Support assembly for photovoltaic modules and mounting system using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12562673-B2
Application number	US-202318214228-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2023
Priority date	Mar 1, 2011
Publication date	Feb 24, 2026
Grant date	Feb 24, 2026

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 photovoltaic modules, the support assembly comprising:
a base portion; a first support surface disposed above the base portion by a first distance; a second support surface disposed above the base portion by a second distance that is greater than the first distance; a first sidewall disposed above the base portion by a third distance that is greater than the first distance and less than the second distance, the first sidewall extending between the first support surface and the second support surface; a second sidewall disposed above the base portion by the third distance, the first sidewall extending between the first support surface and the second support surface; a cavity defined at least in part by the base portion, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall, the cavity to receive a ballast; a first clamp coupled to the first support surface, the first clamp to support a first photovoltaic module; and a second clamp coupled to the second support surface, the second clamp to support a second photovoltaic module.

2 . The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first clamp includes:
a first portion to engage a bottom of the first photovoltaic module, and
a second portion slidably engaged with the first portion of the first clamp, the second portion of the first clamp to engage a top of the first photovoltaic module; and
the second clamp includes:
a first portion to engage a bottom of the second photovoltaic module, and
a second portion slidably engaged with the first portion of the second clamp, the second portion of the second clamp to engage a top of the second photovoltaic module.

3 . The support assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a deflector coupled to at least one of the second support surface, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, or the second clamp.

4 . The support assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first abutment disposed on the first support surface, wherein an edge of the first photovoltaic module abuts the first abutment; and a second abutment disposed on the second support surface, wherein an edge of the second photovoltaic module abuts the second abutment.

5 . The support assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more holes disposed through the base portion.

6 . A support assembly comprising:
a base including:
a bottom,
a first end, and
a second end spaced apart from the first end;
a first clamp disposed a first distance above the bottom, the first clamp to receive a first photovoltaic module, the first clamp including:
a first portion to engage a first side of a frame of the first photovoltaic module, and
a second portion to engage a second side of the frame of the first photovoltaic module, the second portion of the first clamp slidably engaged with the first portion of the first clamp;
a second clamp disposed a second distance above the bottom, the second clamp to receive a second photovoltaic module that is spaced apart from the first photovoltaic module in a direction that extends between the first end and the second end, the second distance being greater than the first distance, the second clamp including:
a first portion to engage a first side of a frame of the second photovoltaic module, and
a second portion to engage a second side of the frame of the second photovoltaic module, the second portion of the second clamp slidably engaged with the first portion of the second clamp; and
a ballast tray disposed between the first end and the second end, the ballast tray to receive a ballast.

7 . The support assembly of claim 6 , wherein:
one or more support surfaces extend from the bottom, between the first end and the second end; and the one or more support surfaces extend from opposing side walls that at least partially define a dimension of the ballast tray.

8 . The support assembly of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first clamp or the second clamp is disposed on the one or more support surfaces.

9 . The support assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a deflector.

10 . The support assembly of claim 6 , wherein:
the first clamp is disposed on a first support surface of the base; the second clamp is disposed on a second support surface of the base; and the first support surface and the second support surface are disposed at a non-parallel angle with the bottom.

11 . The support assembly of claim 6 , wherein the ballast tray includes one or more weep holes.

12 . A system comprising:
a base to receive one or more ballasts; a first surface that is spaced apart from the base by a first distance; a second surface that is spaced apart from the base by a second distance that is greater than the first distance; a first sidewall disposed above the base, the first sidewall being continuous between the first surface and the second surface; a second sidewall disposed above the base, the first sidewall being continuous between the first surface and the second surface; a first clamp assembly disposed on the first surface, the first clamp assembly to support a first photovoltaic module; and a second clamp assembly disposed on the second surface, the second clamp assembly to support a second photovoltaic module spaced apart from the first photovoltaic module, the second clamp assembly including:
a first portion to engage a frame of the second photovoltaic module,
a second portion to engage the frame of the second photovoltaic module, and
a fastener to couple the first portion and the second portion together.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the base includes a first end and a second end; the first clamp assembly is disposed more proximate to the first end than the second end; the second clamp assembly is disposed more proximate to the second end than the first end; and the one or more ballasts are disposed between the first end and the second end.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the base is disposed on a surface; and the first surface and the second surface are disposed at a non-parallel angle relative to the surface.

15 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a deflector coupled to the system.

16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first portion is slidably engaged with the second portion.

17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the first photovoltaic module includes a top; the second photovoltaic module includes a top; and the top of the first photovoltaic module and the top of the second photovoltaic module are non-planar.

18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the first photovoltaic module extends in a first direction away from the system; and the second photovoltaic module extends in a second direction away from the system, the second direction being opposite the first direction.

19 . The support assembly of claim 6 , wherein:
the first clamp receives an end of the first photovoltaic module; and the second clamp receives an end of the second photovoltaic module.

20 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first clamp assembly includes:
a first portion to engage a frame of the first photovoltaic module, a second portion to engage the frame of the first photovoltaic module, and a fastener to couple the first portion of the first clamp assembly and the second portion of the first clamp assembly together.

Assignees

• Unirac Inc

Inventors

• Dick Andrew Brian
• Wildes Brian James
• Gopal Ridhvik

Classifications

• H10F77/935

  for photovoltaic devices or modules · CPC title

• Y02B10/10

  Photovoltaic [PV] · CPC title

• F16B5/0614

  in angled relationship · CPC title

• F24S2025/02

  Ballasting means · CPC title

• Y02B10/20

  Solar thermal · CPC title