IPC분류정보
| 국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
| 국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
| 출원번호 |
UP-0058460
(2008-03-28)
|
| 등록번호 |
US-7647924
(2010-02-22)
|
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
| 출원인 / 주소 |
- Arizona Public Service Company
|
| 대리인 / 주소 |
|
| 인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
17 인용 특허 :
34 |
초록
▼
A structure (26) for supporting an array (22) of solar panels (24) in a solar energy collection system (20) includes a support assembly (42) formed from a rigid subassembly (44). The subassembly (44) includes a truss (68), a post (46) downwardly extending from the truss (68) for attachment to a foot
A structure (26) for supporting an array (22) of solar panels (24) in a solar energy collection system (20) includes a support assembly (42) formed from a rigid subassembly (44). The subassembly (44) includes a truss (68), a post (46) downwardly extending from the truss (68) for attachment to a footing (48), and posts (50) upwardly extending from the truss (68). The structure (26) further includes torsion tubes (34), each of which is pivotally retained by one of the posts (50) to form parallel rows (32) of torsion tubes (34). Multiple ganged piers (44) can be interconnected to increase the number of rows (32) of the system (20). The solar panels (24) are attached to the torsion tubes (34) to form the array (22). Each of the torsion tubes (34) may have a flat surface (164) for ready alignment and attachment of solar panels (24) onto the torsion tubes (34).
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A structure for supporting an energy conversion module above a surface comprising: a post; and a torsion tube pivotally retained by said post, said torsion tube exhibiting an outer surface having a circular cross-section region and a non-circular cross-section region, said no
What is claimed is: 1. A structure for supporting an energy conversion module above a surface comprising: a post; and a torsion tube pivotally retained by said post, said torsion tube exhibiting an outer surface having a circular cross-section region and a non-circular cross-section region, said non-circular region being formed in said outer surface along an entire length of said torsion tube, and said torsion tube being configured for attachment of said energy conversion module such that said energy conversion module is aligned with said non-circular cross-section region. 2. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein a first length of said non-circular cross-section region is less than a second length of said circular cross-section region. 3. A structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first length is less than approximately twenty percent of said second length. 4. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said non-circular cross-section region comprises a flat surface. 5. A structure as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a bracket coupled to said torsion tube and seated on said non-circular region; and a fastener attached to said bracket and configured to couple to said energy conversion module. 6. A structure as claimed in claim 5 wherein said bracket is a first bracket, said fastener is a first fastener, said first fastener is configured to couple to a first edge of said energy conversion module, and said structure further comprises: a second bracket coupled to said torsion tube and seated on said non-circular region; and a second fastener attached to said second bracket and configured to couple to said energy conversion module on a second edge of said module, said second edge opposing said first edge. 7. A structure as claimed in claim 5 wherein said bracket is an elongated member, said fastener couples to said bracket proximate a first end of said elongated member, and said structure further comprises a second fastener attached to said bracket proximate a second end of said elongated member, said second fastener being configured to couple to said energy conversion module. 8. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said energy conversion module is one of multiple energy conversion modules supported by said structure, and said torsion tube is configured for attachment of said multiple energy conversion modules such that each of said multiple energy conversion modules is aligned on said non-circular region. 9. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said energy conversion module is one of multiple energy conversion modules supported by said structure, said torsion tube is one of multiple torsion tubes, each of said torsion tubes exhibits said outer surface having said circular cross-section region and said non-circular cross-section region, and said each of said multiple torsion tubes is configured for attachment of said multiple energy conversion modules such that each of said energy conversion modules is aligned on said non-circular region. 10. A structure as claimed in claim 9 further comprising: an elongated rigid member; a base coupled to a bottom edge of said rigid member for attachment to said surface; and multiple posts extending from a top edge of said rigid member, said post being one of said multiple posts, and one each of said multiple torsion tubes being pivotally retained by one each of said multiple posts to form parallel rows of said torsion tubes. 11. A structure for supporting multiple energy conversion modules above a surface comprising: posts; multiple torsion tubes, one each of said multiple torsion tubes being pivotally retained by one each of said posts, each of said torsion tubes exhibiting an outer surface having a circular cross-section region and a non-circular cross-section region, said each of said multiple torsion tubes being configured for attachment of said multiple energy conversion modules such that each of said energy conversion modules is aligned on said non-circular region cross-section region; a drive mechanism having a body and a rod member extendible from said body; torque arms, a first arm end of one each of said torque arms non-pivotally supporting one each of said multiple torsion tubes; and an actuator pivotally supporting a second arm end of said each of said torque arms and in communication with said rod member such that extension of said rod member from said body moves said actuator to enable rotation of said torsion tubes via said torque arms. 12. A structure for supporting an energy conversion module above a surface comprising: a post; and a torsion tube pivotally retained by said post, wherein said torsion tube is a single structural component exhibiting an outer surface having a circular cross-section region and a non-circular cross-section region, a first length of said non-circular cross-section region being less than a second length of said circular cross-section region, said non-circular cross-section region including a flat surface, and said torsion tube being configured for attachment of said energy conversion module such that said energy conversion module is aligned with said non-circular region. 13. A structure as claimed in claim 12 wherein said first length is less than approximately twenty percent of said second length. 14. A structure as claimed in claim 12 further comprising: a bracket coupled to said torsion tube and seated on said non-circular region; and a fastener attached to said bracket and configured to couple to said energy conversion module. 15. A structure as claimed in claim 14 wherein said bracket is a first bracket and said structure further comprises: a second bracket coupled to said torsion tube and seated on said non-circular region, each of said first and second brackets being an elongated member having a first end and a second end; and multiple fasteners, said fastener being a first one of said multiple fasteners, wherein said first one of said fasteners is attached to said first end of said first bracket, a second one of said fasteners is attached to said second end of said first bracket, a third one of said fasteners is attached to said first end of said second bracket, a fourth one of said fasteners is attached to said second end of said second bracket, said first and second fasteners are configured to couple to a first edge of said energy conversion module, and said third and fourth fasteners are configured to couple to a second edge of said energy conversion module, said second edge opposing said first edge.
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