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US 9,790,065 B2Granted
Solar array lifter and method
OwnerTravis Jordaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar array lifting assembly and method. The device and method use a support pole, a pole bracket for supporting a solar array made up of a frame and solar panels, a pole bracket securing mechanism for securing the pole bracket at a predetermined height, and a lifting assembly for lifting the pole bracket and solar array along the support pole.
Claims9
A solar array lifting assembly, comprising:
- at least one support pole, for vertical mounting in the ground and capable of supporting a solar array at a selected height above the ground;
- at least one pole bracket configured to at least partially surround said at least one support pole, configured to slide up and down said support pole, and configured to support a frame to which solar panels are attached;
- a pole bracket securing mechanism for securing said pole bracket at the top of said support pole, with said pole bracket securing mechanism comprising a removable bolt which is passable from side to side of pole bracket above a top edge of said support pole;
- said frame for attachment to said pole bracket and for structural support and attachment of said solar panels, said frame and said solar panels forming said solar array, with said frame configured for assembly around said support pole at ground level, and placement of said solar panels directly above said support pole;
- and
- a lifting bracket removably placeable at said top end of said support pole, said lifting bracket extending vertically and horizontally to a position outside of the diameter of said support pole, said lifting bracket having a bracket support for securing said lifting bracket in a selected position on said support pole, and a lifting mechanism for pulling said pole bracket up or down said support pole, with said lifting bracket providing access to said top edge of said support pole, for placing said removable bolt through said pole bracket above said top edge of said support pole, so that said pole bracket is prevented from lowering on said support pole by said removable bolt, with said lifting bracket removable after said removable bolt secures said pole bracket to said support pole.
3 more elements
A solar array lifting assembly, comprising:
- at least one support pole, for vertical mounting in the ground and capable of supporting a solar array at a selected height above the ground;
- at least one pole bracket configured to at least partially surround said at least one support poles, configured to slide up and down said support pole, and configured to support a frame to which solar panels are attached;
- a pole bracket securing mechanism for securing said pole bracket at the top of said support pole, with said pole bracket securing mechanism comprising a removable bolt which is passable from side to side of said pole bracket above a top edge of said support pole, and a retractable support placed within said support pole, said retractable support configured to retract into said support pole when said pole bracket is raised and deploy out of said support pole to support said pole bracket;
- said frame for attachment to said pole bracket and for structural support and attachment of said solar panels, said frame and said solar panels forming said solar array, with said frame configured for assembly around said support pole at ground level, and for placement of said solar panels directly above said support pole;
- a lifting bracket removably placeable at the top end of said support pole, said lifting bracket extending vertically into said support pole and horizontally to a position outside of the diameter of said support pole, said lifting bracket having a bracket support for supporting said lifting bracket, with said lifting bracket providing access to a top edge of said support pole, for placing said removable bolt through said pole bracket above said top edge of said support pole, so that said pole bracket is prevented from lowering on said support pole by said removable bolt with said lifting bracket removable after said removable bolt secures said pole bracket to said support pole;
- a lifting pulley attached to the portion of said lifting bracket which extends past the diameter of said support pole;
- a lifting cable for sliding engagement with said lifting pulley and for attachment to a lifting mechanism at one end and to said lifting bracket at another end of said cable;
- and
- a lifting device for pulling said lifting cable through said lifting pulley and for lifting said pole bracket.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.