Patents by Inventor John Hartelius

John Hartelius 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: 9551510
    Abstract: Described herein is a mounting system and slider clips that support simplified installation of photovoltaic structures. The mounting system comprises a support structure which can be mounted to support columns via an optional tilt table. The support structure comprises a plurality of parallel spaced beams and a plurality of parallel spaced rails that are mounted approximately perpendicular to the beams. Disclosed embodiments describe a collapsible support structure in which the rails are pivotally mounted to the beams. Rails are preassembled with prefabricated slider clips for holding edge portions of the photovoltaic structures. Rails can also be integrally formed with slider clips. Described herein are also methods of installing one or more photovoltaic structures using the mounting system and methods for manufacturing slider clips and a photovoltaic structure mounting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hartelius, Michael Monaco, Kyle Kazimir
  • Patent number: 9413287
    Abstract: A support system for a solar panel includes a triangular truss with connection points for mounting a photovoltaic module, and a cradle structure that supports the triangular truss and is connected to at least two side supports of the triangular truss. The cradle structure may be driven for rotation about an axis for tracking the sun and several cradle structures can be linked together for tracking movement using a buried linkage system. The truss may also be foldable for ease of transportation and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventor: John Hartelius
  • Patent number: 9349893
    Abstract: A photovoltaic module ground mounting system can include a collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Belikoff, John Hartelius, Chris Mahn
  • Patent number: 9252307
    Abstract: A support system for a solar panel includes a triangular truss with connection points for mounting a photovoltaic module, and a cradle structure that supports the triangular truss and is connected to at least two side supports of the triangular truss. The cradle structure may be driven for rotation about an axis for tracking the sun and several cradle structures can be linked together for tracking movement using a buried linkage system. The truss may also be foldable for ease of transportation and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventor: John Hartelius
  • Publication number: 20150249422
    Abstract: This invention relates to photovoltaic modules and arrays, methods of assembling photovoltaic arrays, and methods for shipping components of photovoltaic arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Michael A. Belikoff, John A. Bellacicco, Henry B. Cabuhay, John Hartelius, Chris Mahn, Michael J. Monaco, Sharad Ramani, Mark Zeni
  • Patent number: 9046282
    Abstract: This invention relates to photovoltaic modules and arrays, methods of assembling photovoltaic arrays, and methods for shipping components of photovoltaic arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Belikoff, John Anthony Bellacicco, Henry B. Cabuhay, John Hartelius, Chris Mahn, Michael J. Monaco, Sharad Ramani, Mark Zeni
  • Publication number: 20150041610
    Abstract: Described herein is a mounting system and slider clips that support simplified installation of photovoltaic structures. The mounting system comprises a support structure which can be mounted to support columns via an optional tilt table. The support structure comprises a plurality of parallel spaced beams and a plurality of parallel spaced rails that are mounted approximately perpendicular to the beams. Disclosed embodiments describe a collapsible support structure in which the rails are pivotally mounted to the beams. Rails are preassembled with prefabricated slider clips for holding edge portions of the photovoltaic structures. Rails can also be integrally formed with slider clips. Described herein are also methods of installing one or more photovoltaic structures using the mounting system and methods for manufacturing slider clips and a photovoltaic structure mounting system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: John Hartelius, Michael Monaco, Kyle Kazimir
  • Publication number: 20140360562
    Abstract: A support system for a solar panel includes a triangular truss with connection points for mounting a photovoltaic module, and a cradle structure that supports the triangular truss and is connected to at least two side supports of the triangular truss. The cradle structure may be driven for rotation about an axis for tracking the sun and several cradle structures can be linked together for tracking movement using a buried linkage system. The truss may also be foldable for ease of transportation and storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: John Hartelius
  • Patent number: 8894033
    Abstract: Described herein is a mounting system and slider clips that support simplified installation of photovoltaic structures. The mounting system comprises a support structure which can be mounted to support columns via an optional tilt table. The support structure comprises a plurality of parallel spaced beams and a plurality of parallel spaced rails that are mounted approximately perpendicular to the beams. Disclosed embodiments describe a collapsible support structure in which the rails are pivotally mounted to the beams. Rails are preassembled with prefabricated slider clips for holding edge portions of the photovoltaic structures. Rails can also be integrally formed with slider clips. Described herein are also methods of installing one or more photovoltaic structures using the mounting system and methods for manufacturing slider clips and a photovoltaic structure mounting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc
    Inventors: John Hartelius, Michael Monaco, Kyle Kazimir
  • Patent number: 8844214
    Abstract: A support system for a solar panel includes a triangular truss with connection points for mounting a photovoltaic module, and a cradle structure that supports the triangular truss and is connected to at least two side supports of the triangular truss. The cradle structure may be driven for rotation about an axis for tracking the sun and several cradle structures can be linked together for tracking movement using a buried linkage system. The truss may also be foldable for ease of transportation and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventor: John Hartelius
