Patents by Inventor Brian D. Kirtland

Brian D. Kirtland 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).

  • Patent number: 9276521
    Abstract: A clamp for securing photovoltaic panels to a support tube of a photovoltaic panel array has a lower brace for positioning on the support tube perpendicular to the support tube. The lower brace has a central web with a pair of side walls depending from opposite edges of the web. Support shoulders are formed in the side walls. Straps have tabs on an upper end that land on the support shoulders. An upper brace has flanges for engaging upper edge surfaces of adjacent ones of the panels. At least one deflectable standoff positions the upper brace a distance from the lower brace that is selected to be greater than a thickness of the adjacent ones of the panels. Tightening bolts between the braces deflects the standoff and draws the upper brace toward the lower brace to clamp the adjacent ones of the panels between the lower and upper braces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: JSI Equipment Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Max W. Reed, Brian D. Kirtland, Michael T. Bozeman
  • Patent number: 9206999
    Abstract: A solar panel array system has posts for mounting vertically in earth along a Z-axis. A torque tube extends along an X-axis at upper ends of the posts for supporting and pivoting solar panels to track the sun. A bearing saddle base has a downward-facing surface that is placed on an upward-facing surface of the post. Lugs and slots on the upward-facing and downward-facing surfaces are positioned so that rotating the base about the Z-axis causes the lugs to enter the slots. A bearing saddle cradle is adjustably mounted to the base at selected pitch angles relative to the base. The base is rotatable about the Z-axis to various positions either centered or placing the X-axis at a yaw angle relative to the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: JSI Equipment Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Max W. Reed, Brian D. Kirtland
  • Publication number: 20150200621
    Abstract: A clamp for securing photovoltaic panels to a support tube of a photovoltaic panel array has a lower brace for positioning on the support tube perpendicular to the support tube. The lower brace has a central web with a pair of side walls depending from opposite edges of the web. Support shoulders are formed in the side walls. Straps have tabs on an upper end that land on the support shoulders. An upper brace has flanges for engaging upper edge surfaces of adjacent ones of the panels. At least one deflectable standoff positions the upper brace a distance from the lower brace that is selected to be greater than a thickness of the adjacent ones of the panels. Tightening bolts between the braces deflects the standoff and draws the upper brace toward the lower brace to clamp the adjacent ones of the panels between the lower and upper braces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: JSI Equipment Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Max W. Reed, Brian D. Kirtland, Michael T. Bozeman
  • Publication number: 20150059827
    Abstract: A solar panel array system has a torque tube supported on upper ends of vertical posts. The torque tube has an octagonal exterior surface and an octagonal interior surface corresponding with the exterior surface. The octagonal exterior surface defines at least one flat datum surface for mounting a photo-voltaic panel. A weld seam extends along the exterior surface parallel with the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: JSI Equipment Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Max W. Reed, Brian D. Kirtland
  • Publication number: 20150059826
    Abstract: A solar panel array system has posts for mounting vertically in earth along a Z-axis. A torque tube extends along an X-axis at upper ends of the posts for supporting and pivoting solar panels to track the sun. A bearing saddle base has a downward-facing surface that is placed on an upward-facing surface of the post. Lugs and slots on the upward-facing and downward-facing surfaces are positioned so that rotating the base about the Z-axis causes the lugs to enter the slots. A bearing saddle cradle is adjustably mounted to the base at selected pitch angles relative to the base. The base is rotatable about the Z-axis to various positions either centered or placing the X-axis at a yaw angle relative to the post.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Max W. Reed, Brian D. Kirtland