System of solar modules configured for attachment to vertical structures

• US 9,577,572 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2015
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solartonic, LLC
• Original Assignee: Solartonic, LLC
• Inventors: Giles, Harold Godfrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Pillay, Devina
• Application Number:
  US14/611,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20150222226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 752 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/80 Special profiles
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2030/16 Hinged elements; Pin connections
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/10 extending in directions away from a supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/50 comprising elongate non-rigid elements, e.g. straps, wires or ropes
• 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 25/67 for coupling adjacent modules or their peripheral frames for fixing modules or their peripheral frames to supporting elements F24S25/63
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/20 Supporting structures directly fixed to an immovable object H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/22 specially adapted for buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/20 Collapsible or foldable PV modules
• 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

Abstract

A system of solar PV strip modules and method of use designed to integrate with vertical structures such as poles. The system and method use articulated semi-rigid solar PV strip modules and components with elastic characteristics to enable a high static-friction attachment to the structure. The static friction exceeds the force of gravity, enabling the solar PV strip modules to remain in place upon the vertical structure. The PV strip modules can have a rectangular shape or any other shape that enables customized or variable modular assembly and attachment to the structure.

Claims

1. A system configured for attachment to a vertical structure, the system comprising:

a plurality of photovoltaic strips;

a plurality of frames, which are cross-extrusions that enable concealed fixtures for attachment of bending flex cleats or hinges, wherein each frame holds a side of one of the photovoltaic strips;

a plurality of semi-rigid channel bending flex cleats or hinges, wherein each cleat or hinge is affixed to two adjacent frames;

a plurality of tube blocks, wherein each tube block is affixed to one frame and two tube blocks are affixed to a single bending flex cleat or hinge;

a plurality of fasteners, wherein each fastener secures a tube block to a matching bending flex cleat or hinge and a matching frame;

a plurality of U hanger brackets that are affixed to the plurality of frames; and

a plurality of flexible strips that are affixed to the U hanger brackets.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a closer cleat configured to secure two ends of plurality of photovoltaic strips through a closer fastener.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic strips comprise high efficiency rigid crystalline silicon cells.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the frames have a combined monolithic internal c-shape and external c-shaped which is configured to hold a rectangular-shaped element in both the internal and external portions of the frame.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible strips comprise materials having approximately an elastic compressive stiffness of 9 lbs/in² at 25% deflection.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the cleats can have an elastic bending stiffness of approximately 10 lbs/in².

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible strips provide an elastic support layer between the U hanger brackets and a surface of the vertical structure.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a strap configured to be tightened around the vertical structure and a strap fastener tensioned around the vertical structure and used to secure the strap to the vertical structure.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of hanger clips affixed to the strap, configured to support and attach to the plurality of U hanger brackets that vertically support the photovoltaic strips in the formation of a module, wherein the hanger clips provide a vertical support connection between the strap fastener and the U hanger brackets which in turn support the photovoltaic strips.

10. A method utilizing the system of claim 1, the method comprising:

connecting a strap to a plurality of hanger clips to form a strap assembly;

attaching the strap assembly around a vertical structure;

tensioning the strap assembly against the structure;

connecting two ends of the strap to strap fasteners;

applying a flexible strip to the U hanger brackets of the system;

wrapping the system around the vertical structure in a position above the strap assembly; and

lowering the system in relation to the vertical structure so that the system rests upon the plurality of hanger clips and the flexible strip.