Modular Sloped Roof Solar Mounting System

• US 20150129517A1
• Filed: 11/13/2014
• Published: 05/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unirac Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ecolibrium Solar, Inc.
• Inventors: Wildes, Brian James
• Granted Patent: US 9,825,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/02 by means of fastening members using screw-thread F16B5/0004 takes precedence; construction of screw-threaded connections F16B25/00 - F16B39/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/61 for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/632 Side connectors; Base connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/636 clamping by screw-threaded 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

Abstract

A mounting system for supporting a plurality of photovoltaic modules on a sloped support surface, such as a sloped roof, is disclosed herein. The mounting system may include one or more support surface attachment devices, each support surface attachment device configured to attach one or more photovoltaic modules to a support surface; and one or more module coupling devices, each module coupling device configured to couple a plurality of photovoltaic modules to one another.

Claims

1. A support surface attachment device, said support surface attachment device configured to attach one or more photovoltaic modules to a support surface, said support surface attachment device comprising:

a lower support member configured to be attached to a support surface; and

a clamp assembly configured to engage one or more photovoltaic modules, said clamp assembly configured to be fixed in place relative to said lower support member

wherein said clamp assembly is capable of being selectively positioned along a length of said lower support member prior to being fixed in place relative to said lower support member so as to permit adjustability when said one or more photovoltaic modules are being attached to said support surface.

2. The support surface attachment device according to claim 1, wherein said clamp assembly of said support surface attachment device comprises a lower clamp member and an upper clamp member, said upper clamp member connected to said lower clamp member by a threaded fastening device.

3. The support surface attachment device according to claim 2, wherein said lower clamp member of said clamp assembly comprises a pair of ledges extending outwardly from oppositely disposed outer side surfaces of said lower clamp member, one of said pair of ledges comprising a groove disposed therein for receiving a portion of a skirt mounting member.

4. The support surface attachment device according to claim 2, further comprising an upper support member, said upper support member configured to operate as a handle for rotating said clamp assembly relative to said lower support member, and thereby lock said clamp assembly in place relative to said lower support member.

5. The support surface attachment device according to claim 4, wherein said threaded fastening device further connects said clamp assembly to said upper support member.

6. The support surface attachment device according to claim 1, further comprising a cam-type locking mechanism that locks said clamp assembly in place relative to said lower support member without the use of tools.

7. A coupling device configured to attach one or more photovoltaic modules to one or more other photovoltaic modules, said coupling device comprising:

a lower coupling member including at least one ledge extending outwardly from a side surface of said lower coupling member; and

an upper coupling member including at least one flange portion extending outwardly from said upper coupling member, said upper coupling member being adjustably connected to said lower coupling member by at least one fastening device;

wherein said one or more photovoltaic modules and said one or more other photovoltaic modules are configured to be clamped between said at least one ledge of said lower coupling member and said at least one flange portion of said upper coupling member.

8. The coupling device according to claim 7, wherein said lower coupling member further includes a pair of generally vertical walls having oppositely disposed outer side surfaces, and wherein said at least one ledge comprises a pair of ledges extending outwardly from said oppositely disposed outer side surfaces of said generally vertical walls.

9. A support surface attachment device, said support surface attachment device configured to attach one or more photovoltaic modules to a support surface, said support surface attachment device comprising:

a rotatable base member, said rotatable base member being pivotal about a central rotational axis, said rotatable base member configured to be attached to a support surface; and

a clamp assembly configured to engage one or more photovoltaic modules, said clamp assembly coupled to said rotatable base member;

wherein said clamp assembly is capable of being selectively positioned along a circumferential path of said rotatable base member prior to said rotatable base member being fixed in place relative to said support surface so as to permit adjustability when said one or more photovoltaic modules are being attached to said support surface.

10. The support surface attachment device according to claim 9, wherein said clamp assembly of said support surface attachment device comprises a lower clamp member and an upper clamp member, said upper clamp member connected to said lower clamp member by a first threaded fastening member.

11. The support surface attachment device according to claim 10, further comprising a second threaded fastening member, said second threaded fastening member coupling said clamp assembly to said rotatable base member.

12. The support surface attachment device according to claim 9, further comprising a flashing member having a fastener aperture configured to receive a fastener for attaching said rotatable base member and said flashing member to said support surface, said fastener aperture being disposed through a raised position of said flashing member so that water is prevented from passing through said fastener aperture.

13. A mounting system for supporting a plurality of photovoltaic modules on a support surface, said mounting system comprising:

a support surface attachment device, said support surface attachment device configured to attach one or more photovoltaic modules to a support surface, said support surface attachment device including a clamp assembly, said clamp assembly including at least one upwardly tapered ledge extending from an outer side of said clamp assembly;

wherein said at least one upwardly tapered ledge is configured to function as a spring for applying a compressive force against said one or more photovoltaic modules so as to securely retain said one or more photovoltaic modules in said clamp assembly.

14. The mounting system according to claim 13, wherein said clamp assembly is capable of being attached anywhere along a peripheral edge of said one or more photovoltaic modules.

15. The mounting system according to claim 13, further comprising a module coupling device, said module coupling device configured to attach one or more photovoltaic modules to one or more other photovoltaic modules.

16. The mounting system according to claim 13, wherein said mounting system does not include a mounting rail that is configured to span multiple photovoltaic modules.

17. A mounting system for supporting a plurality of photovoltaic modules on a support surface, said mounting system comprising:

a support surface attachment device, said support surface attachment device configured to attach one or more photovoltaic modules to a support surface, said support surface attachment device including a clamp assembly, said clamp assembly including a lower clamp member and an upper clamp member, said lower clamp member having an outwardly extending component extending from an outer side of said lower clamp member;

a skirt mounting member, said skirt mounting member comprising a first plurality of protrusions; and

a skirt member, said skirt member comprising a second plurality of protrusions, said second plurality of protrusions on said skirt member configured to matingly engage said first plurality of protrusions on said skirt mounting member.

18. The mounting system according to claim 17, wherein said skirt mounting member comprises a downwardly extending portion configured to engage with a groove in said outwardly extending component of said lower clamp member of said clamp assembly;

and wherein said skirt member is configured to engage with said upper clamp member of said clamp assembly.