Method and apparatus for mounting solar panels

• US 9,080,792 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2014
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ironridge Incorporated (Esdec B.V.)
• Original Assignee: Ironridge Incorporated (Esdec B.V.)
• Inventors: Patton, John C., Lindstrom, Todd, Hafter, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette E
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCKLE JR, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US14/254,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20150034355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 521/733, 126/621, 126/622, 126/623, 136/251, 136/259
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/021 Sealing means between support elements and mounting surface
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/35 by means of profiles with a cross-section defining separate supporting portions for adjacent modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/61 for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/632 Side connectors; Base connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/634 Clamps; Clips
• 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: F24S 80/70 Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/10 Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/30 Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment
• 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 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32532 Clamped members

Abstract

Solar panel array with a plurality of solar panels on support system attached at corners or off such corners for foundation structure needs and irregularities secured to roof by lag bolt with mount channel and flashing pre-assembled into mount by crimp for positive seal and mount riser height adjustable can include bilateral or quadrilateral mounts, a coupler seat to affix panel to mount and lateral movement seat for solar panel. An intercalative junction piece, nut, or washer has tines for grounding, a dissociation guide and flexture and keeps off the surface for association and perforation to clamp panel firmly via different clamps including wedge clamps, top restraints, lip end clamps, side support clamps, compression clamps, etc.

Claims

1. A solar panel mount system comprising:

a solar panel coupler seat comprising a solar panel foundation mount;

a solar panel support slider having a first slider side and a second slider side, and positioned adjacent said solar panel foundation mount;

a first side member adjacent said first slider side;

a second side member adjacent said second slider side;

a slider retainer element attached to said first slider side and said second slider side; and

a mount riser extending from said solar panel support slider;

a solar panel movable restraint situated in proximity to said solar panel coupler seat;

a dissociation guide to which said solar panel movable restraint is responsive; and

a retainer configured to secure said solar panel movable restraint at a desired position relative to said solar panel coupler seat.

2. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 1 further comprising a clamp position adjuster to which said solar panel movement restraint is responsive.

3. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 2 wherein said clamp position adjuster to which said solar panel movement restraint is responsive comprises a threaded adjuster.

4. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 3 further comprising a wedge member responsive to said threaded adjuster.

5. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 4 wherein said solar panel movable restraint situated in proximity to said solar panel coupler seat comprises a solar panel lip overhang.

6. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 1 wherein said dissociation guide to which said solar panel movable restraint is responsive comprises at least one mount integral dissociation guide.

7. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 6 wherein said mount integral dissociation guide comprises an upper integral dissociation guide.

8. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 6 wherein said mount integral dissociation guide comprises a lower integral dissociation guide.

9. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 1 further comprising:

a solar panel lateral movement mount; and

a firmly fixed solar panel retainer mount.

10. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 9 further comprising a solar panel perpendicular movement restraint situated in proximity to said solar panel lateral movement mount.

11. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 9 wherein said solar panel mount system comprises a quadrilateral solar panel mount system.

12. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 11 wherein said firmly fixed solar panel retainer mount comprises:

a firmly fixed third solar panel retainer mount; and

an adjacent firmly fixed fourth solar panel retainer mount.

13. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 1 wherein said solar panel mount system comprises a bilateral solar panel mount system.

14. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 13 wherein said bilateral solar panel mount system comprises:

a first opposed solar panel clamp; and

a second opposed solar panel clamp.

21. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 1 and further comprising a mount riser side engagement.

22. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 1 and further comprising a riser rotational restraint.

23. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 21 wherein said mount riser side engagement and said slider retainer element attached to said first slider side and said second slider side comprise a side compression restraint.

15. A solar panel mount system comprising:

a first solar panel system surface;

a second solar panel system surface;

a tined flat bar adjacent to said first solar panel system surface and said second solar panel system surface;

a progressive solar system ground perforator tine to which said first solar panel system surface is responsive; and

a regressive solar system ground perforator tine to which said second solar panel system surface is responsive.

16. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 15 wherein said first solar panel system surface and said second solar panel system surface comprise a first substance and wherein said tined flat bar comprises a different second substance.

17. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 15 wherein at least one of said first solar panel system surface and said second solar panel system surface is configured to accept less than the maximum width of said tined flat bar.

18. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 15 wherein said tined flat bar adjacent said first solar panel system surface and said second solar panel system surface comprises a preferential side association junctionpiece.

19. A solar panel mount system comprising:

a solar panel mount base;

bottom flashing extending under said solar panel mount base;

a permanent underside sealed junction that comprises a crimp, wherein said permanent underside sealed junction is between said solar panel mount base and said bottom flashing; and

a structure foundation attachment extending through said solar panel mount base.

20. A solar panel mount system as described in claim 19 wherein said crimp comprises an inner radius deformation capture.