Multipart ground screw collar device, assembly, system, and method

A multi-part ground screw assembly, comprising:

• a ground screw device including an elongate main body having a top end, a bottom end, a ground screw outer surface, a ground screw inner surface, a non-threaded portion, and a threaded portion, the non-threaded portion disposed adjacent the top end of the elongate main body, the non-threaded portion having at least one hole formed through the non-threaded portion of the elongate main body from the ground screw outer surface to the ground screw inner surface, and the threaded portion disposed adjacent the bottom end of the elongate main body;
• and
• a collar device including an annular main body having an collar device inner surface and an collar device outer surface with at least one aperture formed through the annular main body from the collar device inner surface to the collar device outer surface, the at least one aperture having a hexagon shape, and an at least one fastener assembly, including a fastener having a head and a threaded post, a locking washer, and a hexnut washer having a nut portion with a hexagon shape and a washer portion, the locking washer disposed on the threaded post of the fastener between the head of the fastener and the collar device outer surface, and the hexnut washer disposed in the at least one aperture, the nut portion of the hexnut washer having an interference fit with the at least one aperture, and the washer portion of the hexnut washer disposed adjacent the collar device inner surface,
• and the collar device is disposed over the top end of the ground screw device, and the collar device is oriented so that the at least one aperture of the collar device is aligned with the at least one hole of the ground screw device, the washer portion of the hexnut washer of the at least one fastener assembly disposed between the collar device inner surface and the ground screw outer surface, and the threaded post of the fastener disposed through each of the at least one aperture of the collar device, the locking washer, the hexnut washer of the at least one fastener assembly, and the at least one hole of the ground screw device.

An installed system, comprising:

• a ground screw device including an elongate main body having a top end, a bottom end, a ground screw outer surface, a ground screw inner surface, a non-threaded portion, and a threaded portion, the non-threaded portion disposed adjacent the top end of the elongate main body, the non-threaded portion having at least one hole formed through the non-threaded portion of the elongate main body from the ground screw outer surface to the ground screw inner surface, and the threaded portion disposed adjacent the bottom end of the elongate main body;
• a collar device including an annular main body having an collar device inner surface and an collar device outer surface with at least one aperture formed through the annular main body from the collar device inner surface to the collar device outer surface, the at least one aperture having a hexagon shape, and an at least one fastener assembly, including a fastener having a head and a threaded post, a locking washer, and a hexnut washer having a nut portion with a hexagon shape and a washer portion, the locking washer disposed on the threaded post of the fastener between the head of the fastener and the collar device outer surface, and the hexnut washer disposed in the at least one aperture, the nut portion of the hexnut washer having an interference fit with the at least one aperture, and the washer portion of the hexnut washer disposed adjacent the collar device inner surface, and the collar device is disposed over the top end of the ground screw device, and the collar device is oriented so that the at least one aperture of the collar device is aligned with the at least one hole of the ground screw device, the washer portion of the hexnut washer of the at least one fastener assembly disposed between the collar device inner surface and the ground screw outer surface, and the threaded post of the fastener disposed through each of the at least one aperture of the collar device, the locking washer, the hexnut washer of the at least one fastener assembly, and the at least one hole of the ground screw device;
• and
• a racking device having a support leg with a lower end, an upper end, a support leg outer surface, and a support leg inner surface, the lower end of the racking device disposed within each of the collar device and the ground screw device, the support leg affixed with the collar device and the ground screw device by an impinging of the at least one fastener assembly against the support leg outer surface.

An installation method, comprising steps of:

• providing a ground screw device including an elongate main body having a top end, a bottom end, a ground screw outer surface, a ground screw inner surface, a non-threaded portion, and a threaded portion, the non-threaded portion disposed adjacent the top end of the elongate main body, the non-threaded portion having at least one hole formed through the non-threaded portion of the elongate main body from the ground screw outer surface to the ground screw inner surface, and the threaded portion disposed adjacent the bottom end of the elongate main body;
• providing a collar device including an annular main body having an collar device inner surface and an collar device outer surface with at least one aperture formed through the annular main body from the collar device inner surface to the collar device outer surface, the at least one aperture having a hexagon shape, and an at least one fastener assembly, including a fastener having a head and a threaded post, a locking washer, and a hexnut washer having a nut portion with a hexagon shape and a washer portion, the locking washer disposed on the threaded post of the fastener between the head of the fastener and the collar device outer surface, and the hexnut washer disposed in the at least one aperture, the nut portion of the hexnut washer having an interference fit with the at least one aperture, and the washer portion of the hexnut washer disposed adjacent the collar device inner surface;
• and
• providing a racking device having a support leg with a lower end, an upper end, a support leg outer surface, and a support leg inner surface;
• driving the ground screw device into a ground surface;
• disposing the collar device over the top end of the ground screw device;
• orienting the collar device so that the at least one aperture of the collar device is aligned with the at least one hole of the ground screw device;
• disposing the washer portion of the hexnut washer of the at least one fastener assembly between the collar device inner surface and the ground screw outer surface;
• disposing the threaded post of the fastener through each of the at least one aperture of the collar device, the locking washer, the hexnut washer of the at least one fastener assembly, and the at least one hole of the ground screw device;
• disposing the lower end of the support leg of the racking device within each of the collar device and the ground screw device;
• and
• affixing the support leg with the collar device and the ground screw device by an impinging of the at least one fastener assembly against the support leg outer surface,
• whereby an installed system is provided.