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US 8,274,028 B2Granted
Counterweighted active tracking solar panel rack
AssigneeSunEdison, Inc.
InventorChristopher Needham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An active tracking solar assembly includes a main actuator cable and a secondary cable having a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the main actuator cable and the second end is connected to a roof weight. An actuator bar has a counter weight attached to a first end and a first pulley attached to a second end, and the secondary cable engages the first pulley.
Claims19
An active tracking solar assembly comprising:
- a main actuator cable;
- a secondary cable having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the main actuator cable and the second end is connected to a roof weight;
- and
- an actuator bar having a counter weight attached to a first end and a first pulley attached to a second end, wherein the secondary cable engages the first pulley.
1 more element
An active tracking solar assembly comprising:
- a rotatable rack configured to support at least one solar panel;
- an actuator bar coupled to the rotatable rack such that rotation of the actuator bar results in rotation of the rack, the actuator bar having a counter weight attached to a first end and a first pulley attached to a second end;
- a main actuator cable;
- and
- a secondary cable having a first end a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the main actuator cable and the second end is connected to a roof weight, and wherein the secondary cable engages the first pulley.
2 more elements
An active tracking solar assembly comprising:
- a rotatable rack configured to support at least one solar panel;
- an actuator bar coupled to the rotatable rack such that rotation of the actuator bar results in rotation of the rack, the actuator bar having a counter weight attached to a first end and a first pulley attached to a second end;
- a main actuator cable;
- a secondary cable having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the main actuator cable and the second end is connected to a roof weight, and wherein the secondary cable engages the first pulley;
- and
- a lock mechanism comprising a four-bar linkage, the lock mechanism coupled to the rack and configured to limit rotation of the rack to a predetermined position and secure the rack in the predetermined position when the rack is rotated to the predetermined position, wherein when the rack is secured in the predetermined position the lock mechanism is configured to transmit loads applied to the rack through the four-bar link to a support structure coupled to the rack.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.