Hybrid solar panel mounting assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11489481-B2
Application number	US-202016820256-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2020
Priority date	Aug 3, 2015
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hybrid solar module mounting assembly for mounting a plurality of solar modules, the hybrid solar module mounting assembly comprising:
a trim-rail of a rail-based mounting system, the trim-rail including:
a continuous structural unit of both a rail and a trim that extends across a distance approximately as long as at least two adjacent solar modules of the plurality of solar modules,
a panel mounting portion, on a side opposite the trim, for securing the at least two adjacent solar modules of the plurality of solar modules, and
a tab on the side opposite the trim below the panel mounting portion, the tab for interfacing with a footer; and

a bracket of a rail-less mounting system, the bracket having a length that is less than a length of the trim-rail.

2. A hybrid solar module mounting assembly for mounting a plurality of solar modules, the hybrid solar module mounting assembly comprising:
a trim-rail of a rail-based mounting system, the trim-rail including:
a continuous structural unit of both a rail and a trim that extends across at least two solar modules of the plurality of solar modules,
a panel mounting portion, on a side opposite the trim, for securing the at least two solar modules of the plurality of solar modules, and
a tab on the side opposite the trim below the panel mounting portion, the tab for interfacing with a footer; and

a bracket of a rail-less mounting system, the bracket being disposed with at least one solar module of the plurality of solar modules;
wherein

the trim-rail is not supported by the bracket.

3. A hybrid solar module mounting assembly for mounting a plurality of solar modules, the hybrid solar module mounting assembly comprising:
a trim-rail of a rail-based mounting system, the trim-rail including:
a continuous structural unit of both a rail and a trim that has a length that is greater than a width of a solar module of the plurality of solar modules,
a panel mounting portion, on a side opposite the trim, for securing the solar module of the plurality of solar modules, and
a tab on the side opposite the trim below the panel mounting portion, the tab for interfacing with a footer; and

a bracket of a rail-less mounting system, the bracket having a length that is less than or equal to the width of the solar module.

4. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the trim rail is disposed on an outer-most edge of the solar array.

5. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the trim rail includes a lower ledge and an upper ledge on only one side of the trim-rail, the lower ledge and the upper ledge mounting the at least one solar module on only the one side of the trim-rail.

6. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the trim rail is a monolithic structure including a structural rail portion combined with a non-structural trim portion.

7. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bracket is a micro-rail or a short micro-rail.

8. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bracket includes a helical vertical drive having a freestanding helical drive element and is vertically adjustable by rotating the freestanding helical drive element.

9. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bracket is disposed within an outer periphery of the solar array.

10. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the bracket extends a portion of a length or width of the at least one solar module.

11. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one solar module is a first solar module, and the bracket extends a discrete portion of a length or width of at least a second solar module of the plurality of solar modules of the solar array.

12. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the trim rail is disposed on an outer-most edge of the solar array.

13. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the trim rail includes a lower ledge and an upper ledge on only one side of the trim-rail, the lower ledge and the upper ledge mounting the at least one solar module on only the one side of the trim-rail.

14. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the bracket is a micro-rail or a short micro-rail.

15. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the bracket includes a helical vertical drive having a freestanding helical drive element and is vertically adjustable by rotating the freestanding helical drive element.

16. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the bracket is disposed within an outer periphery of the solar array.

17. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the solar module is a first solar module, and the bracket extends a portion of a width of the first solar module and a discrete portion of a width of at least a second solar module of the plurality of solar modules of the solar array.

18. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the bracket is disposed within an outer periphery of the solar array.

19. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the trim rail is disposed on an outer-most edge of the solar array.

20. The hybrid solar module mounting assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the bracket includes a helical vertical drive having a freestanding helical drive element and is vertically adjustable by rotating the freestanding helical drive element.

Assignees

• Unirac Inc

Inventors

• Schuit Nathan
• Mayfield Jason
• Cowen December
• Womacks Darren

Classifications

• F24S25/65

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

• F24S25/35 Primary

  by means of profiles with a cross-section defining separate supporting portions for adjacent modules · CPC title

• Y02B10/20

  Solar thermal · CPC title

• Y02B10/10

  Photovoltaic [PV] · CPC title

• F24S25/636

  clamping by screw-threaded elements · CPC title