MULTI-POSITION SOLAR PANEL RACK

SUPPORT MULTIPOSITION POUR PANNEAUX SOLAIRES

English Abstract

The present racking system uses space frame technology to minimize materials while maximizing strength. The rack has multi-position racking capability, using a simple swing arm and pin system to move the solar array into an optimum position for the appropriate time of the year.

French Abstract

Le présent système d'accrochage utilise la technologie de la structure spatiale pour réduire les matériaux tout en maximisant la résistance. Le support présente une capacité d'accrochage à plusieurs positions utilisant un simple système à bras oscillant et tige pour déplacer le réseau solaire à une position optimale selon la période de l'année.

Claims

Claims
1. A multi-position racking system for mounting an array of solar panels,
comprising:
a plurality of legs, including at least two front legs and at least two back
legs;
a plurality of braces for supporting the legs;
a solar panel array support, including a back bone pivotally supported by the
front
legs, and a plurality of ribs secured to the back bone; and
a swing arm mechanism pivotally connected between the solar panel array
support
and the back legs, the swing arm mechanism further including a lower swing arm
portion
which is pivotally connected to an upper swing arm portion;
wherein the lower swing arm portion includes at least one swing arm handle,
which
acts as a lever to rotate the solar panel array support between multiple
positions; and
wherein the solar panel array support is capable of supporting the array of
solar
panels in each of the multiple positions.
2. The racking system of claim 1, wherein the multiple positions include a
first
position and a second position.
3. The racking system of claim 1, wherein the lower swing arm portion is
pivotally
connected to the back legs and the upper swing arm portion is pivotally
connected to the
solar panel array support.
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4. The racking system of claim 1, wherein the at least one swing arm handle
is
arranged across the back legs.
5. The racking system of claim 1, wherein the at least one swing arm handle
includes a
short swing arm handle and a long swing arm handle.
6. The racking system of claim 1, wherein locking means secure the solar
panel array
support in each of the multiple positions.
7. The racking system of claim 1, wherein the front legs are shorter than
the rear legs.
8. The racking system of claim 2, wherein the angle between the solar panel
array
support and the ground in the first position is smaller than the angle between
the solar panel
array support and the ground in the second position.
9. The racking system of claim 5, wherein the multiple positions include a
first
position and a second position, and wherein the long swing arm handle abuts
the back legs
in the first position, and the long swing arm handle abuts the upper swing arm
portion in
the second position.
8

10. A multi-position racking system, comprising:
a solar panel array;
a plurality of legs, including at least at least two front legs and at least
two back
legs;
a plurality of braces for supporting the legs;
a solar panel array support, including a back bone pivotally supported by the
front
legs, and a plurality of ribs secured to the back bone; and
a swing arm mechanism pivotally connected between the solar panel array
support
and the back legs, the swing arm mechanism further including a lower swing arm
portion
which is pivotally connected to an upper swing arm portion;
wherein the lower swing arm portion includes at least one swing arm handle;
wherein the swing arm mechanism rotates the solar panel array support between
multiple positions; and
wherein the solar panel array support is capable of supporting the solar panel
array
in each of the multiple positions.
9

11. A
multi-position racking system for mounting an array of solar panels,
comprising:
a plurality of legs, including at least at least two front legs and at least
two back
legs;
a plurality of braces for supporting the legs;
a solar panel array support, including a back bone pivotally supported by the
front
legs, and a plurality of ribs secured to the back bone; and
a swing arm mechanism pivotally connected between the solar panel array
support
and the back legs, the swing arm mechanism further including a lower swing arm
portion
which is pivotally connected to an upper swing arm portion;
wherein the lower swing arm portion includes at least one swing arm handle;
wherein the swing arm mechanism rotates the solar panel array support between
a
first position and a second position;
wherein at the first position the solar panel array is approximately
perpendicular to
the sun during summer, and at the second position the solar panel array is
approximately
perpendicular to the sun during winter; and
wherein the solar panel array support is capable of supporting the solar panel
array
in each of the first and second positions.

