Support assembly for photovoltaic modules and mounting system using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11689148-B2
Application number	US-202117536691-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2021
Priority date	Mar 1, 2011
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

A support assembly for mounting photovoltaic modules on a support surface and a mounting system including the same are disclosed herein. The support assembly may comprise a the body portion including a base portion and at least one upright support member coupled to the base portion, the at least one upright support member comprising an integrally formed ballast tray slot in one side thereof for receiving an upturned edge of a ballast tray; and at least one clamp subassembly coupled to the at least one upright support member of the body portion, the at least one clamp subassembly configured to be coupled to one or more photovoltaic modules. In addition to a plurality of support assemblies, the mounting system may further comprise at least one ballast tray support bracket, the ballast tray support bracket supporting a portion of a ballast tray on the support surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A support assembly for supporting a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module on a support surface, the support assembly comprising:
a base having:
a first end to support the first photovoltaic module, and
a second end opposite the first end to support the second photovoltaic module, the second end being spaced a distance from the first end in a first direction;

a first support member extending above the first end of the base to prop up the first photovoltaic module;
a second support member extending above the second end of the base to prop up the second photovoltaic module, the second support member propping the second photovoltaic module at a first height that is shorter than a second height at which the first support member props up the first photovoltaic module;
a ballast unit supported by the base to extend from and above the base for securing a ballast that is adjacent the base, the ballast unit extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and
a clamp subassembly to couple one of the first photovoltaic module to the first support member or the second photovoltaic module to the second support member.

2. The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein a coupling function of the clamp subassembly is actuatable via a pivotal movement along a horizontally oriented axis.

3. The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamp subassembly is disposed to clamp at least in part against a side edge and a bottom edge of the one of the first photovoltaic module or the second photovoltaic module.

4. The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamp subassembly includes at least a first clamp member and a second clamp member that oppose each other to clamp the one of the first photovoltaic module or the second photovoltaic module.

5. The support assembly of claim 4 , wherein a portion of the first clamp member is slidable against a portion of the second clamp member when clamping.

6. The support assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first clamp member is rotationally pinned to the first support member or the second support member.

7. The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamp subassembly is disposed to clamp at least in part against a flange of the one of the first photovoltaic module or the second photovoltaic module.

8. A support assembly comprising:
a first support member extending to a first height;
a second support member being spaced a distance from the first support member in a first direction, the second support member extending to a second height that is shorter than the first height;
a ballast unit for securing a ballast, the ballast unit arranged to extend in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction; and
a clamp subassembly connected at least in part to one of the first support member or the second support member, the clamp subassembly being actuatable to clamp to an object, and the object being rotatable while clamped via a rotational movement of the clamp subassembly along a horizontal axis.

9. The support assembly of claim 8 , wherein the clamp subassembly includes a first clamp member and a second clamp member that abuts the first clamp member to secure the object.

10. The support assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first clamp member supports a flange portion of the object.

11. The support assembly of claim 9 , wherein a surface of the second clamp member abuts the first clamp member and a surface of the object to secure the object.

12. The support assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first clamp member has an L-shape to align with an edge of the object.

13. The support assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first clamp member is pivotally attached to the second support member.

14. The support assembly of claim 9 , wherein a surface of the second clamp member includes teeth to bite into a surface of the object.

15. A support assembly configured for securing a photovoltaic module on a support surface, the support assembly comprising:
a support member configured to support an end of the photovoltaic module;
a ballast unit for securing a ballast, the ballast unit supported by the support member to maintain the ballast at a position laterally adjacent of the support member when the support assembly is implemented on the support surface; and
a clamp subassembly including a pivotal base clamp member and a coupling clamp member to clamp the photovoltaic module to the support member, the pivotal base clamp member being pivotal along a horizontal axis that is parallel to an extension direction of a flange of the photovoltaic module when implemented to secure the photovoltaic module, and the photovoltaic module being rotatable while clamped via a rotational movement of the clamp subassembly along the horizontal axis.

16. The support assembly of claim 15 , wherein the coupling clamp member is slidable against a surface of the pivotal base clamp member.

17. The support assembly of claim 15 , wherein the clamp subassembly is disposed to clamp in part against the flange of the photovoltaic module.

18. The support assembly of claim 15 , wherein the support member is a first support member, and
wherein the support assembly further comprises a second support member oriented with respect to the first support member to support an adjacent photovoltaic module.

19. The support assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a base from which the support member supports the photovoltaic module.

20. The support assembly of claim 15 , wherein the coupling clamp member abuts a surface of the pivotal base member and a surface of the photovoltaic module simultaneously when the photovoltaic module is implemented in the clamping subassembly.

Assignees

• Unirac Inc

Inventors

• Dick Andrew Brian
• Wildes Brian James
• Gopal Ridhvik

Classifications

• H10F77/935

  for photovoltaic devices or modules · CPC title

• H02S20/00

  Supporting structures for PV modules · CPC title

• F16B5/0614

  in angled relationship · CPC title

• H02S20/10

  Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground (H02S20/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01L31/02008

  Electricity · mapped topic