Photovoltaic module mounting to rubber tires
AssigneeEnergy Related Devices, Inc.
InventorRobert G. Hockaday
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A photovoltaic panel mounting system utilizes rubber tires to anchor and position photovoltaic panels to face the sun and resist wind forces. The shaded interior cavity of the rubber tires physically and thermally protects electronics and batteries. The tires may be filled with soil, concrete, water, or aggregate to provide further ballasting, enabling a photovoltaic mount system to withstand high velocity winds. Telescoping conduits may house wiring for the system and allow for resizing and reshaping of the mounting system. The mounting system decreases used tire waste and provides low cost components and portability.
Claims35
A photovoltaic cell array apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of photovoltaic cells laminated in one or more photovoltaic panels;
- one relocatable rubber tire forming a portable and transportable mount;
- wherein the one or more photovoltaic panels are mounted on the one rubber tire;
- a plurality of fasteners fixedly attached to walls of the one rubber tire;
- a plurality of tubular struts with fixedly attached bent end plates connected to the plurality of fasteners;
- wherein the plurality of struts create a support structure for mounting the one or more photovoltaic panels;
- wherein the one rubber tire is on a placement surface;
- and
- wherein a plane of at least one part of the one rubber tire is in contact with a plane of the placement surface after the one rubber tire is disposed on the placement surface.
A photovoltaic cell array mounting apparatus, comprising:
- laminating plurality of photovoltaic cells in one or more photovoltaic panels;
- one relocatable rubber tire forming one or more portable and transportable mounts;
- wherein the one or more photovoltaic panels are mounted on the one rubber tire;
- fixedly attaching a castable material to walls of the one rubber tire;
- connecting a support structure to the castable material;
- wherein the support structure is a tubular structure that mounts to the castable material and the tubular structure attaches to one or more photovoltaic panels;
- wherein the one rubber tire is on a placement surface;
- and
- wherein a plane of at least one part of the one rubber tire is in contact with a plane of the placement surface after the one rubber tire is on the placement surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.