Patents by Inventor Charles Almy

Charles Almy 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).

  • Truss foundation adjustment tool
    Publication number: 20220056657
    Abstract: A tool for adjusting driven truss components and assembled truss foundations. A bridge separates a pair of collars, each having a pair of offset bearing surfaces that fit around the truss legs. A lever arm terminating in a handle extends away from the bridge to give leverage to the tool operator. The bridge width is adjustable to enable positioning of the tool at different heights along the driven truss components. An additional receiver proximate to one of the collars may enable single leg operation. Lateral and angular adjustment of the lever arm with respect to the bridge may enable greater force to be applied to one leg relative to the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Jack West, Charles Almy
  • Multi-region solar roofing modules
    Patent number: 11258398
    Abstract: Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, particularly as multi-region roofing modules that have photovoltaic elements embedded or incorporated into the body of the module, in distinct tiles-sized regions. Such multi-region photovoltaic modules can replicate the look of individual roofing tiles or shingles. Further, multi-region photovoltaic modules can include support structures between the distinct regions having a degree of flexibility, allowing for a more efficient installation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Almy, Kathryn Austin Pesce, David Molina
  • Expanding foundation components and related systems and methods
    Patent number: 11124938
    Abstract: A foundation component having an elongated shaft with a below-ground end and an opposing above-ground end. The foundation component is installed by sleeving it over a mandrel and applying downward force to the mandrel to insert the component and mandrel into underlying soil. Proximate to the underground end, the shaft has one or more crumple zones formed along its length. When the mandrel is rotated to a locked position and upward force is applied while bracing the above-ground end of the component, one or more of the crumple zones expand transversely into the soil, depending on the soil's density, thereby increasing the component's bearing capacity and resistance to pull out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ojjo, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Almy, Theodore Gittings
  • TRUSS FOUNDATIONS FOR FROST-HEAVE ENVIRONMENTS
    Publication number: 20210273603
    Abstract: A truss foundation for single-axis trackers that are installed in climates that experience significant frost heave. Truss legs are oriented to be substantially plumb, to eliminate adfreeze moment on below-ground components in the frost zone. Different truss caps may be used depending on the type of single-axis tracker and/or tracker component is supported. In some cases, truss legs may curve just before entering the ground. In others, below-ground and above-ground components may extend along the same axis and remain plump with the truss cap providing additional elevation to for the tracker to clear the wider truss legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventor: Charles Almy
  • FIXED-TILT SOLAR ARRAYS AND RELATED SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20210257962
    Abstract: Fixed-tilt solar arrays constructed from screw anchors. In some cases, purlins are attached directly to truss legs. In others, they are attached to truss caps joining the free end of each truss leg. In still further ones, screw anchors are driven in rows and interconnected by a pair of hinged members, one of which provides a mounting plane for solar panels. Each screw anchor may serve as a connection point for the trailing hinged member of the first foundation and the leading hinged member of the next foundation. In still further cases, a hinged truss cap may be used to accommodate different tilt angles with the same foundation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Greg McPheeters, Tyrus Hudson, Charles Almy, Jack West
  • TRUSS FOUNDATIONS FOR SINGLE-AXIS TRACKERS
    Publication number: 20210257964
    Abstract: Truss foundations for supporting single-axis trackers. A motor truss may be constructed from a pair of adjacent trusses that are braced and interconnected to resist axial loads and bending moments experienced at the drive motor or center structure. Dampers may be added to one or more trusses to protect the tracker from unintended rotation by resisting these forces with the truss legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Tyrus Hudson, Katie Pesce, Greg McPheeters, Charles Almy
  • THREADED TRUSS FOUNDATIONS AND RELATED SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND MACHINES
    Publication number: 20210231156
    Abstract: A machine for rotary driving screw anchors into underlying ground and related. The machine has a mast with a rotary driver and a mandrel driver oriented on a common axis. The mandrel driver passes a mandrel through the rotary driver and the screw anchor to allow the mandrel to be actuated ahead of the screw anchor while the rotary driver drives the screw anchor into the ground. Alternatively, the mandrel driver may also drive a hammering drill through the screw anchor to clear a path ahead of it through subsurface rocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Charles Almy, Johann Karkheck, Tyrus Hudson, David Warner, Jack West, David Mar
  • SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND MACHINES FOR CONSTRUCTING SOLAR FOUNDATIONS
    Publication number: 20210214908
    Abstract: Improved masts for solar pile driving machines are provided that incorporate inline drilling as well as alignment and assembly devices that enable greater positional accuracy than possible with conventional equipment. In some cases, a jig, holder, or other device on the mast of the machine can be used to place a bearing assembly for a single-axis tracker while the foundation is being installed. Also disclosed are various multi-piece foundation piles that enable positional adjustment between below and above-ground components to compensate for misalignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Jack West, Charles Almy, Steven Kraft, Ian Capsuto, Tyrus Hudson
  • SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND MACHINES FOR AUTONOMOUSLY DRIVING FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20210198860
    Abstract: A closed-loop feedback-control system for a screw anchor driving machine that uses a controller such as a programmable logic controller (PLC) and an array of sensors providing real-time data to control an automated screw anchor driving operation relying on a rotary driver, a crowd motor applying downforce to the rotary driver and a tool driver extending a tool through the rotary driver and screw anchor to drive screw anchors to a target depth. The tool driver is independently controllable to advance the tool at a different feed and speed than the rotary driver to respond to underground conditions encountered during driving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel Flanigan, Steven Kraft, Charles Almy, Spencer Shupe, Tyrus Hudson, Ryan Woodward
  • SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND MACHINES FOR JOINING TRUSS FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20210172655
    Abstract: A coupler for joining truss leg components provides angular adjustability between the respective axis of the leg components. A prolate spheroid-shaped coupler with three channels circumscribing its surface enables the upper leg components to compensate for axial misalignment of driven screw anchors in all directions. A hydraulic crimping device with upper and lower crimping guides registers its position with features on the truss hardware to insure that blind triple crimps are performed consistently each time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Tyrus Hudson, Johann Karkheck, Charles Almy, Jack West, Greg McPheeters
  • Threaded truss foundations and related systems, methods, and machines
    Patent number: 11015635
    Abstract: A machine for rotary driving screw anchors into underlying ground and related. The machine has a mast with a rotary driver and a mandrel driver oriented on a common axis. The mandrel driver passes a mandrel through the rotary driver and the screw anchor to allow the mandrel to be actuated ahead of the screw anchor while the rotary driver drives the screw anchor into the ground. Alternatively, the mandrel driver may also drive a hammering drill through the screw anchor to clear a path ahead of it through subsurface rocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Ojjo, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Almy, Johann Karkheck, Tyrus Hudson, David Warner, Jack West, David Mar
  • DEVICES, MACHINES, AND SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATED TRUSS ASSEMBLY AND CRIMPING
    Publication number: 20210138595
    Abstract: An alignment and installation jig for a screw anchor driving machine. The alignment and installation jig includes a laser target that can be moved from an alignment position to a driving position. The jig may also include one or more automated crimping assemblies to form permanent connections between overlapping foundation components while the machine is correctly oriented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Tyrus Hudson, Greg McPheeters, Charles Almy
  • ADJUSTABLE BEARING SUPPORTS FOR SINGLE-AXIS TRACKERS
    Publication number: 20210124007
    Abstract: Adjustable bearing supports for single-axis trackers supported by truss foundations. A two-piece assembly joins a pair of adjacent truss legs to form a rigid foundation while providing a movable support for a tracker bearing housing assembly or other structure. The movable support may slide in-plane, or alternatively, enable the bearing housing assembly to slide and rotate with respect to the truss cap structure joining the adjacent truss legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Katie Pesce, Charles Almy, Greg McPheeters, Tyrus Hudson, Jack West
  • SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND MACHINES FOR IMPROVED SITE LAYOUT AND FOUNDATION ALIGNMENT
    Publication number: 20210115642
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the disclosure enable installation of a utility scale solar array or other project requiring a site survey and survey markers at every ground penetration to be replaced with survey markers only at the end of each row. In addition, machine mast alignment for driving H-piles with an impact or vibratory hammer, or for driving screw anchors, helical anchors or other foundation with a rotary driver to be automated with the use of range finding lasers to orient the driving mast in X, Y and Z as well as pitch, roll and yaw based on range finding laser measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Charles Almy, Steven Kraft, Jack West, Trevor Guthrie
  • FRAMELESS AND SHARED FRAME PV MODULES AND TORQUE TUBE MOUNTING SYSTEMS FOR SAME
    Publication number: 20210075366
    Abstract: A shared frame photovoltaic module and related mounting system for single-axis trackers. Each module has no frame, or a partial frame on two of four sides. A shared frame rail captures adjacent modules edges, providing frame support and attaching them to the tracker torque tube eliminating structural redundancy in conventional module frames. In some embodiments, each module is unframed with mounting pucks attached to the underside of the photovoltaic laminate. Torque tube mounting brackets have connecting portions for attaching respective pairs of mounting pucks on opposing sides of the torque tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Jack West, Greg McPheeters, Charles Almy
  • Systems, methods, and machines for autonomously driving foundation components
    Patent number: 10907318
    Abstract: A closed-loop feedback-control system for a screw anchor driving machine that uses a programmable logic controller (PLC) and array of sensors providing real-time data to control an automated screw anchor driving operation relying on a rotary driver, a crowd motor applying downforce to the rotary driver and a tool driver extending a tool through the rotary driver and screw anchor to drive screw anchors to a target depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ojjo, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Flanigan, Steven Kraft, Charles Almy, Spencer Shupe, Tyrus Hudson, Ryan Woodward
  • MULTI-PIECE TRUSS LEGS AND RELATED COUPLERS
    Publication number: 20210018225
    Abstract: A two-piece truss leg with an articulating coupler for an A-frame-shaped truss foundation system for single-axis trackers. The coupler is attached to the head of each screw anchor to enable it to be driven. A connection portion extends above the coupler and is received within an open end of an upper leg to allow the upper leg to be misaligned with respect to it corresponding screw anchor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Tyrus Hudson, Johann Karkheck, Charles Almy, Jack West
  • Truss foundation adapters for single-axis trackers
    Publication number: 20210002896
    Abstract: A one-piece truss adapter for supporting single-axis trackers with truss foundations. A y-shaped structure has a pair of legs with an angularly adjustable connector for securely joining the one-piece adapter to a pair of driven screw anchors at different angular orientations. Each leg terminates in a ball-shaped connector that is received in a socket integral to a driving coupler at the head of each screw anchor. A retaining nut holds the connector in place to complete the angularly adjustable assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventor: Charles Almy
  • Helical anchor
    Patent number: D913780
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ojjo, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyrus Hudson, Jack West, Charles Almy
  • Screw anchor
    Patent number: D927968
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Ojjo, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyrus Hudson, Jack West, Charles Almy