US 11,309,829 B2Granted

Dynamically shifting photovoltaic panel array apparatus

OwnerBarry Sgarrellainventor

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Abstract

A series of photovoltaic panels (PV) arranged on a planar, horizontal support platform so as to form a PV array that is pivotally connected to a PV array support structure that can pivotally raise, angle and support the PV array above agricultural fields at heights that allow the passage of large mechanized farm equipment to pass beneath. The PV array support structure pivotally raises its PV array into its operating elevation and positional range with a system of motorized pivot arms operationally positioned between its array columns and the members of the support frame. Once in place, these PV arrays may be horizontally moved by tilting or angling the array columns within a specified operating range (by computer positioning known as dynamic shifting). At the same time, the PV panels may all be optimally tilted for sun sharing and sun shading for both the generation of electricity and to increase the agricultural efficiency of the underlying land.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A dynamically shifting photovoltaic panel array apparatus, comprising:

at least one planar platform horizontally translatable between an East and West direction;
an array of tiltable photovoltaic panels mounted onto a top of said platform;
at least four foundation piers;
at least four vertical tiltable array columns having a lower end and an upper end, each said lower end pivotally mounted to one of said at least four foundation piers by a lower pivot assembly, and each said upper end pivotally mounted to said platform by an upper pivot assembly;
at least two extendible linear actuators, each having a first end and a second end, each said first end directly connected to said platform and each said second end directly connected to one of said tiltable array columns, and
wherein each of said at least two extendible linear actuators is disposed at an acute angle between said platform and one of said at least four tiltable array columns that exceeds zero degrees, so as to enable the horizontal translation of said array of tiltable photovoltaic panels.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/204,491Filed 17 Mar 2021 · continuation in part
Priority: 10 Apr 2018
Published: US 2021/0211091 A18 Jul 2021
Granted: 19 Apr 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

H02S 20/32
Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment: specially adapted for solar tracking
A01G 9/243
Devices or systems for heating, ventilating, regulating temperature , illuminating, or watering, in greenhouses, forcing-frames, or the like:…
F24S 25/617
For fixing to the ground or to building structures: elements driven into the ground, e.g. anchor-piles; Foundations for supporting elements;…
F24S 30/20
Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules: for linear movement

Family

Application15/949,354Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 10 Apr 2018
Application16/103,755Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Aug 2018
Application16/598,559Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 10 Oct 2019
US 2021/0211091 A1Pre-grant publication · published 8 Jul 2021
US 10,615,738 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2019/0312543 A1Published application
US 2020/0059193 A1Published application
US 2020/0083838 A1Published application
US 11,309,829 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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