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US 10,302,333 B2Granted
Wind tunnel optimized solar panel system
AssigneeSunrun South LLC
InventorGreg McPheeters
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is a new stabilized racking system for solar cell panels on a surface through a novel use of ballast weights and a wind optimized design. The system is further optimized to fit a range of sizes and thicknesses of modules through a combination of self adjusting end clamps, adjustable tilt legs, and unique wind screen design. The system can include an array of individual solar panel systems that are reinforced in both lateral directions to reduce the amount of ballast weight required.
Claims25
A wind optimized solar panel system, comprising:
- a first rail and a second rail, the first rail and the second rail each having an inner surface, where the inner surface of the first rail faces the inner surface of the second rail, and the inner surface of the first rail is separated by a distance in a first direction from the inner surface of the second rail;
- a first support leg coupled to the first rail and a second support leg coupled to the second rail, wherein the first support leg and the second support leg each comprise a top section, a rail section, and a base section;
- a solar panel module coupled to the first rail with a first clamp, the second rail with a second clamp, the first support leg with a third clamp, and the second support leg with a fourth clamp;
- a windscreen directly coupled to the rail sections of the first support leg and the second support leg;
- and
- a ballast support tray, wherein
- the windscreen and the ballast support tray are one contiguous part that form a ledge for supporting at least one ballast weight,
- the windscreen has a first width in the first direction and the ballast support tray has a second width in the first direction, where the second width is less than the first width,
- the ballast support tray is situated in a position between the inner surface of the first rail and the inner surface of the second rail such that the second width of the ballast support tray extends between the inner surface of the first rail and the inner surface of the second rail, and
- the ballast support tray extends perpendicularly from the windscreen and in an outwardly direction away from the windscreen, the first and second support legs, and the solar panel module.
7 more elements
A wind optimized solar panel system, comprising:
- a first rail and a second rail, the first rail and the second rail each having an inner surface, where the inner surface of the first rail faces the inner surface of the second rail, and the inner surface of the first rail is separated by a distance in a first direction from the inner surface of the second rail;
- a first support leg coupled to the first rail and a second support leg coupled to the second rail;
- a solar panel module coupled to the first rail with a first clamp, the second rail with a second clamp, the first support leg with a third clamp, and the second support leg with a fourth clamp, each of the first and second rails extending from a point of coupling between that rail and a corresponding one of the first and second support legs to a point of coupling between that rail and the solar panel module;
- a windscreen directly coupled to first and second ends of the first support leg and the second support leg;
- and
- a ballast support tray, wherein
- the windscreen and the ballast support tray are one contiguous part that form a ledge for supporting at least one ballast weight,
- the windscreen has a first width in the first direction and the ballast support tray has a second width in the first direction, where the second width is less than the first width,
- the ballast support tray is situated in a position between the inner surface of the first rail and the inner surface of the second rail such that the second width of the ballast support tray extends between the inner surface of the first rail and the inner surface of the second rail, and
- the ballast support tray extends perpendicularly from the windscreen and in an outwardly direction away from the windscreen, the first and second support legs, and the solar panel module.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.