HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT BRACKET FOR ROOF APPLICATIONS

• US 20150288320A1
• Filed: 04/07/2015
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rillito River Solar LLC (Esdec B.V.)
• Original Assignee: Vermont Slate & Copper Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Stearns, Brian Cecil, Bornemann, Alexander Grant
• Granted Patent: US 9,985,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/018 Means for preventing movements, e.g. stops
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/6003 by clamping
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/6004 by clipping, e.g. by using snap connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/6005 by screwed connection
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/6006 by using threaded elements, e.g. stud bolts
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/801 having hollow parts with closed cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/30 using elongate rigid mounting elements extending substantially along the supporting surface, e.g. for covering buildings with solar heat collectors extending in directions away from the supporting surface F24S25/10; peripheral frames for modules F24S25/20
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/40 using plate-like mounting elements, e.g. profiled or corrugated plates; Plate-like module frames extending in directions away from a supporting surface F24S25/10
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/60 Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules
• 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 roof mount system supports a solar panel above a roof and includes a base positioned on the roof and a first fastener connected to the base and extending away from the roof and moveable along the base in a direction generally parallel to the roof. A first clamp supports a bottom surface of a solar panel frame and adjusts the height of the solar panel above the roof by moving the first clamp along a first fastener in a direction perpendicular to the roof. A second clamp is connected to a second fastener and moves with respect to the first clamp perpendicular to the roof. The solar panel is clamped between the first clamp and the second clamp portion. A protrusion extends from the first or second clamp to form an electrical bond between the solar panel frame and the respective first or second clamp.

Claims

1. A roof mount system configured to support a solar panel above a roof, the roof mount system comprising:

a base positioned on the roof;

a first fastener coupled to the base and extending away from the roof, the first fastener moveable along the base in a first direction, the first direction extending generally parallel to the roof;

a first clamp portion coupled to the first fastener and moveable with respect to the base in a second direction, the second direction extending generally perpendicular to the roof, the first clamp including a first surface sized to engage a bottom surface of a solar panel frame, wherein the distance between the solar panel and the roof is adjusted by moving the first clamp portion along the first fastener in the second direction;

a second fastener coupled to the first clamp portion and extending in the second direction away from the roof;

a second clamp portion coupled to the second fastener and moveable with respect to the first clamp portion in the second direction, the second clamp including a second surface sized to engage a top surface of the solar panel frame, wherein the solar panel is secured against the first clamp portion by moving the second clamp portion toward the first clamp portion along the second fastener in the second direction; and

a protrusion extending from one of the first and second clamp portions, the protrusion is operable to form an electrical bond between the solar panel frame and the respective one of the first and second clamp portions.

2. The roof mount system of claim 1, further comprising a skirt coupled to at least one of the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion.

3. The roof mount system of claim 2, wherein the skirt is configured to be orientated relative to the roof at an acute angle, and wherein a portion of the skirt extends above the second clamp portion to form a snow fence when the second clamp portion is secured to the solar panel.

4. The roof mount system of claim 2, wherein the skirt includes a plurality of perforations.

5. The roof mount system of claim 2, wherein the skirt has a substantially continuous, non-perforated front surface.

6. The roof mount system of claim 2, wherein a distance between the skirt and the roof is adjustable when at least one of the first and second clamps is moved in the second direction.

7. The roof mount system of claim 1, wherein the solar panel is a first solar panel and wherein the first and second clamp portions are operable to support the first solar panel and a second solar panel.

8. The roof mount system of claim 7, wherein the first and second clamp portions are operable to support third and fourth solar panels.

9. The roof mount system of claim 1, further comprising a third fastener coupling the base to the roof.

10. The roof mount system of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is a first protrusion and further comprising a second protrusion extending from the one of the first and second clamp portions, the second protrusion is operable to form an electrical bond between a frame of a second solar panel and the respective one of the first and second clamp portions.

11. The roof mount system of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member positioned between the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion, the biasing member operable to bias the second clamp portion away from the first clamp portion.

12. The roof mount system of claim 1, wherein the base is a non-penetrating foot coupled to the first fastener, such that the roof mount system is supported on the roof without penetrating the roof.

13. The roof mount system of claim 12, further comprising flashing positioned between the non-penetrating foot and the roof, the flashing including a protrusion positioned to engage the non-penetrating foot to retain the flashing on the roof.

14. A method of supporting a solar panel above a roof surface, the method comprising:

positioning a base on the roof surface;

extending a first fastener upward from the base away from the roof surface;

moving the first fastener along the base in a direction substantially parallel to the roof surface;

positioning a first clamp portion on the first fastener at a first distance from the roof surface;

extending a second fastener upward from the base away from the roof surface;

positioning a second clamp portion on the second fastener at a second distance from the roof surface;

positioning a solar panel on the first clamp portion of the roof mounted bracket;

adjusting the first distance to adjust the height of the solar panel off of the roof surface;

clamping the solar panel between the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion by decreasing the second distance; and

electrically bonding the solar panel and at least one of the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising supporting a skirt on at least one of the first and second clamp portions.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising extending a portion of the skirt above a top surface defined by the solar panel to form a snow fence.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting a distance between the skirt and the roof surface by at least one of the step of adjusting the first distance and the step of clamping the solar panel.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising positioning a second solar panel on the first clamp portion and clamping the second solar panel between the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising electrically bonding the second solar panel and the at least one of the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising positioning a third solar panel and a fourth solar panel on the first clamp portion and clamping the third solar panel and the fourth solar panel between the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising biasing the second clamp portion away from the first clamp portion.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising positioning a flashing between the base and the roof and retaining the flashing on the roof with at least one of the following:

friction between the base and the roof, a non-penetrating fastener and a roof-penetrating fastener.

23. A roof mount system configured to support a solar panel above a roof, the roof mount system comprising:

a base positioned on the roof;

a first fastener coupled to the base and extending away from the roof, the first fastener moveable along the base in a first direction, the first direction extending generally parallel to the roof;

a first clamp portion coupled to the first fastener and moveable with respect to the base in a second direction, the second direction extending generally perpendicular to the roof, the first clamp including a first surface sized to engage a bottom surface of a solar panel frame, wherein the distance between the solar panel and the roof is adjusted by moving the first clamp portion along the first fastener in the second direction;

a second fastener coupled to the first clamp portion and extending in the second direction away from the roof; and

a second clamp portion coupled to the second fastener and moveable with respect to the first clamp portion in the second direction, the second clamp including a second surface sized to engage a top surface of the solar panel frame, wherein the solar panel is secured against the first clamp portion by moving the second clamp portion along the second fastener in the second direction.