Universal clip apparatus for solar panel assembly

• US 8,894,424 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2012
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A Raymond Et Compagnie
• Original Assignee: A Raymond Et Compagnie
• Inventors: DuPont, Luc
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne, Jean F
• Application Number:
  US13/593,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20130102165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 439/95, 439/374, 439/377, 439/296, 439/927, 136250-253, 136/244
• US Class Current: 439/95
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/6007 by using form-fitting connection means, e.g. tongue and groove
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/804 U-, C- or O-shaped; Hat profiles
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/12 using posts in combination with upper profiles
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/20 Peripheral frames for modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/632 Side connectors; Base connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/634 Clamps; Clips
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 40/00 Safety or protection arrangements of solar heat collectors; Preventing malfunction of solar heat collectors control arrangements F24S50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/22 specially adapted for buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/36 characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
• 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 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A solar panel assembly attachment apparatus is provided including a strut defining a generally U-shaped channel; an electrically conductive grounding clip; and a panel retainer. Upon insertion of the panel retainer into a housing receptacle of the clip, a clip slot and a panel body slot are aligned to allow passage of the portion of the solar panel frame. Advancing the solar panel frame through the aligned clip slot and panel body slot compresses a spring to secure the solar panel frame while barbs electrically connect and provide a ground to the solar panel frame.

Claims

1. A solar panel assembly attachment apparatus comprising:

(a) an electrically conductive grounding clip comprising;

(i) a strut-engaging surface;

(ii) a flexible securing region adapted to secure a portion of the clip in a strut channel;

(iii) a housing including a housing receptacle;

(iv) at least one barb internally projecting from at least one surface of the housing receptacle; and

(v) a clip slot adapted to receive a portion of a solar panel frame;

(b) a panel retainer comprising;

(i) a panel body including a panel body slot; and

(ii) a spring disposed in the panel body slot,

wherein upon insertion of the panel retainer into the housing receptacle, the clip slot and the panel body slot are aligned and adapted to receive the portion of the solar panel frame therein; and

wherein the spring is adapted to compress the solar panel frame against the at least one barb to electrically connect and provide a ground to the solar panel frame.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive grounding clip further includes a base to deter buckling of the flexible securing region.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flexible securing region further defines at least one opening adapted to provide an electrical connection with a second electrically conductive grounding clip.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one barb is adapted to engage and ground a flange of the solar panel frame.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least four spaced apart barbs which gouge into at least one coated surface of the solar panel frame when installed.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a glass solar panel mounted to the frame and hiding a majority of the clip when completely attached to the strut, the strut having a substantially U-shaped end view with the internal surfaces being reverse-turned walls, and the flexible securing members removably abutting against edges of the reverse-turned walls.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the flexible securing member further includes outwardly extending tabs that abut against edges of the reverse-turned walls.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the spring is an elongated member internally folded from a top wall of the panel retainer;

the panel retainer is removeable from the grounding clip in a substantially linear and screw-free manner;

the solar panel frame is removeable from the grounding clip in a substantially linear and screw-free manner; and

the grounding clip is removeable from an elongated support in a substantially linear and screw-free manner.

9. A solar panel assembly attachment apparatus comprising:

an elongated and rigid strut including a pair of opposed internal surfaces defining a channel therebetween;

a solar panel frame including a lateral flange;

a clip comprising a housing defining a housing slot, the housing being coupled to flexible securing wings; and

a panel retainer fitting within a housing of the clip and defining a panel slot which aligns with the housing slot when the panel retainer is within the housing;

the flange of the frame being linearly received in the aligned housing slot and panel slot;

the flexible securing wings being linearly inserted into the channel of the strut so the flexible securing wings snap into engagement with the internal surfaces of the strut; and

the clip attaching the frame to the strut.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a second clip including a housing defining a housing slot having a plurality of barbs, the housing being coupled to the flexible securing wings with a brace.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the clips are laterally spaced apart with the flexible securing wings being centrally located therebetween.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the clip is metallic and directly contacts against the flange of the frame which is also metallic, and the panel retainer is a separate part removeable from the clip.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the clip further includes at least four spaced apart barbs which cut into at least one coated surface of the flange of the frame when installed.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a glass solar panel mounted to the frame and hiding a majority of the clip when completely attached to the strut, the strut having a substantially U-shaped end view with the internal surfaces being reverse-turned walls, and the wings removably abutting against edges of the reverse-turned walls.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the clip includes at least one barb which electrically grounds the clip to the frame, and a flexible member internally extends from the panel retainer to bias the frame toward the at least one barb.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the clip and panel retainer removeably secure the frame to the strut free of a threaded fastener.

17. A solar panel assembly attachment apparatus comprising:

(a) a strut defining a U-shaped channel;

(b) a first electrically conductive grounding clip comprising a housing adapted to be flexibly secured within the channel and tabs to abut a downwardly turned edge of the strut to resist removal of the clip, and further defining at least one first window;

(c) a second electrically conductive grounding clip comprising a housing adapted to be flexibly secured within the channel and tabs to abut a downwardly turned edge of the strut to resist removal of the clip, and further defining at least one second window; and

(d) a bridge providing an electrical connection between the first electrically conductive grounding clip and the second electrically conductive grounding clip, wherein the bridge further comprises a first barb to gouge the first grounding clip and a second barb to gouge the second grounding clip and a first tab having an interference fit with the at least one first window and a second tab having an interference fit with the at least one second window.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first electrically conductive grounding clip and the second electrically conductive grounding clip include barbs to gouge a solar panel frame to provide an electrical connection and a ground to the solar panel frame.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising solar panel frames and solar panels attached to the frames, a first of the frames being removeably secured within a slot in the housing of the first clip in a screw-free manner, and a second of the frames being removeable secured within a slot in the housing of the second clip in a screw-free manner.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the clips are all stamped metal and the tabs of the clips are flexibly snapped into the strut.

21. A method of grounding a solar panel frame and attaching the frame to a rigid strut, the method comprising:

(a) linearly pushing a metallic clip onto a portion of the solar panel frame;

(b) compressing at least one barb of the clip into the portion of the frame while simultaneously compressing a spring retained within the clip; and

(c) flexibly snapping wings of the clip into the rigid strut;

wherein the clip provides grounding for the frame and attaches the frame to the strut in at least one primarily linear unthreaded installation motion.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising attaching a bridge between the clips to provide an electrical connection.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising gouging a portion of each respective clip with a portion of the bridge.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the flexibly snapping wings each further define a window and further comprising locking the bridge to the clips by advancing a tab on the bridge through at least one window.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein connecting the clips with the bridge provides a continuous electrical connection for grounding the solar panel frame.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising pre-assembling the clip to the frame off-site in a factory.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising pre-assembling the clip to the frame prior to attachment of the clip or frame to the strut.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising linearly pushing a second clip onto a portion of the solar panel frame.