REINFORCED PILE FOR SOLAR FOUNDATIONS
A solar tracking system includes a beam assembly having a beam including a pair of spaced apart flanges and a web interposed between each of the pair of spaced apart flanges and a reinforcement plate selectively coupled to a portion of the beam, the reinforcement plate configured to selectively strengthen a portion of the beam, and a bearing housing assembly selectively couplable to a portion of the beam.
1 . A solar tracking system, comprising:
a beam assembly, including:
a beam including a pair of spaced apart flanges and a web interposed between each of the pair of spaced apart flanges; and
a first reinforcement plate selectively coupled to a portion of the beam, the reinforcement plate configured to selectively strengthen a portion of the beam; and
a bearing housing assembly selectively couplable to a portion of the beam.
2 . The solar tracking system according to claim 1 , wherein a first end portion of the reinforcement plate includes a V-shaped profile.
3 . The solar tracking system according to claim 1 , wherein a first end portion of the reinforcement plate includes a blunt profile.
4 . The solar tracking system according to claim 1 , wherein a first end portion of the reinforcement plate includes a first configuration and a second end portion of the reinforcement plate includes a second configuration that is different than the first configuration.
5 . The solar tracking system according to claim 1 , wherein a first end portion and an opposite second end portion of the reinforcement plate include the same configuration.
6 . The solar tracking system according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement plate is selectively coupled to a portion of the beam that is at least partially embedded within the earth.
7 . The solar tracking system according to claim 1 , wherein the beam assembly includes a second reinforcement plate selectively coupled to a second portion of the beam, the second reinforcement plate configured to selectively strengthen a second portion of the beam.
8 . The solar tracking system according to claim 7 , wherein a thickness of the reinforcement plate is different than a thickness of the second reinforcement plate.
9 . The solar tracking system according to claim 7 , wherein the second reinforcement plate is selectively coupled to a second portion of the beam that is longitudinally offset relative to the reinforcement plate.
10 . The solar tracking system according to claim 1 , further comprising a second beam assembly, the second beam assembly including:
a second beam including a pair of spaced apart flanges and a web interposed between each of the pair of spaced apart flanges; and
a second reinforcement plate selectively coupled to a portion of the second beam, the second reinforcement plate configured to selectively strengthen a portion of the second beam.
11 . The solar tracking system according to claim 10 , further comprising a slew drive selectively couplable to a portion of the second beam assembly.
12 . A solar tracking system, comprising:
a first beam assembly, including:
a first beam including a pair of spaced apart flanges and a web interposed between each of the pair of spaced apart flanges; and
a reinforcement plate selectively coupled to a portion of the first beam, the reinforcement plate configured to selectively strengthen a portion of the first beam;
a second beam assembly including a second beam including a pair of spaced apart flanges and a web interposed between each of the pair of spaced apart flanges; and
a bearing housing assembly selectively couplable to a portion of the first beam.
13 . The solar tracking system according to claim 12 , wherein the second beam assembly includes a second reinforcement plate selectively coupled to a portion of the second beam, the second reinforcement plate configured to selectively strengthen a portion of the second beam.
14 . The solar tracking system according to claim 13 , wherein a thickness of the reinforcement plate of the first beam assembly is different than a thickness of the second reinforcement plate.
15 . The solar tracking system according to claim 12 , wherein a first end portion of the reinforcement plate includes a V-shaped profile.
16 . A method of installing a solar tracking system, comprising:
determining if a beam of the solar tracking system needs reinforcement;
identifying a portion of the beam that needs to be reinforced;
coupling a first reinforcement plate to the identified portion of the beam to form a reinforced beam;
driving the reinforced beam into the earth; and
selectively coupling a bearing housing assembly to a portion of the reinforced beam.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising coupling a second reinforcement plate to a second portion of the reinforced beam.
18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein coupling the second reinforcement plate to the second portion of the reinforced beam includes the second reinforcement plate having a thickness that is different from a thickness of the first reinforcement plate.
19 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein coupling the second reinforcement plate to the second portion of the reinforced beam includes coupling the second reinforcement plate to a second portion of the reinforced beam that is longitudinally offset from the first reinforcement plate.
20 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein driving the reinforced beam into the earth includes driving the reinforced beam and a portion of the first reinforcement plate into the earth.