CAMMING CLAMP FOR ROOF SEAM

• US 20100284737A1
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunrun Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mainstream Energy Corporation
• Inventors: McPHEETERS, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/374.3
• 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 described herein can secure a solar cell array to a seam of a standing seam metal roof. The clamp has a cam that is rotated by the tightening of a bolt to cause the cam to engage the seam. The clamp also has a receiver for receiving the seam and the rotated cam. By installing the clamp on the seam, the solar cell array can be secured to the standing seam metal roof without drilling into the roof. Because no screws are required to be drilled into the rooftop, the damage to the rooftop is substantially reduced. Also, by reversing the process described above, the clamp can be uninstalled in a similar fashion.

Claims

1. A clamp for securing a module to a roof seam, the clamp comprising:

a cam receiver comprising;

a horizontal component configured to abut the module and a module clamp;

a first vertical component extending from a first end of the horizontal component, the vertical component further comprising a flange configured to abut the roof seam; and

a second vertical component extending from a second end of the horizontal component,

wherein the horizontal component and the first vertical component form a first corner, and the horizontal component and the second vertical component form a second corner;

a cam comprising;

a first cam component configured to abut the second corner;

a threaded cam insert extending from the first cam component; and

a second cam component extending from the threaded cam insert, wherein the second cam component is configured to abut the roof seam; and

a bolt comprising a threaded component, wherein the bolt extends from the module clamp through the horizontal component of the cam receiver and the threaded component extends to the threaded cam insert of the cam;

wherein the bolt is configured to engage the threaded cam portion of the cam and cause the cam to rotate toward the cam receiver, whereby the flange of the vertical component abuts the roof seam, the second cam component abuts the roof seam, and the roof seam abuts the first corner.

2. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the second cam component and the threaded cam insert form a third corner, and wherein the third corner is configured to receive the roof seam.

3. The clamp according to claim 1, further comprising a receiving flange extending from the horizontal component of the cam receiver, wherein the void between the receiving flange and the first vertical component is configured to receive the roof seam.

4. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the cam rotates about a pivot point substantially near the second corner.

5. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the bolt comprises a tightening component configured to rotate the bolt.

6. The clamp according to claim 5, wherein the tightening component extends beyond the module clamp.

7. The clamp according to claim 5, wherein the tightening component has a polygonal shape.

8. A system for clamping a solar module or rail to a roof seam, the system comprising:

a module clamp comprising;

an upper surface component;

a module clamp flange extending from the upper surface component and configured to abut a first side of the solar module or rail; and

a vertical module clamp component extending perpendicular to the upper surface component;

a cam receiver comprising;

a horizontal component configured to abut a second side of the solar module or rail and the vertical module clamp component;

a first vertical component extending from a first end of the horizontal component, the vertical component further comprising a flange configured to abut the roof seam; and

a second vertical component extending from a second end of the horizontal component,

wherein the horizontal component and the first vertical component form a first corner, and the horizontal component and the second vertical component form a second corner;

a cam comprising;

a first cam component configured to abut the second corner;

a threaded cam insert extending from the first cam component; and

a second cam component extending from the threaded cam insert, wherein the second cam component is configured to abut the roof seam; and

a bolt extending from the upper surface component of the module clamp through the horizontal component of the cam receiver and into the threaded cam insert of the cam;

wherein the bolt is configured to engage the threaded cam portion of the cam and cause the cam to rotate toward the cam receiver, whereby the flange of the vertical component abuts the roof seam, the second cam component abuts the roof seam, and the roof seam abuts the first corner.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the second cam component and the threaded cam insert form a third corner, and wherein the third corner is configured to receive the roof seam.

10. The system according to claim 8, further comprising a receiving flange extending from the horizontal component of the cam receiver, wherein the void between the receiving flange and the first vertical component is configured to receive the roof seam.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein the cam rotates about a pivot point substantially near the second corner.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein the bolt comprises a tightening component configured to rotate the bolt.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the tightening component extends beyond the upper surface of the module clamp.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the tightening component has a polygonal shape.

15. A clamp for securing a module to a roof seam, the clamp comprising:

a cam means for abutting the roof seam;

a cam receiving means for receiving the cam and abutting the roof seam, wherein the cam receiving means abuts the module; and

a cam adjusting means for causing the cam to rotate and securing a module clamp to the cam receiving means, wherein the module is positioned between the an end of the module clamp and the cam receiving means.

16. The clamp according to claim 15, wherein the cam means comprises a threaded insert for engaging the cam adjusting means.

17. The clamp according to claim 15, wherein the cam adjusting means is a bolt.

18. The clamp according to claim 15, wherein the cam receiving means comprises a corner for abutting the roof seam.

19. The clamp according to claim 15, wherein the cam means comprises a corner for abutting the roof seam.

20. The clamp according to claim 15, wherein the cam means is rotatable about a pivot point substantially near a corner of the cam receiving means.