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Title: Support for solar energy collectors

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1330702
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A solar energy collection system can include support devices configured to accommodate misalignment of components during assembly. For example, the system can include piles fixed to the earth and an adjustable bearing assembly at the upper end of the pile. The adjustable bearing assembly can include at least one of a vertical adjustment device, a lateral adjustment device and an angular adjustment device. The solar energy collection system can also include a plurality of solar energy collection device pre-wired together and mounted to a support member so as to form modular units. The system can also include enhanced supports for wire trays extending between rows of solar energy collection devices.

Research Organization:
SUNPOWER CORPORATION, San Jose, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
FC36-07GO17043
Assignee:
SUNPOWER CORPORATION (San Jose, CA)
Patent Number(s):
9,482,449
Application Number:
13/176,276
OSTI ID:
1330702
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2011 Jul 05
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (9)

Self-Lubricating Bearing patent April 1919
Resilient Bearing Structure patent December 1975
Solar tracking apparatus utilizing photovoltaic flat panels and method patent January 1984
Thrust bearing or axial journal bearing, in particular for slow-running machines patent December 1988
Photovoltaic panel support assembly patent July 1993
Zero clearance bearing patent September 1997
Solar collector and tracker arrangement patent May 2000
Universal joint patent April 2005
Split Bearing and Method of Making the Same patent-application November 2007

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Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
42 ENGINEERING