Patents by Inventor Benjamin C. de Fresart

Benjamin C. de Fresart 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: 20220271706
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) module clamp may be configured to interface with a torque tube and a PV module rail fixedly coupled to a PV module. The PV module clamp may include a seating portion made of two or more lateral walls and a base surface. A clamp body of the PV module clamp may be coupled to the seating portion. The clamp body may include a shape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the torque tube. The PV module clamp may include a fastening feature for interlocking the PV module clamp with the PV module rail responsive to the PV module rail being seated in the seating portion of the PV module clamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Lucas Creasy, Nathan Schuknecht, Benjamin C. de Fresart
  • Patent number: 11414827
    Abstract: A first embodiment of an anchor system may include a ballast, rods projecting through the ballast such that the rods extend away from the ballast and into the ground when deployed, and a mounting hardware atop the ballast. The anchor system may include an anchor deployable into the ground with a line providing tension between the ballast and the anchor when deployed into the ground. Another embodiment of the anchor may include a ground plate coupled to a spade in which the spade may be pressed into the ground when deployed. The anchor system may include an earth anchor shaped to be deployed in a first position and resist removal from the ground in a second position. and a line running from the ground plate to the earth anchor. The tension on the line may cause the earth anchor to transition from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: ARRAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. de Fresart, Nikhil Kumar, Anubhav Tandon, Lucas Creasy, Nathan Schuknecht
  • Publication number: 20220239249
    Abstract: A system may include a support column, and a torsion beam connected to the support column and connected to one or more frames circumscribing one or more respective photovoltaic (PV) modules. An angle of orientation of the one or more frames may change based on rotation of the torsion beam. The system may also include an aeroelastic stabilizer associated with an edge of at least one of the frames. The association between the aeroelastic stabilizer and the edge of the at least one of the frames may include the aeroelastic stabilizer being fixedly coupled to the rail. The association between the aeroelastic stabilizer and the edge of the at least one of the frames may include the aeroelastic stabilizer being integrally formed with the rail to which the edge of the at least one of the frames is fixedly coupled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Nikhil Kumar, Todd Andersen, Lucas Creasy, Benjamin C. de Fresart
  • Publication number: 20220200522
    Abstract: A deflection pad may include a body including two peaks, and a recess in the body between the two peaks, the recess may be sized to accommodate a fastener such that when deployed, the fastener is below a height of the two peaks within the recess. The deflection pad may include arms projecting in a direction generally opposite the two peaks, the arms biased inward towards the recess. The deflection pad may be included in a system that includes a torsion beam and one or more support racks to which multiple PV modules may be attached, where the support are racks attached to the torsion beam. One or more deflection pads may be positioned on the support racks to be below the PV modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Benjamin C. de Fresart, Nathan Schuknecht, Jon Sharp
  • Publication number: 20220081862
    Abstract: A first embodiment of an anchor system may include a ballast, rods projecting through the ballast such that the rods extend away from the ballast and into the ground when deployed, and a mounting hardware atop the ballast. The anchor system may include an anchor deployable into the ground with a line providing tension between the ballast and the anchor when deployed into the ground. Another embodiment of the anchor may include a ground plate coupled to a spade in which the spade may be pressed into the ground when deployed. The anchor system may include an earth anchor shaped to be deployed in a first position and resist removal from the ground in a second position. and a line running from the ground plate to the earth anchor. The tension on the line may cause the earth anchor to transition from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Benjamin C. de Fresart, Nikhil Kumar, Anubhav Tandon, Lucas Creasy, Nathan Schuknecht
  • Publication number: 20220085752
    Abstract: A module mounting system may include a photovoltaic (PV) module frame including a mounting rail. The module mounting system may include a spring clip with a PV module frame interfacing element and a clip interfacing element. The spring clip may apply spring force via deformation to lock the PV module frame and a clip together. A second embodiment of the spring clip may include an upper component having one or more arms and a lower component having a central loop configured to rotate relative to each other and interface with the PV module frame or the mounting rail. A second embodiment of the module mounting system may include screwless clips including outer walls and inner walls coupled together as a continuous sheet of material. The screwless clips may couple to a respective mounting flange and a respective frame flange to lock the mounting purlin and the PV module frame together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventor: Benjamin C. de Fresart