Patents by Inventor Nicholas James McKibben
Nicholas James McKibben 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: 10958208Abstract: 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: May 6, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Jason Oh, Brian Wares, Nicholas James McKibben
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Patent number: 10630232Abstract: 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: November 13, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Elizabeth Dix Schulte, Brian Wares, Nicholas James McKibben
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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: 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: 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: 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
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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: 20180062563Abstract: 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: September 1, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Sushrut Bapat, Tyler Grushkowitz, Nicholas James McKibben, Brian Wares
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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