Wind turbine mounting assembly

Abstract

A wind turbine mounting assembly for mounting a wind turbine on a roof of a structure is provided. The wind turbine mounting assembly generally includes a ridge member, a mast, a first roof mounting assembly, and a second roof mounting assembly. The ridge member may be configured to extend along a ridge of a roof. The mast has a mast proximal end joined to the ridge member and a distal end for mounting a wind turbine. The first and second roof mounting assemblies may be joined at opposing ends of the ridge member and are configured to secure the mounting assembly to the roof. The first and second roof mounting assemblies may include a first and second ridge member elevator, respectively, to elevate the ridge member above the roof ridge. The assembly may include a third roof mounting assembly joined to the ridge member near a ridge member midpoint.

1 . A wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) for mounting a wind turbine on a roof of a structure, comprising:
 a) a ridge member ( 100 ) having a ridge member proximal end ( 110 ) and a ridge member distal end ( 120 ) separated by a ridge member length ( 130 ), including a ridge member midpoint ( 132 );   b) a mast ( 200 ) having a mast proximal end ( 210 ) and a mast distal end ( 220 ) separated by a mast length ( 230 ), and a mast diameter ( 240 ), wherein the wind turbine is mounted at the mast distal end ( 220 ) and the mast ( 200 ) is joined to the ridge member ( 100 ) at the mast proximal end ( 210 );   c) a first roof mounting assembly ( 300 ) having a first sinistral leg ( 310 ) and a first dextral leg ( 320 ), wherein the first roof mounting assembly ( 300 ) is joined to the ridge member ( 100 ) near the ridge member proximal end ( 110 ), and the first sinistral leg ( 310 ) and the first dextral leg ( 320 ) extend in opposite directions from the ridge member ( 100 ) to secure the assembly ( 50 ) to the roof; and   d) a second roof mounting assembly ( 400 ) having a second sinistral leg ( 410 ) and a second dextral leg ( 420 ), wherein the second roof mounting assembly ( 400 ) is joined to the ridge member ( 100 ) near the ridge member distal end ( 120 ), and the second sinistral leg ( 410 ) and the second dextral leg ( 420 ) extend in opposite directions from the ridge member ( 100 ) to secure the assembly ( 50 ) to the roof.   
     
     
         2 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first roof mounting assembly ( 300 ) further includes a first ridge member elevator ( 350 ) having:
 i) a first elevator sinistral leg ( 360 ) with a first elevator sinistral leg proximal end ( 362 ) and a first elevator sinistral leg distal end ( 364 ), wherein the first elevator sinistral leg proximal end ( 362 ) is rotably connected to the first sinistral leg ( 310 ); 
 ii) a first elevator dextral leg ( 370 ) with a first elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 372 ) and a first elevator dextral leg distal end ( 374 ), wherein the first elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 372 ) is rotably connected to the first dextral leg ( 320 ); 
 iii) wherein the first ridge member elevator ( 350 ) elevates the ridge member ( 100 ) above a roof ridge so that a first elevator ridge member offset ( 352 ) is a vertical distance from the lowest point of the ridge member ( 100 ) to the furthest vertical projection of the first elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 372 ), and the first elevator ridge member offset ( 352 ) is at least ten percent of the mast length ( 230 ); and 
 iv) wherein the first ridge member elevator ( 350 ) has a first elevator spread ( 354 ) defined as the horizontal distance between the point at which the first elevator sinistral leg proximal end ( 362 ) is rotably connected to the first sinistral leg ( 310 ) and the point at which the first elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 372 ) is rotably connected to the first dextral leg ( 320 ), and the first elevator spread ( 354 ) is at least five times the mast diameter ( 240 ); and 
   b) the second roof mounting assembly ( 400 ) further includes a second ridge member elevator ( 450 ) having:
 i) a second elevator sinistral leg ( 460 ) with a second elevator sinistral leg proximal end ( 462 ) and a second elevator sinistral leg distal end ( 464 ), wherein the second elevator sinistral leg proximal end ( 462 ) is rotably connected to the second sinistral leg ( 410 ); 
 ii) a second elevator dextral leg ( 470 ) with a second elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 472 ) and a second elevator dextral leg distal end ( 474 ), wherein the second elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 472 ) is rotably connected to the second dextral leg ( 420 ); 
 iii) wherein the second ridge member elevator ( 450 ) elevates the ridge member ( 100 ) above a roof ridge so that a second elevator ridge member offset ( 452 ) is a vertical distance from the lowest point of the ridge member ( 100 ) to the furthest vertical projection of the second elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 472 ), and the second elevator ridge member offset ( 452 ) is at least ten percent of the mast length ( 230 ); and 
 iv) wherein the second ridge member elevator ( 450 ) has a second elevator spread ( 454 ) defined as the horizontal distance between the point at which the second elevator sinistral leg proximal end ( 462 ) is rotably connected to the second sinistral leg ( 410 ) and the point at which the second elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 472 ) is rotably connected to the second dextral leg ( 420 ), and the second elevator spread ( 454 ) is at least five times the mast diameter ( 240 ). 
   
