Slide fit mounting clip for installing photovoltaic modules

• US 10,103,682 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2017
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RMH Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: RMH Tech LLC
• Inventors: Haddock, Robert M. M., Haddock, Dustin M. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chi Q
• Application Number:
  US15/470,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20180048259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 521733, 52465-468, 52460, 52461, 52463, 248237, 248500, 248506, 126623
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/366 by closing the space between the slabs or sheets by gutters, bulges, or bridging elements, e.g. strips
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2020/11 in the form of multiple rows and multiple columns, all solar modules being coplanar
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2020/14 Stepped arrangements, e.g. in parallel planes, without module overlapping
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/804 U-, C- or O-shaped; Hat profiles
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/20 Peripheral frames for modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/61 for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/613 in the form of bent strips or assemblies of strips; Hook-like connectors; Connectors to be mounted between building-covering elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/615 for fixing to protruding parts of buildings, e.g. to corrugations or to standing seams
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/632 Side connectors; Base connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/636 clamping by screw-threaded elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/65 for coupling adjacent supporting elements, e.g. for connecting profiles together
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/67 for coupling adjacent modules or their peripheral frames for fixing modules or their peripheral frames to supporting elements F24S25/63
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/00 Supporting structures for PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A module bracket includes first and second mounting clips (202, 204) that are spaced from each other along the pitch of a roofing surface. An inlet (212) to the first mounting clip (202) faces or projects in the general direction that the second mounting clip (204) is spaced from the first mounting clip (202). An inlet (212) to the second mounting clip (204) faces or projects in the general direction that the first mounting clip (202) is spaced from the second mounting clip (204). A second module flange (134) of a first photovoltaic module (120) is slid into the first mounting clip (202) of the module bracket. A first module flange (128) of a second photovoltaic module (120) is slid into the second mounting clip (204) of this same module bracket.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic assembly, comprising:

a roofing surface, wherein said roofing surface comprises a hollow rib, wherein said hollow rib comprises an end section that defines an uppermost portion of said hollow rib, and wherein said hollow rib further comprises first and second sidewalls that are spaced from one another;

a module bracket comprising first and second mounting clips disposed in spaced relation, wherein said first mounting clip comprises a first inlet and a first closed end and said second mounting clip comprises a second inlet and a second closed end, wherein said first inlet of said first mounting clip is located between said second mounting clip and said first closed end of said first mounting clip and said second inlet of said second mounting clip is located between said first mounting clip and said second closed end of said second mounting clip, wherein said first and second mounting clips each comprise first and second sections and an arcuately-shaped pliable section that extends between said first and second sections, wherein said second section of each of said first and second mounting clips is disposed in overlying relation to said first section of said first and second mounting clips, respectively, wherein said first and second inlets are disposed between said first and second sections of said first and second mounting clips, respectively, wherein said module bracket further comprises a base section that is located between said first and second mounting clips with said base section and said first section of each of said first and second mounting clips being at least substantially coplanar, and wherein said base section is positioned in overlying relation to said end section of said hollow rib;

a plurality of threaded fasteners that extend through said base section and through said end section of said hollow rib; and

at least one photovoltaic module comprising a first frame section positioned on a first perimeter section of said photovoltaic module and a second frame section positioned on an oppositely disposed second perimeter section of said photovoltaic module, wherein said first frame section comprises a first module flange that cantilevers at least generally in a direction of said second perimeter section, wherein said second frame section comprises a second module flange that cantilevers at least generally in a direction of said first perimeter section, wherein said at least one photovoltaic module comprises first and second photovoltaic modules, wherein said second module flange of said first photovoltaic module extends through said first inlet and is engaged said first mounting clip, and wherein said first module flange of said second photovoltaic module extends through said second inlet and is engaged by said second mounting clip.

2. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said building surface comprises a roofing surface, wherein said first and second frame sections of said first photovoltaic module and said first and second frame sections of said second photovoltaic module are each disposed at least substantially transverse to a pitch of said roofing surface, wherein said first frame section of said first photovoltaic module is disposed up-slope of both said second frame section of said first photovoltaic module and an entirety of said second photovoltaic module, and wherein said first frame section of said second photovoltaic module is disposed up-slope of said second frame section of said second photovoltaic module.

3. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second mounting clips are spaced along a pitch of said building surface, and wherein said plurality of threaded fasteners are spaced along said pitch of said building surface.

4. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of threaded fasteners each terminate within an interior space of said hollow rib.

5. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second mounting clips comprise at least one electrical contact.

6. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 5, wherein each said electrical contact is in the form of a cantilever.

7. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 5, wherein each said second section of each of said first mounting clip and said second mounting clip comprises at least one said electrical contact.

8. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 7, wherein each said electrical contact extends from a corresponding second section of the corresponding said mounting clip, both at least generally in the direction of a corresponding said first section of the corresponding said mounting clip and in the direction of a corresponding said closed end of the corresponding said mounting clip.

9. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said base section comprises a plurality of stiffeners.

10. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 9, wherein said plurality of stiffeners are disposed in parallel relation to one another and are oriented in a direction which said first mounting clip and said second mounting clip are spaced from one another.

11. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 9, wherein each said stiffener is in the form of a protrusion.

12. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said second section of each of said first and second mounting clips is deflectable away from its corresponding said first section.

13. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second sections of each of said first and second mounting clips are engaged prior to receipt of said second and first module flanges, respectively, of said first and second photovoltaic modules, respectively, and wherein said first and second sections of each of said first and second mounting clips are spaced from one another when receiving said second and first module flanges of said first and second photovoltaic modules, respectively.

14. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second sections of said first mounting clip are biased toward one another, and wherein said first and second sections of said second mounting clip are biased toward one another.

15. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein contact between said module bracket and said first photovoltaic module is limited to said first mounting clip engaging said second module flange of said first photovoltaic module, and wherein contact between said module bracket and said second photovoltaic module is limited to said second mounting clip engaging said first module flange of said second photovoltaic module.

16. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein an entirety of a retention force exerted by said module bracket on said first photovoltaic module is provided by said first mounting clip, and wherein an entirety of a retention force exerted by said module bracket on said second photovoltaic module is provided by said second mounting clip.

17. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said first mounting clip exerts a compressive force on said second module flange of said first photovoltaic module, and wherein said second mounting clip exerts a compressive force on said first module flange of said second photovoltaic module.

18. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said base section of said module bracket is one of positioned directly on said end section of said hollow rib or is positioned on a gasket that is disposed between said base section of said module bracket and said end section of said hollow rib.

19. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said base section comprises first and second stiffeners that are disposed in parallel relation to one another and have a length dimension that coincides with a dimension in which said first mounting clip and said second mounting clip are spaced from one another, wherein said base section comprises a lower surface that projects in a direction of said end section of said hollow rib, and wherein each of said first and second stiffeners are convex relative to said lower surface.

20. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 19, wherein said plurality of threaded fasteners are located between said first and second stiffeners.

21. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 19, further comprising a gasket that is disposed between said end section of said hollow rib and said lower surface of said base section, and furthermore that is located between said first and second stiffeners.

22. A photovoltaic assembly, comprising:

a roofing surface, wherein said roofing surface comprises a hollow rib, wherein said hollow rib comprises an end section that defines an uppermost portion of said hollow rib, and wherein said hollow rib further comprises first and second sidewalls that are spaced from one another;

a module bracket comprising first and second mounting clips disposed in spaced relation, with said first mounting clip comprising a first inlet and a first closed end and said second mounting clip comprising a second inlet and a second closed end, with said first closed end being defined by a first end section, and with said second closed end being defined by a second end section;

wherein said first inlet of said first mounting clip is located between said second mounting clip and said first closed end of said first mounting clip and said second inlet of said second mounting clip is located between said first mounting clip and said second closed end of said second mounting clip;