Description

CA 02721850 2010-11-19
MULTI-POSITION SOLAR PANEL RACK
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rack for mounting an array of solar panels.
Specifically, a multi-
position rack using a swing arm and pins.
Background of the Invention
Solar energy is the collection of the sun's energy by systems which convert
the
power to electricity and/or thermal power. The efficiency of the system
determines how
much of the sun's energy is collected and utilized.
The positioning of the collector relative to the sun is an important area of
research to
optimize the power harvested by the system. The more perpendicular the
collector is to the
sun, the more energy is collected.
When the collector is perpendicular to the sun, the inbound radiant energy
density
per unit area is maximized. Maintaining a collector perpendicular to the sun
as it arcs
across the sky at a slightly different elevation every day is expensive
because of the need for
a system to track the sun. This typically includes sensors, motors and pivots.
The cost to implement a tracking system to keep the collector more
perpendicular to
the sun can be expensive when compared to the amount of additional energy
harvested.
The cost to build and maintain the system when compared to the value of the
additional
useful energy derived from the system determines the return on investment.
Different methodologies not using sensors and motors can also be incorporated
to
optimize the return on investment. For example, the use of manual tracking
where the
collector is moved on occasion to capture more of the sun's energy.
The majority of solar collectors are either mounted on racks that can be
adjusted
based on a single pivot point, or are on motorized trackers that follow the
sun.
1

CA 02721850 2010-11-19
One of the main limitations of most swivel based systems is that they are a
challenge to operate quickly given the weight of the system. Manually adjusted
systems
with a single pivot point have a single point of failure.
Therefore, there still remains a need for a system that is able to optimize
the
collection of the sun's energy, while reducing the cost, by collecting the
additional energy
using a multi-position racking system that is easy to operate.
Summary of the Invention
The present racking system uses space frame technology to minimize materials
while maximizing strength. The rack has multi-position racking capability,
using a simple
swing arm and pin system to move the solar array into an optimum position for
the
appropriate time of the year.
The present invention is defined by a multi-position racking system for
mounting an
array of solar panels, comprising a plurality of legs, a plurality of braces
for supporting the
legs, an array support, including a back bone pivotally supported by the legs,
and a plurality
of ribs secured to the back bone, and a swing arm mechanism pivotally
connected between
the array support and the legs, wherein the swing arm mechanism rotates the
array support
between multiple positions.
In a preferred embodiment of the racking system, the multiple positions
include a
first position and a second position.
In a more preferred embodiment of the racking system, the swing arm mechanism
includes a lower swing arm portion pivotally connected to the legs, and an
upper swing arm
portion pivotally connected to the array support.
In a preferred embodiment, the lower swing arm portion includes at least one
swing
arm handle, preferably, the at least one swing arm handle includes a short
swing arm handle
and a long swing arm handle.
2

CA 02721850 2010-11-19
In a preferred embodiment, locking means secures the array support in each of
the
multiple positions.
In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of legs include front legs and rear
legs,
preferably, the front legs are shorter than the rear legs.
In a preferred embodiment, the angle between the array support and the legs in
the
first position is greater than the angle between the array support and the
legs in the second
position.
In one embodiment the swing arm mechanism includes at least one swing arm
handle which acts as a lever to move the array support between the multiple
positions.
Additional characteristics, advantages and functions of the invention will
become
evident hereinafter from detailed descriptions of examples, in themselves not
binding
and/or restrictive, of preferential practical embodiments of a multi-position
racking system
for mounting an array of solar panels, in accordance with this invention,
illustrated by the
following drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 shows the embodiment in Figure 1, with the solar array mounted.
Figure 3 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a rear view of the embodiment of Figure 2.
Figure 5 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 in a first position.
Figure 6 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 in a second position.
Figure 7 shows a side view of the embodiment in the second position.
3

