 10 in line with the rear slanting of tail lamp.

[00016] Figure 8 shows third embodiment of the current invention in which the solar panel 2 is located on the front panel 81 in front position of two-wheeler 10 below the headlamp 82 and above the front fender 83.

[00017] Figure 9 shows fourth embodiment in which the solar panel 2 is located on the rear side (91) of the front panel 81 also called as rear panel or on the storage box 6 of two wheeler 10.

[00018] Figure 10 shows the battery controller box 7 with the primary battery 72 with voltage (State of Charge, in short, SOC) VP, secondary battery 73 with voltage (State of Charge, in short, SOC) Vs, the solar panel 2 with voltage (State of Charge, in short, SOC) Vsp. The primary battery 72 with voltage Vp and secondary battery 73 with voltage Vs are compared with the reference voltage VR2by the comparator CP and Cs respectively. The solar panel 2 with voltage VSp is compared with the reference voltage VRiby the comparator Csp. The compared values 85, 86 and 87 compared by comparators Csp,Cp & Cs respectively are sent to the logic controller Cm that decides the position of switch 89 through the output 88. If the switch 89 connects to the primary battery 72, then primary battery 72 will get charged through the electricity generated by the solar panel 2. If the switch 89 connects to the switch 73, then the secondary battery 73 gets charged through the electricity generated by the solar panel 2. The reference voltages Vri and VR2 are predetermined and used to compare voltages or the state of charge of the solar panel module (2), primary (72) and secondary batteries (73). The switching module 89 controls the recharging process undergone by the primary and secondary batteries. The switch is designed to get signal from the comparator module 76. For example, if parameter 74 is set to be x volts, then as soon as the SOC of 72 reaches x volts, the switching module 89 will connect the solar panel 2 output to the primary battery and hence, primary battery would be taken into line for charging. In another case, if SOC of primary battery reaches its highest volts, then, switching module 89 would connect solar panel 2 outputs to the secondary battery, and then the primary battery is disconnected from the solar panel from charging and consequently, secondary battery would come in line for starting the charging.

We claim,

1. A solar charging system for a two-wheeler (10) comprising:
a solar panel (2), a primary battery (72) wherein the primary battery (72) supplies power to atleast one electrically passive devices on the said two wheeler (10);
a secondary battery (73) wherein the said secondary battery (73) being charged from voltage generated by the said solar panel (2);
a switching module (89), wherein the said switching module (89) comprises of plurality of comparator units (2) which compare "state of charge" across the terminals of said solar panel (2), said primary battery (72) and the said secondary battery (73);
a charging point (2) in the front storage box (6); wherein the said charging point (2) can be used for charging at least one electrically passive device (2);
a wiring harness (5) wherein the said wiring harness (5) provides electrical connection between the said solar panel (2) and the said switching module (89), between either of the said primary battery (72) and the said switching module (89) and atleast one output of the said switching module (89) and the said charging point (2);
wherein the switching module (89) compares "state of charge" (2) of the said primary battery (72) and the said secondary battery (73) and selects any one of the said primary battery (72) or the said secondary battery (73) for recharging process; the said recharging performed through the voltage generated by the said solar panel (2) mounted on the side panel (4).
The solar charging system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the solar panel (2) is placed at the rear most portions (2) of the said side panel.
The solar charging system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the solar panel (2) is mounted on the front panel (81) of the two-wheeler.
The solar charging system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the solar panel (2) is mounted on the rear side (91) of the front panel.
The solar charging system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the solar panel (2) is mounted on the front storage box (6) cover.