Photovoltaic module mounting assembly having a retainer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10298172-B2
Application number	US-201615255001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2016
Priority date	Sep 1, 2016
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

A mounting assembly for a photovoltaic (PV) module, and systems including such mounting assemblies, are described. In an embodiment, the mounting assembly includes a top strut to support a PV module, and a retainer fixed relative to the top strut. The retainer may have an upright and retaining tab portion forming a receiving gap to receive the PV module. The retainer may constrain movement of the PV module mounted on the top strut.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A photovoltaic (PV) module assembly, comprising:
a mounting assembly including
a top strut extending in a lateral direction laterally outward from a top support member, and
a retainer fixed relative to the top strut, wherein the retainer includes an upright extending orthogonal to the lateral direction, and a retaining tab extending laterally from the upright to a lateral end, and wherein a receiving gap extends between the retaining tab and the top strut;

a bottom member below the top member, wherein the bottom member is wider than the top member; and
a PV module including a PV laminate mounted on a PV frame, wherein the PV frame is mounted on the top strut and includes a retained portion within the receiving gap.

2. The PV module assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retainer further includes a hook portion extending from the lateral end of the retaining tab toward the top strut.

3. The PV module assembly of claim 2 , wherein the PV frame includes a slot over the retained portion, and wherein the retaining tab extends through the slot.

4. The PV module assembly of claim 2 , wherein the retaining tab extends laterally over the PV laminate such that the PV laminate is within the receiving gap.

5. The PV module assembly of claim 1 further comprising a fastener joining the PV frame to the top strut at a fastener joint laterally offset from the retainer.

6. The PV module assembly of claim 1 further comprising a torque member extending along a longitudinal axis and pivotable about the longitudinal axis, wherein the top strut is mounted on the torque member.

7. The PV module assembly of claim 6 , wherein a vertical plane extends along the longitudinal axis orthogonal to the lateral direction and defines a first side and a second side of the top strut, wherein the PV frame is mounted on the first side of the top strut, and wherein a second PV frame of a second PV module is mounted on the second side of the top strut.

Assignees

• Sunpower Corp

Inventors

• Oh Jason
• Wares Brian
• Mckibben Nicholas James

Classifications

• 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

• F24S2025/6006

  by using threaded elements, e.g. stud bolts · CPC title

• F24S2025/014

  Methods for installing support elements · CPC title

• F24S30/425

  Horizontal axis · CPC title

• F24S25/65

  for coupling adjacent supporting elements, e.g. for connecting profiles together · CPC title