UNIVERSAL END CLAMP

• US 20100282920A1
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunrun Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sunrun Inc.
• Inventors: McPHEETERS, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 8,585,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/72
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/00 Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage ; Sky-lights ventilation tiles E04D1/30; ventilation slabs E04D3/40; internal channels E04F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/1476 wherein the parts extending above the roof have a generally circular cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/40 Clamping arrangements where clamping parts are received in recesses of elements to be connected
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/403 Threaded clamping parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/045 specially adapted for fastening in channels, e.g. sliding bolts, channel nuts
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/6002 by using hooks
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/00 Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/10 extending in directions away from a supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/30 using elongate rigid mounting elements extending substantially along the supporting surface, e.g. for covering buildings with solar heat collectors extending in directions away from the supporting surface F24S25/10; peripheral frames for modules F24S25/20
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/61 for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• 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 25/636 clamping by screw-threaded elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1207 for fastening a rigid aerial element
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44974 Threaded cylindrical rod and mating cavity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7067 : Threaded actuator

Abstract

A clamp has a body, a wedged channel nut, and a bolt. The body has a first component extending from the body and configured to engage a module and a second component having a tapered body surface. The wedged channel nut has a first flange and a second flange extending from opposing sides of the nut and configured to engage a rail and a tapered nut surface having an angle substantially identical to the angle of the tapered body surface of the second component, wherein the tapered nut surface engages the tapered body surface. A bolt extends through the wedged channel nut and the body. When the bolt is tightened, the nut and the body secure the module and rail together.

Claims

1. A clamp comprising:

a body including;

a first component extending from the body and configured to engage a module; and

a second component having a tapered body surface;

a nut including;

a first flange and a second flange extending from opposing sides of the nut and configured to engage a rail; and

a tapered nut surface having an angle substantially identical to the angle of the tapered body surface of the second component, wherein the tapered nut surface engages the tapered body surface; and

a bolt extending through the nut and the body,

wherein tightening of the bolt causes the nut and the body to secure the module and rail together.

2. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a third component extending in a direction substantially parallel to the rail, and wherein the first component extends from the third component in a direction substantially perpendicular to third component.

3. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a fourth component having an aperture to receive the bolt, wherein the fourth component includes the tapered body surface.

4. The clamp according to claim 3, wherein the nut comprising a first nut surface for receiving the bolt.

5. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the bolt engages the nut and the body to move in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the rail.

6. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the first component of the body and fourth component of the body are joined by a fifth component, wherein the fifth component extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the rail.

7. The clamp according to claim 6, wherein the tapered body surface extends in a direction toward the fifth component.

8. A system comprising:

a module;

a rail configured to support a module; and

a clamp including;

a body including;

a first component extending from the body and configured to engage a surface of the module; and

a second component having a tapered body surface;

a nut including;

a first flange and a second flange extending from opposing sides of the nut and configured to engage opposing sides of the rail; and

a tapered nut surface having an angle substantially identical to the angle of the tapered body surface of the second component, wherein the tapered nut surface engages the tapered body surface; and

a bolt extending through the nut and the body,

wherein tightening of the bolt causes the nut and the body to secure the module and rail together.

9. The clamp according to claim 8, wherein the body comprises a third component extending in a direction substantially parallel to the rail, and wherein the first component extends from the third component in a direction substantially perpendicular to third component.

10. The clamp according to claim 8, wherein the body comprises a fourth component having an aperture to receive the bolt, wherein the fourth component includes the tapered body surface.

11. The clamp according to claim 10, wherein the nut comprising a first nut surface for receiving the bolt.

12. The clamp according to claim 8, wherein the bolt engages the nut and the body to move in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the rail.

13. The clamp according to claim 8, wherein the first component of the body and fourth component of the body are joined by a fifth component, wherein the fifth component extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the rail.

14. The clamp according to claim 13, wherein the tapered body surface extends in a direction toward the fifth component.

15. The clamp according to claim 8, wherein the rail comprises a first rail component and a second rail component configured for supporting the module, and wherein the first flange and the second flange of the nut are configured to engage the first rail component and the second rail component.

16. A clamp comprising:

a body including;

a first component extending from the body and configured to engage a module;

a second component extending from the body and configured to engage a first slot in a rail; and

a third component having a tapered body surface;

a nut including;

a tapered nut surface having an angle substantially identical to the angle of the tapered body surface of the third component, wherein the tapered nut surface engages the tapered body surface; and

a nut extension having a nut flange configured to engage a second slot of the rail;

and

a bolt extending through the nut and the body,

wherein tightening of the bolt causes the nut and the body to secure the module and rail together.

17. The clamp according to claim 16, wherein the nut flange comprises a nut flange configured to engage a recess of the second slot of the rail.

18. The clamp according to claim 16, wherein the tightening of the bolt causes the nut flange to exert a force on the second slot of the rail in a direction toward the module.

19. A clamp comprising:

a bolt extending at least a width of a module;

a body having;

an aperture to receive the bolt; and

a body flange extending from the body toward the module; and

a nut having;

a nut aperture for receiving the bolt; and

a first nut flange and a second nut flange extending from the module;

wherein tightening of the bolt causes the nut and the body to secure the module and rail together,

wherein the body flange is configured to pierce the module, and

wherein the first nut flange and the second nut flange are configured to pierce the rail.

20. The clamp according to claim 19, wherein the body and the nut are made of a material harder than the material of the module and the rail.