System for mounting and supporting photovoltaic modules

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9660567-B2
Application number	US-201214357681-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2012
Priority date	Nov 29, 2011
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

A system for mounting and supporting photovoltaic (PV) modules includes a frame rail that is formed with a longitudinally extending channel for retaining a plurality of mounting clips, and mounting clamps for anchoring the frame rail to a support base or support structure. Each mounting clamp includes a pair of jaws for engaging along a base portion of the fame rail. The mounting clips are arranged along the length of the frame rail, and are used to support the PV modules adjacent to the frame rails. Module clamps are used to hold the PV modules in place, the module clamps being secured to the mounting clips using elongated fasteners having an engaging end for engaging the mounting clip. The mounting clamps allow the frame rail position to be adjusted in two directions, and the mounting clips facilitate rapid mounting of the PV modules to the frame rail structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp system for securing a frame rail of a photovoltaic (PV) module support structure, comprising:
a mounting element having a frame rail support portion and having a slot defined within a surface of the frame rail support portion;
an elongated member having a generally cylindrical body extending along a longitudinal axis between first and second opposite ends thereof, the elongated member having a head at the first end and having a threaded portion at the second end; and
first and second retaining members each having a frame rail engaging end and a fastening end, each fastening end including a first portion defining a first opening and a second portion defining a second opening, the second opening being elongated relative to the first opening;
wherein, in an assembled condition, the first portions of the fastening ends are parallel to one another, and the second portions of the fastening ends are inclined toward one another;
wherein, in the assembled condition, the first and second retaining members extend through the slot of the mounting element such that the respective frame rail engaging ends are disposed on one side of the frame rail support portion and the respective fastening ends are disposed on the other side of the frame rail support portion, the frame rail engaging ends being spaced-apart and facing one another for receiving therebetween a base portion of a frame rail, the elongated member extending through the first and second openings defined within the fastening end of each of the first and second retaining members, the head of the elongated member engaging the first retaining member and the threaded portion of the elongated member threadedly engaging the second retaining member, such that a rotational movement of the elongated member about the longitudinal axis thereof is converted into a linear movement of the second retaining member relative to the first retaining member.

2. The clamp system according to claim 1 wherein the second retaining member comprises an integrated threaded nut for receiving the threaded portion of the elongated member.

3. The clamp system according to claim 1 wherein the frame rail engaging ends of the first and second retaining members are angled one toward the other when in the assembled condition.

4. The clamp system according to claim 1 wherein the mounting element comprises a roof-engaging end for securing the mounting element to the roof of a structure.

5. The clamp system according to claim 1 wherein the mounting element is part of a ground-based support structure.

6. The clamp system according to claim 1 wherein a length of the elongated member supports forming a space between the first and second retaining members that exceeds a width as measured at a base surface of the frame rail.

7. The clamp system according to claim 1 wherein the fastening end of each of the first and second retaining members is generally V-shaped.

8. The clamp system according to claim 1 comprising a slot-engaging portion joining the frame rail engaging end and the fastening end of each of the first and second retaining members, the slot-engaging portion narrower than either the frame rail engaging end or the fastening end, the slot-engaging portion received within the slot when the clamp system is in an assembled condition.

9. A method of securing a frame rail of a photovoltaic (PV) module support structure, comprising:
providing a mounting element having a frame rail support portion and having a slot defined within a surface of the frame rail support portion;
arranging first and second retaining members within the slot of the mounting element such that a frame rail engaging end of each one of the first and second retaining members is disposed on one side of the frame rail support portion and a fastening end of each one of the first and second retaining members is disposed on the other side of the frame rail support portion, each fastening end including a first portion defining a first opening and a second portion defining a second opening, the second opening being elongated relative to the first opening, and wherein, in an assembled condition, the first portions of the fastening ends are parallel to one another, and the second portions of the fastening ends are inclined toward one another;
inserting an elongated member through the first and second openings defined within the fastening end of each of the first and second retaining members, such that a head of the elongated member engages the fastening and of first retaining member and a threaded portion of the elongated member threadedly engages a threaded surface of the fastening end of the second retaining member;
positioning a base surface of a frame rail adjacent to the frame rail support portion of the mounting element and between the frame rail engaging ends of the first and second retaining members; and
rotating the elongated member about a longitudinal axis thereof such that the threaded portion of the elongated member advances along the threaded surface of the fastening end of the second retaining member, thereby relatively moving the first retaining member in a direction toward the second retaining member so as to clamp the base surface of the frame rail between the respective frame rail engaging ends.

10. The method according to claim 9 comprising securing a roof-engaging end of the mounting element to a roof of a structure.

11. The method according to claim 9 comprising securing a PV module adjacent to a face of the frame rail that is opposite the base surface.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the frame rail engaging end of each one of the first and second retaining members engages an angled side-wall of the base portion of the frame rail.

13. A system for supporting a photovoltaic (PV) module, comprising:
a frame rail having a face that is formed so as to define a longitudinally extending channel, and the frame rail having a base surface that is opposite the face, a width of the base surface being greater than a width of the face;
a mounting element having a frame rail support portion and having a slot defined within a surface of the frame rail support portion;
an elongated member having a generally cylindrical body extending along a longitudinal axis between first and second opposite ends thereof, the elongated member having a head at the first end and having a threaded portion at the second end; and
first and second retaining members each having a frame rail engaging end and a fastening end, each fastening end including a first portion defining a first opening and a second portion defining a second opening, the second opening being elongated relative to the first opening;
wherein, in an assembled condition, the first portions of the fastening ends are parallel to one another, and the second portions of the fastening ends are inclined toward one another;
wherein, in the assembled condition, the first and second retaining members extend through the slot of the mounting element such that the respective frame rail engaging ends are disposed on one side of the frame rail support portion and the respective fastening ends are disposed on the other side of the frame rail support portion, the frame rail engaging ends being spaced-apart and facing one another for receiving therebetween the base of the frame rail, the elongated member extending through the first and second openings defined within the fastening end of each of the first and second retaining members, the head of the elongated member engaging the first retaining member and the threaded portion of the elongated member threadedly engaging the second retaining member, such

Assignees

• Goehringer Rainer
• Polewczyk Maciej
• Pietrzak Arnd
• Sendra-Gonzalez Laura
• Magna Int Inc

Inventors

• Goehringer Rainer
• Polewczyk Maciej
• Pietrzak Arnd
• Sendra-Gonzalez Laura

Classifications

• Y02E10/47

  Mountings or tracking · CPC title

• F24J2/5203

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F16M11/00

  Stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles placed thereon {; Stands for scientific apparatus such as gravitational force meters} (without heads F16M13/00; easels or stands for blackboards or the like A47B97/04; show-stands A47F7/00; for workmen E04G1/32; {sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22;} supporting or suspending for lighting devices F21V21/00) · CPC title

• F16M13/02

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title

• Y02B10/12

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic