Patent ID: 8188414

Claim:
In a terrestrial photovoltaic system including a plurality of tracker devices each supporting at least one solar panel on a rooftop, the tracker devices for adjusting orientation of the at least one solar panel supported thereon, an apparatus for supporting the plurality of tracker devices and associated solar panels in conjunction with a plurality of ballast weights, the apparatus comprising: a base frame including a plurality of interconnected lateral members which define a generally planar area that is substantially parallel with the rooftop and disposed under the plurality of tracker devices and the solar panels supported thereon; a plurality of support structures mounted to said base frame and arranged in a rectangular array, wherein each support structure corresponds to a respective tracker device of the plurality of tracker devices and includes a set of support legs mounted to said lateral members of said base frame and extending upward and inward toward one another to a tracker mounting plate, said tracker mounting plate disposed below a corresponding tracker device and supporting the corresponding tracker device and at least one solar panel secured thereto, and wherein each given support leg is secured to a respective lateral member with a connector that provides for fixation of the given support leg relative the respective lateral member at different positions along the length of the respective lateral member; and a plurality of ballast trays, separate and distinct from the plurality of ballast weights, attached to said base frame and adapted to hold the plurality of ballast weights for applying a downward force on said base frame to stabilize and resist movement of said base frame, wherein said ballast trays are attached to said base frame along at least a perimeter portion of said generally planar area defined by said base frame.