Apparatus for securing a solar panel rail guide to a support bracket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9819303-B2
Application number	US-201615252676-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2016
Priority date	Aug 31, 2015
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

In various representative aspects, an assembly for securing a support bracket to rail guide used for mounting and installing solar panels is provided. More specifically, the assembly provides a novel and improved nut with a serrated surface in combination with a t-bolt with a serrated surface that is capable of penetrating the respective oxidation surface layers of the bracket and the rail guide when installed. When installed, provides a mechanism for using the bracket to connect the rail guide to a flashing that is typically installed on a roof. By employing the apparatus at various locations along the roof in a linear fashion, the rail support structure can be properly installed so that an array of solar panel modules to be installed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for facilitating the completion of an electrical circuit between a first and second object comprising:
a. a solar panel rail guide comprising:
i. a slot comprising:
an opening along its length and;
a surface treatment layer;

b. a support bracket comprising:
i. an aperture and;
ii. a surface treatment layer;

c. a bolt comprising;
i. an enlarged end comprising at least one raised portion on a top surface of the enlarged end for penetrating the surface treatment layer of the slot of the solar panel rail guide;
ii. a shank having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is coupled to the top surface of the enlarged end so that the shank is perpendicular to the enlarged end;

d. a nut comprising at least one serration on a bottom side of the nut for penetrating the surface treatment layer of the support bracket and the nut being coupled to the second end of the shank through an opening on the bottom side;
e. the enlarged end being insertable in a first orientation through the opening along the length of the solar panel rail guide and rotatable to a second orientation such that the enlarged end engages the solar panel rail guide.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the shank is threaded.

3. The assembly of claim 2 where in the opening on the bottom side of the nut is threaded and adapted to engage the threaded shank by rotating the nut around the threaded shank.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the nut further comprises a gripping structure on a top side of the nut.

5. A method of installing a solar panel rail guide to a support structure comprising the steps of:
a. Inserting an enlarged end of a bolt into an opening of a slot along a length of a solar panel rail guide wherein the bolt further comprises a shank extending from the enlarged end;
b. coupling a nut to an end opposite the enlarged end of the bolt;
c. inserting a support bracket between the nut and the slot of the solar panel rail guide so that the shank fits through an opening of the support bracket;
d. rotating the nut so that the enlarged end rotates to a position substantially perpendicular to the opening of the slot and engages the slot;
e. continuing to rotate the nut until at least one serration on a bottom surface of the nut penetrates a surface oxidation layer of the support bracket and at least one raised portion on a top surface of the enlarged end penetrates a surface oxidation layer of the slot and creates an electrical grounding path between the solar panel rail guide and the support bracket.

Assignees

• Ironridge Inc

Inventors

• Ash Jon

Classifications

• H02S20/23 Primary

  specially adapted for roof structures · CPC title

• Y02B10/12

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title

• F24S25/61

  for fixing to the ground or to building structures · CPC title

• Y02E10/47

  Mountings or tracking · CPC title