US 11,916,510 B1
Structural support grid for floating solar array
James Raiford, San Francisco, CA (US); Jason King, San Francisco, CA (US); Alex Mayer, Mill Valley, CA (US); Becca Suchower, Sausalito, CA (US); and Brian Atchley, Petaluma, CA (US)
Assigned to NORIA ENERGY, Sausalito, CA (US)
Filed by NORIA ENERGY, Sausalito, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 26, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/495,582.
Int. Cl. H02S 30/10 (2014.01); B63B 35/38 (2006.01); B63B 35/44 (2006.01); B63B 1/12 (2006.01)
CPC H02S 30/10 (2014.12) [B63B 1/125 (2013.01); B63B 35/38 (2013.01); B63B 35/44 (2013.01); B63B 2035/4453 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A structural support grid system for a floating solar array, comprising:
a grid of structural members with open spaces between adjacent structural members;
a plurality of grid supporting pontoons, the grid supporting pontoons supporting the grid of structural members;
a plurality of PV module supporting pontoons;
a plurality of PV modules, wherein each PV module is supported by one or more of the PV module supporting pontoons, and wherein the PV modules are positioned in the openings formed between the adjacent structural members; and
a plurality of elastic connectors that isolate each of the PV modules from forces exerted on the grid of structural members, wherein each elastic connector connects the grid of structural members or one of the grid supporting pontoons to one of the PV module supporting pontoons or to one of the PV modules.