Array Technologies has filed a patent for a deflection pad designed to cushion impact between a photovoltaic (PV) module and a support structure. The pad includes a body made of an elastically compressible material, with a top surface that contacts the PV module and a bottom surface that conforms to and engages the support structure. The pad also has a recess to accommodate a fastener for securing it to the support structure. GlobalData’s report on Array Technologies gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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A deflection pad for cushioning impact between pv module and support structure
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230188089A1) describes a deflection pad designed to cushion the impact between a photovoltaic (PV) module and a support structure. The deflection pad is made of an elastically compressible material and includes a top surface that contacts the PV module and a bottom surface that conforms to and engages the support structure. The deflection pad also features a recess to accommodate a fastener that secures it to the support structure, with the fastener positioned below the top surface.
The patent claims also describe variations of the deflection pad, including versions with one or two arms on the bottom surface that resiliently engage the support structure. The top surface of the deflection pad can make contact with the PV module in both deformed and non-deformed states. The body of the deflection pad may have two upwardly projecting peaks that define the top surface, with the recess located between them. The support structure mentioned in the claims consists of support racks attached to a rotatable torsion beam that can manipulate the orientation of the PV module.
The deflection pad's body may include reinforcing ribs, which can be arranged in a checkered or honeycomb pattern and extend towards the support structure. The deflection pad can be constructed from various materials, such as rubber, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polythene, or polyethylene. In another embodiment, the deflection pad has two peaks that define the top surface, a recess between them, and arms projecting in the opposite direction, biased inward towards the recess to engage the support structure. Tabs may be present on the ends of the arms, extending in the direction of bias.
The patent also describes a system that includes a torsion beam, racks for attaching PV modules, and deflection pads made of elastically compressible material positioned between the PV modules and the racks. The deflection pads have a surface that contacts the PV modules, a recess for a fastener, and a bottom surface that engages the rack. Another system variation includes a deflection system coupled to the torsion beam, positioned beneath the PV module, and secured with a strap. The deflection pad in this system may have reinforcing ribs formed in a pattern, extending towards the PV module.
Overall, this patent presents various embodiments of a deflection pad and systems incorporating it, aiming to provide cushioning and protection for PV modules during impact with support structures.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies
