Slide fit mounting clip for installing photovoltaic modules

• US 9,147,785 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RMH Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: Dustin M.M. Haddock, Robert M.M. Haddock
• Inventors: Haddock, Robert M. M., Haddock, Dustin M. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Plummer, Elizabeth A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walraed-Sullivan, Kyle
• Application Number:
  US14/205,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20140261638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 521/733, 52465-468, 524/60, 524/61, 524/63, 248/237, 248/500, 248/506, 126/623
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/366 by closing the space between the slabs or sheets by gutters, bulges, or bridging elements, e.g. strips
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2020/11 in the form of multiple rows and multiple columns, all solar modules being coplanar
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2020/14 Stepped arrangements, e.g. in parallel planes, without module overlapping
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/804 U-, C- or O-shaped; Hat profiles
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/20 Peripheral frames for modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/61 for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/613 in the form of bent strips or assemblies of strips; Hook-like connectors; Connectors to be mounted between building-covering elements
• 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 25/632 Side connectors; Base connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/636 clamping by screw-threaded elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/65 for coupling adjacent supporting elements, e.g. for connecting profiles together
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/67 for coupling adjacent modules or their peripheral frames for fixing modules or their peripheral frames to supporting elements F24S25/63
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/00 Supporting structures for PV modules
• 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

A module bracket includes first and second mounting clips (202, 204) that are spaced from each other along the pitch of a roofing surface. An inlet (212) to the first mounting clip (202) faces or projects in the general direction that the second mounting clip (204) is spaced from the first mounting clip (202). An inlet (212) to the second mounting clip (204) faces or projects in the general direction that the first mounting clip (202) is spaced from the second mounting clip (204). A second module flange (134) of a first photovoltaic module (120) is slid into the first mounting clip (202) of the module bracket. A first module flange (128) of a second photovoltaic module (120) is slid into the second mounting clip (204) of this same module bracket.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic assembly, comprising:

a roofing surface, wherein said roofing surface comprises a hollow rib, wherein said hollow rib comprises an end section that defines an uppermost portion of said hollow rib, and wherein said hollow rib further comprises first and second sidewalls that are spaced from one another;

a module bracket comprising first and second mounting clips disposed in spaced relation, wherein said first mounting clip comprises a first inlet, wherein said second mounting clip comprises a second inlet, wherein said first inlet of said first mounting clip projects at least generally in a direction that said second mounting clip is spaced from said first mounting clip, wherein said second inlet of said second mounting clip projects at least generally in a direction that said first mounting clip is spaced from said second mounting clip, wherein said module bracket further comprises a base section that is located between said first and second mounting clips, and wherein said base section is positioned in overlying relation to said end section of said hollow rib;

a panel bracket comprising a cap section, along with first and second bracket flanges that are spaced from one another, wherein said panel bracket is a separate piece from said module bracket, wherein said cap section of said panel bracket is positioned over said base section of said module bracket, wherein said first said bracket flange of said panel bracket is positioned alongside at least an upper portion of said first sidewall of said hollow rib, and wherein said second bracket flange of said panel bracket is positioned alongside at least an upper portion of said second sidewall of said hollow rib;

at least one panel fastener that extends through said first bracket flange of said panel bracket and through said first sidewall of said hollow rib;

at least one panel fastener that extends through said second bracket flange of said panel bracket and through said second sidewall of said hollow rib, wherein said panel bracket being secured to said hollow rib by said panel fasteners secures said module bracket relative to said hollow rib; and

at least one photovoltaic module comprising a first frame section positioned on a first perimeter section of said photovoltaic module and a second frame section positioned on an oppositely disposed second perimeter section of said photovoltaic module, wherein said first frame section comprises a first module flange that cantilevers at least generally in a direction of said second perimeter section, wherein said second frame section comprises a second module flange that cantilevers at least generally in a direction of said first perimeter section, wherein said at least one photovoltaic module comprises first and second photovoltaic modules, wherein said second module flange of said first photovoltaic module extends through said first inlet and is engaged said first mounting clip, and wherein said first module flange of said second photovoltaic module extends through said second inlet and is engaged by said second mounting clip.

2. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second frame sections of said first photovoltaic module and said first and second frame sections of said second photovoltaic module are each disposed at least substantially transverse to a pitch of said roofing surface, wherein said first frame section of said first photovoltaic module is disposed up-slope of both said second frame section of said first photovoltaic module and an entirety of said second photovoltaic module, and wherein said first frame section of said second photovoltaic module is disposed up-slope of said second frame section of said second photovoltaic module.

3. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second mounting clips are spaced along a pitch of said roofing surface.

4. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second mounting clips each comprise first and second sections, wherein said second section of each of said first and second mounting clips is disposed in overlying relation to its corresponding said first section, and wherein said first and second inlets are disposed between said first and second sections of said first and second mounting clips, respectively.

5. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 4, wherein said second section of each of said first and second mounting clips is deflectable away from its corresponding said first section.

6. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 4, wherein said first and second sections of said first mounting clip are biased toward one another, and wherein said first and second sections of said second mounting clip are biased toward one another.

7. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 4, wherein each of said first and second mounting clips comprises an arcuately-shaped pliable section located between its corresponding said first and second sections.

8. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said base section and a first section of each of said first and second mounting clips are at least substantially coplanar.

9. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second mounting clips are at least substantially coplanar with one another and are offset from and at a higher elevation than said base section.

10. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second mounting clips are offset from and at a higher elevation than said base section, and wherein said second mounting clip is offset from and at a higher elevation than said first mounting clip.

11. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said cap section of said panel bracket comprises at least one wiring clip.

12. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second mounting clips each comprise at least one wiring clip.

13. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 12, wherein said at least one wiring clip for each of said first and second mounting clips is disposed on a side of the corresponding said first and second said mounting clip that faces said roofing surface.

14. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a first slide fit between said second module flange of said first photovoltaic module and said first mounting clip; and

a second slide fit between said first module flange of said second photovoltaic module and said first mounting clip.

15. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein contact between said module bracket and said first photovoltaic module is limited to said first mounting clip engaging said second module flange of said first photovoltaic module, and wherein contact between said module bracket and said second photovoltaic module is limited to said second mounting clip engaging said first module flange of said second photovoltaic module.

16. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein an entirety of a retention force exerted by said module bracket on said first photovoltaic module is provided by said first mounting clip, and wherein an entirety of a retention force exerted by said module bracket on said second photovoltaic module is provided by said second mounting clip.

17. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said first mounting clip exerts a compressive force on said second module flange of said first photovoltaic module, and wherein said second mounting clip exerts a compressive force on said first module flange of said second photovoltaic module.

18. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second mounting clips comprise at least one electrical contact.

19. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 18, wherein each said electrical contact is in the form of a cantilever, wherein said each said mounting clip comprises a second section that is disposed above a first section, and a closed end that is disposed opposite of a corresponding said inlet, wherein each said second section comprises at least one said electrical contact, wherein each said electrical contact extends from a corresponding second section of the corresponding said mounting clip, both at least generally in the direction of a corresponding said first section of the corresponding said mounting clip and in the direction of said closed end of the corresponding said mounting clip.