Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a solar power assembly and more particularly to a stand for a solar power assembly that permits efficient use of solar power over a wider range of ground conditions. 
     Solar power assemblies are known in the art. Typically solar panel assemblies are mounted on top of a building. While there exist ground mounted solar power assemblies to keep the panels cooler, they are expensive to install and limited to certain ground conditions. Not only can soft ground prevent accessibility of cement trucks, but the holes for the heavy support members or legs create excessive spoil dirt and require a substantial amount of concrete. 
     In addition, it is desirable to maintain the solar panels as close to perpendicular to the light rays as possible. While trackers are used to maintain an optimum position of the panels, the trackers are expensive and prone to mechanical wear and breakage. Thus, there exists a need in the art for a solar power assembly that addresses these discrepancies. 
     An objective of the present invention is to provide a solar power assembly that is more efficient to operate. 
     A further objective of the present invention is to provide a solar power assembly that is easier and less expensive to install. 
     A further objective of the present invention is to provide a stand for a solar array that is less expensive to manufacture with no loss of strength to withstand wind forces. 
     A further objective of the present invention is to provide an easy mechanical adjustment of array angle. 
     These and other objectives will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art based upon the following written description, drawings, and claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A ground mounted solar power assembly having at least one solar panel having a support beam connected to the back of the solar panel. A plurality of legs have a bracket at one end that receive the support beam. Finally, an eccentric handle is connected to the bracket to permit selective rotation of the support beam within the bracket and a mechanical adjustment of array angle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a solar power assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a side sectional view of a solar power assembly; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of a solar power assembly; and 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of solar power assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the Figures, the solar panel assembly  10  has one or more solar arrays  12  that are pivotally connected to a plurality of legs  14 . 
     A conventional solar array  12  has a plurality of ribs  16  that extend transversely across the back of the array  12  from a first edge to a second edge  18 . Centrally located and extending through the ribs  16  from a first end of the array  12  to a second end of the array  12  is a support beam  26 . The support beam  26  is rotatably connected to the legs  14 . 
     The ribs have cross members welded to them in order to accept bolts to hold the adjacent solar panels. By welding short brackets on the ribs one rib can provide support for the ends of two panels, essentially providing for one rib for each column of panels rather than having two ribs for each panel or needing a cross member extending the entire length of the array to provide an intermediate structural member to connect the panels to the ribs. 
     The legs  14  are of any size and shape and preferably have a first leg member  28  and a second leg member  30  that are spaced apart and angle toward one another from a first end  32  to a second end  34  to generally form an A-shape creating a triangular leg design. The first ends  32  of the legs  14  are received in holes  36  in the ground  38 . Preferably the holes  36  are approximately nine inches in diameter and approximately sixty inches deep so that the holes  36  may be set by manually filling the holes with bagged cement. 
     Connected to and extending between leg member  28  and  30  are a pair of brace member  40  and  42  that intersect to form an X-shape. At the point of intersection the brace members  40  and  42  are connected to a support plate  44  that is preferably round. Preferred is that the brace members  40  and  42  are made of channel steel which reduces the weight of the legs while, in combination with the support plate  44 , maintain the structural strength of the leg to keep a 90 mile wind load rating intact while using a minimal amount of steel. 
     The second end  34  of leg members  28  and  30  are connected to, preferably by welds, a circular bracket  46 . Bracket  46  is formed to fit around support beam  26  and terminate in an upper  48  and lower  50  outwardly extending flange. The upper and lower flanges  48  and  50  have generally centrally located openings  52  and  54  that are vertically aligned with one another. 
     Connected to bracket  36  is an eccentric handle  56 . The handle  56  has a gripping member  58  that is connected to a pair of spaced apart cam plates  60  and  62  having an end surface  64  and a side surface  66  that engage the upper flange  48 . Both plates  60  and  62  have aligned openings  68  that receive a cylinder  70 . The cylinder  70  is connected to a bolt  72  that extends through openings  52  and  54  where the bolt  72  threadably receives a nut  74 . 
     In operation, the arrays  12  are locked when the handle  56  is rotated to a closed or lowered position as shown in  FIG. 3 . Because the space between the side surface  66  and opening  68  is greater than the distance between the end surface  64  and the opening  68 , the cylinder  70  and bolt  72  are raised and separated from the upper flange  48  while side surface  66  of the cam plates  60  and  62  and the nut  74  push flanges  48  and  50  together. As flanges  48  and  50  are pushed together, bracket  46  clamps down upon support beam  26  to hold and lock the array  12  in position as it relates to the leg  14 . 
     To change the position of the panel  12 , the handle  56  is rotated to a second or open position as shown in  FIG. 4 . In this second position, due to the reduced space between the end surface  64  and opening  68 , the cylinder  70  and bolt  72  are lowered in relation to the upper flange  48  which in turn lowers nut  74  and permits lower flange  50  to separate from upper flange  48 . As the upper and lower flange  48  and  50  separate, bracket  46  releases frictional pressure upon support beam  26  which permits support beam  26  to rotate in relation to the legs. 
     To assist in repositioning the array  12 , an adjustment member  76  such as a turnbuckle is used. Preferably, the adjustment member  76  is connected to a leg  14  at one end and the array  12  at the opposite end. Once the array  12  is moved to a new desired position, the handle  56  is moved to its first or closed position such that bracket  46  exerts frictional locking force upon support beam  26 .

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