Efficient Installation Solar Panel Systems

• US 20110203637A1
• Filed: 10/10/2009
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Solar Power, Inc. (SPI Energy Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Solar Power, Inc. (SPI Energy Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Li, YangLin, Patton, John C., Lindstrom, Todd, He, DaJiu
• Application Number:
  US13/123,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20110203637A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/014 Methods for installing support elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/016 Filling or spacing means; Elastic means
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/801 having hollow parts with closed cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/802 having circular or oval cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/803 having a central web, e.g. I-shaped, inverted T- shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/33 forming substantially planar assemblies, e.g. of coplanar or stacked profiles
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/61 for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/63 for fixing modules or their peripheral frames to supporting elements
• 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 29/49355 Solar energy device making

Abstract

An efficient solar panel system is mounted to a roof using various attachments and supports for solar panel modules (32) including elastic solar panel couplings (173), laterally fluidically constrained channels (5), solar panel roof mount brackets (130) having raised surfaces (21), suspended substantially rigid hollow rail components (63), and solar panel electrical penetration connectors (25) on solar panel roof mount constraints (101) in the various embodiments.

Claims

1. An efficient installment modularized solar power system comprising:

a plurality of solar module anchors secured to an area;

a plurality of elastic solar panel couplings connected to said solar module anchors;

a visual engagement confirmation element of said elastic solar panel couplings connected to said solar module anchors; and

a plurality of solar panel modules elastically attached to said elastic solar panel couplings.

2. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 1 wherein said plurality of said elastic solar panel couplings comprises a direct solar panel connector between said solar module anchors and said solar panel modules.

3. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 2 wherein said direct solar panel connector between said solar module anchors and said solar panel modules comprises a complete elastic constraint of said solar module anchors.

4. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of edge positioners each attached to one of said elastic solar panel couplings.

5. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 4 wherein said plurality of edge positioners each attached to one of said elastic solar panel couplings comprises a plurality of integral clip edge positioners each attached to one of said elastic solar panel couplings.

6. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 5 wherein said plurality of integral clip edge positioners each attached to one of said elastic solar panel couplings comprises a slide positioner.

7. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of insertion bias elements each attached to one of said elastic solar panel couplings.

8. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 7 wherein said plurality of said insertion bias elements each attached to one of said elastic solar panel couplings comprises an elastic tongue.

9. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 8 wherein said elastic tongue comprises a bottom tongue.

10. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 9 wherein said bottom tongue comprises a clip opposing element.

11. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 1 wherein said plurality of elastic solar panel couplings comprises an audible engagement confirmation element.

13. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 1 herein said audible engagement element comprises a snap clip.

14. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 13 wherein said snap clip comprises an elastic top retainer.

15. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 1 wherein said plurality of solar module anchors secured to said area comprises a rail slide element.

16. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 15 wherein said rail slide element comprises a rail slider fastener.

18. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 1 wherein said plurality of elastic solar panel couplings comprises a detachable elastic top retainer.

19. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 18 further comprising a rail mount connected to each of said elastic solar panel couplings and a vertical retainer of said plurality of elastic solar panel couplings.

20. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 19 wherein said vertical retainer of said rail mount comprises an integral edge positioner.

21. An efficient installment modularized solar power system as described in claim 1 wherein said plurality of elastic solar panel couplings comprises a side flex retainer.

12. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

22-148. -148. (canceled)

149. A method of efficiently installing a modularized solar power system comprises the step of :

securing a plurality of solar module anchors to an area;

providing a plurality of solar panel modules;

completely elastically attaching said solar panel modules; and

visually confirming engagement of said solar panels modules to an attachment system.

150-296. -296. (canceled)