Torque tube coupler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12331789-B2
Application number	US-202418589045-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2024
Priority date	Sep 14, 2020
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

A torque tube coupler may include an outer body that includes a first abutting surface and a second abutting surface adjacent to the first abutting surface. Set screws may be inserted into one or more channels of the first abutting surface. Tightening the set screws may force the abutting surfaces away from each other and the outer body to press against an inner surface of a torque tube. Another embodiment of the torque tube coupler may include a central ring sized based on a size of a torque tube. The torque tube coupler may also include a set of fingers that extend away from a first side of the central ring and are shaped to flex radially outward. The torque tube coupler may include a core disposed within the set of fingers that, when drawn towards the central ring, causes the fingers to flex radially outwards.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A torque tube coupler, system for coupling torque tubes comprising:
a first torque tube segment having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface having a number of faces;
a second torque tube segment having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface having a number of faces;
a torque tube coupler comprising:
an elongated body having a number of faces that form an exterior surface of the elongated body, the elongated body including a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to fit within the first torque tube segment and the second end being configured to fit within the second torque tube segment, wherein the number of faces that form the exterior surface of the elongated body, the number of faces that form the interior surface of the first torque tube segment, and the number of faces that form the interior surface of the second torque tube segment are the same;
a first coupling feature positioned toward the first end of the elongated body that is configured to secure the first torque tube segment to the elongated body;
a second coupling feature positioned toward the second end of the elongated body that is configured to secure the second torque tube segment to the elongated body; and
a recessed feature in the exterior surface of a first face in the number of faces of the elongated body, the recessed feature extending at least a portion of a length of the elongated body.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first coupling feature is a first aperture in a second face of the elongated body positioned toward the first end that is configured in size and shape to align with an aperture in the first torque tube segment, and
the second coupling feature is a second aperture in the second face of the elongated body positioned toward the second end that is configured in size and shape to align with an aperture in the second torque tube segment.

3. The torque tube coupler of claim 2 , wherein the first face of the elongated body is directly adjacent to the second face of the elongated body.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the recessed feature extends an entire length of the elongated body.

5. A torque tube coupler, comprising:
an elongated body including a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to fit within a first torque tube segment and the second end being configured to fit within a second torque tube segment;
a first aperture positioned toward the first end that is configured in size and shape to align with an aperture in the first torque tube segment; and
a second aperture positioned toward the second end that is configured in size and shape to align with an aperture in the second torque tube segment;
wherein:
the first and second ends define closed shapes that include at least one straight side and at least one non-straight side, the at least one non-straight side forming a recessed feature,
the first and second apertures are positioned in one straight side of the at least one straight side, and
the at least one non-straight side is directly adjacent to the at least one straight side in which the first and second apertures are positioned.

6. The torque tube coupler of claim 5 , wherein the first and second ends each include a plurality of straight sides and one non-straight side.

7. The torque tube coupler of claim 5 , wherein the first and second ends each include seven straight sides and one non-straight side.

8. The torque tube coupler of claim 5 , wherein the non-straight side extends an entire length of the elongated body.

9. A torque tube coupler, comprising:
an elongated body including a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to fit within a first torque tube segment and the second end being configured to fit within a second torque tube segment;
a first aperture positioned toward the first end that is configured in size and shape to align with an aperture in the first torque tube segment; and
a second aperture positioned toward the second end that is configured in size and shape to align with an aperture in the second torque tube segment;
wherein:
the first and second ends define closed shapes that include at least one straight side and at least one non-straight side, the at least one non-straight side forming a recessed feature, and
the closed shapes defined at the first and second ends of the elongated body are consistent throughout an entire length of the elongated body.

10. The torque tube coupler of claim 9 , wherein the first and second ends each include a plurality of straight sides and one non-straight side.

11. The torque tube coupler of claim 9 , wherein the first and second ends each include seven straight sides and one non-straight side.

Assignees

• Array Tech Inc

Inventors

• Creasy Lucas
• Kumar Nikhil
• Fusaro James
• Bradley Kenyon
• Smith Daniel

Classifications

• F16D2001/102

  the torque is transmitted via polygon shaped connections · CPC title

• H02S30/00

  Structural details of PV modules other than those related to light conversion (semiconductor device aspects of modules of electrolytic light sensitive devices H01G9/20, of inorganic PV modules H10F10/00, H10F19/00, of organic PV modules H10K30/00) · CPC title

• Y02E10/47

  Mountings or tracking · CPC title

• F16B7/182

  for coaxial connections of two rods or tubes · CPC title

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title