Frameless solar module mounting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11689150-B2
Application number	US-201916546181-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2019
Priority date	Jun 9, 2015
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

In an example, a clamp assembly for a glass on glass solar module for a tracker is included. The assembly has a lower clamp structure characterized by a top-hat shaped rail structure having a length extending from a first end to a second end. In an example, the assembly has an upper clamp structure configured to sandwich a pair of edges of a pair of solar modules with a portion of the lower clamp structure. In an example, the assembly has a locking spacer configured to the pair of edges of the pair of solar modules. In an example, the pair of edges comprises substantially glass material. In an example, the assembly has a pair of key structures configured with the locking spacer. Each of the key structures is affixed to each of the solar modules to physically lock each of the solar modules to the upper clamp structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A locking spacer device, comprising:
a lower insulating region having a length, a first width, and an open region, the lower insulating region being made from a thickness of polymeric material, the lower insulating region being configured parallel to a major plane of a glass on glass solar module;
an upper insulating region having the length and a second width, the upper insulating region being made from the thickness of polymeric material;
a spacer region provided between and coupling the lower insulating region and the upper insulating region such that a gap is defined between the lower insulating region and the upper insulating region;
a bend region spatially disposed between the spacer region and the upper insulating region, the bend region having a thickness dimension b, the thickness dimension b is less than the thickness of polymeric material;
whereupon the upper insulating region is configured in a first direction substantially normal to the lower insulating region during a first position for an assembly process and is configured in a second direction substantially parallel to the lower insulating region after the assembly process such that the upper insulating region is moved about the bend region from the first direction to the second direction.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the bend region has a v shape to allow each of the inner surfaces of the v shape to come in contact with each other in the second direction.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an opposing lower insulating region;
an opposing upper insulating region;
an opposing spacer region provided between and coupling the opposing lower insulating region and the opposing upper insulating region such that an opposing gap is defined between the opposing lower insulating region and the opposing upper insulating region;
an opposing bend region spatially disposed between the opposing spacer region and the opposing upper insulating region; and
a channel structure coupling the opposing upper insulating region and the opposing lower insulating region with the upper insulating region and the lower insulating region.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the locking spacer device is configured with a keyed feature to prevent the locking spacer from a planar movement after the assembly process.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material is selected from at least one of an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) or a rubber.

6. A claim assembly for a glass on glass solar module, the assembly comprising:
a locking spacer comprising a lower insulating region having an open region defined therethrough and an upper insulating region, and a spacer region coupling the lower insulating region and the upper insulating region;
a key structure disposed on a lower surface of a glass on glass solar module adjacent an edge region of the glass on glass solar module, the glass on glass solar module configured to be sandwiched between the lower insulating region and the upper insulating region such that the key structure is adapted to be a male member to be inserted into the open region of the lower insulating region of the locking spacer, which acts as a female portion, to prevent the glass on glass solar module from sliding in a planar direction that is parallel to a major surface region of the glass on glass solar module;
an upper clamp structure;
a lower clamp structure configured to be secured to the upper clamp structure to sandwich the locking spacer such that the upper insulating region and the lower insulating region are configured to be secured with the key structure and forms a stacked structure including the upper clamp structure, the upper insulating region, the lower insulating region, and the lower clamp structure;
a thickness characterizing the lower insulating region d 1 ; and
a height characterizing the key structure, the height being less than the thickness d 1 to maintain the lower insulating region in a compressive state upon assembly of the clamp assembly.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the lower clamp structure is characterized by a top-hat shaped rail structure having a pair of support regions each of which is protruding from the top-hat shaped rail structure.

8. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the upper clamp structure is characterized by a top-hat shaped rail structure having a pair of support regions each of which is protruding from the top-hat shaped rail structure.

9. The assembly of claim further comprising a bolt configured to be secured to the upper clamp structure and the lower clamp structure to assemble and cause the upper clamp structure, the upper insulating region, the lower insulating region, and the lower clamp structure to be in a compressive state to hold the glass on glass solar module.

10. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the key structure comprises a puck structure affixed to the edge region of the glass on glass solar module.

11. A clamp assembly, comprising:
a lower clamp structure characterized by a top-hat shaped rail structure having a length extending from a first end to a second end, the lower clamp structure comprising a first opening and a second opening;
a first upper clamp structure configured to sandwich a first pair of edges of a pair of solar modules with a first portion of the lower clamp structure;
a second upper clamp structure configured to sandwich a second pair of edges of the pair of solar modules with a second portion of the lower clamp structure;
a U-bolt configured to sandwich a portion of a torque tube with the lower clamp structure using the first opening and the second opening;
a first locking spacer configured to be secured to the first pair of edges of the pair of solar modules, the first pair of edges comprising substantially glass material, the first locking spacer including a pair of open regions defined through a lower portion thereof and defining a female portion;
a second locking spacer configured to be secured to the second pair of edges of the pair of solar modules, the second pair of edges comprising substantially glass material, the second locking spacer including a pair of open regions defined through a lower portion thereof and defining a female portion;
a pair of first key structures defining a male portion that is configured to be received within each respective open region of the first locking spacer, the first pair of key structures disposed on a lower surface of the pair of solar modules adjacent the first pair of edges of the pair of solar modules; and
a second pair of first key structures defining a male portion that is configured to be received within each respective open region of the second locking spacer, the second pair of key structures disposed on a lower surface of the pair of solar modules adjacent the second pair of edges of the pair of solar modules.

Assignees

• Nextracker Inc
• Nextracker Llc

Inventors

• Au Alexander W

Classifications

• F16B5/0621

  in parallel relationship (fastened by a drive-pin F16B19/1081; fastened by a device locking by rotation F16B21/02) · CPC title

• F16B5/0635

  fastened over the edges of the sheets or plates · CPC title

• F24S25/634

  Clamps; Clips · CPC title

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title

• H02S20/30

  Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment · CPC title