  • Publication number: 20140202524
    Abstract: A photovoltaic module ground mounting system can include a collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Belikoff, John Hartelius, Chris Mahn
  • Patent number: 8667748
    Abstract: A photovoltaic module ground mounting system can include a collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Belikoff, John Hartelius, Chris Mahn
  • Patent number: 8418984
    Abstract: Described herein is a mounting system and slider clips that support simplified installation of photovoltaic structures. The mounting system comprises a support structure which can be mounted to support columns via an optional tilt table. The support structure comprises a plurality of parallel spaced beams and a plurality of parallel spaced rails that are mounted approximately perpendicular to the beams. Disclosed embodiments describe a collapsible support structure in which the rails are pivotally mounted to the beams. Rails are preassembled with prefabricated slider clips for holding edge portions of the photovoltaic structures. Rails can also be integrally formed with slider clips. Described herein are also methods of installing one or more photovoltaic structures using the mounting system and methods for manufacturing slider clips and a photovoltaic structure mounting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventors: John Hartelius, Michael Monaco, Kyle Kazimir, John Anthony Bellacicco
  • Patent number: 8418983
    Abstract: Described herein is a mounting system and slider clips that support simplified installation of photovoltaic structures. The mounting system comprises a support structure which can be mounted to support columns via an optional tilt table. The support structure comprises a plurality of parallel spaced beams and a plurality of parallel spaced rails that are mounted approximately perpendicular to the beams. Disclosed embodiments describe a collapsible support structure in which the rails are pivotally mounted to the beams. Rails are preassembled with prefabricated slider clips for holding edge portions of the photovoltaic structures. Rails can also be integrally formed with slider clips. Described herein are also methods of installing one or more photovoltaic structures using the mounting system and methods for manufacturing slider clips and a photovoltaic structure mounting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hartelius, Michael Monaco, Kyle Kazimir, John Anthony Bellacicco
  • Patent number: 8413312
    Abstract: Described herein are methods of installing one or more photovoltaic structures onto a mounting system and slider clips that support simplified installation of photovoltaic structures. The methods include installing photovoltaic structures on a support element having preassembled slider clips for holding edge portions of the photovoltaic structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hartelius, Michael Monaco, Kyle Kazimir, John Anthony Bellacicco
  • Patent number: 8413946
    Abstract: Described herein is a mounting system and slider clips that support simplified installation of photovoltaic structures. The mounting system comprises a support structure which can be mounted to support columns via an optional tilt table. The support structure comprises a plurality of parallel spaced beams and a plurality of parallel spaced rails that are mounted approximately perpendicular to the beams. Disclosed embodiments describe a collapsible support structure in which the rails are pivotally mounted to the beams. Rails are preassembled with prefabricated slider clips for holding edge portions of the photovoltaic structures. Rails can also be integrally formed with slider clips. Described herein are also methods of installing one or more photovoltaic structures using the mounting system and methods for manufacturing slider clips and a photovoltaic structure mounting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hartelius, Michael Monaco, Kyle Kazimir, John Anthony Bellacicco
  • Patent number: 8407895
    Abstract: Described herein are methods for forming a clip for mounting panels to a support frame. The clip has a common support area and a pair of extending panel holder elements extending in opposite directions from the common support area, where one of the extending panel holder elements extends further from the common support area than the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hartelius, Michael Monaco, Kyle Kazimir, John Anthony Bellacicco
  • Patent number: 8407950
    Abstract: A support system for a solar panel includes a triangular truss with connection points for mounting a photovoltaic module, and a cradle structure that supports the triangular truss and is connected to at least two side supports of the triangular truss. The cradle structure may be driven for rotation about an axis for tracking the sun and several cradle structures can be linked together for tracking movement using a buried linkage system. The truss may also be foldable for ease of transportation and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventor: John Hartelius
  • Publication number: 20120036717
    Abstract: A collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework for mounting a plurality of photovoltaic modules thereon, comprising a plurality of module support rails each configured to be attached to a portion of a photovoltaic module and a plurality of supporting beams. A first of the supporting beams is positioned under, and pivotally connected to, a first portion of the rails and a second of the supporting beams is positioned under, and pivotally connected to, a second portion of the rails. The supporting beams can be moved to a relative position adjacent to each other by moving the rails from a first orientation substantially perpendicular to the supporting beams to a second orientation substantially oblique to the supporting beams. Further, each supporting beam has a plurality of openings through which a hardware connector can be passed to connect the supporting beam to a support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Michael A. Belikoff, John Hartelius, Chris Mahn
  • Publication number: 20120031862
    Abstract: This invention relates to photovoltaic modules and arrays, methods of assembling photovoltaic arrays, and methods for shipping components of photovoltaic arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Michael A. Belikoff, John Anthony Bellacicco, Henry B. Cabuhay, John Hartelius, Chris Mahn, Michael J. Monaco, Sharad Ramani, Mark Zeni