Solar table clamp
A clamp is described that couples a torque tube and at least one solar panel within a solar table. The clamp provides an efficient attachment when in a closed position that allows transportation of the solar table from a centralized assembly location to an installation point within a large-scale solar system. The clamp further provides an efficient process solar table mobile transport is described that moves a solar table to a point of installation. The clamp may be efficiently opened by personnel at the installation point to enable access to a section of the torque tube.
1 . A clamp that couples to a torque tube and a solar panel rail within a solar table, the clamp comprising:
a solar panel attachment section comprising a first solar panel coupling element and a second solar panel coupling element, the first and second solar panel coupling elements form a slot that couples to the solar panel rail when the first and second solar panel coupling elements are proximate to each other within a first distance;
a torque tube attachment section comprising a strap that is adjustable and defines an opening in which the torque tube is positioned, a size of the opening being dependent on relative positions of the first and second solar panel coupling elements; and
a locking element that allows the clamp to be opened when the locking element is positioned within a first window and locked when the locking element is positioned within a second window.
2 . The clamp of claim 1 wherein the first window and the second window are within the solar panel attachment section.
3 . The clamp of claim 1 wherein the first window is an upper window and the second window is a lower window beneath the upper window.
4 . The clamp of claim 3 wherein the upper window has a larger opening than the lower window.
5 . The clamp of claim 4 wherein the locking element is able to slide through the upper window but not the lower window.
6 . The clamp of claim 1 wherein the locking element is controlled by a lever that moves the locking element back and forth to adjust the relative positions of the first and second solar panel coupling elements.
7 . The clamp of claim 6 wherein the lever is pivotably attached to the solar panel attachment section.
8 . The clamp of claim 1 wherein the strap is flexible to allow it to wrap around the torque tube.
9 . The clamp of claim 1 wherein the strap comprises metallic fiber.
10 . The clamp of claim 1 wherein the first solar panel coupling element comprises a first partial slot and the second solar panel coupling element comprises a second partial slot.
11 . A method of coupling a torque tube to a solar panel rail within a solar table, the method comprising:
positioning the torque tube inside an opening defined by an adjustable strap of a clamp;
coupling the solar panel rail to a slot that is formed when a first solar panel coupling element and a second solar panel coupling element are proximate to each other within a first distance, the first solar panel coupling element and the second solar panel coupling element are in a solar panel attachment section of the clamp; a size of the opening being dependent on relative positions of the first and second solar panel coupling elements; and
positioning a locking element of the clamp from a first window into a second window to lock the clamp such that the solar panel and the torque tube are secured together, the clamp is opened when the locking element is positioned within a first window.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the opening has a size dependent on relative positions of the first and second solar panel coupling elements.
13 . The method of claim 11 wherein the first window and the second window are within the solar panel attachment section.
14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the first window is an upper window and the second window is a lower window beneath the upper window.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the upper window has a larger opening than the lower window.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the locking element is able to slide through the upper window but not the lower window.
17 . The method of claim 11 wherein the locking element is controlled by a lever that moves the locking element back and forth to adjust the relative positions of the first and second solar panel coupling elements.
18 . The method of claim 11 wherein the locking element is a locking bolt.
19 . The method of claim 11 wherein the strap is flexible to allow it to wrap around the torque tube.
20 . The method of claim 11 wherein the first solar panel coupling element comprises a first partial slot and the second solar panel coupling element comprises a second partial slot.