Solar panel mounting apparatus and system

• US 10,284,135 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2017
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Forrest Collins
• Original Assignee: Forrest Collins
• Inventors: Collins, Forrest
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette E
• Application Number:
  US15/658,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20170324367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2020/10 Solar modules layout; Modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/617 Elements driven into the ground, e.g. anchor-piles; Foundations for supporting elements; Connectors for connecting supporting structures to the ground or to flat horizontal surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/425 Horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/042 PV modules or arrays of single PV cells supporting structures for PV modules H02S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/10 Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/20 Supporting structures directly fixed to an immovable object H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/20 Collapsible or foldable PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/32 comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/34 comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An aspect of the present disclosure provides solar panel mounting and charging system comprising a hub and a girder assembly. The hub may comprise a plurality of attachment points on its exterior. The girder assembly may comprise a plurality of top girders configured to be mechanically fastened to each other at their proximal ends, and having a distance between their distal ends that is greater than a distance between the proximal ends of the top girders. The girder assembly may also comprise a plurality of bottom girders configured to be mechanically fastened to each other at their proximal ends and the plurality of top girders at their distal ends. The system may further comprise an electric vehicle charging system affixed to the pole, wherein the electric vehicle charging system is configured to receive electrical power from at least one solar panel affixed to the girder assembly.

Claims

1. A solar panel mounting and charging system comprising:

a hub comprising;

a receptacle in a center portion of the hub shaped to receive a pole; and

a plurality of attachment points affixed to an exterior portion of the receptacle;

and

a girder assembly comprising;

a plurality of top girders each having a proximal end and a distal end, each of the plurality of top girders being configured to be mechanically fastened to each other at their proximal ends, and each of the plurality of top girders having a distance between the distal ends of the top girders that is greater than a distance between the proximal ends of the top girders; and

a plurality of bottom girders each having a proximal and a distal end, each of the plurality of bottom girders being configured to be mechanically fastened to each other at their proximal ends and each of the plurality of bottom girders being configured to be mechanically fastened to the plurality of top girders; and

an electric vehicle charging system affixed to the pole, wherein the electric vehicle charging system is configured to receive electrical power from at least one solar panel affixed to the girder assembly.

2. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 1, further comprising:

a ballast attached to the pole and configured to affix the pole to a ground surface.

3. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the electric vehicle charging system is housed within the ballast.

4. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 2, wherein the ballast comprises an access door.

5. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 1, further comprising batteries to store solar energy generated from at least one solar panel affixed to the girder assembly.

6. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 1, further comprising a plug configured to connect a converter mounted on the system to an electrical utility grid.

7. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the electric vehicle charging system is mounted to the pole.

8. A solar panel mounting and charging system comprising:

a hub comprising;

a receptacle in a center portion of the hub shaped to receive a pole; and

a plurality of attachment points affixed to an exterior portion of the receptacle;

and

a girder assembly comprising;

a plurality of top girders each having a proximal end and a distal end, each of the plurality of top girders being configured to be mechanically fastened to each other at their proximal ends, and each of the plurality of top girders having a distance between the distal ends of the top girders that is greater than a distance between the proximal ends of the top girders; and

a plurality of bottom girders each having a proximal and a distal end, each of the plurality of bottom girders being configured to be mechanically fastened to each other at their proximal ends and each of the plurality of bottom girders being configured to be mechanically fastened to the plurality of top girders;

a ballast affixed to the bottom of the pole, and

one or more batteries configured to receive electrical power from at least one solar panel affixed to the girder assembly.

9. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 8, wherein the ballast is configured to support a weight of the pole, the hub, the girder assembly, and one or more solar panels when the pole is not permanently set into a ground surface.

10. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 8, wherein the ballast is configured to be affixed to a ground surface.

11. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 8, wherein the ballast is configured to house the one or more batteries.

12. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 8, wherein the ballast is configured to house at least a portion of an electrical and connectivity box.

13. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 8, wherein the ballast is configured to hold weighting material within a hollow portion of the ballast.

14. A solar panel mounting and charging system comprising:

a hub comprising;

a receptacle in a center portion of the hub shaped to receive a pole; and

a plurality of attachment points affixed to an exterior portion of the receptacle;

and

a girder assembly comprising;

a plurality of top girders each having a proximal end and a distal end, each of the plurality of top girders being configured to be mechanically fastened to each other at their proximal ends, and each of the plurality of top girders having a distance between the distal ends of the top girders that is greater than a distance between the proximal ends of the top girders; and

a plurality of bottom girders each having a proximal and a distal end, each of the plurality of bottom girders being configured to be mechanically fastened to each other at their proximal ends and each of the plurality of bottom girders being configured to be mechanically fastened to the plurality of top girders;

an electrical and connectivity box affixed to the pole, and

one or more containers configured to house at least a portion of the electrical and connectivity box at a bottom of the pole.

15. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 14, wherein the electrical and connectivity box comprises an electric vehicle charging system.

16. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 14, wherein electronics stored within the electrical and connectivity box are configured to run on electricity generated from each of:

a solar panel mounted to the girder assembly;

a battery housed within the electrical and connectivity box; and

an electrical utility grid connection.

17. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 14, wherein the one or more containers houses a battery.

18. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 17, wherein the electrical and connectivity box comprises a plug to connect the system to an electrical utility grid.

19. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 14, wherein the pole is embedded into a ground surface.

20. The solar panel mounting and charging system of claim 14, wherein a top surface of the one or more containers is sloped.