Solar panel support with integrated ballast channels
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A47B-091/00
H01L-031/042
F24J-002/52
H01L-031/052
B21D-053/02
H02S-020/24
출원번호
US-0885071
(2011-11-15)
등록번호
US-9324892
(2016-04-26)
국제출원번호
PCT/CA2011/001268
(2011-11-15)
§371/§102 date
20130522
(20130522)
국제공개번호
WO2012/065251
(2012-05-24)
발명자
/ 주소
Powrozek, Eric A.
Szadyr, Peter M.
Werner, Mark F.
출원인 / 주소
Magna International Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Dickinson Wright PLLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
3인용 특허 :
6
초록▼
A solar panel support sub-assembly includes a bottom rail, a first top rail and a second top rail, each rail having first and second longitudinally opposite ends. The first end of the bottom rail is pivotally coupled to the first end of the first top rail and the second end of the bottom rail is piv
A solar panel support sub-assembly includes a bottom rail, a first top rail and a second top rail, each rail having first and second longitudinally opposite ends. The first end of the bottom rail is pivotally coupled to the first end of the first top rail and the second end of the bottom rail is pivotally coupled to the first end of the second top rail. The sub-assembly also includes a ballast rail having a first end that is pivotally coupled to the bottom rail at a first location intermediate the first and second longitudinally opposite ends of the bottom rail. The sub-assembly may be unfolded for assembly by pivoting the first and second top rails within a first plane and pivoting the ballast rail within a second plane that is normal to the first plane.
대표청구항▼
1. A solar panel support sub-assembly, comprising: a bottom rail having a first length extending between first and second longitudinally opposite ends thereof;a first top rail having a second length extending between first and second longitudinally opposite ends thereof, the first end of the first t
1. A solar panel support sub-assembly, comprising: a bottom rail having a first length extending between first and second longitudinally opposite ends thereof;a first top rail having a second length extending between first and second longitudinally opposite ends thereof, the first end of the first top rail pivotally coupled to the first end of the bottom rail for supporting a pivoting movement of the first top rail between a folded condition and an unfolded condition;a second top rail having a third length extending between first and second longitudinally opposite ends thereof, the first end of the second top rail pivotally coupled to the second end of the bottom rail for supporting a pivoting movement of the second top rail between a folded condition and an unfolded condition; and,a ballast rail having a first end that is pivotally coupled to the bottom rail at a first location intermediate the first and second longitudinally opposite ends of the bottom rail for supporting a pivoting movement of the ballast rail between a folded condition and an unfolded condition;wherein the first and second top rails pivot relative to the bottom rail within a first plane and the ballast rail pivots relative to the bottom rail within a second plane that is normal to the first plane between respective operating and storage positions and wherein, in the respective storage positions, the bottom rail and the first top rail and the second top rail and the ballast rail extend in at least substantially parallel directions for facilitating shipping, storage and handling of the solar panel support sub-assembly. 2. The solar panel support sub-assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first top rail comprises an upper surface for supporting a portion of at least one solar panel. 3. The solar panel support sub-assembly according to claim 2, wherein the bottom rail and first and second top rails are hat-shaped. 4. The solar panel support sub-assembly according to claim 3, wherein the bottom rail and the first and second top rails are disposed in a nested-together stacked-configuration when the first and second top rails are each in the folded condition. 5. The solar panel support sub-assembly according to claim 3, wherein the first top rail comprises first and second side flanges joined to a central flange via first and second webs, respectively. 6. The solar panel support sub-assembly according to claim 2, wherein the second end of the first top rail is fixedly secured to the second end of the second top rail when the solar panel support sub-assembly is in an assembled condition. 7. The solar panel support sub-assembly according to claim 2, comprising a retaining element fixedly secured proximate the first end of the top rail for supporting a lower edge portion of the at least one solar panel. 8. The solar panel support sub-assembly according to claim 2, comprising a further rail having a first end that is pivotally coupled to the bottom rail at a second location intermediate the first and second longitudinally opposite ends of the bottom rail for supporting a pivoting movement of the further rail, within the second plane, between a folded condition and an unfolded condition. 9. The solar panel support sub-assembly according to claim 8, wherein ballast rail is a first ballast rail and the further rail is a second ballast rail. 10. The solar panel support sub-assembly according to claim 9, wherein each one of the first and second ballast rails is L-shaped when viewed in a cross section that is taken in a plane normal to the respective length thereof, each having an upright portion for substantially preventing movement of a ballast element within the second plane and a flange extending away from the upright portion for engaging a lower surface of the ballast element. 11. The solar panel support sub-assembly according to claim 10, wherein a distance along the length of the bottom rail between the first location and the second location is substantially the same as at least one dimension of the ballast element. 12. The solar panel support sub-assembly according to claim 9, wherein a length of the first ballast rail is substantially the same as a length of the second ballast rail. 13. The solar panel support sub-assembly according to claim 9, wherein the first top rail has a first side flange and a second side flange and wherein the upper surface for supporting the portion of the at least one solar panel is an upper surface of at least one of the first and second side flanges. 14. The solar panel support sub-assembly according to claim 8, wherein a length of the ballast rail is greater than a length of the further rail. 15. The solar panel support sub-assembly according to claim 8, wherein the upper surface is an upper surface of the central flange. 