Patents by Inventor Jess CROWE

Jess CROWE 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).

  • Vehicles and methods for magnetically managing legs of rail-based photovoltaic modules during installation
    Patent number: 9937846
    Abstract: An exemplary method for installing at an installation site a photovoltaic module including a panel and support legs includes disposing the photovoltaic module over a support surface such that the support legs are in a stowed position; lifting the photovoltaic module from a support surface while engaging a magnetic field with the support legs so as to maintain the support legs in the stowed position; disengaging the magnetic field from the support legs of the lifted photovoltaic module so as to release the support legs from the stowed position to an installation position in which the support legs are rotated downwards relative to the stowed position; and lowering the photovoltaic module to the installation site with the support legs in the installation position so as to install the photovoltaic module at the installation site, the support legs supporting the panel at the installation site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Alion Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam French, Timothy Wheeler, Kevin Hennessy, Jess Crowe, Luis Francisco Castro-Hernandez
  • VEHICLES AND METHODS FOR MAGNETICALLY MANAGING LEGS OF RAIL-BASED PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES DURING INSTALLATION
    Publication number: 20170043700
    Abstract: An exemplary method for installing at an installation site a photovoltaic module including a panel and support legs includes disposing the photovoltaic module over a support surface such that the support legs are in a stowed position; lifting the photovoltaic module from a support surface while engaging a magnetic field with the support legs so as to maintain the support legs in the stowed position; disengaging the magnetic field from the support legs of the lifted photovoltaic module so as to release the support legs from the stowed position to an installation position in which the support legs are rotated downwards relative to the stowed position; and lowering the photovoltaic module to the installation site with the support legs in the installation position so as to install the photovoltaic module at the installation site, the support legs supporting the panel at the installation site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Adam French, Timothy Wheeler, Kevin Hennessy, Jess Crowe, Luis Francisco Castro-Hernandez
  • Vehicles and methods for magnetically managing legs of rail-based photovoltaic modules during installation
    Patent number: 9453660
    Abstract: An exemplary method for installing at an installation site a photovoltaic module including a panel and support legs includes disposing the photovoltaic module over a support surface such that the support legs are in a stowed position; lifting the photovoltaic module from a support surface while engaging a magnetic field with the support legs so as to maintain the support legs in the stowed position; disengaging the magnetic field from the support legs of the lifted photovoltaic module so as to release the support legs from the stowed position to an installation position in which the support legs are rotated downwards relative to the stowed position; and lowering the photovoltaic module to the installation site with the support legs in the installation position so as to install the photovoltaic module at the installation site, the support legs supporting the panel at the installation site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Alion Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam French, Timothy Wheeler, Kevin Hennessy, Jess Crowe, Luis Francisco Castro Hernandez
  • VEHICLES AND METHODS FOR MAGNETICALLY MANAGING LEGS OF RAIL-BASED PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES DURING INSTALLATION
    Publication number: 20150069001
    Abstract: An exemplary method for installing at an installation site a photovoltaic module including a panel and support legs includes disposing the photovoltaic module over a support surface such that the support legs are in a stowed position; lifting the photovoltaic module from a support surface while engaging a magnetic field with the support legs so as to maintain the support legs in the stowed position; disengaging the magnetic field from the support legs of the lifted photovoltaic module so as to release the support legs from the stowed position to an installation position in which the support legs are rotated downwards relative to the stowed position; and lowering the photovoltaic module to the installation site with the support legs in the installation position so as to install the photovoltaic module at the installation site, the support legs supporting the panel at the installation site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Adam FRENCH, Timothy WHEELER, Kevin HENNESSY, Jess CROWE, Luis Francisco CASTRO HERNANDEZ