Slide fit mounting clip for installing photovoltaic modules

• US 9,608,559 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2015
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• 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): Nguyen, Chi Q
• Application Number:
  US14/840,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20160226433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 52465-468, 524/60, 524/61, 524/63
• 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;

a module bracket interconnected with said roofing surface and comprising a base section that is positioned in overlying relation to said roofing surface, first and second mounting clips that are disposed in spaced relation to one another, a first riser section extending between one end of said base section and said first mounting clip that offsets said first mounting clip from and disposes said first mounting clip at a higher elevation than said base section relative to said roofing surface, a second riser section extending between an opposite end of said base section and said second mounting clip that offsets said second mounting clip from and disposes said second mounting clip at a higher elevation than said base section relative to said roofing surface, wherein said first mounting clip comprises a first inlet and a first closed end, wherein said second mounting clip comprises a second inlet and a second closed end, wherein said first inlet of said first mounting clip is located between said second mounting clip and said first closed end of said first mounting clip, wherein said second inlet of said second mounting clip is located between said first mounting clip and said second closed end of said second mounting clip, 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 said first section of said first and second mounting clips, respectively, wherein said first and second inlets are disposed between said first and second sections of said first and second mounting clips, respectively, wherein said first riser section extends from said base section to said first section of said first mounting clip such that a lower surface of said first section of said first mounting clip is at a higher elevation than a lower surface of said base section, relative to said roofing surface, and such that there is a first open space that extends from said lower surface of said first section of said first mounting clip to said roofing surface, and wherein said second riser section extends from said base section to said first section of said second mounting clip such that a lower surface of said first section of said second mounting clip is at a higher elevation than said lower surface of said base section, relative to said roofing surface, and such that there is a second open space that extends from said lower surface of said first section of said second mounting clip to said roofing surface; 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 by said first and second sections of 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 first and second sections of 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 module bracket comprises first and second stiffeners that each extend along said first section of said first mounting clip, along said first riser section, along said base section, along said second riser section, and along said first section of said second mounting clip.

5. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 4, wherein said first and second stiffeners each protrude from a surface of said base section that projects toward said roofing surface.

6. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said second section of each of said first and second mounting clips is deflectable away from its corresponding said first section, 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 6, wherein said first and second closed ends of said first and second mounting clips, respectively, each comprise an arcuately-shaped pliable section located between its corresponding said first and second sections.

8. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said roofing surface comprises a hollow rib, and wherein said base section is positioned in overlying relation to an uppermost section of said hollow rib.

9. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 8, wherein at least one threaded fastener extends through said base section, through said uppermost section of said hollow rib, and terminates within an interior space of said hollow rib.

10. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 8, wherein said module bracket comprises first and second bracket flanges disposed on opposite sides of said base section, wherein said first bracket flange is disposed against a first side of said hollow rib, wherein said second bracket flange is disposed against a second side of said hollow rib, wherein at least one threaded fastener extends through said first bracket flange and said first side of said hollow rib, and wherein at least one threaded fastener extends through said second bracket flange and said second side of said hollow rib.

11. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 10, wherein said first and second bracket flanges are permanently anchored relative to said base section.

12. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 10, wherein said base section comprises at least one wiring clip.

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

a mounting device attached to said roofing surface, wherein said module bracket is positioned on said mounting device; and

at least one threaded fastener that extends through said module bracket and into said mounting device.

14. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 13, wherein said roofing surface comprises a standing seam, and wherein said mounting device is mounted on said standing seam.

15. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 13, wherein said base section is positioned on said mounting device.

16. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second mounting clips are at least substantially coplanar with one another.

17. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said second mounting clip is offset from and at a higher elevation than said first mounting clip.

18. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said base section comprises a wiring clip.

19. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said offset between said base section and each of said first and second mounting clips is at least about 0.5″

.

20. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said first riser section and said second riser section are at least generally parallel to one another and are each disposed at least generally perpendicular to said base section.

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

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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.

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

27. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 26, 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.