Adjustable mounting assembly for standing seam panels

• US 7,758,011 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2007
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RMH Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert M.M. Haddock
• Inventors: Haddock, Robert M. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): STERLING, AMY JO
• Application Number:
  US11/759,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20080302928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 136/244, 136/251, 522/35, 527/67, 522/206, 528/001.6, 248/343, 248/344, 248/500, 248/505
• US Class Current: 248/500
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/0821 the additional fastening elements located in-between two adjacent covering elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/6006 by using threaded elements, e.g. stud bolts
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/20 Peripheral frames for modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/615 for fixing to protruding parts of buildings, e.g. to corrugations or to standing seams
• 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

An adjustable mounting assembly (70a/70b) for installing solar cell modules (58) on a building surface (34) is disclosed. The mounting assembly (70a/70b) includes a mounting device (74), a stud (114) that may be threaded to the mounting device (74), a clamping member (142) that may be positioned on the stud (114), and a nut (128) that may be threaded onto the stud (114) to secure the clamping member (142) to the mounting device (74). A nut (126) is fixed to the stud (114) at an intermediate location along its length. This fixed nut (126) may be used to tighten the stud (114) to a mounting device (74), and furthermore may be positioned such that the stud (114) does not extend into a slot (90) of the mounting device (74).

Claims

1. A mounting assembly for standing seam panels, comprising:

a mounting device attachable to a standing seam on a surface defined by a plurality of panels;

a stud detachably engaged with said mounting device and comprising first and second stud ends, wherein said stud extends from said mounting device to dispose said first stud end in spaced relation to said mounting device;

a clamping member positioned onto said stud via said first stud end; and

first and second nuts positioned on said stud on opposite sides of said clamping member, said first nut being threaded onto said stud via said first stud end, and said second nut being positioned on said stud between said clamping member and said mounting device.

2. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein said mounting device comprises a slot and at least one fastener that extends through said mounting device and engages a standing seam disposed within said slot when said mounting device is attached to the standing seam.

3. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein said stud is threadably engaged with said mounting device.

4. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein said stud comprises first and second threaded sections, wherein said second nut is between said first and second threaded sections, wherein said first threaded section extends from said first stud end toward said second nut, and wherein said second threaded section extends from said second stud end toward said second nut.

5. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein said second nut is fixed to said stud at a location between said first and second stud ends.

6. The mounting assembly of claim 5, wherein a location of said second nut along said stud ensures that said second stud end will not extend into a seam-receiving slot of said mounting device when said stud is mounted to said mounting device.

7. The mounting assembly of claim 5, further comprising a removable mounting plate disposed between said second nut and said mounting device when said stud is mounted to said mounting device, wherein said removable mounting plate is located between said mounting device and each of said first nut, said second nut, and said clamping member.

8. The mounting assembly of claim 7, wherein said mounting plate has a surface area of at least about 5 in.².

9. The mounting assembly of claim 5, wherein said second nut may be used to tighten said stud onto said mounting device.

10. The mounting assembly of claim 5, wherein a threaded section extending from said second nut to said first stud end is at least about 1.5 inches long.

11. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein said stud comprises a first threaded section that extends from said first stud end and toward said second stud end, wherein said clamping member may be disposed at any location along said first threaded section.

12. The mounting assembly of claim 11, wherein disposing said clamping member at different locations along said first threaded section accommodates clamping structures of different thicknesses to said mounting assembly.

13. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second nuts engage first and second opposing sides of a base of said clamping member, respectively, when said mounting assembly is in a first clamping configuration, and wherein said first nut engages said first side of said base of said clamping member and said second nut is spaced from said base of said clamping member when said mounting assembly is in a second clamping configuration.

14. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein said clamping member is at least generally U-shaped, and wherein said stud extends into an open space between first and second clamping legs of said clamping member when said clamping member is positioned on said stud via said first stud end.

15. The mounting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a third nut threaded onto said first stud end, wherein said first and third nuts engage opposing surfaces of said clamping member, wherein said third nut is disposed between said first and second nuts along said stud.

16. A building assembly comprising a first standing seam, the mounting assembly of claim 15, and a first structure, wherein said mounting device is attached to said first standing seam, wherein said clamping member comprises first and second clamping legs that are disposed in opposing relation, wherein said first clamping leg of said clamping member engages said first structure, and wherein said second clamping leg of said clamping member is unused.

17. The building assembly of claim 16, wherein said mounting assembly further comprises a mounting plate disposed between said mounting device and said clamping member, wherein said clamping member clamps said first structure against said mounting plate.

18. The building assembly of claim 17, wherein said mounting plate is clamped onto said mounting device and is engaged by said second nut.

19. The building assembly of claim 17, wherein said mounting plate has a surface area of at least about 5 in.².

20. The building assembly of claim 16, wherein said first structure is a solar cell module that comprises a frame, wherein said first clamping leg engages said frame.

21. A building assembly comprising a first standing seam, the mounting assembly of claim 1, and first and second structures, wherein said mounting device is attached to said first standing seam, wherein said clamping member comprises first and second clamping legs that are disposed in opposing relation, wherein said first clamping leg of said clamping member engages said first structure, and wherein said second clamping leg of said clamping member engages said second structure.

22. The building assembly of claim 21, wherein said first and second structures are first and second solar cell modules, respectively, that each comprise a frame, wherein said first clamping leg engages said frame of said first solar cell module, and wherein said second clamping leg engages said frame of said second solar cell module.

23. The building assembly of claim 21, wherein said clamping member comprises a base, wherein said first nut engages a first side of said base of said clamping member to force said first and second clamping legs against said first and second structures, respectively, and wherein a second side of said base of said clamping member, that is disposed opposite of said first side, interfaces with an open space.

24. The building assembly of claim 21, wherein said mounting assembly further comprises a removable mounting plate disposed between said mounting device and said clamping member, wherein said clamping member clamps said first and second structures against said mounting plate, and wherein said mounting plate is engaged by said second nut.

25. The building assembly of claim 24, wherein said mounting plate is clamped onto said mounting device.

26. The building assembly of claim 24, wherein said mounting plate has a surface area of at least about 5 in.².

27. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein said mounting assembly further comprises a removable mounting plate disposed between said mounting device and said clamping member, wherein said removable mounting plate is located between said mounting device and each of said first nut, said second nut, and said clamping member, and wherein said mounting plate is engaged by said second nut.

28. The mounting assembly of claim 27, wherein said mounting plate is clamped onto said mounting device and is engaged by said second nut.

29. The mounting assembly of claim 27, wherein said mounting plate has a surface area of at least about 5 in.².