Fixed-tilt solar arrays and related systems
AssigneeNextpower LLC
InventorsGreg McPheeters, Tyrus Hudson, Charles Almy, Jack West
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fixed-tilt solar arrays constructed from screw anchors. In some cases, purlins are attached directly to truss legs. In others, they are attached to truss caps joining the free end of each truss leg. In still further ones, screw anchors are driven in rows and interconnected by a pair of hinged members, one of which provides a mounting plane for solar panels. Each screw anchor may serve as a connection point for the trailing hinged member of the first foundation and the leading hinged member of the next foundation. In still further cases, a hinged truss cap may be used to accommodate different tilt angles with the same foundation.
Claims17
A system for constructing a fixed-tilt solar array comprising:
- a pair of legs extending below and above ground, wherein at least one of the legs is driven at a tilt angle of the fixed-tilt array;
- and
- an adapter connecting respective above ground ends of each leg of the pair to form a first truss foundation, the adapter having two connecting portions, one extending a main axis of the at least one leg and the other extending away from the main axis at an acute angle to the other truss leg.
A fixed-tilt solar array comprising:
- a first truss foundation comprising a first pair of truss legs extending above and below ground;
- a first adapter joining the first pair of legs to form the first truss foundation, the first adapter comprising a first pair of connecting portions and a first support portion, the first support portion setting a tilt angle of the array;
- a second truss foundation comprising a second pair of truss legs extending above and below ground and positioned parallel to the first truss foundation;
- a second truss adapter joining the second pair of legs to form the second truss foundation, the second adapter comprising a second pair of connecting portions and a second support portion setting the tilt angle of the array;
- a pair of purlins extending from the first truss foundation to the second truss foundation to provide a mounting plane for a plurality of photovoltaic modules at the tilt angle.
A foundation system for a fixed-tilt solar array comprising:
- a plurality of first foundation components;
- a plurality of second foundation components;
- and
- a plurality of elongated frame members, each elongated frame member extending from one of the plurality of first foundation components to an adjacent one of the second foundation components thereby defining a south-facing support for the fixed-tilt array, wherein the first and second foundation components alternate in a North-South oriented row.
A fixed-tilt solar array system comprising:
- a plurality of screw anchors;
- a plurality of hinge caps, each adapted to attach to an above ground end of one of the plurality of screw anchors;
- and
- a hinge assembly comprising a first support member hingedly connected to a second support member pair and adapted for a hinged connection to one of the hinge caps at each distal end of the assembly.
A foundation for a fixed-tilt solar array comprising:
- a truss foundation comprising a pair of truss legs joined together with an adapter;
- a single screw anchor driven proximate to one of the truss legs until only a portion remains above ground;
- a rest attached to an above-ground end of the single-screw anchor;
- and
- a section of rail attached to the truss cap via a pin connection and simultaneously sitting on the rest.
A foundation for a fixed-tilt solar array comprising:
- a plurality of first screw anchors driven in a first row East-West oriented row;
- a plurality of first hinged support rail pairs, each pair comprising a pair of members hinged to one another proximate to their ends and extending along the first row between an adjacent pair of the first plurality of screw anchors to form a first obtuse angle between them, wherein at least one of the hinged support members sets a tilt angle of the array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.