Patents Assigned to Solarity, LLC
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Patent number: 12345613Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique of configuring flexible photovoltaic tracker systems with high damping and low angle stow positions. Under dynamic environmental loads implementing a high amount of damping (e.g., greater than 25% of critical damping, greater than 50% of critical damping) or a very high amount of damping (e.g., 100% or greater of critical damping, infinite damping) enables the flexible tracker system to prevent problematic aeroelastic behaviors while positioned in a low stow angle. The disclosed technique is further applied to a prototyping process during wind tunnel testing.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2023Date of Patent: July 1, 2025Assignee: FCX SOLAR LLCInventors: Christopher Thomas Needham, Frank Carl Oudheusden
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Patent number: 12345447Abstract: A method of determining and responding to an overcast sky condition during daylight hours in a solar tracker installation utilizing a single, fixed-position irradiance sensor associated with a set of solar tracker assemblies of the solar tracker installation and, if a series of irradiance levels communicated by the irradiance sensor to an array controller of a solar tracker control system of the installation indicates that an overcast sky condition has been present for a predetermined overcast sky duration period, the array controller transmitting control signals to a set of solar tracker controllers associated with the set of solar tracker assemblies to deviate from a normal solar tracking mode to an overcast sky mode by pivoting respective tables of the associated set of solar tracker assemblies to one or more predetermined overcast sky condition angles of inclination, and a solar tracker control system for implementing the foregoing method.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2024Date of Patent: July 1, 2025Assignee: OMCO SOLAR, LLCInventor: Matt Kesler
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Patent number: 12297042Abstract: A storage receptacle can include a storage bin and a pedal mounted to the receptacle as well as a hopper. A method of using the storage receptacle can include receiving a force on a hopper handle of a hopper of a storage receptacle, the hopper having a cable connection point connected to a cable, based on the force, rotating the hopper to enable a user to place material in a storage bin of the storage receptacle, wherein the rotating causes the cable to have slack and preventing the cable having the slack from coming out of a groove in a pulley via a shroud positioned over at least a portion of the pulley.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2023Date of Patent: May 13, 2025Assignee: BIG BELLY SOLAR LLCInventors: Jeffrey T. Satwicz, Kevin Menice, David J. Skocypec, Thomas Olsen, Brian Phillips, Michael E. Feldman
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Patent number: 12300985Abstract: A wire clamp may include a bottom piece having: a first base portion defining a first aperture, an at least partially elliptical barrier extending from the first base portion about the first aperture, and a plurality of legs extending from sides of the first base portion; a top piece having: a second base portion, a protrusion extending from the second base portion, the protrusion defining a second aperture, and a plurality of legs extending from sides of the second base portion; and a fastener. The first aperture and the second aperture may be configured to align and receive the fastener therethrough. A first side of the partially elliptical barrier and a first portion of the plurality of legs may define a first wire channel, and a second side of the partially elliptical barrier and a second portion of the plurality of legs may define a second wire channel.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2024Date of Patent: May 13, 2025Assignee: EcoFasten Solar, LLCInventors: Jon Ash, John Hudson, Roger Pedlar, Taylor Ray
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Patent number: 12289080Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes a collection of photovoltaic modules, a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules, and a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base. The damper resists movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base. The damper has a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, and the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2023Date of Patent: April 29, 2025Assignee: FCX Solar LLCInventors: Christopher Thomas Needham, Frank Carl Oudheusden
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Patent number: 12253868Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique of configuring flexible photovoltaic tracker systems with high damping and low angle stow positions. Under dynamic environmental loads implementing a high amount of damping (e.g., greater than 25% of critical damping, greater than 50% of critical damping) or a very high amount of damping (e.g., 100% or greater of critical damping, infinite damping) enables the flexible tracker system to prevent problematic aeroelastic behaviors while positioned in a low stow angle. The disclosed technique is further applied to a prototyping process during wind tunnel testing.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2022Date of Patent: March 18, 2025Assignee: FCX Solar LLCInventors: Christopher Thomas Needham, Frank Carl Oudheusden
