Anchor for solar module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9498854-B2
Application number	US-201213532708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2012
Priority date	Jun 25, 2012
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

An anchor for mounting one or more solar modules to a roof is disclosed. The anchor can comprise a clamp body comprising a central surface and a first arm extending from the central surface. The first arm can have a first clamping face. The clamp body can be sized and shaped to receive one or more webs extending from one or more solar modules, each web having a hem at a distal end. The first arm can comprise a first recess sized and shaped to receive a first hem of a first web of the one or more webs. A clamp member can be configured to clamp the first web against the first clamping face.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An anchor for mounting one or more solar modules to a roof, the anchor comprising:
a clamp body comprising a horizontal central surfaces a first arm extending upwardly from the horizontal central surface and a second arm extending upwardly from the horizontal central surface,
the first arm having a first clamping face on a first inner-facing side of the first arm, the clamp body sized and shaped to receive one or more webs extending downwardly from a side of one or more solar modules, each web having a hem at a distal end, the first arm comprising a first recess sized and shaped to receive a first hem of a first downwardly-extending web of a first solar module, wherein the first recess is defined by the horizontal central surface, a vertical surface extending from and transverse to the horizontal central surface, and a second horizontal surface extending from and transverse to the vertical surface, wherein the horizontal central surface and the second horizontal surface extend from the vertical surface in the same direction relative to the vertical surface, the first recess formed in the first inner-facing side of the first arm,
the second arm having a second clamping face on a second inner-facing side of the second arm, the first inner-facing side and the second inner-facing side facing towards one another, the second arm comprising a second recess sized and shaped to receive a second hem of a second downwardly-extending web of a second solar module, wherein the second recess is defined by the horizontal central surface, a second vertical surface extending from and transverse to the horizontal central surface, and a third horizontal surface extending from and transverse to the second vertical surface, wherein the horizontal central surface and the third horizontal surface extend from the second vertical surface in the same direction relative to the second vertical surface, the second recess formed in the second inner-facing side of the second arm such that the first recess and the second recess face one another;
a clamp member coupled to the clamp body and disposed between the first inner-facing side of the first arm and the second inner-facing side of the second arm, the clamp member configured to clamp the first web against the first clamping face in a space between the clamp member and the first upwardly-extending arm such that, when the first downwardly-extending web is clamped in the space, the first hem is captured in the first recess, the clamp member further configured to clamp the second web against the second clamping face in a space between the clamp member and the second upwardly-extending arm such that, when the second downwardly-extending web is clamped in the space, the second hem is captured in the second recess; and
the clamp member comprising:
a contact member disposed between the first arm and the second arm; and
a fastener that couples the contact member to the central surface of the clamp body, wherein rotation of the fastener causes the contact member to translate toward or away from the central surface of the clamp body.

2. The anchor of claim 1 , wherein the anchor is configured such that the clamp member does not contact a top surface of a frame of the first solar module when the first solar module is clamped between the clamp member and the first arm.

3. The anchor of claim 2 , the anchor further comprising:
a base member comprising a first wall and a second wall joined at an angle to the first wall, wherein the first wall includes an elongated slot, and wherein the second wall is configured to mount to a roof,
wherein the clamp member comprises a bolt extending through the clamp body and the elongated slot, the bolt configured to press the first web against the first clamping face.

4. The anchor of claim 3 , further comprising a nut, wherein the bolt extends through the nut, and wherein rotation of the nut and translation of the nut along the slot raises or lowers at least the clamp body.

5. The anchor of claim 1 , wherein the anchor is configured such that an uppermost extent of the clamp member and the clamp body is disposed below a top surface of a frame of the first solar module when the first solar module is clamped between the clamp member and the first arm.

6. The anchor of claim 1 , the anchor further comprising:
a base member comprising a first wall and a second wall joined at an angle to the first wall, wherein the first wall includes a slot shaped and sized to receive a bolt extending through the clamp body, and wherein the second wall is configured to mount to a roof.

7. The anchor of claim 6 , wherein rotation of the bolt and translation of the bolt along the slot raises or lowers at least the clamp body.

8. The anchor of claim 1 , wherein the second horizontal surface extends between the clamping face and the vertical surface.

9. The anchor of claim 1 , wherein the second horizontal surface is parallel to and spaced apart from the horizontal central surface.

10. An array of one or more photovoltaic modules, the array comprising:
an anchor comprising:
a clamp body comprising a horizontal central surfaces a first arm extending upwardly from the horizontal central surface and a second arm extending upwardly from the horizontal central surface,
the first arm having a first clamping face on a first inner-facing side of the first arm, the clamp body sized and shaped to receive one or more webs extending downwardly from a side of one or more photovoltaic modules, each web having a hem at a distal end, the first arm comprising a first recess sized and shaped to receive a first hem of a first downwardly-extending web of a first photovoltiac module, wherein the first recess is defined by the horizontal central surface, a vertical surface extending from and transverse to the horizontal central surface, and a second horizontal surface extending from and transverse to the vertical surface, wherein the horizontal central surface and the second horizontal surface extend from the vertical surface in the same direction relative to the vertical surface, the first recess formed in the first inner-facing side of the first arm,
the second arm having a second clamping face on a second inner-facing side of the second arm, the first inner-facing side and the second inner-facing side facing towards one another, the second arm comprising a second recess sized and shaped to receive a second hem of a second downwardly-extending web of a second photovoltaic module, wherein the second recess is defined by the horizontal central surface, a second vertical surface extending from and transverse to the horizontal central surface, and a third horizontal surface extending from and transverse to the second vertical surface, wherein the horizontal central surface and the third horizontal surface extend from the second vertical surface in the same direction relative to the second vertical surface, the second recess formed in the second inner-facing side of the second arm such that the first recess and the second recess face one another;
a clamp member coupled to the clamp body and disposed between the first inner-facing side of the first arm and the second inner-facing side of the second arm, the clamp member configured to clamp the first web against the first clamping face in a space between the clamp member and the first upwardly-extending arm such that, when the first downwardly-extending web is clamped in the space, the first hem is captured in the first recess, the clamp member further configured to clamp the second web against the second clamping face in a space between the clamp member and the second upwardly-extending arm such that, when the second downwardly-extending web is clamped in

Assignees

• Danning Matthew
• Sunpower Corp

Inventors

• Danning Matthew

Classifications

• Y02B10/20

  Solar thermal · CPC title

• Y02E10/47

  Mountings or tracking · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• F24J2/5254

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• H02S20/23 Primary

  specially adapted for roof structures · CPC title