Rail-less solar panel assembly and installation method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9647433-B2
Application number	US-201615140399-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2016
Priority date	Nov 19, 2014
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

In various representative aspects, an assembly for securing array skirts and solar panel modules in an array on a roof by providing a leveling system that utilizes a barrel bolt and barrel nut to vertically adjust the assembly. Improved electrical bonding by utilizing bonding pins installed in mounting plates of a support clamp are also provided. Additionally, an improved array skirt design that is installed on the outer row of the array, as well as improved designs in the support clamp and splice mechanisms are also provided. Finally, an improved wire management system is included as well as a method of installation of the array assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable solar panel mounting assembly comprising:
a. a first clamp further comprising an upper and lower portion wherein the lower portion further comprises a cavity;
b. a first mounting plate extending outward from the lower portion of the first clamp to an end;
c. a first flange extending outward from the upper portion of the first clamp;
d. a stationary leveling bolt;
e. a barrel nut that extends through the length of the cavity and is rotatably coupled within the cavity, the barrel nut further comprising a top end, a bottom end, and a central aperture wherein:
i. the barrel nut is rotably coupled to the stationary leveling bolt through the central aperture;
ii. the bottom end further comprises a rim that extends outward beneath the bottom portion of the first clamp; and
iii. the top end further comprises a drive head such that when the drive head is rotated, the height of the first clamp is adjusted up or down depending on the direction of the rotation of the drive head.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the barrel nut is independently rotatable within the cavity.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first mounting plate further comprises a conduit for storing cables that extends beneath a portion of the first mounting plate.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first mounting plate further comprises a raised portion for electrically bonding a first solar panel module to a second solar panel.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the raised portion is a pin that is coupled to the first mounting plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the raised portion is a clip that is coupled to the first mounting plate.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the drive head further comprises an allen drive.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the end of the first mounting plate further comprises a release lever.

9. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a. a second clamp further comprising an upper and lower portion such that the lower portion of the second clamp is coupled to the lower portion of the first clamp;
b. a second mounting plate extending outward from the lower portion of the second clamp to an end;
c. a second flange extending outward from the upper portion of the second clamp.

10. A splice for coupling solar panel modules comprising:
a. a first clamp further comprising an upper and lower portion;
b. a first mounting plate extending outward from the lower portion of the first clamp to an end, the first mounting plate comprising a pair of raised portions for electrically bonding a first solar panel module to a second solar panel module;
c. a first flange extending outward from the upper portion of the first clamp;
d. a first spacer wherein the first spacer is coupled to a middle portion of the first mounting plate for providing parallel separation between a first pair of adjacent solar panel modules; and
e. a cable storage conduit that extends beneath a portion of the first mounting plate.

11. The splice of claim 10 wherein the raised portions are pins that are coupled to the first mounting plate.

12. The splice of claim 10 wherein the raised portion is a clip that is coupled to the first mounting plate.

13. The splice of claim 10 wherein the end of the first mounting plate further comprises a release lever.

14. The splice of claim 10 further comprising:
a. a second clamp further comprising an upper and lower portion such that the lower portion of the second clamp is coupled to the lower portion of the first clamp;
b. a second mounting plate extending outward from the lower portion of the second clamp to an end; and
c. a second flange extending outward from the upper portion of the second clamp.

15. The splice of claim 14 further comprising a second spacer wherein the second spacer is coupled to a middle portion of the second mounting plate for providing separation between a second pair of adjacent solar panel modules.

Assignees

• Ironridge Inc

Inventors

• Meine Shawn
• Ash Jon
• Taggart Dave
• Kim Willie
• Reitz Clayton Robert
• Pereira William Anthony

Classifications

• F24J2/52

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• H02G3/263 Primary

  Installation, e.g. suspension, of conduit channels or other supports · CPC title

• H01R4/38

  utilising a clamping member acted on by screw or nut (H01R4/50 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R4/26

  Connections in which at least one of the connecting parts has projections which bite into or engage the other connecting part in order to improve the contact ({H01R4/188, H01R4/203, H01R4/5075 take precedence}; using shape memory materials H01R4/01) · CPC title

• H02S40/36

  characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection · CPC title