Cabling systems for rooftop photovoltaic solar systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12015377-B2
Application number	US-202217576154-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 14, 2022
Priority date	May 4, 2018
Publication date	Jun 18, 2024
Grant date	Jun 18, 2024

Abstract

Rooftop photovoltaic solar systems and methods for installing interconnection wiring for photovoltaic solar systems. Cabling systems can include cable support stands secured underneath shingles. Cabling systems can include molded rubber raceways mounted using raceway clips secured underneath shingles.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
mounting a molded rubber raceway to a roof of a building using one or more raceway clips, including, for each raceway clip, securing a lower portion of the raceway clip under at least one shingle of the roof such that a protruding portion of the raceway clip protrudes away from the roof and over the molded rubber raceway;
connecting one or more cables to one or more photovoltaic solar modules installed on the roof; and
routing the cables across the roof by securing the cables to the molded rubber raceway.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molded rubber raceway includes a plurality of lower ribs, and wherein mounting the molded rubber raceway includes mounting the molded rubber raceway such that the lower ribs elevate the molded rubber raceway from the roof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molded rubber raceway includes a plurality of upper ribs, and wherein securing the cables to the molded rubber raceway includes securing the cables such that the upper ribs elevate the cables from the molded rubber raceway.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molded rubber raceway comprises a pair of sidewalls on opposite sides of the molded rubber raceway, and wherein securing the cables to the molded rubber raceway includes placing the cables between the sidewalls.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein securing the cables to the molded rubber raceway includes elevating the cables from the roof by at least ⅞ of an inch (2.22 cm).

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein mounting the molded rubber raceway to the roof comprises bending the molded rubber raceway around an eave of the roof.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein mounting the molded rubber raceway to the roof comprises bending the molded rubber raceway to run both vertically and diagonally across the roof.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molded rubber raceway comprises a plurality of separate raceway sections, and wherein mounting the molded rubber raceway to the roof comprises joining the raceway sections end-to-end.

9. A photovoltaic solar system comprising:
one or more photovoltaic solar modules mounted on a roof of a building;
a molded rubber raceway mounted to the roof by one or more raceway clips, wherein, for each raceway clip, a lower portion of the raceway clip is secured under at least one shingle of the roof such that a protruding portion of the raceway clip protrudes away from the roof; and
one or more cables routed across the roof and secured to the molded rubber raceway.

10. The photovoltaic solar system of claim 9 , wherein the molded rubber raceway includes a plurality of lower ribs, and wherein the molded rubber raceway is mounted such that the lower ribs elevate the molded rubber raceway from the roof.

11. The photovoltaic solar system of claim 9 , wherein the molded rubber raceway includes a plurality of upper ribs, and wherein the cables are secured such that the upper ribs elevate the cables from the molded rubber raceway.

12. The photovoltaic solar system of claim 9 , wherein the molded rubber raceway comprises a pair of sidewalls on opposite sides of the molded rubber raceway, and wherein the cables are placed between the sidewalls.

13. The photovoltaic solar system of claim 9 , wherein the cables are elevated from the roof by at least ⅞ of an inch (2.22 cm).

14. The photovoltaic solar system of claim 9 , wherein the molded rubber raceway is bent around an eave of the roof.

15. The photovoltaic solar system of claim 9 , wherein the molded rubber raceway runs both vertically and diagonally across the roof.

16. The photovoltaic solar system of claim 9 , wherein the molded rubber raceway comprises a plurality of separate raceway sections, and wherein the raceway sections are joined end-to-end.

Assignees

• Sunpower Corp

Inventors

• Fischer Kevin C
• Little Kristine

Classifications

• H02S40/12

  Means for removing snow · CPC title

• E04D13/103

  De-icing devices or snow melters (for drainage outlets E04D13/0409, for gutters E04D13/0762, for down pipes E04D13/08) · CPC title

• F16L13/02

  Welded joints · CPC title

• Y02B10/10

  Photovoltaic [PV] · CPC title

• H02S20/23

  specially adapted for roof structures · CPC title