Ballasted support structure and header for photovoltaic modules

A header for photovoltaic module support system, the header comprising:

• a beam;
• a plurality of strongback mounting tabs attached to the beam along a mounting tab portion of the beam, each of the plurality of strongback mounting tabs attached to the beam such that the mounting tabs have an upward face that is mounted generally flush with an upward surface of the beam such that the upward face of the mounting tab and the upward surface of the beam define a support surface for an attachable strongback, the plurality of mounting tabs including:
• a first strong back mounting tab;
• a second strongback mounting tab, the first and second mounting tab separated by a distance of approximately 3/16 of a length of the mounting tab portion of the beam;
• a third strongback mounting tab, the third mounting tab separated from the second mounting tab by a distance of approximately 10/16 of the length of the mounting tab portion of the beam;
• and
• a fourth strongback mounting tab, the fourth mounting tab separated from the third mounting tab by a distance of approximately 3/16 of the length of the mounting tab portion of the beam;
• wherein a separation distance between the first and fourth mounting tabs defines the length of the mounting tab portion of the beam and wherein the second and third mounting tabs are attached to the beam between the first and fourth mounting tabs;
• and
• a standoff and stabilizing rod attached to a downward surface of the beam, the standoff positioned lengthwise between the second and third mounting tabs and extending radially from a lengthwise beam axis, wherein the stabilizing rod is an angled rod having a first end and second end, each of the first and second ends being attached to the downward surface of the beam and having a main body that extends lengthwise with the beam and radially outward over the standoff and is attached to the standoff between the first end and the second end.

A ballasted rotatable photovoltaic power system comprising:

• a first A-frame and a second A-frame structure, the first and second A-frame structures each including a ground ballast;
• a header having a first end and a second end and rotatably mounted to the first A-frame structure and the second A-frame structure, wherein the header comprises:
• a beam;
• a plurality of strongback mounting tabs attached to the beam along a mounting tab portion of the beam, each of the plurality of strongback mounting tabs attached to the beam such that the mounting tabs have an upward face that is mounted generally flush with an upward surface of the beam such that the upward face of the mounting tab and the upward surface of the beam define a support surface for an attachable strongback, the plurality of mounting tabs including:
• a first strongback mounting tab and a second strongback mounting tab, the first and second mounting tab separated by a distance of approximately 3/16 of a length of the mounting tab portion of the beam;
• a third strongback mounting tab, the third mounting tab separated from the second mounting tab by a distance of approximately 3/16 of the length of the mounting tab portion of the beam;
• and a fourth strongback mounting tab, the fourth mounting tab separated from the third mounting tab by a distance of approximately 3/16 of the length of the mounting tab portion of the beam;
• wherein a separation distance between the first and fourth mounting tabs defines the length of the mounting tab portion of the beam and wherein the second and third mounting tabs are attached to the beam between the first and fourth mounting tabs;
• a standoff and stabilizing rod attached to a downward surface of the beam, the standoff positioned lengthwise between the second and third mounting tabs and extending radially from a lengthwise beam axis, the stabilizing rod having a first end and second end, each of the first and second ends being attached to the downward surface of the beam with a main body that extends lengthwise with the beam and radially outward over the standoff;
• and
• a swingarm attached to one or more of the first and end the second end, the swing arm including an attachment point for connection to an actuator and wherein one or more of the first A-frame structure and the second A-frame structure includes a corresponding actuator mount for connection to the actuator and wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the header by actuating the swingarm;
• a plurality of strongback beams attached to the header via the support surfaces provided by the plurality of mounting tabs, wherein each of the plurality of strongback beams are attached to one of the plurality of mounting tabs at approximately a center of mass of the strongback beam;
• a plurality of mounting rails, each of the plurality of mounting rails extending along the lengthwise beam axis across each of the plurality of strongback beams to define support elements for a plurality of photovoltaic modules;
• and
• at least fourteen photovoltaic modules mounted to the plurality of mounting rails;
• wherein the plurality of mounting tabs includes only the first, second, third, and fourth mounting tabs and wherein the plurality of strongback beams includes only four strongback beams;
• and
• wherein the ground ballast for each A-frame structure provides at least 7400 lbs uplift resistance.