IP Library Granted Patent US 9,352,941
Granted Patent B2
US 9,352,941 · App. 13/794,217 · Granted May 31, 2016

Gantry crane vehicles and methods for photovoltaic arrays

Inventors: Timothy Wheeler (Richmond, CA); Brian Gray (Charlotte, NC)
Assignee: Alion Energy, Inc.
B66C17/04B66C1/0212B66C1/0243B66C1/0262B66C19/005B66F7/0616
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,352,941
App. No.
13/794,217
Granted
May 31, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Gantry crane vehicle for performing one or more tasks in a photovoltaic array and method thereof. The gantry crane vehicle includes one or more base plates, and one or more tracks above the one or more base plates. Additionally, the vehicle includes one or more gantry assemblies configured to slide along the one or more tracks, and one or more first support trusses configured to support the one or more tracks above the one or more base plates. Moreover, the vehicle includes one or more second support trusses connected to at least some of the one or more first support trusses, and one or more storage cabinets located on the one or more base plates. The one or more storage cabinets include one or more top surfaces and one or more side surfaces, and the one or more top surfaces are located below the one or more tracks.

Claims (18)

1. A gantry crane vehicle for performing one or more tasks in a photovoltaic array, the vehicle comprising:

one or more base plates;

one or more tracks above the one or more base plates;

one or more gantry assemblies configured to slide along the one or more tracks;

one or more first support trusses attached to the one or more base plates and substantially perpendicular to the one or more base plates;

one or more second support trusses, at least one of the one or more second support trusses being connected to at least one of the one or more first support trusses;

one or more third support trusses, each of the one or more third support trusses being connected to at least one of the one or more first support trusses or being connected to at least one of the one or more second support trusses; and

one or more storage cabinets located on the one or more base plates, the one or more storage cabinets including one or more top surfaces and one or more side surfaces, the one or more top surfaces being located below the one or more tracks;

wherein:

each of the one or more gantry assemblies includes a lift component and one or more frame components attached to the lift component; and

the lift component is configured to move the one or more frame components from a first position above one or more planes corresponding to the one or more base plates to a second position below the one or more planes corresponding to the one or more base plates;

wherein:

each of the one or more third support trusses includes a first side component, a second side component, and multiple middle components;

each of the multiple middle components is sandwiched between and in contact with the first side component and the second side component; and

the multiple middle components are separated from each other by one or more slots.

2. The gantry crane vehicle of claim 1 wherein:

each of the one or more first support trusses includes a square-solid section associated with a first square-shape cross-section; and

each of the one or more second support trusses includes a square-hollow section associated with a second square-shape cross-section.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2019
From: ALION ENERGY, INC.
To: BATIOS HOLDINGS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 051052/0484 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2015
From: ALION ENERGY, INC.
To: TRIPLEPOINT CAPITAL LLC
Reel/Frame 037298/0173 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2015
From: WHEELER, TIMOTHY
To: ALION ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 036636/0006 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2015
From: GRAY, BRIAN
To: TRANSBOTICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036636/0087 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2015
From: TRANSBOTICS CORPORATION
To: ALION ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 036636/0174 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61613424 · Mar 20, 2012
Related Publication 20130248478A1 · Sep 26, 2013