Arcuate-Winged Solar Canopy Assembly

• US 20140144490A1
• Filed: 02/03/2014
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donald S. Richardson
• Original Assignee: Donald S. Richardson
• Inventors: Richardson, Donald S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,153,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/251
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/025 in the form of an overhead canopy, e.g. carports
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/10 without mechanical means for shifting or lifting vehicles, e.g. with helically-arranged fixed ramps, with movable ramps
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/67 in the form of roof constructions in the form of shingles or tiles F24S20/69
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/10 extending in directions away from a supporting surface
• 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 40/44 Draining rainwater or condensation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/042 PV modules or arrays of single PV cells supporting structures for PV modules H02S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/00 Supporting structures for PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/10 Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• 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

Abstract

A solar canopy structure mounted in ground to receive solar energy and convert the solar energy to electrical energy. The solar canopy structure has support columns, solar canopies retained in opposition by the support column, photovoltaic material retained by the solar canopies, and a block of material establishing a point of fixation along the body portion of the support column spaced from the first and second ends of the support column. At least approximately one-half of the support column can be embedded in the ground with the block of material fixed to the support column adjacent to the ground surface. The solar canopies can be have decking supported by wing arms that are joined by a central portion to form a unified, continuous wing arm structure, and the central portion can be received in and secured to a channel in the support column by first and second brackets.

Claims

1. A solar canopy structure for being mounted in ground to receive solar energy and convert the solar energy to electrical energy, the solar canopy structure comprising:

at least one support column with a first end, a second end, and a body portion spanning from the first end to the second end;

at least one solar canopy retained by the at least one support column;

photovoltaic material retained by the at least one solar canopy; and

a point of fixation established along the body portion of the at least one support column spaced from the first and second ends of the at least one support column.

2. The solar canopy structure of claim 1 wherein the point of fixation is established by a block of material fixed to the body portion of the at least one support column spaced from the first and second ends of the at least one support column.

3. The solar canopy structure of claim 2 wherein the block of material is fixed to the body portion of the at least one support column by at least one reinforcement bar with a portion disposed in the block of material and a portion fixed to the at least one support column.

4. The solar canopy structure of claim 3 wherein the block of material comprises a block of concrete.

5. The solar canopy structure of claim 1 wherein the second end of the at least one support column is embedded in the ground.

6. The solar canopy structure of claim 5 wherein at least approximately one-half of the at least one support column is embedded in the ground.

7. The solar canopy structure of claim 6 wherein the at least one column is hollow.

8. The solar canopy structure of claim 6 wherein the point of fixation is established by a block of material fixed to the body portion of the at least one support column spaced from the first and second ends of the at least one support column adjacent to a surface of the ground.

9. The solar canopy structure of claim 1 wherein there are first and second solar canopies retained in opposition.

10. The solar canopy structure of claim 9 wherein the first and second solar canopies are arcuate in profile.

11. The solar canopy structure of claim 9 wherein each of the first and second solar canopies comprises a wing arm, decking supported by the wing arm, and the photovoltaic material wherein the photovoltaic material is retained by the decking.

12. The solar canopy structure of claim 11 wherein the wing arms of the first and second solar canopies are joined by a central portion to form a unified, continuous wing arm structure.

13. A solar canopy structure for being mounted in ground to receive solar energy and convert the solar energy to electrical energy, the solar canopy structure comprising:

at least one support column with a first end, a second end, and a body portion spanning from the first end to the second end;

first and second solar canopies retained in opposition by the at least one support column wherein each of the first and second solar canopies comprises a wing arm, decking supported by the wing arm, and photovoltaic material retained by the decking;

wherein the wing arms of the first and second solar canopies are joined by a central portion to form a unified, continuous wing arm structure.

14. The solar canopy structure of claim 13 wherein the at least one support column has a channel formed therethrough and wherein the central portion of the wing arm structure is received in the channel.

15. The solar canopy structure of claim 14 further comprising at least a first bracket wherein the central portion of the wing arm structure is fixed within the channel in the at least one support column by the first bracket.

16. The solar canopy structure of claim 15 wherein the first bracket has a first portion matching a cross-sectional shape of the at least one column, wherein the first portion of the first bracket is matingly engaged with and fixed to the at least one column, and wherein the first bracket has a second portion fixed to the central portion of the wing arm structure.

17. The solar canopy structure of claim 16 further comprising a second bracket with a first portion matching a cross-sectional shape of the at least one column, wherein the first portion of the second bracket is matingly engaged with and fixed to the at least one column, and wherein the second bracket has a second portion fixed to the central portion of the wing arm structure.

18. The solar canopy structure of claim 16 wherein at least the central portion of the wing arm structure has an I-shaped cross section and wherein the second portion of the first bracket comprises a base plate fixed to the I-shaped cross section of the central portion of the wing arm structure.

19. The solar canopy structure of claim 14 wherein the channel in the at least one support column is U-shaped.

20. The solar canopy structure of claim 13 further comprising a point of fixation established by a block of material fixed to the body portion of the at least one support column spaced from the first and second ends of the at least one support column.