Apparatuses to support photovoltaic modules

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9743501-B2
Application number	US-201414272794-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2014
Priority date	May 3, 2010
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses to support photovoltaic (“PV”) modules are described. A saddle bracket has a mounting surface to support one or more PV modules over a tube, a gusset coupled to the mounting surface, and a mounting feature coupled to the gusset to couple to the tube. A grounding washer has a first portion to couple to a support; and a second portion coupled to the first portion to provide a ground path to a PV module. A PV system has a saddle bracket; a PV module over the saddle bracket; and a grounding washer coupled to the saddle bracket and the PV module. Saddle brackets can be coupled to a torque tube at predetermined locations. PV modules can be coupled to the saddle brackets.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A grounding washer for grounding a photovoltaic (“PV”) module, comprising:
a first portion to couple to a first support when the grounding washer is in a spring tensioned state;
a second portion to couple to a PV module when the grounding washer is in the spring tensioned state, wherein the second portion includes a pierce point, and wherein a ground path from the first support to the PV module is through the pierce point;
a curved portion having an outer radius between the first portion and the second portion, the curved portion to couple the first portion to the second portion to provide the ground path from the first support to the PV module through the curved portion, wherein the first portion is along a first plane, wherein the second portion is along a second plane at an angle to the first plane, wherein the angle is a first angle less than 90° when the grounding washer is not in the spring tensioned state, and wherein the angle is a second angle greater than the first angle and substantially orthogonal when the grounding washer is in the spring tensioned state; and
a tension indicator coupled to the second portion to indicate a tension to a user.

2. The grounding washer as in claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a first hole to receive a bolt, pin, or rivet to couple to the first support.

3. The grounding washer as in claim 1 , wherein the second portion has a spring tension to provide the ground path to the PV module.

4. The grounding washer as in claim 1 , wherein the second portion has a second hole.

5. The grounding washer as in claim 1 , further comprising a spine connecting the first portion and the second portion.

6. The grounding washer as in claim 1 , wherein the first support includes a PV strut, and wherein the PV strut is coupled to a saddle bracket.

7. A grounding washer comprising:
a first sheet metal portion having a first opening, wherein the first opening is a first round hole to receive a bolt, pin, or rivet to couple to a first support; and
a second sheet metal portion coupled to the first sheet metal portion, the second sheet metal portion having a second opening to provide a ground path to a PV module when the second sheet metal portion is in a spring tensioned state, wherein the second sheet metal portion includes a pierce point, wherein the ground path to the PV module is through the pierce point, wherein the second sheet metal portion is at an angle relative to the first sheet metal portion, wherein the angle is a first angle less than 90° when the second sheet metal portion is not in the spring tensioned state, and wherein the angle is a second angle greater than the first angle and substantially orthogonal when the grounding washer is in the spring tensioned state.

8. The grounding washer as in claim 7 , wherein the second opening is a second round hole.

9. The grounding washer as in claim 7 , wherein the first support includes a PV strut, and wherein the PV strut is coupled to a saddle bracket.

10. The grounding washer as in claim 7 , further comprising a tension indicator coupled to the second sheet metal portion to indicate a tension to a user.

11. A grounding washer for grounding a photovoltaic (“PV”) module, comprising:
a first portion to couple to a first support;
a second portion to couple to a PV module, wherein the second portion includes a pierce point, and wherein a ground path from the first support to the PV module is through the pierce point;
a curved portion having an outer radius between the first portion and the second portion, the curved portion to couple the first portion to the second portion to provide the ground path from the first support to the PV module through the curved portion, wherein the first portion is at a first angle less than 90° to the second portion when the first portion and the second portion are not coupled to the first support and the PV module, and wherein the first portion is at a second angle greater than the first angle when the first portion is coupled to the first support and the second portion is coupled to the PV module; and
a tension indicator coupled to the second portion to indicate a tension to a user.

12. The grounding washer as in claim 11 , wherein the first portion has a first hole to receive a bolt, pin, or rivet to couple to the first support.

13. The grounding washer as in claim 11 , wherein the second portion has a spring tension to provide the ground path to the PV module.

14. The grounding washer as in claim 11 , wherein the second portion has a second hole.

15. The grounding washer as in claim 11 , further comprising a spine connecting the first portion and the second portion.

16. The grounding washer as in claim 11 , wherein the first support includes a PV strut, and wherein the PV strut is coupled to a saddle bracket.

Assignees

• Ciasulli John
• Jones Jason
• Sunpower Corp

Inventors

• Ciasulli John
• Jones Jason

Classifications

• Y10T29/49002

  Electrical device making · CPC title

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title

• H02S20/30

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

• F24S25/65

  for coupling adjacent supporting elements, e.g. for connecting profiles together · CPC title

• F24S25/617

  Elements driven into the ground, e.g. anchor-piles; Foundations for supporting elements; Connectors for connecting supporting structures to the ground or to flat horizontal surfaces · CPC title