Tracking solar panel stand
AssigneeDFI Enterprises, Inc.
InventorsLowell Edwin Lingo, Jr., Benjamin Andrew Strohman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed embodiments provide apparatuses and techniques for use and construction of a two-axis solar tracking device that closely approximates the efficiency of Vertical Biaxial Trackers but with simplified construction, and thus are cost competitive with uniaxial horizontal tracking systems. The flexible mounting system can accommodate both photovoltaic and solar thermal panels. Disclosed embodiments provide a solar panel stand that provides biaxial tracking for solar energy generation efficiency, with reduced cost and complexity, enabling more off-grid and micro-grid energy generation capabilities.
Claims11
A solar panel stand, comprising:
- a plurality of vertical supports;
- a horizontal support beam moveably coupled to the plurality of vertical supports;
- a plurality of lateral arms protruding from the horizontal support beam;
- a plurality of panel frames moveably attached to each lateral arm of the plurality of lateral arms;
- and
- a plurality of solar panels, wherein each solar panel of the plurality of solar panels is installed within a panel frame from the plurality of panel frames, and wherein each frame of the plurality of panel frames has a mounting offset that is unequal to a mounting offset of an adjacent solar panel of the plurality of solar panels, and wherein one panel frame from the plurality of panel frames is a centrally mounted panel frame that is mounted at a midpoint of the horizontal support beam, and wherein the centrally mounted panel has a mounting offset that is half a width of a panel frame, and wherein one panel frame from the plurality of panel frames is mounted at a first end of the horizontal support beam, and wherein the panel frame mounted at the first end of the horizontal support beam is mounted such that the panel frame does not extend above the horizontal support beam, and wherein one panel frame from the plurality of panel frames is mounted at a second end of the horizontal support beam, and wherein the panel frame mounted at the second end of the horizontal support beam is mounted such that the panel frame does not extend below the horizontal support beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.