Patents by Inventor ANDREW JAMES BALLENTINE

ANDREW JAMES BALLENTINE 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).

  • Publication number: 20230208348
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew James Ballentine, David J. Wilson, Matt Kesler
  • Publication number: 20230133308
    Abstract: A mounting bracket assembly mounted to a torque tube beam of a solar tracker assembly and supporting longitudinally extending edge portions of first and second photovoltaic modules, the first set of photovoltaic modules on a first side of the torque tube beam and the second set of photovoltaic modules on an opposite side of the torque tube beam and the longitudinally extending edge portions of the first and second sets of photovoltaic modules extending parallel to the torque tube beam. The mounting bracket assembly includes first and second mounting brackets coupled to the beam. First and second module support members are coupled to and span the first and second mounting brackets. The first module support member includes first and second support arms supporting edge portions of the first photovoltaic module and the second module support member includes third and fourth support arms supporting edge portions of the second photovoltaic module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew James Ballentine, David J. Wilson, Matt Kesler
  • Patent number: 11271518
    Abstract: A mounting bracket assembly for securing facing edge portions of a pair of adjacent photovoltaic panels to a torque tube beam of a solar tracking assembly. The mounting bracket includes a mounting bracket and a fastener assembly including a securing strap for securing the mounting bracket to the torque tube beam. The mounting bracket includes: an upper support structure, a central attachment structure and a lower projection structure extending in a vertical direction downwardly away from the upper support structure. The upper attachment structure includes a first body and a second body spaced apart by the central attachment structure. The lower projection structure including a first rib extending vertically downwardly from the first body and a second rib extending vertically downwardly from the second body. A lower portion of the lower projection structure including a through slot sized to receive the torque tube beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: OMCO Solar, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew James Ballentine, Garrett Scott Murphy, Milos Stancic, David J. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20210194418
    Abstract: A solar tracker bearing apparatus mountable to an upright support post for rotatably supporting a torque tube beam of a solar tracker assembly and including: a rotatable bearing assembly supported for rotation about an axis of rotation by a stationary saddle assembly. The rotatable bearing assembly includes a central portion and first and second spaced apart arcuate peripheral portions, the central portion defining a beam slot, the first arcuate peripheral portion including a first arcuate rim bearing and the second arcuate peripheral portion including a second arcuate rim bearing, and the first and second rim bearings being spaced apart in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable bearing assembly. The stationary saddle assembly includes a first arcuate bearing race slidably supporting the first arcuate rim bearing and a spaced apart second arcuate bearing race slidably supporting the second arcuate rim bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew James Ballentine, Matt Kesler, David J. Wilson
  • Patent number: 10944354
    Abstract: A solar tracker bearing apparatus mountable to an upright support post for rotatably supporting a torque tube beam of a solar tracker assembly and including: a rotatable bearing assembly supported for rotation about an axis of rotation by a stationary saddle assembly. The rotatable bearing assembly includes a central portion and first and second spaced apart arcuate peripheral portions, the central portion defining a torque tube beam slot, the first arcuate peripheral portion including a first arcuate rim bearing and the second arcuate peripheral portion including a second arcuate rim bearing, and the first and second rim bearings being spaced apart in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable bearing assembly. The stationary saddle assembly includes a first arcuate bearing race slidably supporting the first arcuate rim bearing and a spaced apart second arcuate bearing race slidably support the second arcuate rim bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: OMCO Solar, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew James Ballentine, Matt Kesler, David J. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20200153382
    Abstract: A mounting bracket assembly for securing facing edge portions of a pair of adjacent photovoltaic panels to a torque tube beam of a solar tracking assembly. The mounting bracket includes a mounting bracket and a fastener assembly including a securing strap for securing the mounting bracket to the torque tube beam. The mounting bracket includes: an upper support structure, a central attachment structure and a lower projection structure extending in a vertical direction downwardly away from the upper support structure. The upper attachment structure includes a first body and a second body spaced apart by the central attachment structure. The lower projection structure including a first rib extending vertically downwardly from the first body and a second rib extending vertically downwardly from the second body. A lower portion of the lower projection structure including a through slot sized to receive the torque tube beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: ANDREW JAMES BALLENTINE, Garrett Scott Murphy, Milos Stancic, David J. Wilson, Philip W. Fretz, JR., Benyam H. Hagos
  • Publication number: 20200052643
    Abstract: A solar tracker bearing apparatus mountable to an upright support post for rotatably supporting a torque tube beam of a solar tracker assembly and including: a rotatable bearing assembly supported for rotation about an axis of rotation by a stationary saddle assembly. The rotatable bearing assembly includes a central portion and first and second spaced apart arcuate peripheral portions, the central portion defining a torque tube beam slot, the first arcuate peripheral portion including a first arcuate rim bearing and the second arcuate peripheral portion including a second arcuate rim bearing, and the first and second rim bearings being spaced apart in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable bearing assembly. The stationary saddle assembly includes a first arcuate bearing race slidably supporting the first arcuate rim bearing and a spaced apart second arcuate bearing race slidably support the second arcuate rim bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: ANDREW JAMES BALLENTINE, Matt Kesler, David J. Wilson