US 11,984,842 B2
Solar tracker systems and methods including a rail assembly
Tamilarasan Mouniandy, Chennai (IN); Nagendra Srinivas Cherukupalli, Saratoga, CA (US); Baskaran Subbarayan, Chennai (IN); Rajesh Shanmugasundaram, Chennai (IN); and Sait Abdul Kareem, Chennai (IN)
Assigned to FTC Solar, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
Filed by FTC Solar, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Nov. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/058,392.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/378,209, filed on Oct. 3, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/364,391, filed on May 9, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0361715 A1, Nov. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. H02S 20/32 (2014.01); H02S 30/10 (2014.01)
CPC H02S 20/32 (2014.12) [H02S 30/10 (2014.12)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A solar tracker system comprising:
a rotatable tube defining a longitudinal axis;
a rail mounted on the rotatable tube, the rail extending transversely outward of the tube between first and second opposed ends;
a photovoltaic (PV) panel assembly attached to the rail; and
a rail connector securing the rail to the rotatable tube, the rail connector including:
a clip attached to the rail, the clip being shaped to extend from the rail and at least partially around the rotatable tube; and
a lock bracket including an outward facing edge having a concave section and a radial projection, the concave section and the radial projection collectively defining a notch for releasably receiving the clip therein, wherein, when the clip is received within the notch, the clip applies tension on the lock bracket to clamp the rail in longitudinal position on the rail.