Pressure-equalizing PV assembly and method
First Claim
1. An array of pressure-equalizing photovoltaic (PV) assemblies mountable to a support surface, each PV assembly comprising:
- a base having an upper surface and a lower surface;
a PV module having an inner surface, an outer surface and a peripheral edge;
a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlaying the upper surface of the base;
vents formed through the base; and
a pressure equalization path extending from the outer surface of the PV module, past the PV module, to and through at least one of said vents, and to the lower surface of the base, whereby pressure equalization between the outer surface of the PV module and the lower surface of the base is provided to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Each PV assembly of an array of PV assemblies comprises a base, a PV module and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base. Vents are formed through the base. A pressure equalization path extends from the outer surface of the PV module, past the PV module, to and through at least one of the vents, and to the lower surface of the base to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly. The PV assemblies may be interengaged, such as by interengaging the bases of adjacent PV assemblies. The base may include a main portion and a cover and the bases of adjacent PV assemblies may be interengaged by securing the covers of adjacent bases together.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. An array of pressure-equalizing photovoltaic (PV) assemblies mountable to a support surface, each PV assembly comprising:
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a base having an upper surface and a lower surface;
a PV module having an inner surface, an outer surface and a peripheral edge;
a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlaying the upper surface of the base;
vents formed through the base; and
a pressure equalization path extending from the outer surface of the PV module, past the PV module, to and through at least one of said vents, and to the lower surface of the base, whereby pressure equalization between the outer surface of the PV module and the lower surface of the base is provided to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
a deflector, and a multi-position deflector support securing the deflector to the base at deflector shipping and deflector inclined-use angles relative to the base, said deflector shipping angle being generally 0 degrees, said deflector inclined-use angle being a second acute angle with the deflector extending away from the base.
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15. The array according to claim 1 wherein the array of PV modules is circumscribed by a perimeter assembly.
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16. The array according to claim 15 wherein the perimeter assembly is a continuous, belting perimeter assembly, and further comprising cross-strapping, extending at least one of above, below or through the array, securing a first position along the perimeter assembly to at least a second position along the perimeter assembly thereby stabilizing the array against wind up-lift forces.
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17. A PV system comprising:
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a support surface;
an array of pressure-equalizing photovoltaic (PV) assemblies mounted to the support surface, each PV assembly comprising;
a base having an upper surface and a lower surface;
a PV module having an inner surface, an outer surface and a peripheral edge;
a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base;
vents formed through the base; and
a pressure equalization path extending from the outer surface of the PV module, past the PV module, to and through at least one of said vents, and to the lower surface of the base, whereby pressure equalization between the outer surface of the PV module and the lower surface of the base is provided to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly; and
the peripheral edges of adjacent PV modules being separated by an average distance of about d.
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18. A PV assembly, for use on a support surface, comprising:
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a base having an upper surface and a lower surface;
a PV module having an inner surface, an outer surface and a peripheral edge;
a module support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base;
the PV module being oriented at a first angle to the base, the PV module extending away from the base from a first module portion to a second module portion;
a deflector oriented at a second angle to the base by a deflector support, the deflector having first and second deflector portions, the deflector extending away from the base from the first deflector portion to the second deflector portion;
vents formed through the base; and
a pressure equalization path extending from the outer surface of the PV module, past the deflector, to and through at least one of said vents, and to the lower surface of the base, whereby pressure equalization between the outer surface of the PV module and the lower surface of the base is provided to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly.
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19. A PV system comprising:
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a support surface comprising alternating ridges and troughs; and
an array of pressure-equalizing photovoltaic (PV) assemblies, each of a plurality of said PV assemblies comprising;
a base having an upper surface and a lower surface;
a PV module having an inner surface, an outer surface, a center and a peripheral edge;
a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base;
a vent formed through the base between the center of the PV module and the support assembly;
a pressure equalization path extending from the outer surface of the PV module, past the PV module, to and through said vent, and to the lower surface of the base; and
whereby pressure equalization between the outer surface of the PV module and the lower surface of the base is provided to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly.
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20. A method for reducing wind uplift forces on an array of pressure-equalizing photovoltaic (PV) assemblies mountable to a support surface, each PV assembly comprising a base having an upper surface and a lower surface, a PV module having an inner surface, an outer surface and a peripheral edge, and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base, the method comprising:
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forming vents through the base; and
creating a pressure equalization path extending from the outer surface of the PV module, past the PV module, to and through at least one of said vents, and to the lower surface of the base, whereby pressure equalization between the outer surface of the PV module and the lower surface of the base is provided to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for reducing wind uplift forces on an array of pressure-equalizing photovoltaic (PV) assemblies mountable to a support surface comprising alternating ridges and troughs, each PV assembly comprising a base having an upper surface and a lower surface, a PV module having an inner surface, an outer surface and a peripheral edge, and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base, the method comprising:
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forming vents through the base;
creating pressure equalization paths extending from the outer surfaces of the PV modules, past the PV modules, to and through at least one of said vents, and to the lower surface of the base, whereby pressure equalization between the outer surfaces of said PV modules and the lower surface of the base is provided to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly; and
mounting the array of PV assemblies to the support surface.
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Specification