Photovoltaic module clamp assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11824489-B2
Application number	US-202117165759-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2021
Priority date	Feb 3, 2020
Publication date	Nov 21, 2023
Grant date	Nov 21, 2023

Abstract

A clamp assembly configured to clamp a frame of a photovoltaic (PV) module, the clamp assembly including a first clamp portion shaped to receive an outside surface of the frame and a second clamp portion shaped to secure a flange of the frame between the second clamp portion and a portion of the first clamp portion, wherein the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are mounted on a bolt. The clamp assembly further includes a stanchion having a first side and a second side, the first side and the second side including apertures through which the bolt is inserted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp assembly comprising:
a first clamp portion shaped to receive at least a portion of an outside of a photovoltaic (PV) module frame; and
a second clamp portion shaped to receive at least a portion of an inside of the PV module frame,
wherein the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are mounted on a bolt that, when turned in a first direction, draws the second clamp portion toward the first clamp portion, thereby clamping the PV module frame therebetween, and
wherein the first clamp portion includes a first arm and a second arm that extend toward and overlap at least a portion of the second clamp portion; and
stanchion having a first side adjacent the first clamp portion and a second side adjacent the second clamp portion, the first side and the second side including apertures through which the bolt is inserted.

2. The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are mounted on the bolt such that the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are located between the first side and the second side of the stanchion.

3. The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the first clamp portion abuts an interior surface of the first side of the stanchion.

4. The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the second clamp portion abuts an interior surface of the second side of the stanchion.

5. The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stanchion includes a top surface that spans a distance between the first side and the second side.

6. The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the arms are configured to support at least the portion of the outside of the PV module frame.

7. The clamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second clamp portion includes a pair of securing tabs that extend from a surface of the second clamp portion towards the first clamp portion.

8. The clamp assembly of claim 7 , wherein the pair of securing tabs and the first arm and the second arm of the first clamp portion are configured to secure the PV module frame therebetween.

9. A clamp assembly configured to clamp a frame of a photovoltaic (PV) module, the clamp assembly comprising:
a first clamp portion shaped to receive an outside surface of the frame;
a second clamp portion shaped to secure a flange of the frame between the second clamp portion and a portion of the first clamp portion, wherein the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are mounted on a bolt; and
stanchion having a first side adjacent the first clamp portion and a second side adjacent the second clamp portion, the first side and the second side including apertures through which the bolt is inserted,
wherein the first clamp portion includes:
a first arm that extends toward and overlaps the second clamp portion at a first position, and
a second arm that extends toward and overlaps the second clamp portion at a second position that is different than the first position.

10. The clamp assembly of claim 9 , wherein when the bolt is turned in a first direction, the bolt draws the second clamp portion towards the first clamp portion, thereby securing the frame of the PV module therebetween.

11. The clamp assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are mounted on the bolt such that the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are located between the first side and the second side of the stanchion.

12. The clamp assembly of claim 9 , wherein the bolt includes a spring attached thereto such that the spring abuts a surface of the first clamp portion, thereby maintaining a distance between the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion unless the spring is compressed by a force.

13. The clamp assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a spacer mounted on the bolt and located between a head of the bolt and the first side of the stanchion.

14. The clamp assembly of claim 9 , wherein the stanchion includes a crossmember located proximate a bottom portion of the stanchion, and
wherein the crossmember is shaped to accommodate a rail between the crossmember and a bottom surface of the stanchion.

15. A clamp system for securing a photovoltaic (PV) module, the clamp system comprising:
a first clamp portion shaped to receive at least a portion of an outside of a frame of the PV module;
a second clamp portion shaped to receive at least a portion of inside of the frame of the PV module, wherein the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are mounted on a bolt that, when turned in a first direction, draws the second clamp portion toward the first clamp portion, thereby clamping the PV module frame therebetween; and
stanchion having a first side adjacent the first clamp portion and a second side adjacent the second clamp portion, the first side and the second side including apertures through which the bolt is inserted,
wherein the first clamp portion includes:
a first arm that extends toward and overlaps the second clamp portion at a first position, and
a second arm that extends toward and overlaps the second clamp portion at a second position that is different from the first position.

16. The clamp system of claim 15 , wherein a bottom portion of the stanchion includes:
a tab proximate the first side of the stanchion, wherein the tab is shaped to be insertable into a slot of a rail such that the tab is secured in the rail; and
a mounting portion proximate the second side of the stanchion, the mounting portion including an aperture therein through which a fastener is insertable to secure the mounting portion of the stanchion to the rail.

17. The clamp system of claim 15 , wherein the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are mounted on the bolt such that the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are located between the first side and the second side of the stanchion.

18. The clamping system of claim 15 , wherein the second clamp portion includes a pair of securing tabs that extend from a surface of the second clamp towards the first clamp portion, and
wherein a portion of the frame of the PV module is secured between the pair of securing tabs and the first arm and the second arm.

Assignees

• Unirac Inc

Inventors

• Basarich Kyle
• Kauffman Chris
• Schuit Nathan

Classifications

• H02S30/10 Primary

  Frame structures · CPC title

• F16B2/12

  using sliding jaws · CPC title

• H02S30/00 Primary

  Structural details of PV modules other than those related to light conversion (semiconductor device aspects of modules of electrolytic light sensitive devices H01G9/20, of inorganic PV modules H10F10/00, H10F19/00, of organic PV modules H10K30/00) · CPC title

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title