US 12,676,573 B2Granted

Multi-glass module for a solar tracker apparatus

AssigneeNextpower LLC

InventorsDaniel Shugar, Alexander W. Au

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Abstract

A solar tracing system includes a torque tube, a first single frame structure coupled to the torque tube, and a second single frame structure coupled to the torque tube. The first single frame structure includes first frame structure first and second module receptacles at opposite sides of the first frame structure, a first pair of solar modules received at the first frame structure first and second module receptacles, a first frame structure coupling flange, and a first frame structure coupling flange receptacle. The second single frame structure includes second frame structure first and second module receptacles at opposite sides of the second frame structure, a second pair of solar modules received at the second frame structure first and second module receptacles, a second frame structure coupling flange, and a second frame structure coupling flange receptacle.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A solar tracking system comprising:

a torque tube extending from a first torque tube end to a second torque tube end that is opposite the first torque tube end;
a first single frame structure coupled to the torque tube, the first single frame structure comprising:
a first frame structure first module receptacle at a first side of the first single frame structure,
a first frame structure second module receptacle at a second side of the first single frame structure opposite the first side of the first single frame structure,
a first pair of solar modules received at the first frame structure first module receptacle and at the first frame structure second module receptacle,
a first frame structure coupling flange extending out from the first side of the first single frame structure, and
a first frame structure coupling flange receptacle defined at the first side of the first single frame structure adjacent to the first frame structure coupling flange;
a second single frame structure coupled to the torque tube, the second single frame structure comprising:
a second frame structure first module receptacle at a first side of the second single frame structure,
a second frame structure second module receptacle at a second side of the second single frame structure opposite the first side of the second single frame structure,
a second pair of solar modules received at the second frame structure first module receptacle and at the second frame structure second module receptacle,
a second frame structure coupling flange extending out from the first side of the second single frame structure, and
a second frame structure coupling flange receptacle defined at the first side of the second single frame structure adjacent to the second frame structure coupling flange;
and
a clamping device between the first single frame structure and the second single frame structure, the clamping device coupling the first single frame structure to the second single frame structure.

12 more elements

A solar tracking system comprising:

a torque tube extending from a first torque tube end to a second torque tube end that is opposite the first torque tube end;
a first single frame structure coupled to the torque tube, the first single frame structure comprising:
a first frame structure first module receptacle at a first side of the first single frame structure,
a first frame structure second module receptacle at a second side of the first single frame structure opposite the first side of the first single frame structure,
a first pair of solar modules received at the first frame structure first module receptacle and at the first frame structure second module receptacle,
a first frame structure first coupling flange extending out from the first side of the first single frame structure, and
a first frame structure first coupling flange receptacle defined at the first side of the first single frame structure adjacent to the first frame structure coupling flange
a first frame structure second coupling flange extending out from the second side of the first single frame structure;
a first frame structure second coupling flange receptacle defined at the second side of the first single frame structure adjacent to the first frame structure second coupling flange;
and
a second single frame structure coupled to the torque tube, the second single frame structure comprising:
a second frame structure first module receptacle at a first side of the second single frame structure,
a second frame structure second module receptacle at a second side of the second single frame structure opposite the first side of the second single frame structure,
a second pair of solar modules received at the second frame structure first module receptacle and at the second frame structure second module receptacle,
a second frame structure coupling flange extending out from the first side of the second single frame structure, and
a second frame structure coupling flange receptacle defined at the first side of the second single frame structure adjacent to the second frame structure coupling flange.

13 more elements

A solar tracking system comprising:

a torque tube extending from a first torque tube end to a second torque tube end that is opposite the first torque tube end;
a first single frame structure coupled to the torque tube, the first single frame structure comprising:
a first frame structure first module receptacle at a first side of the first single frame structure,
a first frame structure second module receptacle at a second side of the first single frame structure opposite the first side of the first single frame structure,
a first pair of solar modules received at the first frame structure first module receptacle and at the first frame structure second module receptacle, wherein each of the first pair of solar modules is frame-less at an interface between each of the first pair of solar modules and the first frame structure first module receptacle and at an interface between each of the first pair of solar modules and the first frame structure second module receptacle,
a first frame structure coupling flange extending out from the first side of the first single frame structure, and
a first frame structure coupling flange receptacle defined at the first side of the first single frame structure adjacent to the first frame structure coupling flange;
and
a second single frame structure coupled to the torque tube, the second single frame structure comprising:
a second frame structure first module receptacle at a first side of the second single frame structure,
a second frame structure second module receptacle at a second side of the second single frame structure opposite the first side of the second single frame structure,
a second pair of solar modules received at the second frame structure first module receptacle and at the second frame structure second module receptacle, wherein each of the second pair of solar modules is frame-less at an interface between each of the second pair of solar modules and the second frame structure first module receptacle and at an interface between each of the second pair of solar modules and the second frame structure second module receptacle,
a second frame structure coupling flange extending out from the first side of the second single frame structure, and
a second frame structure coupling flange receptacle defined at the first side of the second single frame structure adjacent to the second frame structure coupling flange.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/969,778Filed 5 Dec 2024 · us provisional application
Priority: 20 Dec 2023
Published: US 2025/0211162 A126 Jun 2025
Granted: 7 Jul 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

H02S 20/32
Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment: specially adapted for solar tracking
H10F 77/126
Active materials: comprising only Group I-III-VI chalcopyrite materials, e.g. CuInSe2, CuGaSe2 or CuInGaSe2 [CIGS]
H02S
Solar power generation
H10F
Solar cells and light sensors