Panel Lock Solar Clamp

• US 20120248271A1
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Allied Tube & Conduit Corporation (Atkore, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Allied Tube & Conduit Corporation (Atkore, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zeilenga, Chad K.
• Application Number:
  US13/432,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20120248271A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/231.41
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/00 Supporting structures for PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A clamp is disclosed for attaching a solar panel to a grid system. The clamp includes an upper end clamp, a clamp plate, a channel nut; and a fastener connecting the clamp, the clamp plate and the nut. A head of the fastener engages the upper end clamp and a threaded end of the fastener engages a hole in the channel nut so that rotation of the fastener fixes the clamp to a structural member. Rotation of the fastener also fixes a solar panel to the structural member. The upper end clamp has a side surface, and the clamp plate has a side surface. The side surfaces are in the same plane to enable them both to engage a side surface of the solar panel. The upper end clamp includes a protruding lip for engaging a top surface of a solar panel. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Claims

1. A solar panel clamp, comprising:

an upper end clamp, a clamp plate, a channel nut; and

a fastener connecting the upper end clamp, the clamp plate and the channel nut;

wherein a head of the fastener engages a top surface of the upper end clamp and a threaded end of the fastener engages a threaded hole in the channel nut so that rotation of the fastener in a first direction moves the channel nut toward the clamp plate to fix the solar panel clamp to a structural member disposed therebetween; and

wherein said rotation of the fastener in said first direction also moves the upper end clamp toward the clamp plate to fix a solar panel to the structural member.

2. The solar panel clamp of claim 1, wherein the upper end clamp includes a side surface and the clamp plate includes a side surface, the side surfaces oriented in the same plane to engage a side surface of the solar panel.

3. The solar panel clamp of claim 1, wherein the upper end clamp includes a protruding lip for engaging a top surface of a solar panel.

4. The solar panel clamp of claim 1, wherein the structural member is a channel member, and the channel nut includes a pair of recesses for receiving corresponding channel edges of the channel member.

5. The solar panel clamp of claim 4, wherein the clamp plate includes first and second legs configured to lock over top portions of the channel member when the fastener is rotated in the first direction.

6. The solar panel clamp of claim 1, wherein the upper end clamp includes a first protruding lip for engaging a top surface of the solar panel, and a second protruding lip for engaging a top surface of an adjacent solar panel.

7. A solar panel clamp, comprising:

an upper end clamp, a clamp plate, a channel nut; and

a fastener connecting the upper end clamp, the clamp plate and the channel nut;

wherein a head of the fastener engages a top surface of the upper end clamp and a threaded end of the fastener engages a threaded hole in the channel nut so that rotation of the fastener in a first direction moves the channel nut toward the clamp plate to fix the solar panel clamp to a structural member disposed therebetween.

8. The solar panel clamp of claim 7, wherein the upper end clamp includes a side surface and the clamp plate includes a side surface, the side surfaces oriented in the same plane to engage a side surface of the solar panel.

9. The solar panel clamp of claim 7, wherein the upper end clamp includes a protruding lip for engaging a top surface of a solar panel.

10. The solar panel clamp of claim 7, wherein the structural member is a channel member, and the channel nut includes a pair of recesses for receiving corresponding channel edges of the channel member.

11. The solar panel clamp of claim 10, wherein the clamp plate includes first and second legs configured to lock over top portions of the channel member when the fastener is rotated in the first direction.

12. The solar panel clamp of claim 7, wherein said rotation of the fastener in said first direction also moves the upper end clamp toward the clamp plate to fix a solar panel to the structural member.

13. A solar panel clamp, comprising:

an upper end clamp, a clamp plate, a channel nut; and

a fastener connecting the upper end clamp, the clamp plate and the channel nut;

wherein a first end of the fastener engages the upper end clamp and a second end of the fastener engages the channel nut so that actuating the fastener moves the channel nut toward the clamp plate to fix the solar panel clamp to a structural member disposed therebetween; and

wherein said actuation of the fastener also moves the upper end clamp toward the clamp plate to fix a solar panel to the structural member.

14. The solar panel clamp of claim 13, wherein the upper end clamp includes a side surface and the clamp plate includes a side surface, the side surfaces oriented in the same plane to engage a side surface of the solar panel.

15. The solar panel clamp of claim 13, wherein the upper end clamp includes a protruding lip for engaging a top surface of a solar panel.

16. The solar panel clamp of claim 13, wherein the structural member is a channel member, and the channel nut includes a pair of recesses for receiving corresponding channel edges of the channel member.

17. The solar panel clamp of claim 16, wherein the clamp plate includes first and second legs configured to lock over top portions of the channel member when the fastener is rotated in the first direction.

18. The solar panel clamp of claim 13, wherein the upper end clamp includes a first protruding lip for engaging a top surface of the solar panel, and a second protruding lip for engaging a top surface of an adjacent solar panel.