Patents by Inventor Mark Adam Schimelpfenig
Mark Adam Schimelpfenig has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10594252Abstract: Described herein are improved solar tracker systems having variable profiles and related operating methods thereof. Solar-tracking PV systems with variable twisted or aerodynamic profiles offer several advantages including improved wind stability, improved shading characteristics and/or capability to correct system component misalignment. In an embodiment, motor drives (and locking devices if present) of a PV system can be driven against each other to cause a desirable twisted or aerodynamic profile of a torque tube and associated PV modules mounted on the torque tube. The desired twisted or aerodynamic profiles can range from a substantially flat horizontal plate to a twisted helix-like profile and combinations thereof so as to establish improved wind and/or shading characteristics. Advantages can also include a reduction in structural materials, increased structural strength, increased solar energy yield or a combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Mark Adam Schimelpfenig, Tyler Grushkowitz
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Patent number: 10469025Abstract: A solar-tracking photovoltaic (PV) system having a motor drive vertically below a PV module, is described. In an example, the motor drive rotates a torque tube holding the PV module. The motor drive may include a gearbox having a worm drive, and a gearmotor having an offset gear. The offset gear may be coupled to a planetary gear train along an axis of a worm of the worm drive, and the offset gear may be coupled to a motor along a shaft axis offset vertically below the worm axis. Accordingly, the motor may be offset vertically below the worm drive, i.e., farther from the PV laminate than the worm drive, and a rotational clearance for the PV laminate may be increased.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2016Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Tyler Grushkowitz, Brian Wares, Mark Adam Schimelpfenig, Jason C. Jones
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Patent number: 10333458Abstract: A multi-drive solar-tracking photovoltaic (PV) system having several PV modules mounted on a torque tube is described. In an example, several motor drives input torque to the torque tube, and the motor drives are controlled by a single controller. The torque tube may include several sections joined by a torque tube coupler. For example, the torque tube coupler may having a medial section and end sections to join to the torque tube sections. The medial section and the adjoined torque tube sections may have a same outer diameter.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2016Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Tyler Grushkowitz, Brian Wares, Zachary Z. Judkins, Mark Adam Schimelpfenig, Richard Joseph Erb, Nicholas James McKibben
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Patent number: 10320326Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system having a bearing assembly to support PV modules is described. In an example, the bearing assembly includes a pair of bearing supports having respective sub-rims. The sub-rims may have complementary arcuate seat surfaces, which when combined, define a curved seat rim to receive a bearing sleeve. Accordingly, the bearing supports may be mounted symmetrically about a pile such that the sub-rims combine to support the bearing sleeve, and a torque tube holding the PV modules may be mounted on the bearing sleeve. More particularly, the torque tube may be in sliding contact with the bearing sleeve, and a weight of the PV modules and torque tube may be evenly transmitted through the pair of bearing supports to a shear center of the pile.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Mark Adam Schimelpfenig, Tyler Grushkowitz, Brian Wares
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Patent number: 10174970Abstract: A rotation locking device for use in a row-level sun tracking solar energy collection system includes a housing, a first locking member, a second locking member, and an actuator. The housing is configured to be mounted to a pile and configured to permit a torque tube to extend through the housing. The first locking member has a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections attached to and rotatable with the torque tube. The second locking member is connected to the housing and has a plurality of mating elements for engaging projections of the first locking member. The actuator is configured to relatively move the first and second locking members between an unlocked position in which the mating elements are disengaged from the projections and a locked position in which the mating elements are engaged with the projections to inhibit rotation of the torque tube with respect to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2016Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Tyler Grushkowitz, Matthew Scott Lambert, Brian Wares, Mark Adam Schimelpfenig, Nicholas James McKibben
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Publication number: 20180175783Abstract: Described herein are improved solar tracker systems having variable profiles and related operating methods thereof. Solar-tracking PV systems with variable twisted or aerodynamic profiles offer several advantages including improved wind stability, improved shading characteristics and/or capability to correct system component misalignment. In an embodiment, motor drives (and locking devices if present) of a PV system can be driven against each other to cause a desirable twisted or aerodynamic profile of a torque tube and associated PV modules mounted on the torque tube. The desired twisted or aerodynamic profiles can range from a substantially flat horizontal plate to a twisted helix-like profile and combinations thereof so as to establish improved wind and/or shading characteristics. Advantages can also include a reduction in structural materials, increased structural strength, increased solar energy yield or a combination thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2016Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Mark Adam Schimelpfenig, Tyler Grushkowitz
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Publication number: 20180073773Abstract: A rotation locking device for use in a row-level sun tracking solar energy collection system includes a housing, a first locking member, a second locking member, and an actuator. The housing is configured to be mounted to a pile and configured to permit a torque tube to extend through the housing. The first locking member has a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections attached to and rotatable with the torque tube. The second locking member is connected to the housing and has a plurality of meeting elements for engaging projections of the first locking member. The actuator is configured to relatively move the first and second locking members between an unlocked position in which the mating elements are disengaged from the projections and a locked position in which the mating elements are engaged with the projections to inhibit rotation of the torque tube with respect to the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2016Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Tyler Grushkowitz, Matthew Scott Lambert, Brian Wares, Mark Adam Schimelpfenig, Nicholas James McKibben
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Publication number: 20180062565Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system having a bearing assembly to support PV modules is described. In an example, the bearing assembly includes a pair of bearing supports having respective sub-rims. The sub-rims may have complementary arcuate seat surfaces, which when combined, define a curved seat rim to receive a bearing sleeve. Accordingly, the bearing supports may be mounted symmetrically about a pile such that the sub-rims combine to support the bearing sleeve, and a torque tube holding the PV modules may be mounted on the bearing sleeve. More particularly, the torque tube may be in sliding contact with the bearing sleeve, and a weight of the PV modules and torque tube may be evenly transmitted through the pair of bearing supports to a shear center of the pile.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Mark Adam Schimelpfenig, Tyler Grushkowitz, Brian Wares
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Publication number: 20180062566Abstract: A multi-drive solar-tracking photovoltaic (PV) system having several PV modules mounted on a torque tube is described. In an example, several motor drives input torque to the torque tube, and the motor drives are controlled by a single controller. The torque tube may include several sections joined by a torque tube coupler. For example, the torque tube coupler may having a medial section and end sections to join to the torque tube sections. The medial section and the adjoined torque tube sections may have a same outer diameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Tyler Grushkowitz, Brian Wares, Zachary Z. Judkins, Mark Adam Schimelpfenig, Richard Joseph Erb, Nicholas James McKibben
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Publication number: 20180062564Abstract: A solar-tracking photovoltaic (PV) system having a motor drive vertically below a PV module, is described. In an example, the motor drive rotates a torque tube holding the PV module. The motor drive may include a gearbox having a worm drive, and a gearmotor having an offset gear. The offset gear may be coupled to a planetary gear train along an axis of a worm of the worm drive, and the offset gear may be coupled to a motor along a shaft axis offset vertically below the worm axis. Accordingly, the motor may be offset vertically below the worm drive, i.e., farther from the PV laminate than the worm drive, and a rotational clearance for the PV laminate may be increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Tyler Grushkowitz, Brian Wares, Mark Adam Schimelpfenig, Jason C. Jones