Solar panel mounting apparatus and system

• US 9,716,464 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2016
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• 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:
  US15/227,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20170040927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2020/10 Solar modules layout; Modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/425 Horizontal axis
• 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 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: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

An aspect of the present disclosure provides solar panel mounting 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 configured to be mechanically fastened to each other at their proximal ends and the plurality of top girders at their distal ends. Further, the girder assembly and one of the plurality of attachment points of the hub may be configured to be mechanically fastened to each other.

Claims

1. A solar panel mounting 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;

wherein the girder assembly and at least one of the plurality of attachment points of the hub are configured to be mechanically fastened to each other;

one or more purlins configured to be mechanically fastened to the plurality of top girders in between the proximal and distal ends of the top girders.

2. The solar panel mounting system of claim 1, wherein the girder assembly further comprises:

a hub girder configured to be mechanically fastened to the at least one of the plurality of attachment points of the hub.

3. The solar panel mounting system of claim 2, wherein one or more of:

the plurality of top girders,

the plurality of bottom girders, and

the hub girder

are configured to be mechanically fastened to any component of the solar mounting system indirectly.

4. The solar panel mounting system of claim 1, wherein the hub is a first hub, and further comprising:

a second hub.

5. The solar panel mounting system of claim 2, wherein the hub girder comprises a first hub girder which is configured to be mechanically fastened to the proximal ends of the plurality of top girders, and further comprising;

a second hub girder configured to be mechanically fastened to the proximal ends of the plurality of bottom girders.

6. The solar panel mounting system of claim 1, wherein the one or more purlins comprises a first purlin and a second purlin, and

wherein the plurality of top girders comprises two top girders, each of the first and second purlin being configured to be mechanically fastened to each of the two top girders, and wherein:

the first purlin is configured to be mechanically fastened to each of the two top girders closer to the distal ends of the two top girders than to the proximal ends of the two top girders, and

the second purlin is configured to be mechanically fastened to each of the two top girders in between the first purlin and the proximal ends of the two top girders.

7. The solar panel mounting system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of bottom girders comprises a first bottom girder and a second bottom girder, and wherein:

the proximal ends of the first bottom girder and the second bottom girder are configured to be mechanically fastened to a second purlin.

8. The solar panel mounting system of claim 2, wherein the proximal ends of the plurality of top girders and the hub girder are configured to be mechanically fastened to each other by one or more girder plates.

9. The solar panel mounting system of claim 2, wherein one or more of the plurality of attachment points of the hub are configured to be mechanically fastened to both a hub girder of the girder assembly and a pole retained within the receptacle by bolts.

10. The solar panel mounting system of claim 1, wherein the one or more purlins is configured to be mechanically fastened to a solar panel.

11. The solar panel mounting system of claim 1, further comprising an electronics and connectivity box, the electronics and connectivity box being configured to:

be mechanically fastened to one or more of the girder assembly or the hub, and house electrical connections of a solar panel.

12. The solar panel mounting system of claim 11, wherein the electronics and connectivity box further comprises one or more of:

an audio speaker,

a light,

a wireless communication transceiver, and

a fan,

wherein any of the one or more of the audio speaker, the light, the wireless communication transceiver, and the fan are configured to be powered by a solar panel attached to the girder assembly.

13. The solar panel mounting system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more shade panels configured to be mechanically fastened to one or more of;

the girder assembly,

the hub, and

the pole.

14. A solar panel mounting system comprising:

one or more girder assemblies configured to be mechanically fastened to one or more hubs, the one or more hubs configured to be mechanically fastened to a pole, wherein

the one or more girder assemblies are;

configured to be mechanically fastened to and to support the weight of two or more solar panels, each of the two or more solar panels being spaced equidistantly from at least one other solar panels in relation to the pole; and

the one or more girder assemblies comprise;

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;

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

one or more purlins configured to be mechanically fastened to the plurality of top girders in between the proximal and distal ends of the top girders.

15. The solar panel mounting system of claim 14, further comprising:

an electronics and connectivity box configured to;

be mechanically fastened to one or more of the one or more girder assemblies or the one or more hubs, and

house electrical connections of a solar panel.

16. The solar panel mounting system of claim 14, wherein the one or more girder assemblies are configured to mechanically fasten to the two or more solar panels such that each of the two or more solar panels is mounted at an angle and a planar surface of each of the two or more solar panels is on a different plane than a planar surface of at least one other of the two or more solar panels.

17. The solar panel mounting system of claim 16, wherein each of the two or more solar panels is mounted at an angle wherein a proximal end, nearest the pole, of the solar panel, is higher than a distal end, furthest away from the pole, of the solar panel.

18. The solar panel mounting system of claim 14, wherein the system is configured to mount six or more solar panels in a radial configuration.

19. The solar panel mounting system of claim 18, wherein the system is configured to mount the six or more solar panels a radial configuration substantially equidistantly from each other.

20. The solar panel mounting system of claim 15, wherein the one or more girder assemblies is configured to house wiring from one or more solar panels to the electrical and connectivity box.

21. The solar panel mounting system of claim 15, wherein the electrical and connectivity box comprises one or more of:

an AC-to-DC converter and

a DC-to-AC converter.

22. The solar panel mounting system of claim 15, wherein the electrical and connectivity box comprises one or more of:

an audio speaker,

a light,

a wireless communication transceiver, and

a fan,

wherein any of the one or more of the audio speaker, the light, the wireless communication transceiver, and the fan are configured to be powered by a solar panel attached to the one or more girder assemblies.

23. The solar panel mounting system of claim 14, wherein the system, having solar panels mounted on it, is configured to be electrically connected to an AC mains power supply.

24. The solar panel mounting system of claim 14, further comprising:

a solar-powered vehicle battery charger.

25. The solar panel mounting system of claim 14, further comprising:

a shade configured to be mechanically fastened to one or more of;

the girder assembly,

the hub, and

the pole.

26. A solar panel mounting 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 side of the receptacle;

and

a girder assembly comprising;

a top girder having a proximal end and a distal end, each of the top girders being configured to be mechanically fastened to the hub at its proximal end; and

a bottom girder having a proximal and a distal end, the bottom girder being configured to be mechanically fastened to the hub at its proximal end and configured to be mechanically fastened to the top girder at its distal end;

a purlin configured to be mechanically fastened to the top girder and configured to be mechanically fastened to a second purlin from a second girder assembly.

27. The solar panel mounting system of claim 26, wherein:

the purlin is configured to be mechanically fastened in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the top girder.

28. The solar panel mounting system of claim 26, wherein the girder assembly further comprises:

a hub girder configured to be mechanically fastened to one or more of;

the top girder and

the bottom girder.