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Publication number: 20250080038Abstract: A solar mount may allow for solar panels to be mounted thereon and positioned at various different angles. The solar mount may include one or more ladder racks that mount to a surface such as the roof of a vehicle. Cables may be tensioned and provide support between the one or more ladder racks. Pivoting brackets may allow solar panels to be secured to the ladder racks. The pivoting brackets may allow the solar panels to be angled in one direction such that part of the solar panel forms a negative angle with the ladder racks and part of the solar panel forms a positive angle with the ladder racks. The pivoting brackets may allow the solar panels to be angled in an opposite direction such that the solar panel forms a positive angle with the ladder rack.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2024Publication date: March 6, 2025Applicant: Monument Solar, LLCInventors: Kenson Pribyl, Jana Pribyl
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Patent number: 12244260Abstract: In various embodiments, the mounting systems described herein may be configured to mount a solar panel array to a flat concrete roof like those found throughout the Caribbean and Central and South America. Other systems described herein may be configured to facilitate mounting structures on standing seam metals roofs. Still other systems described herein may be configured to facilitate mounting structures on composite shingle, slate, or tile roofs. The mounting systems described herein may be configured as rail-less or rails free roof mounting systems.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2021Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: EcoFasten Solar, LLCInventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Alexander Grant Bornemann
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Patent number: 12218624Abstract: A solar tracker assembly including a drive mechanism including a rotating drive rotatable about a drive mechanism axis of rotation and a table pivoted by the rotating drive. The table includes first and second torque tube beam segments; first and second drive journals affixed to opposite sides of the rotating drive, longitudinal center lines of the drive journals coincident with the drive mechanism axis of rotation. The table further includes first and second bearings, an end of the first torque tube beam segment coupled to the first bearing to rotate about the first bearing axis of rotation and an end of the second torque tube beam segment coupled the second bearing to rotate about the second bearing axis of rotation. The first and second bearing axes of rotation are vertically offset from the longitudinal center lines of the first and second drive journals and the drive mechanism axis of rotation.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2022Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: OMCO SOLAR, LLCInventors: Andrew James Ballentine, David J. Wilson, Matt Kesler
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Patent number: 12179710Abstract: A roof attachment device having a roof attachment bracket, a lag screw, a rail attachment bracket, and a rail. The roof attachment bracket having an elongated aperture and a first aperture; wherein the fastener extends through the first aperture and attaches the roof attachment bracket to the roof. The rail attachment bracket comprising a rail connecting member having a second aperture, a third aperture, and an access port; a first bolt coupling the roof attachment bracket to the rail connecting member; wherein the access port and first aperture are aligned to allow the lag screw to extend through the first aperture; an outside clamping member having a fourth aperture; and a second bolt extending through the fourth and third apertures coupling the outside clamping member and the rail connecting member together; and a resilient clip loosely connecting the outside clamping member and the rail connecting member.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2023Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: EcoFasten Solar, LLCInventor: Alexander Morano
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Patent number: 12180764Abstract: A journal-coupler includes a first portion including a first pair of flanges and a first coupler portion and a second portion that is removably connected to the first portion. The second portion includes a second pair of flanges and a second coupler portion. The first coupler portion and the second coupler portion combine to form an enclosed torque tube portion and connect over a first torque tube and a second torque tube. The journal-coupler sustains a continuous electrical ground path between the first portion, the first torque tube, the second torque tube and the second portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2021Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: SUN AND STEEL SOLAR LLCInventor: Robert B. Dally
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Patent number: 12174644Abstract: A solar tracker system includes a photovoltaic panel and an actuator coupled to the photovoltaic panel and configured to actuate to rotate the photovoltaic panel around a base. A controller communicatively coupled to the actuator is configured to detect a direction from which wind is incident on the photovoltaic panel. Based on the direction from which wind is incident on the photovoltaic panel, the controller adaptively controls the actuator to set a stow position of the photovoltaic panel.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2022Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: FCX Solar LLCInventors: Christopher Thomas Needham, Frank Carl Oudheusden
