Universal end clamp

• US 8,585,000 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunrun Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mainstream Energy Corporation
• Inventors: McPheeters, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): WOOD, KIMBERLY T
• Application Number:
  US12/470,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20100282920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 248/228.2, 248/230.2, 248/231.31, 248/316.2, 248/229.11, 248/229.21, 248/222.13, 248/231.41, 248/228.3, 248/220.21, 248/221.11, 248/222.41, 248/229.12, 248/229.22, 248/72, 248/228.5, 521/731, 526/98, 522/825, 411/84, 411/75, 403/374.1, 403/374.2, 403/374.3, 403/21, 403/22, 244/58
• US Class Current: 248/228.2
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/00 Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage ; Sky-lights ventilation tiles E04D1/30; ventilation slabs E04D3/40; internal channels E04F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/1476 wherein the parts extending above the roof have a generally circular cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/40 Clamping arrangements where clamping parts are received in recesses of elements to be connected
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/403 Threaded clamping parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/045 specially adapted for fastening in channels, e.g. sliding bolts, channel nuts
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/6002 by using hooks
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/00 Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/10 extending in directions away from a supporting surface
• 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 25/61 for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• 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: H01Q 1/1207 for fastening a rigid aerial element
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44974 Threaded cylindrical rod and mating cavity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7067 : Threaded actuator

Abstract

A clamp has a body, a wedged channel nut, and a bolt. The body has a first component extending from the body and configured to engage a module and a second component having a tapered body surface. The wedged channel nut has a first flange and a second flange extending from opposing sides of the nut and configured to engage a rail and a tapered nut surface having an angle substantially identical to the angle of the tapered body surface of the second component, wherein the tapered nut surface engages the tapered body surface. A bolt extends through the wedged channel nut and the body. When the bolt is tightened, the nut and the body secure the module and rail together.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a module;

a rail extending in a first direction configured to support the module; and

a clamp including;

a body including;

a clamp body flange extending from the body and configured to engage a surface of the module; and

a nut-receiving component having a tapered body surface;

a nut including;

a first nut flange and a second nut flange extending from opposing sides of the nut and configured to engage opposing sides of the rail; and

a tapered nut surface defining a first angle substantially identical to a second angle of the tapered body surface of the nut-receiving component, wherein the tapered nut surface engages the tapered body surface; and

a bolt extending through the nut and the body, wherein tightening of the bolt causes the nut and the body to secure the module and rail together, wherein an aperture is defined in the nut-receiving component to receive the bolt, the aperture extending from the tapered body surface and through the nut-receiving component in the first direction substantially parallel to the rail.

2. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a substantially horizontal component extending in a direction substantially parallel to the rail, and wherein the clamp body flange extends from the substantially horizontal component in a direction substantially perpendicular to the substantially horizontal component.

3. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the nut comprises a substantially vertical nut surface for receiving the bolt.

4. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the clamp body flange and the nut-receiving component of the body are joined by a substantially vertical component of the body extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the rail.

5. The clamp according to claim 4, wherein the tapered body surface extends in a direction toward the substantially vertical component.

6. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the rail comprises a first rail component and a second rail component configured for supporting the module, and wherein the first nut flange and the second nut flange are configured to engage the first rail component and the second rail component.

7. A system comprising:

a module;

a rail extending in a first direction configured to support the module; and

a clamp including;

a body including;

a clamp body flange extending from the body and configured to engage a surface of the module; and

a nut-receiving component having a tapered body surface;

a nut including;

a first nut flange and a second nut flange extending from opposing sides of the nut and configured to engage opposing sides of the rail; and

a tapered nut surface defining a first angle substantially identical to a second angle of the tapered body surface of the nut-receiving component, wherein the tapered nut surface engages the tapered body surface; and

a bolt extending through the nut and the body, wherein tightening of the bolt causes the nut and the body to secure the module and rail together, wherein the bolt engages the nut and the body to move in the first direction substantially parallel to the direction of the rail.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the body comprises a substantially horizontal component extending in a direction substantially parallel to the rail, and wherein the clamp body flange extends from the substantially horizontal component in a direction substantially perpendicular to the substantially horizontal component.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the clamp body flange and the nut-receiving component of the body are joined by a substantially vertical component of the body extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the rail.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the tapered body surface extends in a direction toward the substantially vertical component.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the rail comprises a first rail component and a second rail component configured for supporting the module, and wherein the first nut flange and the second nut flange are configured to engage the first rail component and the second rail component.