SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES

• US 20130240008A1
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: First Solar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: First Solar Incorporated
• Inventors: Baker, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US13/422,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20130240008A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/601 by bonding, e.g. by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/632 Side connectors; Base connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/00 Supporting structures for PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A photovoltaic module mounting system includes a spacer pad, an adhesive material on a first side of the spacer pad, and a first engaging element on a second side of the spacer pad. The spacer pad is configured to be adhered to a photovoltaic module by the adhesive on the first side, and the first engaging element is configured to engage with a second engaging element of a support structure.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic module mounting system comprising:

a connection structure including a spacer pad with a first side and a second side, the first side having an adhesive material applied thereto for fastening the spacer pad to a photovoltaic module, and the second side having a first engaging element configured to engage a second engaging element provided at a support structure.

2. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 1, further comprising:

a photovoltaic module adhered to the spacer pad by the adhesive material.

3. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 2, further comprising:

a plurality of the connection structures connected by a respective adhesive material to the photovoltaic module.

4. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 3, wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of rail or beam structures each containing a plurality of second engaging elements connected to respective first engaging elements of the plurality of connection structures.

5. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of rail or beam structures each has an installation channel along a longitudinal axis, wherein the first engaging elements slidingly engage with a respective installation channel.

6. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of rail or beam structures each has a respective graduated indentation at a respective second engaging element.

7. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 1, wherein the spacer pad is formed of a non-conductive material.

8. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 1, wherein the spacer pad is formed of plastic.

9. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 1, wherein the spacer pad is formed of rubber.

10. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 2, wherein the photovoltaic module comprises a non-tempered glass back panel, and the spacer pad is adhered to the back panel.

11. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 1, wherein the first engaging element is a male engaging element, and the second engaging element is a female engaging element.

12. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 1, wherein the second engaging element includes a mechanism for releasing engagement of the first and second engaging elements.

13. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 12, wherein the mechanism for releasing engagement retracts at least one retainer.

14. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 1, wherein the first engaging element is a female engaging element, and the second engaging element is a male engaging element.

15. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 14, wherein the female engaging element is located at least partially recessed within a surface of the spacer pad.

16. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 14, wherein the male engaging element is located at least partially recessed in the support structure.

17. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 1, wherein the first engaging element has indentations that align with retainers of the second engaging element when the first engaging element is connected with the second engaging element.

18. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 1, wherein the first engaging element comprises a center shaft having flexible wings outwardly extending therefrom.

19. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 18, wherein the second engaging element is a hole and surrounding portion of a rail or beam.

20. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 1, wherein the first engaging element is a hole in the spacer pad having a tunnel portion and an opening portion that is larger in diameter than the tunnel portion, and the second engaging element comprises a center shaft having flexible wings outwardly extending therefrom.

21. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 1, wherein the spacer pad is between one quarter inch and two inches thick.

22. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 1, wherein the spacer pad is between two inches and eight inches in diameter.

23. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 1, wherein the spacer pad is a polygon shape with at least one side that is between two inches and eight inches long.

24. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 1, wherein the spacer pad is about one inch thick and about four inches in diameter.

25. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the spacer pad defines a space between the photovoltaic module and the mounting rail when the first engaging element is connected to the second engaging element.

26. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 1, wherein a length of the first engaging element defines a space between the photovoltaic module and the mounting rail when the first engaging element is connected to the second engaging element.

27. A method of mounting a photovoltaic module, comprising:

adhering a plurality of connection structures to a back side of the photovoltaic module, the connection structures each comprising a spacer pad and a first engaging element; and

connecting the first engaging elements to a plurality of respective second engaging elements on a support structure.

28. The method of mounting of claim 27, further comprising:

after the adhering, placing the first engaging elements on respective installation channels of at least two rails or beams of the support structure; and

sliding the connection structures across a portion of the at least two rails or beams to a location where the connection structures can engage with the support structure through respective first and second engaging elements.

29. The method of mounting of claim 27, further comprising:

after the adhering, placing the first engaging elements in graduated indentations at the respective second engaging elements on the at least two rails or beams; and

sliding the connection structures across a portion of the at least two rails or beams.

30. A photovoltaic module mounting system comprising:

a photovoltaic module;

a plurality of connection structures adhered to a back side of the photovoltaic module, the connection structures each comprising a spacer pad and a first engaging element configured to connect with a second engaging element.

31. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 30, further comprising:

a support structure connected to the respective first engaging elements of the plurality of connection structures by a plurality of second engaging elements on the support structure.

32. The photovoltaic module mounting system of claim 30, further comprising:

a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each photovoltaic module having a plurality of the connection structures connected to the support structure.