Granted Patent B2

US 12,323,090 · App. 18/199,814 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Inventors: Ernest Gallegos (Albuquerque, NM); Jeffrey Ballard (Albuquerque, NM); Tristen Foley (Rio Rancho, NM)

Assignee: Unirac, Inc.

H02S20/30H02S30/10

Abstract

Claims (70)

1. A system comprising:

a bar including a first end and a second end;

a first spacing tool including:

a first base defining a first receptacle configured to receive a first rail,

a first flange,

a second flange,

a first collar defining a first channel configured to receive a first portion of the bar proximate to the first end, the first collar disposed between the first flange and the second flange, and

a first fastener configured to secure the first portion of the bar within the first channel; and

a second spacing tool including:

a second base defining a second receptacle configured to receive a second rail,

a third flange,

a fourth flange,

a second collar defining a second channel configured to receive a second portion of the bar proximate to the second end, the second collar disposed between the third flange and the fourth flange, and

a second fastener configured to secure the second portion of the bar within the second channel.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first fastener threadingly engages with the first collar; and

the second fastener threadingly engages with the second collar.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first base has:

a first side,

a second side, and

a first dimension that extends in a direction between the first side and the second side;

the second base has:

a third side,

a fourth side, and

a second dimension that extends in a direction between the third side and the fourth side;

the first flange includes a third dimension that is less than the first dimension; and

the second flange includes in a fourth dimension that is less than the second dimension.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first receptacle is oriented perpendicularly to the first channel; and

the second receptacle is oriented perpendicularly to the second channel.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bar further includes one or more indicia associated with a spacing between rails that are configured to receive photovoltaic modules.

6. A system comprising:

a bar;

a first spacing tool including:

a first base,

a first flange,

a second flange,

a first receptacle configured to receive at least a portion of a first rail that supports a photovoltaic module, and

a first collar defining a first channel disposed between the first flange and the second flange, the first channel being configured to receive a first portion of the bar; and

a second spacing tool including:

a second base,

a third flange,

a fourth flange,

a second receptacle configured to receive at least a portion of a second rail that supports the photovoltaic module, and

a second collar defining a second channel disposed between the third flange and the fourth flange, the second channel being configured to receive a second portion of the bar.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein:

the first base includes a first end and a second end;

the first channel is centrally located between the first end and the second end;

the second base includes a third end and a fourth end; and

the second channel is centrally located between the third end and the fourth end.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein:

the first flange, the second flange, and the first collar extend from a first surface of the first base; and

the third flange, the fourth flange, and the second collar extend from a second surface of the second base.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein:

the first base further includes a third surface that is opposite the first surface, the first surface at least partially defining the first receptacle; and

the second base further includes a fourth surface that is opposite the second surface, the second surface at least partially defining the second receptacle.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the bar further includes one or more indicia associated with a spacing between rails that are configured to receive photovoltaic modules.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein:

the first flange and the second flange include a first thickness associated with a first spacing between first adjacent photovoltaic modules; and

the third flange and the fourth flange include a second thickness associated with a second spacing between second adjacent photovoltaic modules.

12. The system of claim 6 , wherein:

the first base includes one or more first sidewalls that define the first receptacle; and

the second base includes one or more second sidewalls that define the second receptacle.

13. The system of claim 6 , further comprising:

a first fastener threadingly engaged with the first collar; and

a second fastener threadingly engaged with the second collar.

14. The system of claim 6 , wherein:

the first channel is oriented perpendicular to the first receptacle; and

the second channel is oriented perpendicular to the second receptacle.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (9)