Solarcity Corporation

Julian Ryba-White

Ben Tarbell

Damien Scott

Eric Daniel Carlson

Peter J Rive

Embodiments of the present invention are directed towards fire blocking apparatuses. A fire blocking apparatus for a solar panel is mounted to an underlying mounting surface. The fire blocking apparatus includes a panel support structure sized and shaped to be mounted between a solar panel and the mounting surface thereby supporting and creating a gap between at least a portion of the solar panel and the mounting surface, where at least a portion of the panel support structure comprises a heat or fire sensitive material configured to melt, deform, or warp at a predetermined temperature such that when the structure is mounted between the solar panel and the mounting surface and heated at or above the predetermined temperature, the panel support structure collapses to reduce the gap between the at least a portion of the solar panel and the mounting surface.

Solar panel fire skirt

Embodiments of the present invention are directed towards fire blocking apparatuses that include fire skirts that extend off edges of solar panels installed on roofs. The fire skirts are configured to block the gap between a solar panel and the roof surface on which it is installed to prevent or suppress the ignition for spreading of fire underneath the solar panel. Some of the fire skirts are heat or fire sensitive and are configured to the melt, deform, or otherwise be altered upon the application of a threshold temperature such that the fire skirts block the gap between the solar panel and the roof surface. Other embodiments are directed towards fire skirts that include a solar panel mounting surface and a shelf surface configured to accommodate ballast or fasteners to affix the solar panel to the roof surface. Such embodiments can be formed from pre-scored or pre-folded sheet materials.

The present invention includes a back feed meter adapter having one or more electrical sockets disposed of the exterior surface for accepting a plug from an alternative electrical power generator in installations that include an existing electrical utility service panel. The sockets of the back feed meter can be rotated relative to the internal couplers such that it can be easily positioned relative to the back feed connections coming from the alternative electrical power generator. The back feed meter adapter can also include an electrical switch for coupling/decoupling the electrical sockets from the electrical meter, the electrical service panel, or the electrical power utility grid to which the back feed meter adapter is coupled. The back feed meter adapter can include a window for visual confirmation of the electrical switch state. Various functionality of the back feed meter adapter can be monitored or controlled via a wireless network.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Julian Ryba-White