# US 9,752,800 B2 · Node, support frame, system and method

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- Number: US 9,752,800 B2
- Document ID: US9752800B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/514,110
- Filed: 2014-10-14
- Published: 2015-01-29
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2008-08-29
- Assignees: Werner Extrusion Solutions LLC
- Applicants: Craig Roy Werner; John Funai
- Inventors: Craig Roy Werner; John Funai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752800B2

## CPC

- F24S 30/40: for rotary movement
- F24S 23/74: with trough-shaped or cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces
- F24S 25/00: Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
- F24S 25/13: Profile arrangements, e.g. trusses (F24S25/12 takes precedence)
- F24S 25/16: Arrangement of interconnected standing structures; Standing structures having separate supporting portions for adjacent modules
- F24S 25/60: Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules
- F24S 30/425: Horizontal axis
- H02S 20/00: Supporting structures for PV modules
- F24S 2023/874: {Reflectors formed by assemblies of adjacent similar reflective facets}
- F24S 2025/014: {Methods for installing support elements}
- F24S 2030/134: {in the form of gearings or rack-and-pinion transmissions}
- F24S 2030/14: {Movement guiding means}
- Y02E 10/40: Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
- Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- Y10T 29/53: Means to assemble or disassemble
- Y10T 403/44: Three or more members connected at single locus
- Y10T 403/70: Interfitted members
- F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00)
- 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)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A node for connecting together at least a first support element, a second support element and a third support element of a support frame such as a solar frame which supports solar reflectors. A method for connecting together at least a first support element, a second support element and a third support element of a solar frame which supports solar reflectors. A system for supporting solar reflectors includes a first support frame upon which the solar reflectors are disposed. A method for forming a support frame for solar reflectors. A system for constructing a support frame from parts, including chords, for solar reflectors. A method for constructing a support frame for solar reflectors. A support frame for solar reflectors.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A support frame comprising:
struts;
a first segmented chord;
a second segmented chord separate and distinct from the first segmented chord; and
a plurality of nodes, at least one of the nodes removably attaching at least one of the struts and the first segmented chord and the second segmented chord together, the one node has an elongate portion having a first end configured to removably attach to the first segmented chord, a second end configured to removably attach to the second segmented chord and a middle portion disposed between the first end and second end having only four fins extending outward from the middle portion configured to removably attach to the struts with one of the fins attaching to the one strut, the four fins extending asymmetrically from the middle portion, each fin attaching to a different strut of the struts, one of the four fins having a shorter length than the length of the other three fins, the one strut has a strut end piece having strut end piece fins which are separate and spaced apart from each other and a primary strut portion separate and distinct from the strut end piece, the strut end piece removably attached to the primary strut portion and the fin of the node with fasteners, the strut end piece fins attached on opposite sides of the fin of the node, the strut end piece with strut end piece fins being a one-piece extrusion, the middle portion and the first and second ends and the node fins of the one node being a separate one-piece extrusion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The support frame of claim 1 wherein the elongate portion is a sleeve, at least a portion of which is hollow, and which has a sleeve opening extending along the sleeve's central axis, the first segmented chord and the second segmented chord disposed in the sleeve opening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The support frame of claim 2 wherein the first segmented chord has a first segmented chord end piece and a first primary segmented chord portion separate and distinct from the first segmented chord end piece, the first segmented chord end piece removably attached to the first primary segmented chord portion and the first and of the elongate portion with fasteners; and wherein the second segmented chord has a second segmented chord end piece and a second primary segmented chord portion separate and distinct from the second segmented chord end piece, the second segmented chord end piece removably attached to the second primary segmented chord portion and the second end of the elongate portion with fasteners.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The support frame of claim 3 wherein the sleeve's outer surface is curved.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The support frame of claim 1 wherein the elongate portion is solid.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The support frame of claim 5 wherein the first segmented chord has a first segmented chord end piece and a first primary segmented chord portion separate and distinct from the first segmented chord end piece, the first segmented chord end piece removably attached to the first primary segmented chord portion and the first and of the elongate portion with fasteners; and wherein the second segmented chord has a second segmented chord end piece and a second primary segmented chord portion separate and distinct from the second segmented chord end piece, the second segmented chord end piece removably attached to the second primary segmented chord portion and the second end of the elongate portion with fasteners.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The frame as described in claim 1 including a coupler disposed in the one node that extends out from the one node, the first segmented chord removably attached to the front side of the coupler and second segmented chord removably attached to the second side of the coupler with fasteners.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The frame as described in claim 7 wherein the first side and the second side of the coupler are separate and distinct from each other.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The support frame of claim 4 wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes has a circle size that allows the node to be extruded on a 10 inch diameter extrusion press.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The support frame of claim 9 wherein the strut end piece having strut end fins having a tongue ratio.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The support frame of claim 10 wherein at least a first strut and a second strut of the plurality of struts are hollow.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The support frame of claim 11 wherein the first segmented chord is hollow and has a central axis, and the second segmented chord is hollow and has a central axis.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The support frame of claim 12 wherein the one node has a central axis and attaches at least the first and the second of the struts through their strut end pieces and the first segmented chord and the second segmented chord together so the central axis of the first and second segmented chords in the one node align.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The support frame of claim 13 wherein the node fins of the one node form planes that intersect essentially at or about the central axis of the one node.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The support frame of claim 14 wherein the struts, nodes and first and second segmented chords form a space trust frame.