TORQUE TUBE WITH OUTRIGGER

1 . A solar arrangement comprising:

a solar module having a plurality of photovoltaic cells;

a torque tube, wherein an end of the torque tube does not extend to an edge of the solar module; and

at least one outrigger connected to the torque tube and the solar module, wherein the at least one outrigger extends beyond the end of the torque tube toward the edge of the solar module.

2 . The solar arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the solar module further comprises optics concentrating sunlight onto the plurality of photovoltaic cells.

3 . The solar arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the outrigger is formed with a truss-shape.

4 . The solar arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the outrigger is connected to the torque tube at or near the end of the torque tube.

5 . The solar arrangement of claim 4 , wherein a plurality of outriggers are connected to the torque tube at or near the end of the torque tube and extend beyond the end of the torque tube toward the edge of the solar module.

6 . The solar arrangement of claim 1 , wherein a length of the at least one outrigger is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the torque tube.

7 . The solar arrangement of claim 6 , wherein the length of the at least one outrigger is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the torque tube.

8 . A method of supporting a solar module having at least one photovoltaic cell, said method comprising:

providing a torque tube that supports the solar module, wherein an end of the torque tube does not extend to an edge of the solar module; and

providing at least one outrigger connected to the torque tube and the solar module, wherein the at least one outrigger extends beyond the end of the torque tube toward the edge of the solar module.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the solar module has a plurality of photovoltaic cells forming an array.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising concentrating sunlight onto the plurality of photovoltaic cells via optics.

11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising forming the outrigger with a truss-shape.

12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising connecting the outrigger to the torque tube at or near the end of the torque tube.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising connecting a plurality of outriggers to the torque tube at or near the end of the torque tube and extend beyond the end of the torque tube toward the edge of the solar module.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein a length of the at least one outrigger is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the torque tube.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the length of the at least one outrigger is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the torque tube.

16 . A solar arrangement comprising:

a solar module having a plurality of photovoltaic cells;

a torque tube, wherein a length of the torque tube along a longitudinal axis is less than a length of the solar module parallel to the longitudinal axis of the torque tube; and

at least one outrigger connected to the torque tube and the solar module, wherein the at least one outrigger extends beyond the end of the torque tube and is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the torque tube.

17 . The solar arrangement of claim 16 wherein the at least one outrigger has a first end connected to the torque tube and a second end that is closer to an edge of the solar module than the end of the torque tube.

18 . The solar arrangement of claim 16 wherein a plurality of outriggers are connected to the torque tube at or near the end of the torque tube and extend beyond the end of the torque tube toward the edge of the solar module.

19 . The solar arrangement of claim 18 wherein the plurality of outriggers are symmetrically positioned with respect to a plane through which the longitudinal axis of the torque tube extends.

20 . The solar arrangement of claim 16 wherein the at least one outrigger contacts the solar module at multiple points.