Sunrun South LLC

Ojjo, Inc.

Mainstream Energy Corporation

Moved by Bikes LLC

Sunrun, Inc.

Ojo, LLC

Sunrun Soutii LLC

Greg McPheeters

Charles Bernardo Almy

Tyrus Hawkes Hudson

Jack Raymond West

Geno Viscuso

Ethan Miller

Katie Pesce

Chris Oestreich

Johann Fritz Karkheck

Marty Affentranger

Emily Figurski

Ezekiel Ferguson

Andrew Wickham

Brian David Peterson

Cormac McHugh

An assembly for a truss foundation embedment and installation machine. The machine mast has a rotary driver, target assembly, and a truss component holder. After a pair of foundation components are embedded, the truss component holder is moved to an orientation location that aligns the rotational axis of a specific tracker bearing with respect to a work point of the truss foundation. A truss cap is placed on the truss component holder and held in place while upper leg sections are sleeved over the truss cap and down onto the embedded foundation components. A hydraulic crimper is used to crimp the portions of each upper leg section that overlap with the truss cap and the embedded foundation components to unify the truss foundation.

Machines, systems, and methods for truss installation and assembly

A crimper for joining truss leg components to form a unitary truss foundation with the ground without needing mechanical fasteners. A crimping tool has upper and lower crimp guides that register the position of jaws on the crimping tool with respect to grooves formed in a connecting portion of a truss cap and in a driving coupler of a driven screw anchor. Registering the position of the jaws ensures that blind crimps between the upper leg and screw anchor and upper leg and truss cap are performed consistently each time.

Systems, methods, and machines for joining truss foundation components without mechanical fasteners

A shared frame photovoltaic module and related mounting system for single-axis trackers. Each module has no frame, or a partial frame on two of four sides. A shared frame rail captures adjacent modules edges, providing frame support and attaching them to the tracker torque tube eliminating structural redundancy in conventional module frames. In some embodiments, each module is unframed with mounting pucks attached to the underside of the photovoltaic laminate. Torque tube mounting brackets have connecting portions for attaching respective pairs of mounting pucks on opposing sides of the torque tube.

Frameless and shared frame PV modules and torque tube mounting systems for same

Watertight fastening devices and systems and methods for the employment thereof are disclosed. The disclosed watertight fastening device includes a head, a shank extending away from the head toward a distal end, and a cover extending outwardly and away from the head in the direction of the shank and defining a hollow region between the shank and an inner surface of the cover. The watertight fastening device may be used in conjunction with a solar power installation system that includes a base plate configured to be positioned against an installation surface. The base plate includes an aperture for receiving the shank of the fastener and protrusion surrounding the aperture configured to be received in the hollow region of the fastener, thereby providing an enhanced barrier against moisture reaching the installation surface.

Watertight fastening devices employed in a solar panel installation system

A truss foundation for single-axis trackers that distribute forces into the foundation through the torque tube. A truss adapter joins a pair of adjacent truss legs driven at angles to one another on either side of a tracker row so that the legs are perpendicular to the tracker torque tube. A third leg aligned with the torque tube is connected to the adapter to help resist axial forces in the torque tube. One or more collars placed on either side of a torque tube bearing include set screws to prevent axial slippage of the torque tube.

Braced truss foundations for single-axis trackers and related systems and methods

Adjustable bearing supports for single-axis trackers supported by truss foundations. A two-piece assembly joins a pair of adjacent truss legs to form a rigid foundation while providing a movable support for a tracker bearing housing assembly or other structure. The movable support may slide in-plane, or alternatively, enable the bearing housing assembly to slide and rotate with respect to the truss cap structure joining the adjacent truss legs.

Adjustable bearing supports for single-axis trackers

Tracker bearing support

An alignment and installation jig for a screw anchor driving machine. The alignment and installation jig includes a laser target that can be moved from an alignment position to a driving position. The jig may also include one or more automated crimping assemblies to form permanent connections between overlapping foundation components while the machine is correctly oriented to assembly a truss foundation. One crimping assembly device may effect crimp joints between a foundation component held by the jig and overlapping upper ends of a pair of adjacent foundation legs. Second crimping assemblies may telescope down each leg to effect respective crimp joints between the lower end of the leg and the upper end of a driven foundation component.

Machines, systems, and methods for automated truss assembly and crimping

Surface mount assemblies for mounting to a solar panel frame to an installation surface are disclosed. In some embodiments, a base is coupled to a height-adjustable rail mount to slidably couple a track with a fastener assembly that includes of a fastener, spacer, and nut. In some embodiments, a base is coupled to a rail mount and positioned on a base plate to slidably couple to a surface track with a fastener assembly that includes a first fastener slidably coupled to a groove formed by the track, spacer, and second fastener. In some embodiments, a base is coupled to a rail mount for slidably coupling the rail to a height-adjustable base with a fastener. In some embodiments, a two-configuration, track-mounted, rectangular base is designed with a rectangular base having a pair of short-sided legs, a pair of long-sided legs, and a fastener for engaging outer surfaces of a track.

Surface mount assemblies for a solar panel system

Wire or cable holder assemblies employed in a solar power system are disclosed. In some embodiments, an assembly could include a cap and a base configured with channels. When the cap and the base are clamped to an object (e.g., a solar module frame), enclosures defined by the channels and a surface of the solar frame module are formed to hold cables. In some embodiments, an assembly could include a plunger with at least one leg and a base that includes a receptacle for receiving the plunger and a hook for holding electrical cables. A leg include a rack having teeth adapted to fall into notches or spaces formed by complementary teeth of a pawl found in the receptacle that forms a ratchet which permits insertion of the plunger into the receptacle but not an extraction. If extraction is desired, an external force may be applied to release the pawl.

Cable holder assemblies for a solar panel system

A coupler for joining truss leg components provides angular adjustability between the respective axis of the leg components. A prolate spheroid-shaped coupler with three channels circumscribing its surface enables the upper leg components to compensate for axial misalignment of driven screw anchors in all directions. A hydraulic crimping device with upper and lower crimping guides registers its position with features on the truss hardware to insure that blind triple crimps are performed consistently each time.

Systems, methods, and machines for joining truss foundation components

A truss foundation for supporting single-axis solar tracker drive motors and center structures. An adapter joins a pair of adjacent truss legs and provides a mounting platform to support a drive motor and/or center structure of a solar tracker. The adapter has a pair of connecting portions that are received in the legs of the truss foundation. The adapter may be a unitary structure or consist of a pair of slidably connected members that are joined with fasteners to accommodate truss legs spaced apart at different distances.

Tracker motor support for truss foundations

An alignment and installation jig for a screw anchor driving machine. The alignment and installation jig includes a laser target that can be moved from an alignment position to a driving position. The jig may also include one or more automated crimping assemblies to form permanent connections between overlapping foundation components while the machine is correctly oriented.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Greg McPheeters