MOUNTING ASSEMBLIES FOR SOLAR PANEL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING THE SAME

• US 20150280638A1
• Filed: 03/27/2015
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pegasus Solar Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pegasus Solar Inc.
• Inventors: Stephan, Erich Kai, Harris, Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 9,473,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/61 for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/634 Clamps; Clips
• 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 20/00 Supporting structures for PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A solar panel mount assembly includes a base portion mountable to an installation surface, and a support arm defining a support shoulder. The support arm is coupled to the base portion. The support arm and base portion cooperate to accommodate positioning the support arm at an adjustable distance relative to the installation surface. The solar panel mount assembly further includes a rotatable clamp assembly coupled to the support shoulder, and includes at least two brackets that releasably secure a portion of one or more solar panels.

Claims

1. A solar panel mount assembly, comprising:

a base portion mountable to an installation surface;

a support arm defining a support shoulder and coupled to the base portion, the support arm and base portion cooperate to accommodate positioning the support arm at an adjustable distance relative to the installation surface; and

a rotatable clamp assembly coupled to the support shoulder, the rotatable clamp assembly including at least two brackets that releasably secure a portion of one or more solar panels.

2. The solar panel mount assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a base plate configured to releasably couple to the base portion.

3. The solar panel mount assembly of claim 2, wherein the base plate is a flashing.

4. The solar panel mount assembly of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the flashing includes a protrusion received by a cavity defined in the base portion, the protrusion creates a seal about a fastener disposed within the cavity defined in the base portion.

5. The solar panel mount assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a retaining clip disposed between the at least one support arm and the clamp assembly that secures a fastener to the at least one support arm.

6. The solar panel mount assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one fastener coupling the clamp assembly to the support arm, and defining a fastener axis, and

wherein the clamp assembly is rotatable about the fastener axis.

7. The solar panel mount assembly of claim 6, wherein the fastener cooperates with the support arm and the clamp assembly to increase or decrease the independent degrees of displacement of the at least the portion of one of the brackets when each bracket releasably secures the portion of a corresponding solar panel.

8. The solar panel mount assembly of claim 1, wherein each bracket includes a top flange and a bottom flange that cooperate to releasably secure the portion of a corresponding solar panel.

9. The solar panel mount assembly of claim 8, wherein at least one of the top flange or the bottom flange for at least one of the brackets includes one or more protrusions that engages with a portion of the corresponding solar panel to releasably secure the corresponding solar panel.

10. The solar panel mount assembly of claim 9, wherein the one or more protrusions are configured to puncture a frame of the corresponding solar panel to form an electrical path.

11. The solar panel mount assembly of claim 1, wherein the support arm and the base portion each include a complimentary threaded pattern to couple the support arm to the base portion, wherein at least a portion of one of the brackets is configured for independent degrees of displacement relative to the other bracket when the other bracket releasably secures a portion of a solar panel

12. A solar panel clamp assembly, comprising:

a support arm defining a support shoulder configured to engage a base portion, the support arm cooperate with the base portion to accommodate positioning the support arm at an adjustable distance relative to an installation surface;

a rotatable clamp assembly coupled to the support shoulder, the rotatable clamp assembly including at least two brackets that releasably secure a portion of one or more solar panels; and

a fastener that releasably secures the rotatable clamp assembly to the support arm, the fastener facilitates or prohibits rotation of the rotatable clamp assembly.

13. The solar panel mount assembly of claim 12, wherein each bracket of the rotatable clamp assembly includes a top flange and a bottom flange that engage a corresponding solar panel.

14. A method for securing a solar panel to a solar panel mount assembly, the method comprising:

securing a base portion of the solar panel mount assembly to an installation surface;

securing a support arm of the solar panel mount assembly to the base portion, the support arm defining a support shoulder that supports a rotatable clamp assembly having at least a first bracket and a second bracket;

adjusting a distance of the support arm of the solar panel mount assembly relative to the installation surface;

releasably securing a first solar panel to the first bracket of the rotatable clamp assembly; and

releasably securing a second solar panel to the second bracket of the rotatable clamp assembly.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step for securing a base portion of the solar panel mount assembly to an installation surface further comprises:

securing the base portion to a base plate mounted to the installation surface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the base plate is a flashing.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

tightening a fastener that secures the support arm of the solar panel mount assembly to the base portion to prevent rotation of the rotatable clamp assembly.