Apparatus for mounting a photovoltaic module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9249925-B2
Application number	US-201313934493-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2013
Priority date	Jul 3, 2013
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting a photovoltaic module is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first support member, a second support member, a ballast support structure, and brackets. The brackets each include a first leg and a second leg, where the first leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the first leg and the second leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the second leg.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for mounting a photovoltaic module, comprising:
a first support member;
a second support member;
a ballast support structure, wherein the ballast support structure is disposed between the first support member and the second support member;
a first bracket, wherein the first bracket includes a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the first leg, wherein the second leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the second leg, and wherein a first distal end of the first support member is disposable in the hook-shaped portion of the first leg of the first bracket;
a second bracket, wherein the second bracket includes a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the first leg, wherein the second leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the second leg, and wherein a second distal end of the first support member is disposable in the hook-shaped portion of the first leg of the second bracket;
a third bracket, wherein the third bracket includes a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the first leg, wherein the second leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the second leg, and wherein a first distal end of the second support member is disposable in the hook-shaped portion of the first leg of the third bracket; and
a fourth bracket, wherein the fourth bracket includes a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the first leg, wherein the second leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the second leg, and wherein a second distal end of the second support member is disposable in the hook-shaped portion of the first leg of the fourth bracket;
wherein the hook-shaped portions of the respective legs are generally U-shaped.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 :
wherein the second leg of the first bracket is disposed at an angle of less than 90° from the first leg of the first bracket;
and wherein the second leg of the third bracket is disposed at an angle of less than 90° from the first leg of the third bracket.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the ballast support structure is a plate that extends between the first and second support members.

4. An apparatus for mounting a photovoltaic module, comprising:
a first support member;
a second support member;
a ballast support structure, wherein the ballast support structure is disposed between the first support member and the second support member;
a first bracket, wherein the first bracket includes a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the first leg, wherein the second leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the second leg, and wherein a first distal end of the first support member is disposable in the hook-shaped portion of the first leg of the first bracket;
a second bracket, wherein the second bracket includes a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the first leg, wherein the second leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the second leg, and wherein a second distal end of the first support member is disposable in the hook-shaped portion of the first leg of the second bracket;
a third bracket, wherein the third bracket includes a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the first leg, wherein the second leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the second leg, and wherein a first distal end of the second support member is disposable in the hook-shaped portion of the first leg of the third bracket; and
a fourth bracket, wherein the fourth bracket includes a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the first leg, wherein the second leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the second leg, and wherein a second distal end of the second support member is disposable in the hook-shaped portion of the first leg of the fourth bracket;
wherein the first legs of the respective brackets each define a hole.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a first engagement member disposable though the hole of the first leg of the first bracket and a hole defined at a first distal portion of the first support member;
a second engagement member disposable though the hole of the first leg of the second bracket and a hole defined at a second distal portion of the first support member;
a third engagement member disposable though the hole of the first leg of the third bracket and a hole defined at a first distal portion of the second support member; and
a fourth engagement member disposable though the hole of the first leg of the fourth bracket and a hole defined at a second distal portion of the second support member.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the respective engagement members are bolts.

7. An apparatus for mounting a photovoltaic module, comprising:
a first support member;
a second support member;
a ballast support structure, wherein the ballast support structure is disposed between the first support member and the second support member;
a first bracket, wherein the first bracket includes a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the first leg, wherein the second leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the second leg, and wherein a first distal end of the first support member is disposable in the hook-shaped portion of the first leg of the first bracket;
a second bracket, wherein the second bracket includes a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the first leg, wherein the second leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the second leg, and wherein a second distal end of the first support member is disposable in the hook-shaped portion of the first leg of the second bracket;
a third bracket, wherein the third bracket includes a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the first leg, wherein the second leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the second leg, and wherein a first distal end of the second support member is disposable in the hook-shaped portion of the first leg of the third bracket; and
a fourth bracket, wherein the fourth bracket includes a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the first leg, wherein the second leg includes a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the second leg, and wherein a second distal end of the second support member is disposable in the hook-shaped portion of the first leg of the fourth bracket;
wherein the first bracket includes a third leg, wherein the third leg extends in an opposite direction from the first leg, and wherein the third leg does not have a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the third leg;
wherein the second bracket includes a third leg, wherein the third leg extends in an opposite direction from the first leg, and wherein the third leg does not have a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the third leg;
wherein the third bracket includes a third leg, wherein the third leg extends in an opposite direction from the first leg, and wherein the third leg does not have a hook-shaped portion at a distal end of the third leg;
and wherein the fourth bracket includes a third leg, wherein the third leg extends in an opposite direction from the firs

Assignees

• Unirac Inc

Inventors

• Roensch Jonathan
• Hill Brian R
• Schuit Nathan
• Twitchell Erin

Classifications

• H10F19/00

  Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one photovoltaic cell covered by group H10F10/00, e.g. photovoltaic modules · CPC title

• F24J2/5239

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F24J2/5256

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F24J2/5233

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F24J2/5254

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic