Clamps for solar system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10680548-B2
Application number	US-201916537165-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2019
Priority date	Dec 23, 2013
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

A solar power system can include a rail and a solar module disposed on the rail. A clamp assembly can couple the solar module to the rail. The clamp assembly can have a clamped configuration in which the solar module is secured to the rail and an unclamped configuration. The clamp assembly can comprise an upper clamp member, a lower clamp member coupled to the rail, and a stabilization member mechanically engaging the upper clamp member and the lower clamp member. The stabilization member can prevent rotation of the lower clamp member relative to the rail when the clamp assembly is in the clamped and unclamped configurations. In the unclamped configuration, the stabilization member can be biased such that the upper clamp member is disposed at a sufficient clearance above the rail to permit the insertion of the solar module between the upper clamp member and the rail.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A solar module clamp assembly having a major axis, the solar module clamp assembly comprising:
an upper clamp member;
a lower clamp member;
a fastener extending along the major axis and coupling the upper clamp member with the lower clamp member; and
a stabilization member configured to support the upper clamp member at a position vertically spaced above the lower clamp member, the stabilization member having a relaxed state and one or more compressed states,
wherein the stabilization member in the relaxed state prevents translation of the upper clamp member towards the lower clamp member along the major axis,
wherein the stabilization member in the one or more compressed states is compressed such that the upper clamp member is translated towards the lower clamp member along the major axis relative to the relaxed state,
wherein the upper clamp member has a first arm and a second arm extending in opposite directions perpendicular to the major axis, the first arm being adapted to secure a first solar module to a mounting structure and the second arm being adapted to secure a second solar module to the mounting structure, and
wherein the stabilization member comprises a spring extending between the upper clamp member and the lower clamp member.

2. The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring of the stabilization member is provided as a helical metal coil encircling the fastener between the upper clamp member and the lower clamp member.

3. The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring of the stabilization member comprises an upper locking portion coupled to the upper clamp member and a lower locking portion coupled to the lower clamp member.

4. The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a threaded fastener, and wherein the threaded fastener threadably couples the upper clamp member with the lower clamp member.

5. The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fastener passes through the upper clamp member to couple with the lower clamp member.

6. The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first arm captures an edge portion of the first solar module and the second arm captures an edge portion of the second solar module such that first and second solar modules are secured between the first and second arms and the mounting structure.

7. The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second arm each comprise at least one projection extending downward relative to a corresponding arm and parallel to the major axis.

8. The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second arms comprise one or more teeth configured to secure a portion of first and second solar modules to the mounting structure.

9. A solar power system comprising:
a rail;
a first solar module disposed on the rail;
a second solar module disposed on the rail adjacent to the first solar module; and
a clamp assembly having a major axis, the clamp assembly comprising:
an upper clamp member;
a lower clamp member;
a fastener extending along the major axis and coupling the upper clamp member with the lower clamp member; and
a stabilization member configured to support the upper clamp member at a position vertically spaced above the lower clamp member, the stabilization member having a relaxed state and one or more compressed states,

wherein the stabilization member in the relaxed state prevents translation of the upper clamp member towards the lower clamp member along the major axis,
wherein the stabilization member in the one or more compressed states is compressed such that the upper clamp member is translated towards the lower clamp member along the major axis relative to the relaxed state,
wherein the upper clamp member has a first arm extending perpendicular to the major axis toward the first solar module and a second arm extending perpendicular to the major axis toward the second solar module; the first arm being adapted to secure the first solar module to the rail and the second arm being adapted to secure the second solar module to the rail, and
wherein the stabilization member comprises a spring extending between the upper clamp member and the lower clamp member.

10. The solar power system of claim 9 , wherein the spring of the stabilization member is provided as a helical metal coil encircling the fastener between the upper clamp member and the lower clamp member.

11. The solar power system of claim 9 , wherein the fastener is a threaded fastener, and wherein the threaded fastener threadably couples the upper clamp member with the lower clamp member.

12. The solar power system of claim 9 , wherein the rail comprises a groove that defines an aperture and a recess along a length of the rail, and wherein the lower clamp member of the clamp assembly is configured to be inserted into the groove of the rail.

13. The solar power system of claim 12 , wherein the width of the lower clamp member is less than the width of the aperture of the rail such that the lower clamp member can be inserted through the aperture and into the groove of the rail.

14. The clamp assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first arm captures an edge portion of the first solar module and the second arm captures an edge portion of the second solar module such that first and second solar modules are secured between the first and second arms and the rail.

15. The clamp assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first and second arm each comprise at least one projection extending downward relative to a corresponding arm and parallel to the major axis.

16. The clamp assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first and second arms comprise one or more teeth configured to secure a portion of first and second solar modules to the rail.

17. A solar power system comprising:
a rail;
a plurality of modules disposed on the rail;
a clamp assembly positioned between a first pair of adjacent modules in the plurality of modules, the clamp assembly comprising:
an upper clamp member;
a lower clamp member;
a fastener extending along the major axis and coupling the upper clamp member with the lower clamp member; and
a stabilization member configured to support the upper clamp member at a position vertically spaced above the lower clamp member, the stabilization member having a relaxed state and one or more compressed states;

wherein the stabilization member in the relaxed state prevents translation of the upper clamp member towards the lower clamp member along the major axis,
wherein the stabilization member in the one or more compressed states is compressed such that the upper clamp member is translated towards the lower clamp member along the major axis relative to the relaxed state,
wherein the upper clamp member has a first arm extending perpendicular to the major axis to secure a first solar module of the first pair of adjacent modules to the rail and a second arm extending perpendicular to the major axis to secure a second solar module of the first pair of adjacent modules to the rail, wherein the stabilization member comprises a spring extending between the upper clamp member and the lower clamp member.

Assignees

• Sunpower Corp

Inventors

• Braunstein Ryan
• Kinyon Zachary
• Carre Guillaume
• Matrat David

Classifications

• F24S25/30

  using elongate rigid mounting elements extending substantially along the supporting surface, e.g. for covering buildings with solar heat collectors (extending in directions away from the supporting surface F24S25/10; peripheral frames for modules F24S25/20) · CPC title

• F24S25/60

  Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules · CPC title

• F24S25/70

  with means for adjusting the final position or orientation of supporting elements in relation to each other or to a mounting surface; with means for compensating mounting tolerances · CPC title

• H02S30/10

  Frame structures · CPC title

• Y10T29/49355

  Solar energy device making · CPC title