US 12,463,584 B2
Ballasted support structure and header for photovoltaic modules
Benjamin H. Butcher, Pequot Lakes, MN (US)
Assigned to Sunny Side Farm, Forest & Fabrication, Pequot Lakes, MN (US)
Filed by Benjamin H. Butcher, Pequot Lakes, MN (US)
Filed on Jun. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/854,773.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/217,923, filed on Jul. 2, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0006602 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. H02S 30/10 (2014.01); F24S 25/00 (2018.01); F24S 25/617 (2018.01); F24S 30/00 (2018.01); F24S 30/425 (2018.01); H02S 20/10 (2014.01); H02S 20/30 (2014.01)
CPC H02S 30/10 (2014.12) [H02S 20/10 (2014.12); H02S 20/30 (2014.12); F24S 2025/017 (2018.05); F24S 2025/02 (2018.05); F24S 25/617 (2018.05); F24S 2030/115 (2018.05); F24S 30/425 (2018.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ballasted support system for photovoltaic modules, the system comprising:
a first A-frame and a second A-frame structure, the first and second A-frame structures each including a ground ballast, each of the first A-frame and the second A-frame being approximately the same height and configured to be positioned along an axis extending in an East-West direction;
a header spanning the first A-frame structure and the second A-frame structure, wherein the header comprises:
a beam;
a plurality of strongback mounting tabs attached to the beam along a mounting tab portion of the beam, each of the plurality of strongback mounting tabs attached to the beam such that the mounting tabs have an upward face that is mounted generally flush with an upward surface of the beam such that the upward face of the mounting tab and the upward surface of the beam define a support surface for an attachable strongback, the plurality of mounting tabs including:
a first strongback mounting tab and a second strongback mounting tab, the first and second mounting tab separated by a distance of approximately 3/16 of a length of the mounting tab portion of the beam;
a third strongback mounting tab, the third mounting tab separated from the second mounting tab by a distance of approximately 10/16 of the length of the mounting tab portion of the beam; and
a fourth strongback mounting tab, the fourth mounting tab separated from the third mounting tab by a distance of approximately 3/16 of the length of the mounting tab portion of the beam;
wherein a separation distance between the first and fourth mounting tabs defines the length of the mounting tab portion of the beam and wherein the second and third mounting tabs are attached to the beam between the first and fourth mounting tabs; and
a standoff and stabilizing rod attached to a downward surface of the beam, the standoff positioned lengthwise between the second and third mounting tabs and extending radially from a lengthwise beam axis, the stabilizing rod having a first end and second end, each of the first and second ends being attached to the downward surface of the beam with a main body that extends lengthwise with the beam and radially outward over the standoff.