# US 12,110,676 B2 · Stowable power generator device

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- Number: US 12,110,676 B2
- Document ID: US12110676B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/734,183
- Filed: 2022-05-02
- Published: 2022-11-03
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2021-05-03
- Assignees: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Applicants: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Inventors: Robin Littlefield; Jeffrey Kaeli
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110676B2

## CPC

- F03D 13/20: Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
- B65D 85/68: for machines, engines or vehicles in assembled or dismantled form
- B65D 88/121: {ISO containers}
- H02S 10/12: Hybrid wind-PV energy systems
- H02S 20/30: Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment
- H02S 30/20: Collapsible or foldable PV modules
- F05B 2240/142: in the form of a standard ISO container
- F05B 2240/211: with vertical axis
- F05B 2240/91: on a stationary structure
- F05B 2240/915: which is vertically adjustable
- Y02E 10/74: Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction
- F03D: WIND MOTORS
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00)
- F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A stowable generator device including a housing defining at least one storage chamber having an opening. A closure element is configured to selectively cover and uncover the opening. Support structure is disposed within the storage chamber in a collapsed position and is selectively extendable through the opening into an expanded position when the closure element is moved away from the opening. At least one energy generating unit is connected to the support structure. The support structure and the generating unit are configured to reversibly stow inside the housing in the collapsed position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A stowable generator system positionable into an external environment, comprising:
a housing defining at least first and second storage chambers, each storage chamber having an opening and a closure element that is configured to selectively cover and uncover the opening;
support structure disposed within each storage chamber in a collapsed position and selectively extendable through the respective opening into an expanded position when the closure element is moved away from the opening;
an energy generating unit connected to each support structure;
wherein each support structure and its respective generating unit are configured to reversibly stow inside the housing in the collapsed position; and
wherein at least one closure element is connected to an upper portion of one of the support structures and is configured to seal its respective energy generating unit within the housing in the collapsed position and to travel with the support structure into the expanded position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein at least one energy generating unit includes a wind turbine.