Methods for loading battery storage compartments into a solar canopy support structure

• US 10,069,456 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2016
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lt350, LLC
• Original Assignee: Lt350, LLC
• Inventors: Thramann, Jeffrey, Davidovits, Terence, Cook, Steve, Slattebo, John, Fallows, III, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Diao, M'Baye
• Application Number:
  US15/007,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20160138832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 320101
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/025 in the form of an overhead canopy, e.g. carports
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/06 with means for shifting or lifting vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/014 Methods for installing support elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/10 extending in directions away from a supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/40 using plate-like mounting elements, e.g. profiled or corrugated plates; Plate-like module frames extending in directions away from a supporting surface F24S25/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/10 Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/24 specially adapted for flat roofs
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

The present application provides methods for loading and unloading high capacity storage equipment to a solar power canopy. The methods and structures may include horizontal support members have mechanisms to engage corresponding mechanisms on a compartment housing the high capacity storage equipment. The mechanisms may include plates, flanged surfaces, rails, tracks, hook assemblies, and ridges. The methods and structures may include a superstructure that is coupled to an moves with respect to the solar power canopy frame. The superstructure may pivot and/or rotate to allow loading and unloading. The methods and structures also may include cabinets or cubicles sized to receive one or more compartments housing the high capacity storage equipment.

Claims

1. A method of loading high capacity power storage compartments to a solar canopy, the method comprising:

providing the solar canopy comprising a plurality of vertical support members coupled by a first beam and a plurality of horizontal support members extending from the vertical support members or the first beam, the first beam comprises a first mechanism and at least one of the plurality of horizontal support members comprises a second mechanism;

providing at least one compartment containing equipment for a high capacity power storage systems, wherein the equipment is selected from the group of equipment consisting of;

a battery, a transformer, a power controller, an inverter, or a combination thereof, wherein the at least one compartment comprises a third mechanism to operatively engage the first mechanism and a fourth mechanism to operatively engage the second mechanism;

supporting the at least one compartment with a lift;

moving the at least one compartment with the lift to align the third mechanism and the fourth mechanism with the first mechanism and the second mechanism;

coupling the at least one compartment to the solar canopy by engaging the first mechanism and the third mechanism and engaging the second mechanism and the fourth mechanism; and

removing the lift.

2. The method of loading high capacity power storage compartments to a solar canopy of claim 1 further comprising the step of unloading the high capacity power storage compartment, the method further comprising:

supporting the at least one compartment with the lift;

de-coupling the at least one compartment from the solar canopy by disengaging the first mechanism and the third mechanism and disengaging the second mechanism and the fourth mechanism; and

moving the at least one compartment from the solar canopy.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mechanism comprises a ridge with a lip, the second mechanism comprises a coupler plate having a first connector, the third mechanism comprises a hook assembly with a lip shaped to operatively engage with the ridge, and the fourth mechanism comprises a second connector wherein the step of moving the at least one canopy comprises:

aligning the at least one compartment such that the ridge and the hook substantially vertically align;

pivoting the at least one compartment such that the hook assembly is higher than the second connector;

lifting the at least one compartment into place proximate the ridge and first connector;

reverse pivoting the at least one compartment until the hook assembly engages the ridge and the second connector abuts the first connector; and

coupling the first connector and the second connector.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mechanism and second mechanism comprise first connectors and the third mechanism and fourth mechanism comprise second connectors and the step of engaging the first mechanism and the third mechanism and engaging the second mechanism and the fourth mechanism comprises bolting the first connectors to the second connectors.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mechanism and the second mechanism comprise a ridge with a lip and the third mechanism and fourth mechanism comprise a hook assembly with a lip shaped to operatively engage the ridge wherein the step of moving the at least one canopy comprises:

placing the third mechanism in an opened position;

moving the at least one compartment with the lift to align the third mechanism with the first mechanism;

pivoting the third mechanism to a closed position;

