Frameless solar module mounting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9543888-B2
Application number	US-201514735085-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2015
Priority date	Jun 9, 2015
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

In an example, a clamp assembly for a glass on glass solar module for a tracker is included. The assembly has a lower clamp structure characterized by a top-hat shaped rail structure having a length extending from a first end to a second end. In an example, the assembly has an upper clamp structure configured to sandwich a pair of edges of a pair of solar modules with a portion of the lower clamp structure. In an example, the assembly has a locking spacer configured to the pair of edges of the pair of solar modules. In an example, the pair of edges comprises substantially glass material. In an example, the assembly has a pair of key structures configured with the locking spacer. Each of the key structures is affixed to each of the solar modules to physically lock each of the solar modules to the upper clamp structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A solar tracker system comprising:
a pair of pillars:
a torque tube configured between the pair of pillars;
at least one glass-on-glass solar module spatially disposed between the first end of the torque tube and the second end of the torque tube, the at least one glass-on-glass solar module being configured to pivot with the torque tube in a radial direction;
at least one locking spacer comprising a lower insulating region and an upper insulating region, and a spacer coupling the lower insulating region and the upper insulating region coupling the at least one of the glass-on-glass solar module to a portion of the torque tube;
a recess provided in the lower insulating region of the at least one locking spacer;
a polycarbonate puck configured on an edge region of the at least one glass-on-glass solar module, the polycarbonate puck being affixed to the edge region using a glue material, and configured to be sandwiched between the lower insulating region and the upper insulating region such that the polycarbonate puck is adapted to be a male member to be inserted into the recess, which acts as a female portion, of the lower insulating region to prevent the at least one glass-on-glass solar module from sliding in a planar direction that is parallel to a major surface region of the at least one glass-on-glass solar module: and
wherein the at least one locking spacer is characterized by the lower insulating region having a thickness of d 1 , the thickness of d 1 is configured to allow the lower insulating region to be in a compressive state to physically hold the polycarbonate puck in place within the recess, and being affixed to the edge region using the glue material, while preventing a stress to be caused in a portion of a glass material of the at least one glass-on-glass module, thereby preventing any damage
including a crack, to the portion of the glass material; whereupon d 1 is thicker than a height of the polycarbonate puck during a compressive state.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the lower insulating region, the upper insulating region, and the spacer of the at least one locking spacer being made from a monolithically integrated structure of material, the material being a polymeric or rubber material.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the glass-on-glass solar modules comprising a top glass and a bottom glass and a photovoltaic material being sandwiched in between.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the polycarbonate puck is mated to the edge region using the glue material, the glue material comprising an epoxy material.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one locking spacer further comprises a second lower region and a second upper region opposing the first lower region and the second lower region, the second lower region and the second upper region being configured to sandwich a second glass-on-glass solar modules.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one locking spacer is configured between a pair of metal structural members.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one locking spacer is configured with keyed feature configured to prevent the locking spacer from planar movement.

8. The system of claim IT wherein the at least one locking spacer is made of an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), a rubber, or a polymer material; wherein the polycarbonate puck is characterized by a UV resistance; wherein the polycarbonate puck is affixed to the at least one glass-on-glass module using an epoxy material.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the polycarbonate puck configured as puck having a circular cross-section.

10. A solar tracker system comprising:
a pair of pillars:
a torque tube configured between the pair of pillars;
at least one glass-on-glass solar module spatially disposed between the first end of the torque tube and the second end of the torque tube, the at least one glass-on-glass solar module being configured to pivot with the torque tube in a radial direction;
at least one locking spacer comprising a lower insulating region and an upper insulating region, and a spacer coupling the lower insulating region and the upper insulating region coupling the at least one of the glass-on-glass solar module to a portion of the torque tube;
a recess provided in the lower insulating region of the at least one locking spacer;
a polycarbonate puck configured on an edge region of the at least one glass-on-glass solar module, the polycarbonate puck being affixed to the edge region using a glue material, and configured to be sandwiched between the lower insulating region and the upper insulating region such that the polycarbonate puck is adapted to be a male member to be inserted into the recess, which acts as a female portion, of the lower insulating region to prevent the at least one glass-on-glass solar module from sliding in a planar direction that is parallel to a major surface region of the at least one glass-on-glass solar module: and
wherein the at least one locking spacer is characterized by the lower insulating region having a thickness of d 1 , the thickness of d 1 is configured to allow the lower insulating region to be in a compressive state to physically hold the polycarbonate puck in place within the recess, and being affixed to the edge region using the glue material, while preventing a stress to be caused in a portion of a glass material of the at least one glass-on-glass module, thereby preventing any damage including a crack, to the portion of the glass material; whereupon d 1 is thicker than a height of the polycarbonate puck during a compressive state;
wherein the lower insulating region, the upper insulating region, and the spacer being made from a monolithically integrated structure of material, the material being a polymeric or rubber material.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein each of the glass-on-glass solar modules comprising a top glass and a bottom glass and a photovoltaic material being sandwiched in between.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the polycarbonate puck is to the edge region using the glue material, the glue material comprising an epoxy material.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the at least one locking spacer further comprises a second lower region and a second upper region opposing the first lower region and the second lower region, the second lower region and the second upper region being configured to sandwich another one of the plurality of glass on glass solar modules.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one locking spacer is configured between a pair of metal structural members.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the at least one locking spacer is configured with keyed feature configured to prevent the locking spacer from planar movement.

Assignees

• Nextracker Inc

Inventors

• Au Alexander W

Classifications

• H02S30/10

  Frame structures · CPC title

• H02S20/30

  Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment · CPC title

• H02S20/32 Primary

  specially adapted for solar tracking · CPC title

• F24S25/636

  clamping by screw-threaded elements · CPC title

• F24S25/634

  Clamps; Clips · CPC title