RAIL-LESS ROOF MOUNTING CLAMP ASSEMBLY

• US 20150168021A1
• Filed: 01/26/2015
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wencon Development Incorporated (Esdec B.V.)
• Original Assignee: Quality Product, LLC
• Inventors: Wentworth, Stuart, Wentworth, Claudia
• Granted Patent: US 9,813,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/6008 by using toothed elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/803 having a central web, e.g. I-shaped, inverted T- shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/807 having undercut grooves
• 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 25/636 clamping by screw-threaded elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/70 with means for adjusting the final position or orientation of supporting elements in relation to each other or to a mounting surface; with means for compensating mounting tolerances
• 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 rail-less roof mounting system for installing photovoltaic (PV) modules on a roof structure comprises a base mount assembly that engages with a clamp assembly and attaches to the roof structure. The base mount assembly comprises a base member having a waterproof means, a block slider, a top slider and a covering means. An elevated seal portion of a block slider includes a borehole to receive the waterproof means. A vertical engaging portion of the block slider is attached with a sliding seal member of the top slider. The clamp assembly includes a clamp member and a plate member and the clamp member is attached with a track of the top slider. The clamp member interlocks the PV modules to provide a corner-to-corner coupling arrangement, which enables the connection of PV module corners to adjacent PV module corners by sandwiching above and beneath frame members of the PV modules.

Claims

1. A rail-less roof mounting system for installing a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules on a roof structure, the rail-less roof mounting system comprising:

a clamp assembly having a clamp member with a pair of holes on an inner surface and a plate member with a plurality of slots, the clamp member interconnects a frame member of a PV module to a frame member of adjacent PV module, and wherein the clamp member further comprises a grooved edge and at least one securing means; and

whereby the plurality of PV modules are interlocked in a way to provide a corner-to-corner coupling arrangement which enables the connection of PV module corners to adjacent PV module corners by sandwiching above and beneath frame members of the plurality of PV modules.

2. The rail-less roof mounting system of claim 1 wherein the grooved edge accommodates the fitment of a PV array skirt.

3. The rail-less roof mounting system of claim 1 wherein the at least one securing means is a cap screw.

4. The rail-less roof mounting system of claim 1 wherein the at least one securing means is securely tightened utilizing a lock nut.

5. The rail-less roof mounting system of claim 1 wherein the securing means is a pair of screws connected to said pair of holes.

6. The rail-less roof mounting system of claim 1 wherein the clamp member interlocks top and bottom surfaces of the frame members of the plurality of PV modules.

7. The rail-less roof mounting system of claim 1 wherein the clamp member is made from an aluminum flashing.

8. A rail-less roof mounting system for installing a plurality of PV modules on a roof structure, the rail-less roof mounting system comprising:

a clamp assembly having a grooved edge, clamp member with a plurality of apertures on an inner surface and a plate member with a plurality of slots, the clamp member and the plate member being attached to a track utilizing at least one securing means such that the clamp member interconnects a frame member of a PV module to a frame member of an adjacent PV module;

whereby the plurality of PV modules are interlocked in a way to provide a corner-to-corner coupling arrangement which enables the connection of PV module corners to adjacent PV module corners by sandwiching above and beneath frame members of the plurality of PV modules.

9. The rail-less roof mounting system of claim 8 wherein the grooved edge accommodates the fitment of a PV array skirt.

10. The rail-less roof mounting system of claim 8 wherein the rail-less roof mounting system is easily disassembled and stored when not in use.

11. The rail-less roof mounting system of claim 8 wherein the rail-less roof mounting system allows a snap-fit engagement to provide a longer landing ability to the plate member when installing the rail-less roof mounting system with a PV array skirt.

12. The rail-less roof mounting system of claim 8 wherein the rail-less roof mounting system provides a single grounding lug for assembling the PV array consisting of 300 PV modules.

13. The rail-less roof mounting system of claim 8 wherein the at least one securing means is a cap screw.

14. The rail-less roof mounting system of claim 8 wherein the at least one securing means is securely tightened utilizing a lock nut.

15. The rail-less roof mounting system of claim 8 wherein the clamp member is attached with the frame members of the plurality of PV modules by inserting a plurality of screws into a plurality of holes on the clamp member.

16. A method for installing a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules on a roof structure, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a rail-less roof mounting system comprising;

a clamp assembly having a clamp member, a plate member, and a grooved edge;

b) tightening at least one fastening means utilizing a lock nut;

c) attaching the clamp member and the plate member to a roof structure utilizing at least one securing means that is slid through a horizontal groove and inserted through a plurality of slots on the plate member and a plurality of apertures on the clamp member;

d) tightening the at least one securing means utilizing the lock nut;

e) interconnecting a frame member of a PV module to a frame member of an adjacent PV module by the clamp member to provide a corner-to-corner coupling arrangement; and

f) attaching the clamp member with the frame member of the PV module by inserting a plurality of screws into a plurality of holes on the clamp member; and

whereby the corner-to-corner coupling arrangement enables the connection of PV module corners to adjacent PV module corners by sandwiching above and beneath frame members of the plurality of PV modules.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the grooved edge accommodates the fitment of a PV array skirt.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one fastening means is a cap screw.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one securing means is a cap screw.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the rail-less roof mounting system further comprises a single grounding lug for assembling the PV array and for providing an electrical grounding path for the modules.