First Solar, Inc.

Matthew N Schneider

Jean-Paul Labrosse

Jeffrey Lamb

William Tod Gross

Ravi Jain

Jason Alderman

Bart Wiktorowicz

Michael K Goodman

A bearing inner race for a solar panel tracker positioning system includes a semi-circular shaped body having a first upper land and an oppositely facing second upper land. A first elongated aperture is positioned proximate to the first upper land and a second elongated aperture is positioned proximate to the second upper land. A first alignment ring is centered within the first elongated through aperture and a second alignment ring is centered within the second elongated through aperture. The bearing inner race also includes a ground stud integrally connected to the body in an as-cast condition of the body.

Mounting device for a photovoltaic module

A system and method for cleaning and cooling solar panels are described. A solar tracker includes a main beam for supporting the solar panels, and nozzles coupled to the main beam. The main beam includes a water channel along its interior which supplies water to the nozzles. The nozzles are positioned to spray water on the collecting surfaces of the solar panels to clean and cool them. The solar tracker may also include gutters to reclaim used water. The solar tracker may include air ducts which direct air across the undersides of the solar panels to cool them.

System and method for cleaning and cooling solar panels

An solar tracker bearing comprising a pair of stationary outer bearing races attached on either side of a bearing support element and a rotatable inner bearing race held by the pair of outer bearing races, the rotatable inner bearing race having an beam slot for seating a torque tube beam therein.

Solar tracking bearing and solar tracking system employing same

Wind screens for reducing wind loading on one or more solar collectors are disclosed. The wind screens move with the solar collector as the collector tracks the sun in one or more dimensions. The wind screen pivotably connects to at least one solar panel of the collector. Another side of the wind screen may connect to the ground or to an adjacent collect, thus serving to divert wind over the collector. Wind screens may be made of various materials including rigid, flexible, or elastic materials and can change position, orientation, and/or effective length as the one or more collectors track the sun from East to West.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Matthew N Schneider