Pivot-fit connection apparatus, system, and method for photovoltaic modules

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9853597-B2
Application number	US-201514618302-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2015
Priority date	Jul 2, 2009
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for quickly and easily assembling PV modules into a PV array in a sturdy and durable manner. In examples of the present technology, the system includes various couplings having a first engaging portion adapted to engage a first PV module and a second engaging portion adapted to engage a second PV module. At least one of the engaging portions allows variable positioning of the engaged PV module along the engaging portion.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A photovoltaic assembly, comprising:
(a) a first photovoltaic module with a grooved frame;
(b) a second photovoltaic module with a grooved frame; and
(c) a leveling foot connecting the first and second photovoltaic modules together and configured to adjust a height of the first and second photovoltaic modules above a support surface when connected to the leveling foot, wherein the leveling foot comprises:
(i) a base mounted to the support surface,
(ii) a stud extending upwardly from the base, wherein rotation of the stud adjusts the height of the first and second photovoltaic modules above the support surface when connected to the leveling foot; and
(iii) a double-tongued coupling mounted onto the stud, wherein the double-tongued coupling has a first tongue and a second tongue facing in opposite directions, wherein each of the tongues has an upwardly projecting ridge at its distal end and an angled bottom edge defining a sloping surface at a bottom of its distal end, such that the first tongue including the ridge and bottom edge is pivot fit into the grooved frame on the first photovoltaic module and the second tongue including the ridge and bottom edge is pivot fit into the grooved frame on the second photovoltaic module.

2. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1 , wherein the two tongues have different lengths.

3. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 2 , wherein the upwardly projecting ridge on a shorter one of the two tongues is higher than the upwardly projecting ridge on a longer one of the two tongues.

4. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1 , wherein the double-tonged coupling has a stop on its top surface, the stop being positioned between the two tongues.

5. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base has an attachment slot passing therethrough.

6. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tongues are each dimensioned to engage within the respective grooves in the frames at an insertion angle and are thereafter rotated down to a final engagement angle within the grooves.

7. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1 , wherein the height of the double-tongued coupling above the base is adjustable from above the photovoltaic modules after the modules have been secured to the coupling.

8. A leveling foot for a photovoltaic array, comprising:
(a) a base;
(b) a screw extending upwardly from the base; and
(c) a double-tongued coupling mounted onto the screw, wherein the double-tongued coupling has tongues facing in opposite directions, wherein each of the tongues has an upwardly projecting ridge at its distal end and an angled bottom edge defining a sloping surface at a bottom of its distal end, wherein the two tongues have different lengths, the upwardly projecting ridge on a shorter one of the two tongues is higher than the upwardly projecting ridge on a longer one of the two tongues, and wherein the height of the double-tongued coupling above the base is adjustable by rotating the double-tongued coupling with respect to the screw.

9. The leveling foot of claim 8 , wherein the double-tonged coupling has a stop on its top surface, the stop being positioned between the two tongues.

10. The leveling foot of claim 8 , wherein the base has an attachment slot passing therethrough.

11. The leveling foot of claim 8 , wherein the tongues are dimensioned to be received into side grooves in photovoltaic module frames.

12. The leveling foot of claim 8 , wherein the tongues are each dimensioned to engage within side grooves in photovoltaic module frames at an insertion angle and are configured to rotate down to a final engagement angle within the grooves.

13. The leveling foot of claim 12 , wherein the tongues each comprise an angled bottom edge defining a sloping surface at a bottom of the distal end and wherein the ridge and bottom edge are dimensioned to engage within the side groove in the respective photovoltaic module frame.

14. The leveling foot of claim 8 , wherein the height of the double-tongued coupling above the base is adjustable from above photovoltaic modules configured to be secured to the coupling.

Assignees

• Solarcity Corp

Inventors

• West Jack Raymond

Classifications

• F24S25/67

  for coupling adjacent modules or their peripheral frames (for fixing modules or their peripheral frames to supporting elements F24S25/63) · CPC title

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title

• F24S2025/02

  Ballasting means · CPC title

• Y10T403/32606

  Pivoted · CPC title

• F24S25/613

  in the form of bent strips or assemblies of strips; Hook-like connectors; Connectors to be mounted between building-covering elements · CPC title