Patents by Inventor Brian Wares
Brian Wares 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: 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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Publication number: 20190280643Abstract: A solar-tracking photovoltaic (PV) system having several PV modules mounted on a torque tube is described. 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 torque tube sections may have a same outer diameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2019Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: Sushrut Bapat, Tyler Grushkowitz, Nicholas James McKibben, Brian Wares
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Publication number: 20190260330Abstract: A mounting assembly for a photovoltaic (PV) module, and systems including such mounting assemblies, are described. In an example, the mounting assembly includes a top support and a bottom support having respective mounting walls, and holes through the mounting walls. A pin assembly may extend through the holes in the mounting walls to constrain the supports, for example, relative to a torque member of a solar-tracking PV system. The pin assembly may include end collars to engage and distribute loading from the torque member.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventors: Jason Oh, Brian Wares, Nicholas James McKibben
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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: 10333459Abstract: A mounting assembly for a photovoltaic (PV) module, and systems including such mounting assemblies, are described. In an example, the mounting assembly includes a top support and a bottom support having respective mounting walls, and holes through the mounting walls. A pin assembly may extend through the holes in the mounting walls to constrain the supports, for example, relative to a torque member of a solar-tracking PV system. The pin assembly may include end collars to engage and distribute loading from the torque member.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2016Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Jason Oh, Brian Wares, 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: 10305418Abstract: A solar-tracking photovoltaic (PV) system having several PV modules mounted on a torque tube is described. 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 torque tube sections may have a same outer diameter.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2016Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Sushrut Bapat, Tyler Grushkowitz, Nicholas James McKibben, Brian Wares
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Patent number: 10298172Abstract: A mounting assembly for a photovoltaic (PV) module, and systems including such mounting assemblies, are described. In an embodiment, the mounting assembly includes a top strut to support a PV module, and a retainer fixed relative to the top strut. The retainer may have an upright and retaining tab portion forming a receiving gap to receive the PV module. The retainer may constrain movement of the PV module mounted on the top strut.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2016Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Jason Oh, Brian Wares, Nicholas James McKibben
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Publication number: 20190081591Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) module clip, and methods of fastening a PV module to a structural member using the PV module clip, are described. In an example, a PV module clip includes a toe portion interconnected with several legs by a neck portion. The toe portion may be inserted through several aligned holes of a PV module frame and a mounting assembly strut to an underside of the strut. The neck portion may extend upward from the toe portion through the aligned holes to the legs above the strut. The legs may extend around a portion of the strut in a tensioned state, and engage with a retaining feature to hold the legs in the tensioned state. Accordingly, the legs may clamp the PV module to the mounting assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Elizabeth Dix Schulte, Brian Wares, Nicholas James McKibben
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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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Patent number: 10158323Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) module clip, and methods of fastening a PV module to a structural member using the PV module clip, are described. In an example, a PV module clip includes a toe portion interconnected with several legs by a neck portion. The toe portion may be inserted through several aligned holes of a PV module frame and a mounting assembly strut to an underside of the strut. The neck portion may extend upward from the toe portion through the aligned holes to the legs above the strut. The legs may extend around a portion of the strut in a tensioned state, and engage with a retaining feature to hold the legs in the tensioned state. Accordingly, the legs may clamp the PV module to the mounting assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2016Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Elizabeth Dix Schulte, Brian Wares, Nicholas James McKibben
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Publication number: 20180331652Abstract: A folding photovoltaic (PV) panel is described. The folding PV panel may include several subpanels interconnected by a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly may include a first section, a second section, and a third section between the first and second sections. The first section of the hinge assembly may couple to a first subpanel and the second section of the hinge assembly may couple to a second subpanel. The folding PV panel may include at least one electrical conductor extending from the first subpanel to the second subpanel. The at least one electrical conductor may be located in the hinge assembly or in a cabling assembly bridging a channel defined by edges of the first and second subpanels and the third section of the hinge assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: David OKAWA, John Paul KAPLA, Brian WARES, Laurence B. MACKLER, Tamir LANCE, Ryan REAGAN, Alexander F. KELLER, Hikaru IWASAKA, Gabriela Elena BUNEA
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Publication number: 20180316302Abstract: This specification describes angled polymer solar modules, methods for producing angled polymer solar modules, and methods for installing angled polymer solar modules. In some examples, a method includes producing a flat polymer sheet including one or more photovoltaic cells. The method includes applying force to the flat polymer sheet to curve the flat polymer sheet in at least one region, forming an angled polymer sheet from the flat polymer sheet. The method includes mounting the angled polymer sheet on a roof deck such that the photovoltaic cells are angled with respect to the roof deck by virtue of the at least one region being curved.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2018Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventors: David Okawa, Tamir Lance, Gabriela Bunea, Brian Wares, Zachary Judkins
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Patent number: 10003298Abstract: A cable tray and support system facilitates cable management in a solar energy collector system at reduced cost relative to previous cable tray and support systems. The cable tray and support system comprises cables trays, mounting brackets, and vertically-oriented piles. The mounting brackets are coupled to the cables trays and vertically-oriented piles. The mounting brackets include one or more stress relief features (e.g., notches) to allow the mounting bracket to provide cantilevered deflection in response to thermal expansion or contraction-of the cable tray. The cable tray and support system also provides a ground path from a cable tray, to the mounting bracket, to the pile, and then to the ground to dissipate transient voltages in the solar energy collection system.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2016Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventors: Tyler Grushkowitz, Brian Wares, Vicent Ripoll Agullo, Shannon Mark Bachart, Matthew Scott Lambert
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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: 20180062568Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) module clip, and methods of fastening a PV module to a structural member using the PV module clip, are described. In an example, a PV module clip includes a toe portion interconnected with several legs by a neck portion. The toe portion may be inserted through several aligned holes of a PV module frame and a mounting assembly strut to an underside of the strut. The neck portion may extend upward from the toe portion through the aligned holes to the legs above the strut. The legs may extend around a portion of the strut in a tensioned state, and engage with a retaining feature to hold the legs in the tensioned state. Accordingly, the legs may clamp the PV module to the mounting assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Elizabeth Dix Schulte, Brian Wares, Nicholas James McKibben
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Publication number: 20180062569Abstract: A mounting assembly for a photovoltaic (PV) module, and systems including such mounting assemblies, are described. In an example, the mounting assembly includes a top support and a bottom support having respective mounting walls, and holes through the mounting walls. A pin assembly may extend through the holes in the mounting walls to constrain the supports, for example, relative to a torque member of a solar-tracking PV system. The pin assembly may include end collars to engage and distribute loading from the torque member.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Jason Oh, Brian Wares, Nicholas James McKibben
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Publication number: 20180062567Abstract: A mounting assembly for a photovoltaic (PV) module, and systems including such mounting assemblies, are described. In an embodiment, the mounting assembly includes a top strut to support a PV module, and a retainer fixed relative to the top strut. The retainer may have an upright and retaining tab portion forming a receiving gap to receive the PV module. The retainer may constrain movement of the PV module mounted on the top strut.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Jason Oh, Brian Wares, 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
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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