lowering the at least one compartment until the hook assembly of the third mechanism and the hook assembly of the fourth mechanism engage the ridge of the first mechanism and the ridge of the second mechanism.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mechanism and the second mechanism comprise at least one of a spring loaded male protrusion or a female socket and the third mechanism and fourth mechanism comprise at least another of the female socket or spring loaded male protrusion to form a snap fit engagement between the solar canopy and the at least one compartment, wherein the step of moving the at least one compartment and coupling the at least one compartment to the solar canopy comprises aligning the male protrusion with the female socket, compressing the spring loaded male protrusion while moving the at least one compartment, and decompressing the spring loaded male protrusion into the female socket to engage the first mechanism and the third mechanism and the second mechanism and the fourth mechanism.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the spring loaded male protrusion is a latch and the female socket is a groove wherein the latch pivots to operatively engage the groove.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the solar canopy comprises at least one panel array pivotally coupled to the solar canopy and the method further comprises pivoting the at least one panel array.

9. A method of loading or unloading high capacity power storage compartments to a solar canopy, the method comprising:

providing the solar canopy comprising a plurality of vertical support members coupled by a first beam and a plurality of horizontal support members extending from the vertical support members or the first beam, the solar canopy further comprising at least one superstructure movably coupled to the solar canopy wherein the at least one superstructure is movable from a closed position and an open position;

providing at least one compartment containing equipment for a high capacity power storage system, wherein the equipment is selected from the group of equipment consisting of;

a battery, a transformer, a power controller, an inverter, or a combination thereof, wherein the at least one compartment is sized to operatively engage the at least one superstructure;

moving the at least one superstructure from the closed position to the open position wherein the at least one compartment is movable into or out of the at least one superstructure; and

moving the at least one compartment into or out of the at least one superstructure, wherein the moving step comprises at least one of inserting the at least one compartment into the at least one superstructure and coupling the at least one compartment to the at least one superstructure or de-coupling the at least one compartment from the at least one superstructure and removing the at least one compartment.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of moving the at least one compartment comprises supporting the at least one compartment with a lift and operating the lift to align the at least one compartment with the at least one superstructure to facilitate the inserting or removing steps.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one superstructure is pivotally coupled to the solar canopy by a scissor linkage assembly and the at least one superstructure is moved between the open and closed positions by extending and collapsing the scissor linkage assembly to pivot the at least one superstructure.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein extending and collapsing the scissor linkage assembly comprises turning a crank.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one superstructure is pivoted from a horizontal position to a vertical position.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one compartment is supported by a horizontal surface and the at least one superstructure is movable, substantially horizontally, from the closed position to open position by lowering the at least one superstructure from the solar canopy to the horizontal surface.

15. A method of loading high capacity power storage compartments to a solar canopy, the method comprising:

providing the solar canopy comprising a plurality of vertical support members coupled by a first beam and a plurality of horizontal support members extending from the vertical support members or the first beam, at least one dock unit coupled to at least one of the plurality of the horizontal support members defining a cavity having a size and shape;

providing at least one compartment containing equipment for a high capacity power storage system, wherein the equipment is selected from the group of equipment consisting of;

a battery, a transformer, a power controller, an inverter, or a combination thereof, wherein the at least one compartment has a portion with a size and shape to operatively engage the cavity of the at least one dock unit;

supporting the at least one compartment with a lift;

moving the at least one compartment with the lift to align the portion of the at least one compartment with the cavity of the at least one dock unit; and

coupling the at least one compartment to the solar canopy.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one dock unit comprises at least one cabinet wherein each of the at least one cabinets defines a cavity and the portion of the at least one compartment comprises the entire compartment and the at least one compartment is sized to fit within the cavity.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one dock unit comprises a lip on the first beam that defines the cavity between the lip and the first beam and the portion comprises a hook sized to fit in the cavity.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the cavity is accessible by opening a panel.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of pivoting the at least one cabinet prior to moving the at least one compartment.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one dock unit comprises a cradle and the portion of the at least one compartment comprises a flanged surface wherein moving the at least one compartment with the lift comprises moving the flanged surface into the cradle.