     
     
         3 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 2 , further including:
 a) a first elevator connection region ( 380 ) joined to the first elevator sinistral leg ( 360 ), the first elevator dextral leg ( 370 ), and the ridge member ( 100 ); and   b) a second elevator connection region ( 480 ) joined to the second elevator sinistral leg ( 460 ), the second elevator dextral leg ( 470 ), and the ridge member ( 100 ).   
     
     
         4 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 3 , wherein:
 a) the first elevator connection region ( 380 ) totally encloses a portion of the ridge member ( 100 ) between the ridge member midpoint ( 132 ) and the ridge member proximal end ( 110 ); and   b) the second elevator connection region ( 480 ) totally encloses a portion of the ridge member ( 100 ) between the ridge member midpoint ( 132 ) and the ridge member distal end ( 120 ).   
     
     
         5 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 4 , wherein the ridge member ( 100 ) has a ridge member profile ( 140 ), and wherein:
 a) the first elevator connection region ( 380 ) is formed with a first connection region opening ( 382 ) having a first connection region opening profile ( 384 ) that cooperates with the ridge member profile ( 140 ) such that the first elevator connection region ( 380 ) is slid over a portion of the ridge member ( 100 ) and prevents rotation of the ridge member ( 100 ); and   b) the second elevator connection region ( 480 ) is formed with a second connection region opening ( 482 ) having a second connection region opening profile ( 484 ) that cooperates with the ridge member profile ( 140 ) such that the second elevator connection region ( 480 ) is slid over a portion of the ridge member ( 100 ) and prevents rotation of the ridge member ( 100 ).   
     
     
         6 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 5 , wherein the first elevator sinistral leg ( 360 ), the first elevator dextral leg ( 370 ), and the first elevator connection region ( 380 ) are integrally formed from a single piece of material, and the second elevator sinistral leg ( 460 ), the second elevator dextral leg ( 470 ), and the second elevator connection region ( 480 ) are integrally formed from a second single piece of material. 
     
     
         7 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 1 , further including a third roof mounting assembly ( 500 ) having a third sinistral leg ( 510 ) and a third dextral leg ( 520 ), wherein the third roof mounting assembly ( 500 ) is joined to the ridge member ( 100 ) near the ridge member midpoint ( 132 ), and the third sinistral leg ( 510 ) and the third dextral leg ( 520 ) extend in opposite directions from the ridge member ( 100 ) to secure the assembly ( 50 ) to the roof. 
     
     
         8 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 2 , further including a third roof mounting assembly ( 500 ) having a third sinistral leg ( 510 ) and a third dextral leg ( 520 ), wherein the third roof mounting assembly ( 500 ) is joined to the ridge member ( 100 ) near the ridge member midpoint ( 132 ), and the third sinistral leg ( 510 ) and the third dextral leg ( 520 ) extend in opposite directions from the ridge member ( 100 ) to secure the assembly ( 50 ) to the roof, wherein the third roof mounting assembly ( 500 ) further includes a third ridge member primary elevator ( 550 ) having:
 a) a third primary elevator sinistral leg ( 560 ) with a third primary elevator sinistral leg proximal end ( 562 ) and a third primary elevator sinistral leg distal end ( 564 ), wherein the third primary elevator sinistral leg proximal end ( 562 ) is rotably connected to the third sinistral leg ( 510 );   b) a third primary elevator dextral leg ( 570 ) with a third primary elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 572 ) and a third primary elevator dextral leg distal end ( 574 ), wherein the s third primary elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 572 ) is rotably connected to the third dextral leg ( 520 );   c) a third primary elevator connection region ( 580 ) joined to the third primary elevator sinistral leg ( 560 ), the third primary elevator dextral leg ( 570 ), and the ridge member ( 100 );   d) wherein the third ridge member primary elevator ( 550 ) elevates the ridge member ( 100 ) above a roof ridge so that a third primary elevator ridge member offset ( 552 ) is a vertical distance from the lowest point of the ridge member ( 100 ) to the furthest vertical projection of the third primary elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 572 ), and the third primary elevator ridge member offset ( 552 ) is at least ten percent of the mast length ( 230 ); and   e) wherein the third ridge member primary elevator ( 550 ) has a third primary elevator spread ( 554 ) defined as the horizontal distance between the point at which the third primary elevator sinistral leg proximal end ( 562 ) is rotably connected to the third sinistral leg ( 510 ) and the point at which the third primary elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 572 ) is rotably connected to the third dextral leg ( 520 ), and the third primary elevator spread ( 554 ) is at least five times the mast diameter ( 240 ).   
     
