# US 2013/0153007 A1 · Torque tube with outrigger

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- Number: US 2013/0153007 A1
- Document ID: US20130153007A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/708,894
- Filed: 2012-12-07
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14
- Inventors: Adam Plesniak
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153007A1

## CPC

- H02S 20/32: specially adapted for solar tracking
- F24S 30/40: for rotary movement
- H02S 20/00: Supporting structures for PV modules
- H02S 20/30: Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment
- F24S 2030/10: {Special components}
- Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- Y10T 29/49355: Solar energy device making
- H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00)
- F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Systems and methods may be provided for supporting a solar module. A torque tube may be provided with one or more longitudinal outrigger extensions which may extend beyond an end of the torque tube. In some embodiments, the torque tube does not extend all the way to the edge of the solar module.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A solar arrangement comprising:
a solar module having a plurality of photovoltaic cells;
a torque tube, wherein an end of the torque tube does not extend to an edge of the solar module; and
at least one outrigger connected to the torque tube and the solar module, wherein the at least one outrigger extends beyond the end of the torque tube toward the edge of the solar module.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The solar arrangement of claim 1, wherein the solar module further comprises optics concentrating sunlight onto the plurality of photovoltaic cells.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The solar arrangement of claim 1, wherein the outrigger is formed with a truss-shape.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The solar arrangement of claim 1, wherein the outrigger is connected to the torque tube at or near the end of the torque tube.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The solar arrangement of claim 4, wherein a plurality of outriggers are connected to the torque tube at or near the end of the torque tube and extend beyond the end of the torque tube toward the edge of the solar module.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The solar arrangement of claim 1, wherein a length of the at least one outrigger is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the torque tube.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The solar arrangement of claim 6, wherein the length of the at least one outrigger is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the torque tube.

### Claim 8

A method of supporting a solar module having at least one photovoltaic cell, said method comprising:
providing a torque tube that supports the solar module, wherein an end of the torque tube does not extend to an edge of the solar module; and
providing at least one outrigger connected to the torque tube and the solar module, wherein the at least one outrigger extends beyond the end of the torque tube toward the edge of the solar module.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the solar module has a plurality of photovoltaic cells forming an array.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising concentrating sunlight onto the plurality of photovoltaic cells via optics.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising forming the outrigger with a truss-shape.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising connecting the outrigger to the torque tube at or near the end of the torque tube.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising connecting a plurality of outriggers to the torque tube at or near the end of the torque tube and extend beyond the end of the torque tube toward the edge of the solar module.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein a length of the at least one outrigger is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the torque tube.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the length of the at least one outrigger is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the torque tube.

### Claim 16

A solar arrangement comprising:
a solar module having a plurality of photovoltaic cells;
a torque tube, wherein a length of the torque tube along a longitudinal axis is less than a length of the solar module parallel to the longitudinal axis of the torque tube; and
at least one outrigger connected to the torque tube and the solar module, wherein the at least one outrigger extends beyond the end of the torque tube and is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the torque tube.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The solar arrangement of claim 16 wherein the at least one outrigger has a first end connected to the torque tube and a second end that is closer to an edge of the solar module than the end of the torque tube.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The solar arrangement of claim 16 wherein a plurality of outriggers are connected to the torque tube at or near the end of the torque tube and extend beyond the end of the torque tube toward the edge of the solar module.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The solar arrangement of claim 18 wherein the plurality of outriggers are symmetrically positioned with respect to a plane through which the longitudinal axis of the torque tube extends.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The solar arrangement of claim 16 wherein the at least one outrigger contacts the solar module at multiple points.