Grounding system

• US 10,177,551 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cambria County Association for the Blind & Handicapped
• Original Assignee: Cambria County Association for the Blind & Handicapped
• Inventors: Smith, Allen Garrett, Platt, Gregory Stephen, Wedding, Timothy Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Hung V
• Application Number:
  US15/725,668
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/12 End pieces terminating in an eye, hook, or fork
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/26 End pieces terminating in a screw clamp, screw or nut
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/34 Conductive members located under head of screw
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/42 Clamping area to one side of screw only
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/64 Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 7/053 Suspension clamps and clips for electric overhead lines not suspended to a supporting wire
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 7/22 Arrangements of earthing wires suspended between mastheads
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/00 Supporting structures for PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/20 Supporting structures directly fixed to an immovable object H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/00 Structural details of PV modules other than those related to light conversion semiconductor device aspects of modules of electrolytic light sensitive devices H01G9/20, of inorganic PV modules H01L31/00, of organic PV modules H10K30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/36 characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A grounding system, structured to ground a number of cables supported by a support assembly, includes a multi-function line assembly and a number of conductive mounting assemblies. Each conductive mounting assembly is structured to be coupled to the multi-function line and to a conductive pile.

Claims

1. A grounding system structured to ground a number of cables supported by a support assembly, said support assembly including a plurality of spaced, conductive piles, said grounding system comprising:

a multi-function line assembly including a multi-function line;

a number of conductive mounting assemblies, each said conductive mounting assembly structured to be coupled to said multi-function line and to a conductive pile; and

wherein said multi-function line assembly is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said number of conductive mounting assemblies.

2. The grounding system of claim 1 wherein:

each said conductive mounting assembly includes a mounting body, a support coupling, and a number of multi-function line couplings; and

each said multi-function line coupling defines a conductive path.

3. The grounding system of claim 2 wherein each said mounting body is one of a conductive body or a conductive body assembly.

4. The grounding system of claim 3 wherein each said mounting body has a simplified shape.

5. The grounding system of claim 2 wherein:

each said mounting body is a conductive body; and

each said mounting body conductive body is a partially conductive body.

6. The grounding system of claim 2 wherein each said multi-function line coupling is a clamping assembly.

7. The grounding system of claim 6 wherein each said multi-function line coupling includes one of a clam-shell assembly, a split bolt, a U-bolt, or a lay-in lug assembly.

8. The grounding system of claim 2 wherein:

said number of multi-function line couplings includes a plurality of multi-function line couplings; and

each said multi-function line coupling spaced one of a first effective distance, a second effective distance, or a third effective distance from another multi-function line coupling.

9. The grounding system of claim 1 wherein said multi-function line assembly does not include any grounding splices.

10. The grounding system of claim 1 wherein said multi-function line assembly does not include any medial grounding splices.

11. The grounding system of claim 1 wherein said multi-function line includes one of a highly conductive body or a partially conductive body.

12. The grounding system of claim 1 wherein said multi-function line includes strands selected from the group consisting of:

copper strands, copper-clad steel strands, galvanized strands, conductive alloy strands, partially conductive, alloy strands, or composite strands.

13. The grounding system of claim 12 wherein said multi-function line assembly terminal support includes a conductive thimble-eye.

14. The grounding system of claim 13 wherein said multi-function line is structured to be operational with solar electrical equipment.

15. The grounding system of claim 13 wherein said multi-function line assembly does not include any grounding splices.

16. The grounding system of claim 13 wherein said multi-function line assembly does not include any medial grounding splices.

17. The grounding system of claim 13 wherein said multi-function line includes one of a highly conductive body or a partially conductive body.

18. The grounding system of claim 1 wherein said multi-function line assembly includes a conductive terminal support.

19. A mounting assembly for a grounding system structured to ground a number of cables supported by a support assembly, said support assembly including a plurality of spaced, conductive piles, said grounding system including a multi-function line assembly with a multi-function line, said mounting assembly comprising:

a mounting body, a support coupling, and a number of multi-function line couplings;

each said multi-function line couplings structured to be coupled to said multi-function line;

each said support coupling structured to be coupled to a conductive pile; and

wherein, when said multi-function line assembly is coupled to, and in electrical communication with said multi-function line couplings, each said multi-function line coupling defines a conductive path.