A folded down support (12) allows for stronger solar panels (10) and the support replaces most of the solar racking required for solar installation which further reduces the cost of the photovoltaic solar system. The solar panels (10) can be arranged so that solar panels form a solar collector solar panel array. The solar panel (10) can be set on a surface by itself or with ballast (43). It can also be attached to the surface by fastening the solar panel to the side supports. If the solar panel frame and supports are electrically conductive, the design allows for self electrical grounding between these conductive parts when the side supports are pivoted to the down position. The folded up support allows for high density storage and shipping.

An improved umbrella apparatus is a portable umbrella with a support column having a container for holding a removable water tank with a pump for pumping misting water to misters that are attached to the perimeter edges of the umbrella. Solar panels are attached to the topside of the umbrella for charging rechargeable batteries to power the pump mechanism. The apparatus is useful for shade and cooling at the beach or at a sports game.

A photovoltaic system comprises a photovoltaic module attached to a photovoltaic mount frame, the mount frame having a rectangular shape. A deflector is attached to the mount frame by a rotatable deflector and mount frame attachment wherein the deflector pivots around the rotatable deflector and mount frame attachment from a nesting position under the photovoltaic module in the mount frame to an installation position raising at least a first side of the mount frame. A mount foot is attached to the deflector by a rotatable mount foot and deflector attachment wherein the mount foot pivots around the rotatable mount foot and deflector attachment from a nesting position in a mount foot nesting indention in the deflector to an installation position planar to a mounting surface.

This invention provides solar applications with a strong, light, universal solar panel mount that pivots inside the solar panel frame for compact storage or transport with no disassembly. It also pivots out at adjustable angles to work with any latitude or season without assembly. The mount is adjustable to a wide range of solar panel angles to allow the solar panel to best match the sun angle for multiple latitudes and seasons of the year. It can be temporarily free standing or permanently placed via the use of the attachment points.

A stand for mounting a solar panel and an electronics enclosure includes a pole having a spreader attached to a bottom end of the pole, where the pole includes a first hole and second hole sized to accept a hitch pin. The first hole corresponds to a collapsed state of the stand and the second hole corresponds to an deployed state of the stand. A hub is slidably mounted to the pole and includes a first hole corresponding to the first hole in the pole and the collapsed state of the stand and a notch corresponding to the second hole in the stand and the deployed state of the stand. A plurality of legs are pivotably attached to the hub, where the legs spread outward from the hub by the spreader when the stand is in the deployed state. In the deployed state, the hitch pin is inserted through the second hole in the pole and rests in the notch in the hub, where the notch preventing the pole from rotating relative to the hub.

A frame for mounting a plurality of solar tracking units is provided. The frame comprises a plurality of leg assemblies interconnected by trusses to provide a stable structure that is ballasted by the frame's own weight, rather than relying on external ballast such as concrete blocks. Each leg assembly is provided with a shaft with a mounting end for mounting a solar tracking unit. Each solar tracking unit includes an armature assembly and at least one motor for controlling the orientation and position of a solar panel mounted thereon. Solar tracking assemblies, each comprising the frame and plurality of solar tracking units, can be assembled in an array using connectors spacing the assemblies, thus providing enhanced stability. Each of the assemblies can be provided with a local control unit for controlling each individual solar tracking unit, and a global control unit may be used to control the local control units.

The invention concerns a truss structure including a plurality of longitudinal members extending parallel to one another in a main extension direction and crossmembers (9) distributed in the main extension direction to connect the longitudinal members mechanically two-by-two, forming a plurality of polygons (11) each contained in a plane perpendicular to the main extension direction. According to the invention, each crossmember (9) connecting two longitudinal members includes a first half-crossmember (9a) with a first end connected to one of the two longitudinal members so as to be able to pivot about a first axis (X1-X1) and a second half-crossmember (9b) a first end of which is connected to the other of the two longitudinal members so as to be able to pivot about a second axis (X2-X2). The two half-crossmembers are connected to one another by an articulation hinge (13) allowing relative rotation of the two half-crossmembers (9a, 9b) about a third axis (X3-X3). The first, second and third axes are parallel to one another and orthogonal to the main extension direction, allowing the truss structure and each crossmember (9) to pass from a deployed position to a folded position in which the first and the second half-crossmembers (9a, 9b) of each crossmember (9) extend substantially parallel one alongside the other in said main extension direction.

There is disclosed an Apparatus for unfolding a foldable collector module arrangement from a folded state to an unfolded state comprises a horizontal carrier (1, 2, 3), attachment means (17; 56), coupling means (13, 14; 60), and a pulling arrangement (4, 11; 50, 55). The attachment means (17; 56) releasably attaches hinged parts (22, 23, 24) of the module arrangement to the apparatus and are moveably arranged relative to the carrier. The coupling means (13, 14; 60) releasably couple collector modules (20, 21) of the collector module arrangement to the carrier. They are slideably arranged on the carrier. The pulling arrangement (4, 11; 50, 55) is attached to the attachment means (17; 56) and/or the coupling means (13, 14; 60) for moving the attachment means (17; 56) and/or the coupling means (13, 14; 60) relative to the carrier. When unfolding the collector module arrangement the pulling arrangement (4, 11; 50, 55) is activated for opening the hinged parts (22, 23, 24) of the collector module arrangement by movement of the attachment means (17; 56) and/or the coupling means (13, 14; 60).

A mobile solar power system provides electricity to various electronic devices needing a source of electricity in remote locations. The mobile solar power system may be transported in a compact form to a remote location by a trailer configured for securely transporting the mobile solar power system. Arrays for containing solar panels may be attached to the mobile solar power system. When a user is ready to deploy the solar panels of the various arrays, the arrays may be slid out from the mobile solar power system and/or unfolded from the mobile solar power system. After the arrays are deployed, the arrays including solar panels may be angled such that the solar panels may be exposed to solar energy which may be subsequently passed through to the various electronic devices needing a source of electricity.

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a rapidly deploying transportable power system for generating power. The rapidly deploying transportable power system embodiment disclosed herein can have a plurality of frame members containing a plurality of solar panels. Any embodiments of the rapidly deploying transportable power system can also have a transport enclosure configured to support the plurality of frame members and a rail system coupleable with the transport enclosure, the rail system being configured to support the plurality of frame members outside of the transport enclosure. In any embodiments, the plurality of frame members can be positionable within the transport enclosure with one frame member positionable above another frame member. Furthermore, the plurality of frame members can be movable along the rail system to positions outside of the transport enclosure along the track system.