     
         9 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 8 , further including a third ridge member secondary elevator ( 650 ) having:
 a) a third secondary elevator sinistral leg ( 660 ) with a third secondary elevator sinistral leg proximal end ( 662 ) and a third secondary elevator sinistral leg distal end ( 664 ), wherein the third secondary elevator sinistral leg proximal end ( 662 ) is rotably connected to the third sinistral leg ( 510 );   b) a third secondary elevator dextral leg ( 670 ) with a third secondary elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 672 ) and a third secondary elevator dextral leg distal end ( 674 ), wherein the third secondary elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 672 ) is rotably connected to the third dextral leg ( 520 );   c) a third secondary elevator connection region ( 680 ) joined to the third secondary elevator sinistral leg ( 660 ), the third secondary elevator dextral leg ( 670 ), and the ridge member ( 100 );   d) wherein the third ridge member secondary elevator ( 650 ) elevates the ridge member ( 100 ) above a roof ridge so that a third secondary elevator ridge member offset ( 652 ) is a vertical distance from the lowest point of the ridge member ( 100 ) to the furthest vertical projection of the third secondary elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 672 ), and the third secondary elevator ridge member offset ( 652 ) is at least ten percent of the mast length ( 230 ); and   e) wherein the third ridge member secondary elevator ( 650 ) has a third secondary elevator spread ( 654 ) defined as the horizontal distance between the point at which the third secondary elevator sinistral leg proximal end ( 662 ) is rotably connected to the third sinistral leg ( 510 ) and the point at which the third secondary elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 672 ) is rotably connected to the third dextral leg ( 520 ), and the third secondary elevator spread ( 654 ) is at least five times the mast diameter ( 240 ).   
     
     
         10 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 9 , wherein the rotable connection of the third dextral leg ( 520 ) to both the third primary elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 572 ) and the third secondary elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 672 ) includes a third roof mounting assembly vibration damper ( 530 ). 
     
     
         11 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 10 , wherein the third roof mounting assembly vibration damper ( 530 ) includes a primary damper ( 532 ) between the third primary elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 572 ) and the third dextral leg ( 520 ), and a secondary damper ( 534 ) between the third secondary elevator dextral leg proximal end ( 672 ) and the third dextral leg ( 520 ). 
     
     
         12 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 9 , wherein:
 a) the third ridge member primary elevator ( 550 ) further includes a third primary elevator mast connection region ( 590 );   b) the third ridge member secondary elevator ( 650 ) further includes a third secondary elevator mast connection region ( 690 ); and   c) the mast ( 200 ) is secured to the third primary elevator mast connection region ( 590 ) and the third secondary elevator mast connection region ( 690 ).   
     
     
         13 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 12 , wherein:
 a) the third primary elevator connection region ( 580 ) totally encloses a portion of the ridge member ( 100 ) between the ridge member midpoint ( 132 ) and the ridge member proximal end ( 110 ); and   b) the third secondary elevator connection region ( 680 ) totally encloses a portion of the ridge member ( 100 ) between the ridge member midpoint ( 132 ) and the ridge member distal end ( 120 ).   
     
     
         14 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 13 , wherein the ridge member ( 100 ) has a ridge member profile ( 140 ), and wherein:
 a) the third primary elevator connection region ( 580 ) is formed with a third primary connection region opening ( 582 ) having a third primary connection region opening profile ( 584 ) that cooperates with the ridge member profile ( 140 ) such that the third primary elevator connection region ( 580 ) is slid over a portion of the ridge member ( 100 ) and prevents rotation of the ridge member ( 100 ); and   b) the third secondary elevator connection region ( 680 ) is formed with a third secondary connection region opening ( 682 ) having a third secondary connection region opening profile ( 684 ) that cooperates with the ridge member profile ( 140 ) such that the third secondary elevator connection region ( 680 ) is slid over a portion of the ridge member ( 100 ) and prevents rotation of the ridge member ( 100 ).   
     
     
         15 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 14 , wherein the third primary elevator sinistral leg ( 560 ), the third primary elevator dextral leg ( 570 ), the third primary elevator connection region ( 580 ), and the third primary elevator mast connection region ( 590 ) are integrally formed from a single piece of material, and the third secondary elevator sinistral leg ( 660 ), the third secondary elevator dextral leg ( 670 ), the third secondary elevator connection region ( 680 ), and the third secondary elevator mast connection region ( 690 ) are integrally formed from a second single piece of material. 
     
     
         16 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the ridge member length ( 130 ) is greater than or equal to the mast length ( 230 ). 
     
     
         17 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the first sinistral leg ( 310 ) and the first dextral leg ( 320 ) are separated by a first pitch angle ( 325 ), and the second sinistral leg ( 410 ) and the second dextral leg ( 420 ) by a second pitch angle ( 425 ). 
     
     
         18 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 17 , wherein the first pitch angle ( 325 ) and the second pitch angle ( 425 ) are between 70 degrees and 140 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a) the first elevator sinistral leg ( 360 ) and the first elevator dextral leg ( 370 ) are separated by a first elevator pitch angle ( 375 ); and   b) the second elevator sinistral leg ( 460 ) and the second elevator dextral leg ( 470 ) are separated by a second elevator pitch angle ( 475 ).   
     
     
         20 . The wind turbine mounting assembly ( 50 ) of  claim 19 , wherein the first elevator pitch angle ( 375 ) and the second elevator pitch angle ( 475 ) are between 70 degrees and 140 degrees.