US 11,855,581 B2
Solar panel support and drive system
Kurt M. Schatz, Uxbridge (CA); James J. Ferri, Maple (CA); J. R. Scott Mitchell, Newmarket (CA); Judson Henderson Whiteside, Thornhill (CA); Andrew Mauchlen, London (CA); Mariano Gualtieri D'Angela, London (CA); and Gabriele Wayne Sabatini, Keswick (CA)
Assigned to Polar Racking Inc., Toronto (CA)
Filed by POLAR RACKING INC., Toronto (CA)
Filed on Jul. 17, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/037,061.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/555,927, filed on Sep. 8, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/533,877, filed on Jul. 18, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2019/0052224 A1, Feb. 14, 2019
Int. Cl. H02S 20/30 (2014.01); F24S 25/12 (2018.01); H02S 20/10 (2014.01); F24S 30/425 (2018.01); H02S 20/32 (2014.01); F24S 25/00 (2018.01); F24S 30/00 (2018.01); H02S 30/10 (2014.01)
CPC H02S 20/30 (2014.12) [F24S 25/12 (2018.05); F24S 30/425 (2018.05); H02S 20/10 (2014.12); H02S 20/32 (2014.12); F24S 2025/019 (2018.05); F24S 2030/115 (2018.05); F24S 2030/13 (2018.05); F24S 2030/136 (2018.05); H02S 30/10 (2014.12); Y02E 10/47 (2013.01); Y02E 10/50 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A solar panel system comprising:
a photovoltaic solar panel having a panel frame, a photovoltaic cell for absorbing solar energy;
a panel support apparatus including:
a support frame for supporting the panel frame and for positioning the panel frame adjacent to a post pivot connection on a longitudinal pivot axis (30) of the support frame;
a support post pivotally coupled to the support frame at the post pivot connection and anchored to an adjacent supporting surface, the support post for positioning the support frame above the adjacent supporting surface, the support post defining a support axis (34) transverse to the longitudinal pivot axis (30);
a table bracket mounted on the support post and extending from the support post, such that the post pivot connection is positioned on the table bracket, the post pivot connection including an angular adjustment mechanism having multiple degrees of freedom to facilitate adjustment of an angle (54) between the support axis and the longitudinal pivot axis; and
a linear actuator including a housing, the linear actuator coupled at a proximal end to the support post by a support pivot connection with the housing, the housing having an extension member operable between an extended state and a retracted state, the linear actuator coupled at a distal end by a frame pivot connection between the extension member and the support frame, the post pivot connection and the frame pivot connection spaced apart from one another on the support frame;
a drive shaft coupled to the linear actuator, such that rotation of the drive shaft provides for a change in a length of the linear actuator;
wherein said change in the length of the linear actuator results in pivoting of the support frame about the post pivot connection about the longitudinal pivot axis;
wherein the drive shaft is flexible along its length to facilitate the drive shaft to follow changes in grading between either side of the support post.
 
20. A solar panel system comprising:
a photovoltaic solar panel having a panel frame, a photovoltaic cell for absorbing solar energy; the
a panel support apparatus including:
a support frame for supporting the panel frame and for positioning the panel frame adjacent to a post pivot connection on a longitudinal pivot axis (30) of the support frame;
a support post pivotally coupled to the support frame at the post pivot connection and anchored to an adjacent supporting surface, the support post for positioning the support frame above the adjacent supporting surface, the support post defining a support axis (34) transverse to the longitudinal pivot axis (30);
a table bracket mounted on the support post and extending from the support post, such that the post pivot connection is positioned on the table bracket, the post pivot connection including an angular adjustment mechanism having multiple degrees of freedom to facilitate adjustment of an angle (54) between the support axis and the longitudinal pivot axis; and
a linear actuator including a housing, the linear actuator coupled at a proximal end to the support post by a support pivot connection with the housing, the housing having an extension member operable between an extended state and a retracted state, the linear actuator coupled at a distal end by a frame pivot connection between the extension member and the support frame, the post pivot connection and the frame pivot connection spaced apart from one another on the support frame;
a first gear coupled to a drive shaft and a second gear coupled to the linear actuator, the first gear and the second gear being operatively coupled to one another, such that co-rotation of the first gear and the second gear provide for a change in a length of the linear actuator;
wherein said change in the length of the linear actuator results in pivoting of the support frame about the post pivot connection about the longitudinal pivot axis;
wherein the first gear is slidably coupled to the drive shaft to allow the drive shaft to translate relative to the first gear along a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft.