Patent application number | Description | Published |
20150059826 | Bearing for Solar Panel Tracking System - A solar panel array system has posts for mounting vertically in earth along a Z-axis. A torque tube extends along an X-axis at upper ends of the posts for supporting and pivoting solar panels to track the sun. A bearing saddle base has a downward-facing surface that is placed on an upward-facing surface of the post. Lugs and slots on the upward-facing and downward-facing surfaces are positioned so that rotating the base about the Z-axis causes the lugs to enter the slots. A bearing saddle cradle is adjustably mounted to the base at selected pitch angles relative to the base. The base is rotatable about the Z-axis to various positions either centered or placing the X-axis at a yaw angle relative to the post. | 03-05-2015 |
20150059827 | Torque Tube for Solar Panel System - A solar panel array system has a torque tube supported on upper ends of vertical posts. The torque tube has an octagonal exterior surface and an octagonal interior surface corresponding with the exterior surface. The octagonal exterior surface defines at least one flat datum surface for mounting a photo-voltaic panel. A weld seam extends along the exterior surface parallel with the longitudinal axis. | 03-05-2015 |
20150200621 | Clamp for Solar Panel Array - A clamp for securing photovoltaic panels to a support tube of a photovoltaic panel array has a lower brace for positioning on the support tube perpendicular to the support tube. The lower brace has a central web with a pair of side walls depending from opposite edges of the web. Support shoulders are formed in the side walls. Straps have tabs on an upper end that land on the support shoulders. An upper brace has flanges for engaging upper edge surfaces of adjacent ones of the panels. At least one deflectable standoff positions the upper brace a distance from the lower brace that is selected to be greater than a thickness of the adjacent ones of the panels. Tightening bolts between the braces deflects the standoff and draws the upper brace toward the lower brace to clamp the adjacent ones of the panels between the lower and upper braces. | 07-16-2015 |