Replacement tile mount for mounting solar panels on tile roofs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11205989-B2
Application number	US-202016827300-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2020
Priority date	Sep 8, 2017
Publication date	Dec 21, 2021
Grant date	Dec 21, 2021

Abstract

A one-piece, monolithic tile support mount attaches to a roof and provides rigid structural support for a lateral attachment bar or L-foot that is used to hold a height-adjustable mounting mechanism or mounting rail, which is used to attach solar photovoltaic panels to the roof of a roof covered with roofing tiles. A custom-designed, sheet-metal or polymer, aperture-less replacement tile is mounted between the lateral attachment bar or the L-foot and the tile support mount. Also provided is a compact, magnetic positioning tool that provides proper alignment of a drill bit when drilling or punching holes through the replacement tile.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of installing a replacement tile on top of a tile mount for mounting solar panels to a roof, the method comprising:
positioning the replacement tile on a monolithic riser of the tile mount, such that a flat platform of the replacement tile is disposed on top of a flat platform of the monolithic riser, wherein the flat platform of the replacement tile includes an aperture-less top portion formed of a polymeric membrane;
elastically deforming the flat platform of the replacement tile with a finger of an installer;
identifying, via the elastic deformation and the finger of the installer, a location of a mounting hole disposed in the flat platform of the monolithic riser; and
penetrating the polymeric membrane at the location.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning a deformable washer on top of the flat platform of the replacement tile and at the location of the mounting hole.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning a bar on top of the flat platform of the replacement tile and at the location of the mounting hole.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising attaching a height-adjustable mounting assembly to the bar for mounting the solar panels to the roof.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising displacing a lower bracket of the height-adjustable mounting assembly up or down relative to the bar via a helical drive of the height-adjustable mounting assembly.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning a bracket on top of the flat platform of the replacement tile and at the location of the mounting hole.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising attaching a structural rail to the bracket for mounting the solar panels to the roof.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric membrane comprises an over-molded polymeric membrane.

9. A method of installing a replacement tile on top of a tile mount for mounting solar panels to a roof, the method comprising:
positioning the replacement tile on a monolithic riser of the tile mount, such that a flat platform of the monolithic riser is disposed below and in contact with a flat platform of the replacement tile, wherein the flat platform of the replacement tile includes an aperture-less top portion formed of a polymeric membrane;
elastically deforming the flat platform of the replacement tile with a finger of an installer;
identifying, via the elastic deformation and the finger of the installer, a location of a mounting hole disposed in the flat platform of the monolithic riser; and
penetrating the polymeric membrane at the location.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the location is a first location of a first mounting hole disposed in the flat platform of the monolithic riser, and the method further comprising:
locating a second location of a second mounting hole disposed in the flat platform of the monolithic riser; and
penetrating the polymeric membrane at the second location.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
positioning a first deformable washer on top of the flat platform of the replacement tile and at the first location of the first mounting hole; and
positioning a second deformable washer on top of the flat platform of the replacement tile and at the second mounting hole.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
positioning a bar on top of each of the first deformable washer and the second deformable washer;
attaching a first portion of the bar, via a first fastener, to the first mounting hole disposed in the flat platform of the monolithic riser; and
attaching a second portion of the bar, via a second fastener, to the second mounting hole disposed in the flat platform of the monolithic riser.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising attaching a height-adjustable mounting assembly to the bar for mounting the solar panels to the roof.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising positioning a deformable washer on top of the flat platform of the replacement tile and at the location of the mounting hole.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
positioning an L-shaped bracket on top of the deformable washer; and
attaching the L-shaped bracket, via a fastener, to the mounting hole disposed in the flat platform of the monolithic riser.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising attaching a structural rail to the L-shaped bracket for mounting the solar panels to the roof.

17. A method of installing a replacement tile on top of a tile mount for mounting solar panels to a roof, the method comprising:
positioning the replacement tile around a monolithic riser of the tile mount, such that the monolithic riser is disposed inside of a central aperture of the replacement tile, the central aperture having a raised sleeve for receiving a cap covering the central aperture;
positioning the cap on the raised sleeve, such that a flat platform of the cap is disposed on top of a flat platform of the monolithic riser, wherein the flat platform of the cap includes an aperture-less top portion formed of a polymeric membrane;
elastically deforming the flat platform of the cap with a finger of an installer;
identifying, via the elastic deformation and the finger of the installer, a location of a mounting hole disposed in the flat platform of the monolithic riser; and
penetrating the polymeric membrane at the location.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising positioning a deformable washer on top of the flat platform of the cap and at the location of the mounting hole.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
positioning a bar on top of the deformable washer; and
attaching the bar, via a fastener, to the mounting hole disposed in the flat platform.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
positioning a bracket on top of the deformable washer; and
attaching the bracket, via a fastener, to the mounting hole disposed in the flat platform.

Assignees

• Unirac Inc

Inventors

• Mayfield Jason
• Schuit Nathan
• Harris Stacy

Classifications

• F24S25/10

  extending in directions away from a supporting surface · CPC title

• F24S25/636

  clamping by screw-threaded elements · CPC title

• F24S25/61

  for fixing to the ground or to building structures · CPC title

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title

• Y02B10/20

  Solar thermal · CPC title