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Patent number: 12152400Abstract: A foundation system for supporting a structure may include a main post, a racking post, and a barb assembly. The main post may include an upper section and a lower section below the upper section. The racking post may be telescopically connected to the upper section of the main post. The barb assembly may be connected to the lower section of the main post. The barb assembly may be configured to move from an unexpanded state to an expanded state, thereby forming a wedge shape at a lower section of the main post.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2022Date of Patent: November 26, 2024Assignee: APA SOLAR, LLCInventor: Joshua David Von Deylen
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Patent number: 12107530Abstract: A roof mount system supports a solar panel above a roof and includes a base positioned on the roof and a first fastener connected to the base and extending away from the roof and moveable along the base in a direction generally parallel to the roof. A first clamp supports a bottom surface of a solar panel frame and adjusts the height of the solar panel above the roof by moving the first clamp along a first fastener in a direction perpendicular to the roof. A second clamp is connected to a second fastener and moves with respect to the first clamp perpendicular to the roof. The solar panel is clamped between the first clamp and the second clamp portion. A protrusion extends from the first or second clamp to form an electrical bond between the solar panel frame and the respective first or second clamp.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2022Date of Patent: October 1, 2024Assignee: Ecofasten Solar, LLCInventors: Brian C. Stearns, Alexander G. Bornemann
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Patent number: 12101053Abstract: A plurality of solar photovoltaic modules disposed in spaced-part relation to define a gap between adjacent modules in an array of spaced-apart rows and the modules mounted on respective supports spaced from a surface to define an air gap therebetween, with at least one connector attaching respective adjacent modules, for generation of electricity while resisting wind uplift. A method of arranging interconnected solar photovoltaic modules in spaced-relation is disclosed for electrical generation while resting wind uplift.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2020Date of Patent: September 24, 2024Assignee: Watershed Solar LLCInventors: Michael R. Ayers, S. Kyle Ehman
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Patent number: 12025349Abstract: A method of determining and responding to an overcast sky condition during daylight hours in a solar tracker installation utilizing a single, fixed-position irradiance sensor associated with a set of solar tracker assemblies of the solar tracker installation and, if a series of irradiance levels communicated by the irradiance sensor to an array controller of a solar tracker control system of the installation indicates that an overcast sky condition has been present for a predetermined overcast sky duration period, the array controller transmitting control signals to a set of solar tracker controllers associated with the set of solar tracker assemblies to deviate from a normal solar tracking mode to an overcast sky mode by pivoting respective tables of the associated set of solar tracker assemblies to one or more predetermined overcast sky condition angles of inclination, and a solar tracker control system for implementing the foregoing method.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2022Date of Patent: July 2, 2024Assignee: OMCO SOLAR, LLCInventor: Matt Kesler
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Patent number: 11955925Abstract: A control system for a solar tracker assembly installation including a plurality of solar tracker assemblies, each of the plurality of solar tracker assemblies including a table supporting photovoltaic modules and rotatable through an angle of inclination. The solar tracker control system includes: a plurality of solar tracker controllers periodically outputting table angle of inclination data and solar tracker assembly operating data for the associated solar tracker assembly; a plurality of weather sensors, each outputting weather condition data; and an array controller in direct, wireless communications with each solar tracker controller and each weather sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: OMCO SOLAR, LLCInventors: Matt Kesler, Lepolve Varpilah, Robert Merkley, Sarah Elisabeth Potter
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Patent number: 11946587Abstract: A bearing for single-axis solar tracking system includes a journal with a tube portion connected to a pair of flanges that are configured as a thrust-stop. The bearing further includes a race removably connected to the journal.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: SUN AND STEEL SOLAR LLCInventor: Robert B. Dally
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Patent number: 11949368Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes a collection of photovoltaic modules, a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules, and a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base. The damper resists movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base. The damper has a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, and the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2021Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: FCX Solar LLCInventors: Christopher Thomas Needham, Frank Carl Oudheusden
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Patent number: D1079430Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2022Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Assignee: EcoFasten Solar, LLCInventors: Jon Ash, John Hudson, Roger Pedlar, Taylor Ray