Bearing assembly for a solar mounting system
AssigneeSol Components LLC
InventorsJeremy Jacobs, Michael Starr, Jordan Mast, Mark Schroeder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bearing for a solar mounting system, the bearing comprising a bushing assembly configured to accept a torque tube. It has a front bushing, a back bushing to accept a torque tube, a stop ring sandwiched between each of the front bushing and the back bushing, a bushing housing configured to retain the bushing assembly. A coupler extends through the bearing to connect the front and back bushings to the housing, wherein during rotation of the bushings, the stud of the stop ring is configured to mate with the coupler to halt a rotation of the front busing and the back bushing to thereby distribute a torsional force along the solar mounting system.
Claims20
A bearing for a solar mounting system, the bearing comprising:
- a bushing assembly configured to accept a torque tube, wherein the bushing comprises:
- a front bushing;
- a back bushing, wherein each of the front bushing and the back bushing is configured to accept a torque tube;
- a stop ring sandwiched between each of the front bushing and the back bushing,
- wherein the stop ring comprises at least one a stud protruding therefrom;
- a bushing housing configured to retain the bushing assembly, wherein the bushing housing comprises at least one coupler configured to extend through at least a part of a length of the bearing to connect the front and back bushings to the housing, wherein during rotation of the bushings, the at least one stud of the stop ring is configured to mate with the coupler to halt a rotation of the front bushing and the back bushing to thereby distribute a torsional force along the solar mounting system.
A method for controlling rotation of a toque tube for a solar mounting system, the method comprising:
- providing a bushing assembly configured to accept a torque tube, wherein the bushing comprises:
- a front bushing;
- a back bushing, wherein each of the front bushing and the back bushing is configured to accept a torque tube;
- a stop ring sandwiched between each of the front bushing and the back bushing, wherein the stop ring comprises at least one a stud protruding therefrom;
- a bushing housing configured to retain the bushing assembly, wherein the bushing housing comprises at least one coupler configured to extend through at least a part of a length of the bearing to connect the front and back bushings to the housing,
- during rotation of the bushings, stopping the rotation bushings using the stop ring stud to mate with the coupler to distribute a torsional force along the solar mounting system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.