Photovoltaic module mount

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12255577-B2
Application number	US-202318461175-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 5, 2023
Priority date	Mar 2, 2015
Publication date	Mar 18, 2025
Grant date	Mar 18, 2025

Abstract

Mounting components of photovoltaic (PV) modules and PV module assemblies are described, including PV module couplings and PV module mounting chassis. In an example, a PV module includes a PV module coupling having a toe portion extending from a PV module frame, and a PV module mounting chassis includes a toe slot to receive the toe. The toe and toe slot construction allows for the PV module frame to be assembled to the PV module mounting chassis without using tools, and thus, permits a PV module assembly to be quickly constructed during installation of a PV module system. Furthermore, the toe and toe slot construction accommodates thermal expansion and other environmental loads seen after installation, while providing a grounding connection for the PV module assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A photovoltaic (PV) module, comprising:
a PV panel having a surface;
a first coupling having a first surface which extends parallel to the surface of the PV panel; and
a second coupling having a second surface which extends parallel to the surface of the PV panel, wherein
the first coupling includes a first toe configured to be inserted into a grounding toe slot of a PV module mounting chassis when the PV module is in a first configuration, the first toe being configured to inhibit removal of the first toe from the grounding toe slot when the PV module is in a second configuration, the first toe extending outward beyond the PV panel in a direction parallel to the first surface from a first retainer to a first terminal edge, the first toe having a first tongue portion extending in the direction parallel to the first surface between the first retainer and the first terminal edge, and the first retainer extending beyond the PV panel, and
the second coupling includes a second toe configured to engage a locking toe slot of the PV module mounting chassis when the PV module is in the second configuration, the PV module being configured to be pivoted about the first toe to engage the second toe through the locking toe slot, the second toe extending outward beyond the PV panel in a direction parallel to the second surface from a second retainer to a second terminal edge, the second toe having a second tongue portion extending in the direction parallel to the second surface between the second retainer and the second terminal edge, and the second retainer extending beyond the PV panel.

2. The PV module of claim 1 , wherein the first and second toes of the PV module are configured to be connected to the PV module mounting chassis by tool-less connections.

3. The PV module of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the tool-less connections comprises a locking plate being reversibly deflectable to an outward position to engage at least one toe of the PV module, thereby locking the PV module into the second configuration.

4. The PV module of claim 1 , wherein the first and second toes of the PV module are configured to electrically ground the PV module to the PV module mounting chassis in the second configuration.

5. A photovoltaic (PV) module mounting chassis, comprising:
a grounding toe slot at a first end, the grounding toe slot being a first aperture configured to receive a first toe of a PV module such that a first terminal edge of the first toe enters the first aperture on a first side of the first aperture and exits the first aperture on a second side of the first aperture, the first toe to be inserted into the grounding toe slot when the PV module is in a first configuration, the grounding toe slot configured to inhibit removal of the first toe from the grounding toe slot when the PV module is in a second configuration, the first toe extending outward beyond a PV panel of the PV module from a first retainer to the first terminal edge, the first toe having a first tongue portion extending between the first retainer and the first terminal edge, and the first retainer extending beyond the PV panel; and
a locking toe slot at a second end opposite from the first end, the locking toe slot being a second aperture configured to engage a second toe of the PV module such that a second terminal edge of the second toe enters the second aperture on a first side of the second aperture and exits the first aperture on a second side of the second aperture when the PV module is in the second configuration, the locking toe slot being configured to engage the second toe through the locking toe slot when the PV module is pivoted about the first toe, the second toe extending outward beyond the PV panel from a second retainer to the second terminal edge, the second toe having a second tongue portion extending between the second retainer and the second terminal edge, and the second retainer extending beyond the PV panel.

6. The module mounting chassis of claim 5 , further comprising:
a grounding plate located at the first end; and
a module stand located at the second end, the module stand comprising a base portion and an upright extending from the base portion to a support surface,
wherein the support surface of the upright is vertically higher than the grounding plate to hold the PV module in a tilted state in the second configuration.

7. The module mounting chassis of claim 6 , further comprises a bridging member having a first member end and a second member end, the bridging member coupled to the grounding plate at the first member end and coupled to the module stand at the second member end.

8. The module mounting chassis of claim 6 , wherein the grounding plate comprises a contact portion including a spring contact being deflectable upon contact with the PV module.

9. The module mounting chassis of claim 6 , wherein the module stand further includes a pair of alignment protrusions extending upward from the support surface.

10. The module mounting chassis of claim 9 , wherein
the pair of alignment protrusions define a rail notch between the pair of alignment protrusions and the support surface, and
the rail notch is longitudinally aligned with the locking toe slot.

11. The module mounting chassis of claim 6 , wherein
the module stand further comprises a locking plate having a locking surface coupled to the upright, and
the locking toe slot extends through the locking surface of the locking plate.

12. The module mounting chassis of claim 11 , wherein the locking plate attached to the upright at a hinge point and the locking surface is resiliently deflectable away from the upright about the hinge point.

13. The module mounting chassis of claim 11 , wherein the locking plate includes a striking surface extending from an upper edge of the locking surface at an oblique angle to the support surface.

Assignees

• Totalenergies Onetech

Inventors

• Wares Brian S
• Ripoll Agullo Vicent
• Grushkowitz Tyler

Classifications

• F24S25/20

  Peripheral frames for modules · CPC title

• F24S25/61

  for fixing to the ground or to building structures · CPC title

• F24S2025/6007

  by using form-fitting connection means, e.g. tongue and groove · CPC title

• F24S25/60

  Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules · CPC title

• Y02B10/10

  Photovoltaic [PV] · CPC title