CA 02721850 2010-11-19
Description of Preferred Embodiment
The present racking system uses space frame technology to minimize materials
while maximizing strength. The rack has multi-position racking capability,
using a simple
swing arm and pin system to move the solar array into an optimum position for
the
appropriate time of the year.
In accordance with the invention, as best seen in the Figures, the preferred
embodiment of the invention includes two back legs 1, two front legs 2, with
cross braces
8,9 to support the legs 1, 2. Connected to the upper end of each front leg 2
is back bone 7,
and secured along the length of the back bone 7 is a plurality of ribs 10. In
this
embodiment, the back bone 7 comprises two aluminum bars, while there are four
aluminum
ribs which are aligned perpendicular to the back bone 7. The back bone 7 and
the plurality
of ribs make up an array support 30, upon which a typical solar panel array 29
is mounted.
Located between the upper end of the back legs 1 and the back bone 7 is swing
arm
mechanism 40, which includes an upper swing arm 3 and a lower swing arm 4. The
lower
swing arm 4 has at least one swing arm handle. In the present embodiment, as
seen in the
Figures, the lower swing arm 4 has a short swing arm handle 5 and a long swing
arm handle
6 connected to it. Also seen in the Figures, it is the lower swing arm 4 that
is connected to
the upper end of the back legs 1.
The connection points between the upper end of the front legs 2 and the back
bone
7, the upper end of the back legs 1 and the lower swing arm 4, the lower swing
arm 4 and
the upper swing arm 3, and the upper swing arm 3 and the back bone 7 are all
pivot points.
This allows for the swing arm mechanism to rotate the array support 30 from a
first position
(seen in Figure 5) and a second position (Figure 6). In this embodiment, this
is easily done
by a user, by grasping the long swing arm handle 6, and rotating it upwards.
This motion
causes the upper swing arm 3 to raise the upper end of the back bone 7, up to
the point
where the short swing arm handle 6 rests against the sides of the upper swing
arm 3. This
second position is best shown in Figure 6.
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CA 02721850 2010-11-19
In use, typically the back legs 1 and the front legs 2 are bolted to brackets
(not
shown) which run perpendicular to the legs along a section of ground. Usually,
the brackets
are, in turn, bolted to concrete anchors (not shown) which are secured in the
ground. The
present invention could also be adapted to be fixed to a roof (angled or
flat), or other
surface.
As can be seen in Figure 7, in this current embodiment, with the array being
positioned on the flat ground, the distance between the back legs 1 and the
front legs 2 is
approximately 72". In the first position, the height of the lower end of the
solar array 29 off
the ground is approximately 44", and the angle of the array 29 to the
horizontal is
approximately 30 . In the second position, the height of the lower end of the
solar array 29
from the ground is approximately 32", and the angle of the array 29 to the
horizontal is
approximately 56 . The sun is higher in the sky in the summer (first
position) and lower in
the winter (second position), so the panels need to have a lower slope in the
summer and
steeper slope in the winter to get the panel more perpendicular to the sun.
The degrees used
in this embodiment are relative for the latitude of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
(45 degrees),
based on the amount of sunny versus cloudy days for this area. Different
configurations
providing different angles would be required to get the ideal angle at other
latitudes
dependent on sunny versus cloudy days.
Also, if the array were to be positioned on an angled surface, such as a roof,
it would
be clear that the angles would be different. It should also be understood that
these
dimensions are merely a preferred embodiment, and other dimensions could
easily be
adapted without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Not shown in the Figures, holes are drilled through two adjacent pieces, and
hitch
pins are used to lock the swing arm mechanism into position. Other differing
types of
mechanisms can be used to lock the swing arm mechanism.
Typically, the connection points are bolts and washers, however, other
connections
could also be used.

CA 02721850 2010-11-19
Although the present embodiment shows a design having two front legs and two
back legs, a person skilled in the art would appreciate that any type of
design which allows
for the swing arm mechanism to include at least one swing arm handle which
acts as a lever
to move the array support between the multiple positions with less force, due
to the length
of the arms and pivot locations would be included in the present invention.
Other additional obvious modifications may result from embodiments of a multi-
position racking system for mounting an array of solar panels.
Space frame technology is used in the present design. As a person skilled in
the art
would understand, "space frame" or "space structure" is a truss-like,
lightweight rigid
structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. Space
frames usually
utilize a multidirectional span, and are often used to accomplish long spans
with few
supports. They derive their strength from the inherent rigidity of the
triangular frame;
flexing loads (bending moments) are transmitted as tension and compression
loads along
the length of each strut.
In each case, any constructive component exemplified, described and
illustrated,
necessary for the purposes, can be replaced with other technically equivalent
means and/or
components.
Similarly, in the tests and in practical embodiments, according to the
proposed
embodiments and applications, the materials used, and the forms and dimensions
are the
most suitable and chosen according to the specified requirements.
6

Representative Drawing