US2019123681A1PendingUtilityA1

Systems and methods for dual tilt, ballasted photovoltaic module racking

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Assignee: ALION ENERGY INCPriority: Oct 10, 2016Filed: Dec 19, 2018Published: Apr 25, 2019
Est. expiryOct 10, 2036(~10.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Mark KingsleyJesse AtkinsonSean BaileyKarl JohnsonBrett WestLuis Francisco Castro Hernandez
H02S 30/10F24S 25/13H02S 40/10H02S 20/24F24S 2030/16H02S 30/20F24S 25/617H02S 20/10H01L 31/00H10F 99/00Y02B10/10Y02E10/47Y02E10/50
57
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Claims

Abstract

Systems and methods for dual tilt, ballasted photovoltaic module racking are provided herein. Under one aspect, a system for supporting first and second photovoltaic modules can include first and second elongated stiffeners respectively configured to be coupled to and support the first and second photovoltaic modules. The system also can include first and second feet respectively configured to be coupled to first and second grooves respectively provided within first and second ballasts. The system also can include a first stiffener hinge rotatably coupling the first and second stiffeners to one another, a first foot hinge rotatably coupling the first foot to the first stiffener, and a second foot hinge rotatably coupling the second foot to the second stiffener. At least one of the first stiffener hinge and the first and second foot hinges can include a respective mechanical stop inhibiting rotation of that hinge beyond a respective predetermined angle.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for supporting first and second photovoltaic modules comprising:
 first and second elongated stiffeners respectively configured to be coupled to and support the first and second photovoltaic modules;   first and second feet respectively configured to be coupled to first and second grooves respectively provided within first and second ballasts;   a first stiffener hinge rotatably coupling the first and second stiffeners to one another;   a first foot hinge rotatably coupling the first foot to the first stiffener; and   a second foot hinge rotatably coupling the second foot to the second stiffener,   wherein at least one of the first stiffener hinge and the first and second foot hinges comprises a respective mechanical stop inhibiting rotation of that hinge beyond a respective predetermined angle.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second foot hinges each comprises a respective mechanical stop inhibiting rotation of that hinge beyond the respective predetermined angle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second ballasts each comprises an elongated piece of concrete having at least two grooves provided therein. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first stiffener is configured to be coupled along an edge of the first photovoltaic module, and wherein the second stiffener is configured to be coupled along an edge of the second photovoltaic module. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 third and fourth elongated stiffeners respectively configured to be coupled to and support the first and second photovoltaic modules;   third and fourth feet respectively configured to be coupled to the first and second grooves;   a second stiffener hinge rotatably coupling the third and fourth stiffeners to one another;   a third foot hinge rotatably coupling the third foot to the third stiffener; and   a fourth foot hinge rotatably coupling the fourth foot to the fourth stiffener.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first and third stiffeners are parallel to one another and configured to be coupled to an underside of the first photovoltaic module; and   the second and fourth stiffeners are parallel to one another and configured to be coupled to an underside of the second photovoltaic module.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first stiffener further is configured to be coupled to and support a third photovoltaic module; and   the second stiffener further is configured to be coupled to and support a fourth photovoltaic module.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, when the first and second feet respectively are coupled to the first and second grooves, the first and second stiffeners are at an angle of approximately 180 degrees to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second feet are different lengths than one another. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, when the first and second feet respectively are coupled to the first and second grooves, the first and second stiffeners are at an angle of approximately 120-160 degrees to one another. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second feet are the same lengths as one another. 
     
     
         12 . A method for supporting first and second photovoltaic module comprising:
 providing first and second elongated stiffeners respectively configured to be coupled to the first and second photovoltaic modules so as respectively to support the first and second photovoltaic modules; and   respectively coupling first and second feet to first and second grooves respectively provided within first and second ballasts;   wherein the first and second stiffeners are rotatably coupled to one another with a first stiffener hinge;   wherein the first foot and the first stiffener are rotatably coupled to one another with a first foot hinge; and   wherein the second foot and the second stiffener are rotatably coupled to one another with a second foot hinge,   wherein at least one of the first stiffener hinge and the first and second foot hinges comprises a respective mechanical stop inhibiting rotation of that hinge beyond a respective predetermined angle.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second foot hinges each comprises a respective mechanical stop inhibiting rotation of that hinge beyond the respective predetermined angle. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second ballasts each comprises an elongated piece of concrete having at least two grooves provided therein. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first stiffener is configured to be coupled along an edge of the first photovoltaic module, and wherein the second stiffener is configured to be coupled along an edge of the second photovoltaic module. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein third and fourth elongated stiffeners are configured to be coupled to the first and second photovoltaic modules so as respectively to support the first and second photovoltaic modules,
 the method further comprising respectively coupling third and fourth feet to the first and second grooves;   wherein the third and fourth stiffeners are rotatably coupled to one another with a second stiffener hinge;   wherein the third foot is rotatably coupled to the third stiffener with a third foot hinge; and   wherein the fourth foot is rotatably coupled to the fourth stiffener with a fourth foot hinge.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first and third stiffeners are parallel to one another and configured to be coupled to an underside of the first photovoltaic module; and   the second and fourth stiffeners are parallel to one another and configured to be coupled to an underside of the second photovoltaic module.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first stiffener further is configured to be coupled to a third photovoltaic module so as to support the third photovoltaic module; and
 wherein the second stiffener further is configured to be coupled to a fourth photovoltaic module so as to support the fourth photovoltaic module.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein, when the first and second feet respectively are coupled to the first and second grooves, the first and second stiffeners are at an angle of approximately 180 degrees to one another. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second feet are different lengths than one another. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein, when the first and second feet respectively are coupled to the first and second grooves, the first and second stiffeners are at an angle of approximately 120-160 degrees to one another. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second feet are the same lengths as one another. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving a crate storing the first and second feet folded parallel to the first and second photovoltaic modules by respective rotation of the first and second foot hinges and the first and second stiffeners folded parallel to one another by rotation of the first stiffener hinge;   removing the first and second photovoltaic modules coupled to the folded first and second stiffeners coupled to the folded first and second feet from the received crate;   respectively unfolding the first and second feet by rotating the first and second foot hinges;   unfolding the first and second stiffeners by rotating the first stiffener hinge;   inserting the unfolded first foot into the first groove; and   inserting the unfolded second foot into the second groove.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 adhering the first foot into the first groove; and   adhering the second foot into the second groove.

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