US 11,990,865 B2Granted

Rapidly deploying transportable solar panel systems and methods of using same

AssigneeSacTec Solar Inc.

InventorRobert Kunesh

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a rapidly deploying transportable power system for generating power. The rapidly deploying transportable power system embodiment disclosed herein can have a plurality of frame members containing a plurality of solar panels. Any embodiments of the rapidly deploying transportable power system can also have a transport enclosure configured to support the plurality of frame members and a rail system coupleable with the transport enclosure, the rail system being configured to support the plurality of frame members outside of the transport enclosure. In any embodiments, the plurality of frame members can be positionable within the transport enclosure with one frame member positionable above another frame member. Furthermore, the plurality of frame members can be movable along the rail system to positions outside of the transport enclosure along the track system.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A rapidly deploying transportable power system for generating power, comprising:

a transport enclosure having an interior space;
a plurality of solar panel frames, each frame supporting a plurality of solar panels;
a plurality of interconnectable track modules, the track modules being couplable together in an end to end arrangement to form a track system;
one or more cart devices movable along a length of the track system to move the frames along the track system when the track system is in a second state;
and
at least one lift system configured to lift the frames from the interior space of the transport enclosure onto the track system and/or from the track system into the interior space of the transport enclosure;
wherein:
each solar panel supported by each frame is electrically interconnected with the other solar panels of each frame;
the solar panel frames and track modules can be moved between a first state and Rafisaid second state;
in the first state, the frames are all positioned at least substantially within the interior space of the transport enclosure;
in the first state, all of the track modules are positioned within the interior space of the transport enclosure;
in the second state, the track modules are positioned on the ground in a series with the end of one track module coupled with an end of an adjacent track module to form the track system such that the one or more cart devices are movable continuously along the track system between a first end and a second end of the track system, the first end of the track system being adjacent to the transport enclosure when the frames are being deployed onto the track system;
and in the second state, the frames are supported by the track system outside of the transport enclosure, the frames being positioned along the length of the track system at a predetermined spacing to permit suitable exposure to the sun for each frame.

10 more elements

A method of providing transportable solar power, comprising:

providing a transportable enclosure having an interior space;
providing a plurality of solar panel frames, each frame supporting a plurality of solar panels;
providing a plurality of interconnectable track assemblies comprising a first rail member and second rail member, the track assemblies being couplable together in an end to end arrangement to form a track system;
providing a cart device movable along a length of the track system to move the frames along the track system when the track system is in a second state;
and
providing a first top bracket assembly and a second top bracket assembly, wherein the first top bracket assembly is coupled to the first rail member by a first support member and the second top bracket assembly is coupled to the second rail member by a second support member;
wherein each of said first top bracket assembly and said second top bracket comprise:
a hinge member;
an adjustable support member assembly comprising:
a first adjustable support member;
a second adjustable support member;
wherein the first adjustable support member of the first top bracket assembly is configured to rotate up from the first rail member about said hinge member and the first adjustable support member of the second top bracket assembly is configured to rotate up from the second rail member about said hinge member;
and wherein the first adjustable support member is telescopically adjustable with the second adjustable support member to adjust a length of the adjustable support member assembly and change an angular orientation of one of the solar panel frames of the plurality of solar panel frames;
wherein:
each solar panel supported by each frame is electrically interconnected with the other solar panels of each frame;
the solar panel frames and the track assemblies are configured to be moved between a first state and a second state;
in the first state, the plurality of frames are positioned in the interior space of the transport enclosure;
positioning the transportable enclosure on a ground surface;
positioning the plurality of track assemblies from the interior space of the transportable enclosure onto the ground surface;
arranging the plurality of track assemblies into an end to end arrangement with one another to form said track system extending away from the transportable enclosure in a linear arrangement;
positioning the cart device on the track system adjacent to the first end of the track system;
moving a first solar panel frame from the interior space of the transportable enclosure onto the cart device;
moving the first solar panel frame along the track system from the first end of the track system to a first deployment position;
coupling the first solar panel frame to the track system at the first deployment position;
supporting a first end portion of the first solar panel frame with said first top bracket assembly and a second end portion of the first solar panel frame with the second top bracket assembly, with the second end portion being opposite the first end portion;
and
adjusting an angular orientation of the first solar panel frame by adjusting said length of the adjustable support member assembly of the first top bracket assembly with respect to the adjustable support member assembly of the second top bracket assembly to change an angular orientation of the solar panel about a horizontal axis for solar exposure.

24 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/700,444Filed 21 Mar 2022 · continuation
Priority: 29 Aug 2016
Published: US 2022/0216825 A17 Jul 2022
Granted: 21 May 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

H02S 30/20
Structural details of PV modules other than those related to light conversion: collapsible or foldable PV modules
F24S 20/50
Solar heat collectors specially adapted for particular uses or environments: rollable or foldable solar heat collector modules
F24S 30/452
With two rotation axes: vertical primary axis
H02S 20/30
Supporting structures for PV modules: supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment

Family

Application62/380,805Us provisional application · filed 29 Aug 2016
Application15/688,520Parent of this continuation · filed 28 Aug 2017
US 2022/0216825 A1Pre-grant publication · published 7 Jul 2022
US 11,283,397 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2018/0062572 A1Published application
US 11,990,865 B2This patent

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