16. A solar panel support system, comprising: a first solar panel support sub-assembly and a second solar panel support sub-assembly, each comprising:a bottom rail having a first length extending between first and second longitudinally opposite ends thereof;a first top rail having a second length extending between first and second longitudinally opposite ends thereof, the first end of the first top rail pivotally coupled to the first end of the bottom rail for supporting a pivoting movement of the first top rail between a folded condition and an unfolded condition;a second top rail having a third length extending between first and second longitudinally opposite ends thereof, the first end of the second top rail pivotally coupled to the second end of the bottom rail for supporting a pivoting movement of the second top rail between a folded condition and an unfolded condition; and,a ballast rail having a first end that is pivotally coupled to the bottom rail at a location intermediate the first and second longitudinally opposite ends of the bottom rail for supporting a pivoting movement of the ballast rail between a folded condition and an unfolded condition;wherein the first and second top rails pivot relative to the bottom rail within a first plane and the ballast rail pivots relative to the bottom rail within a second plane that is normal to the first plane between respective operating and storage positions and wherein, in the respective storage positions, the bottom rail and the first top rail and the second top rail and the ballast rail extend in at least substantially parallel directions for facilitating shipping, storage and handling of the solar panel support sub-assembly, andwherein the second end of the first top rail is fixedly secured to the second end of the second top rail when the solar panel support sub-assembly is in an assembled condition, andwherein, when the solar panel support system is in the assembled condition, the second end of the ballast rail of the first solar panel support sub-assembly is mechanically coupled to the bottom rail of the second solar panel support sub-assembly and the second end of the ballast rail of the second solar panel support sub-assembly is mechanically coupled to the bottom rail of the first solar panel support sub-assembly, said ballast rail of the first solar panel support sub-assembly cooperating with the ballast rail of the second solar panel support sub-assembly for receiving therebetween a ballast element. 17. The solar panel support system according to claim 16, comprising at least one deflector element mechanically coupled to an extending substantially continuously between the second top rail of the first solar panel support sub-assembly and the second top rail of the second solar panel support sub-assembly. 18. A solar panel support system, comprising: a plurality of solar panel support sub-assemblies, including a first solar panel support sub-assembly, a second solar panel support sub-assembly, and a third solar panel support sub-assembly, each comprising:a collapsible triangular-shaped frame comprising a bottom rail, a first top rail and a second top rail; and,a first ballast rail that is pivotally coupled to the bottom rail at a first pivot location; and,at least one deflector element interconnecting the first and second solar panel support sub-assemblies and interconnecting the first and third solar panel support sub-assemblies,wherein the first solar panel support sub-assembly comprises a further rail that is pivotally coupled to the bottom rail at a second pivot location, the second pivot location spaced apart from the first pivot location;wherein the first top rail and the second top rail and the first ballast rail and the further rail are all pivotable relative to the bottom rail between respective operating and storage positions and wherein, in the respective storage positions, the bottom rail and the first top rail and the second top rail and the ballast rail extend in at least substantially parallel directions for facilitating shipping, storage and handling of the solar panel support sub-assembly; and,wherein, in an assembled condition, a non-pivotally coupled end of the first ballast rail of the first solar panel support sub-assembly is fixedly secured to the bottom rail of the second solar panel support sub-assembly and a non-pivotally coupled end of the further rail of the first solar panel support sub-assembly is fixedly secured to the bottom rail of the third solar panel support sub-assembly, the second and third solar panel support sub-assemblies being disposed one each on opposite sides of the first solar panel support sub-assembly. 19. A method for supporting a solar panel, comprising: providing a pre-assembled first solar panel support sub-assembly and a pre-assembled second solar panel support sub-assembly, each comprising a bottom rail, a first top rail pivotally coupled to a first end of the bottom rail, a second top rail pivotally coupled to a second end of the bottom rail that is opposite the first end, a first ballast rail pivotally coupled to the bottom rail at a first location intermediate the first and second ends, and the first top rail and the second top rail and the first ballast rail and the bottom rail all extending in at least substantially parallel directions;fixedly securing a free end of the first top rail to a free end of the second top rail of each of the first and second solar panel support sub-assemblies;pivoting the first ballast rail of the first solar panel support sub-assembly away from the bottom rail thereof and pivoting the first ballast rail of the second solar panel support sub-assembly away from the bottom rail thereof;coupling a free end of the first ballast rail of the first solar panel support sub-assembly to the bottom rail of the second solar panel support sub-assembly and coupling a free end of the first ballast rail of the second solar panel support sub-assembly to the bottom rail of the first solar panel support sub-assembly;positioning a ballast element in contact with at least a portion of the first ballast rail of the first solar panel support sub-assembly and in contact with at least a portion of the first ballast rail of the second solar panel support sub-assembly; and,securing the solar panel adjacent to an upper surface of the first top rail of the first and second solar panel support sub-assemblies.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (6)
Withjack Eric M. (Broken Arrow OK), Collapsible mobile solar energy power source.
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