Bracket for connection of a junction box to photovoltaic panels

• US 10,090,803 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2017
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Shmukler, Vadim, Handelsman, Lior, Armoni, Nir
• Primary Examiner(s): Duckworth, Bradley
• Application Number:
  US15/724,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20180034409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 521733, 248237, 248906, 126623
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 1/00 Devices for securing together, or preventing relative movement between, constructional elements or machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/08 Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/00 Supporting structures for PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/34 comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A device for attaching a junction box to a photovoltaic. The photovoltaic panel has a photovoltaic side and a non-photovoltaic side. The device includes a bracket with a first side attachable to the junction box and a second side attachable to the non-photovoltaic surface of the photovoltaic panel. A central fastener is attachable at one end to the bracket and a plate is adapted for connecting to the other end of the central fastener and for mounting on the photovoltaic side of the photovoltaic panel. One or more rotatable spacers, connectible to the central fastener, may be located on the non-photovoltaic side of the photovoltaic panel. One or more fixed spacers may be located on the non-photovoltaic side connectible to the bracket.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a fastener configured to extend between at least two photovoltaic panels and to extend across respective front and rear sides of each of the at least two photovoltaic panels;

a bracket connected to the fastener, wherein the bracket is configured to enable attachment to a junction box configured to service the at least two photovoltaic panels; and

wherein the fastener and the bracket, are configured to clamp the at least two photovoltaic panels therebetween.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable spacer configured to be mounted and adjustable in position in a space between the junction box and the at least two photovoltaic panels.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the adjustable spacer is rotatable around the fastener.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the junction box, wherein the junction box includes a direct-current-to-direct-current converter or a direct-current-to-alternating-current converter.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the junction box is adapted to attach to a non-photovoltaic side of a photovoltaic panel of the at least two photovoltaic panels.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plate connected to an end of the fastener.

7. A device comprising:

a central junction box;

a bracket adapted to attach to the central junction box and to attach to a first photovoltaic panel and a second photovoltaic panel; and

a central fastener attached to said bracket,

wherein the central fastener and bracket are adapted to suspend the bracket and the central junction box from the first photovoltaic panel and the second photovoltaic panel by clamping the first photovoltaic panel and the second photovoltaic panel between the bracket and the central fastener.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the bracket is further adapted to attach to a third photovoltaic panel and a fourth photovoltaic panel.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the central fastener and bracket are further adapted to clamp the third photovoltaic panel and the fourth photovoltaic panel between the bracket and the central fastener.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the bracket comprises mounting holes configured to enable attachment of the bracket to the central junction box.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein, the first photovoltaic panel has a first junction box attached to a side thereof and the second photovoltaic panel has a second junction box attached to a side thereof.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first junction box and the second junction box are operably connected to the central junction box.

13. The device of claim 7, wherein the central junction box includes a direct-current-to-direct-current converter or a direct-current-to-alternating-current converter.

14. A method comprising:

mounting a central junction box to at least two adjacent photovoltaic panels by clamping the at least two adjacent photovoltaic panels between the central junction box and a fastener extending between sides of the at least two adjacent photovoltaic panels.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising mounting a spacer between the central junction box and the at least two adjacent photovoltaic panels.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least two adjacent photovoltaic panels include a first photovoltaic panel and a second photovoltaic panel, and wherein the method further comprises connecting a first junction box to the first photovoltaic panel and connecting a second junction box to the second photovoltaic panel.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising connecting the first junction box and the second junction box to the central junction box.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

mounting the first junction box to the first photovoltaic panel by clamping the first photovoltaic panel between the first junction box and a first fastener; and

mounting the second junction box to the second photovoltaic panel by clamping the second photovoltaic panel between of the second junction box and a second fastener.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising electrically connecting the central junction box to the first photovoltaic panel and to the second photovoltaic panel.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least two adjacent photovoltaic panels are electrically connected within the central junction box.