wherein said first and second mounting clips each comprise first and second sections, with said second section being disposed in overlying relation to said first section for each of said first and second mounting clips, with said first end section interconnecting said first and second sections for said first mounting clip, with said second end section interconnecting said first and second sections for said second mounting clip, and with said first and second inlets being disposed between said first and second sections of said first and second mounting clips, respectively;

wherein said module bracket further comprises a base section that is located between said first and second mounting clips, with said base section and said first section of each of said first and second mounting clips being at least substantially coplanar, and with said base section being positioned in overlying relation to said end section of said hollow rib;

wherein said second section of said first mounting clip is pivotable relative to said first section of said first mounting clip and about said first end section of said first mounting clip by a flexing of said first end section and;

wherein said second section of said second mounting clip is pivotable relative to said first section of said second mounting clip and about said second end section of said first mounting clip by a flexing of said second end section;

wherein said first mounting clip further comprises a first electrical contact in the form of a cantilever that extends from said second section of said first mounting clip both at least generally in the direction of said first section of said first mounting clip and in the direction of said first end section of said first mounting clip; and

wherein said second mounting clip further comprises a second electrical contact in the form of a cantilever that extends from said second section of said second mounting clip both at least generally in the direction of said first section of said second mounting clip and in the direction of said second end section of said second mounting clip;

a plurality of threaded fasteners that extend through said base section and through said end section of said hollow rib; and

at least one photovoltaic module comprising a first frame section positioned on a first perimeter section of said photovoltaic module and a second frame section positioned on an oppositely disposed second perimeter section of said photovoltaic module, wherein said first frame section comprises a first module flange that cantilevers at least generally in a direction of said second perimeter section, wherein said second frame section comprises a second module flange that cantilevers at least generally in a direction of said first perimeter section, wherein said at least one photovoltaic module comprises first and second photovoltaic modules, wherein said second module flange of said first photovoltaic module extends through said first inlet and is engaged said first mounting clip, and wherein said first module flange of said second photovoltaic module extends through said second inlet and is engaged by said second mounting clip.

23. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 22, wherein said first and second sections of each of said first and second mounting clips are engaged prior to receipt of said second and first module flanges, respectively, of said first and second photovoltaic modules, respectively, and wherein said first and second sections of each of said first and second mounting clips are spaced from one another when receiving said second and first module flanges of said first and second photovoltaic modules, respectively.

24. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 22, wherein said first and second sections of said first mounting clip are biased toward one another, and wherein said first and second sections of said second mounting clip are biased toward one another.

25. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 22, wherein contact between said module bracket and said first photovoltaic module is limited to said first mounting clip engaging said second module flange of said first photovoltaic module, and wherein contact between said module bracket and said second photovoltaic module is limited to said second mounting clip engaging said first module flange of said second photovoltaic module.

26. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 22, wherein an entirety of a retention force exerted by said module bracket on said first photovoltaic module is provided by said first mounting clip, and wherein an entirety of a retention force exerted by said module bracket on said second photovoltaic module is provided by said second mounting clip.

27. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 22, wherein said first mounting clip exerts a compressive force on said second module flange of said first photovoltaic module, and wherein said second mounting clip exerts a compressive force on said first module flange of said second photovoltaic module.

28. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 22, wherein said base section comprises first and second stiffeners that are disposed in parallel relation to one another and have a length dimension that coincides with a dimension in which said first mounting clip and said second mounting clip are spaced from one another, wherein said base section comprises a lower surface that projects in a direction of said end section of said hollow rib, and wherein each of said first and second stiffeners are convex relative to said lower surface.

29. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 28, wherein said plurality of threaded fasteners are located between said first and second stiffeners.

30. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 29, further comprising a gasket that is disposed between said end section of said hollow rib and said lower surface of said base section, and furthermore that is located between said first and second stiffeners.