Connector assemblies for connecting panels, panels with connector assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9312411-B2
Application number	US-201313871391-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2013
Priority date	Apr 26, 2012
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

In one embodiment, a connector assembly comprises: a connector; and a pair of side collectors, each comprising a connector engagement region having a size and geometry to mate with the connector so as to hold ends of two adjacent panels together; and a panel engagement region comprising a receiving area and having a size to attach onto an edge of the panel; and a clip, wherein the clip has a base that can be attached to a support, an engagement, and a stem extending therebetween, wherein the engagement has an extension projecting from a side of the engagement, wherein the panel engagement region further comprises an opening in a joint wall on a side of the panel engagement region opposite the receiving area, wherein the opening is configured to receive the extension of the engagement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector assembly, comprising:
a connector; and
a pair of side collectors, each comprising
a connector engagement region having a size and geometry to mate with the connector so as to hold ends of two adjacent panels together; and
a panel engagement region comprising a receiving area and having a size to attach onto an edge of the panel; and

a clip wherein the clip has a base that can be attached to a support, an engagement, and a stem extending therebetween, wherein the engagement has an extension projecting toward the base from a side of the engagement, wherein the panel engagement region further comprises an opening in a joint wall on a side of the panel engagement region opposite the receiving area, wherein the opening is configured to receive the engagement.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the side collector comprises a complimentary geometry to the engagement and the extension thereof, wherein the opening and the extension engage with one another.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the extension penetrates into the opening of the panel engagement region.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises elements that, when assembled with the connector, collector, and panels, the panels will be level.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a section formed by a side, area, and a leg, and wherein the side and leg have a length ( 1 ) that is greater than a height of a fastener head, wherein the area extends from the side to another side.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the extension comprises a lip.

7. A panel assembly, comprising:
a connector assembly, comprising
a connector;
a pair of side collectors, each comprising
a connector engagement region; and
a panel engagement region comprising a receiving area; and

a clip, wherein the clip has a base that can be attached to a support, an engagement, and a stem extending therebetween, wherein the engagement has an extension protruding from a side of the engagement toward the base, wherein the panel engagement region further comprises an opening in a joint wall on a side of the panel engagement region opposite the receiving area, wherein the opening is configured to receive the engagement;

a panel located in each panel engagement region; and
wherein the connector is mated with the connector engagement region of the side collectors so as to hold ends of the panels together.

8. The panel assembly of claim 7 , wherein adjacent panels are connected by a mating geometry selected from the group consisting of tongue and groove, standing seam, and snap fit.

9. The panel assembly of claim 7 , wherein adjacent panels are connected by a lap joint.

10. The panel assembly of claim 7 , wherein the panel has a front surface, and further comprising:
a solar cell array located on the front surface;
an encapsulant around the solar cell array; and
a cover sheet on a side of the solar cell array opposite the panel, wherein the encapsulant is between the solar cell array and the cover sheet.

11. The panel assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a backing sheet between and the encapsulant and the panel.

12. A method of making a panel assembly, comprising:
attaching a first panel to a second panel with a connector assembly, wherein the connector assembly comprises:
a connector; and
a pair of side collectors, each comprising
a connector engagement region having a size and geometry to mate with the connector so as to hold ends of two adjacent panels together; and
a panel engagement region comprising a receiving area and having a size to attach onto an edge of the first panel or the second panel; and
a clip, wherein the clip has a base that can be attached to a support, an engagement, and a stem extending therebetween, wherein the engagement has an extension projecting toward the base from a side of the engagement, wherein the panel engagement region further comprises an opening in a joint wall on a side of the panel engagement region opposite the receiving area, wherein the opening is configured to receive the engagement.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
locating a solar cell array located on a front surface of the first panel;
locating an encapsulant around the solar cell array; and
adhering a cover sheet to the front surface, over the solar cell array.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising, forming a photovoltaic module comprising:
a cover sheet;
a back sheet;
a solar cell array located between the cover sheet and the back sheet;
an encapsulant around the solar cell array and between the front sheet and the back sheet; and
attaching the photovoltaic module to at least one of the first panel and the second panel.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising, attaching the photovoltaic module to a front surface of the first panel.

16. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clip, the connector, the pair of side collector, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, comprises a polymeric material.

17. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clip comprises a polymeric material.

18. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the engagement comprises a cross-member which extends from a side of the stem.

19. The connector assembly of claim 1 , where the engagement extends from a side of the stem at an angle of 85° to 95°.

20. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stem has a length that is less than the thickness of the panel.

21. The method of claim 12 , further comprising penetrating into a side of the opening with the extension.

22. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the extension penetrates into the pair of side collectors and creates a gripping effect to assist the connector assembly from disassembling when under load.

23. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the extension has two walls extending from the engagement toward the base.

Assignees

• Sabic Global Technologies Bv

Inventors

• Laurin Michael Matthew
• Niemeyer Matthew Frank
• Davis Scott Michael
• Wood Charlie Woodrow
• Olszynski Przemyslaw

Classifications

• H10F19/00 Primary

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

• Y02E10/47

  Mountings or tracking · CPC title

• F16B5/0635 Primary

  fastened over the edges of the sheets or plates · CPC title

• Y10T403/50

  Bridged by diverse connector · CPC title

• E04B1/61

  of slab-shaped building elements with each other · CPC title