Rail-less roof mounting system
First Claim
1. A rail-less roof mounting system for installing a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules on a roof structure, the rail-less roof mounting system comprising:
- a. a clamp assembly having a clamp member attached to a track utilizing at least one bolt and wherein the clamp member interlocks a top and bottom surface of a frame member of a PV module to an adjacent frame member top and bottom surface to provide a corner-to-corner coupling arrangement;
b. whereby the clamp assembly is configured to interlock the plurality of PV modules by connecting a first PV module corner to an adjacent PV module corner by sandwiching above and beneath frame members of the plurality of PV modules;
c. wherein the clamp assembly is elevated entirely above said roof structure without any load bearing connection between the clamp assembly and the roof structure other than through the respective frames of the PV modules; and
d. a mount attached to the roof structure, a second clamp assembly attached to the mount and connected to the frame member of at least one PV module remote from the corner.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rail-less roof mounting system for installing photovoltaic (PV) modules on a roof structure comprises a base mount assembly that engages with a clamp assembly and attaches to the roof structure. The base mount assembly comprises a base member having a waterproof means, a block slider, a top slider and a covering means. An elevated seal portion of a block slider includes a borehole to receive the waterproof means. A vertical engaging portion of the block slider is attached with a sliding seal member of the top slider. The clamp assembly includes a clamp member and a plate member and the clamp member is attached with a track of the top slider. The clamp member interlocks the PV modules to provide a corner-to-corner coupling arrangement, which enables the connection of PV module corners to adjacent PV module corners by sandwiching above and beneath frame members of the PV modules.
38 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A rail-less roof mounting system for installing a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules on a roof structure, the rail-less roof mounting system comprising:
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a. a clamp assembly having a clamp member attached to a track utilizing at least one bolt and wherein the clamp member interlocks a top and bottom surface of a frame member of a PV module to an adjacent frame member top and bottom surface to provide a corner-to-corner coupling arrangement; b. whereby the clamp assembly is configured to interlock the plurality of PV modules by connecting a first PV module corner to an adjacent PV module corner by sandwiching above and beneath frame members of the plurality of PV modules; c. wherein the clamp assembly is elevated entirely above said roof structure without any load bearing connection between the clamp assembly and the roof structure other than through the respective frames of the PV modules; and d. a mount attached to the roof structure, a second clamp assembly attached to the mount and connected to the frame member of at least one PV module remote from the corner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for installing a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules on a roof structure, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a clamp assembly including a clamp member; b. attaching the clamp member to the PV modules; c. interconnecting to said clamp assembly a PV module frame member to an adjacent PV module frame member to provide a corner-to-corner coupling arrangement; d. whereby the corner-to-corner coupling arrangement enables the connection of PV module corners to adjacent PV module corners by sandwiching above and beneath frame members of the plurality of PV modules; e. wherein the clamp assembly is elevated entirely above said roof structure without any load bearing connection between the clamp assembly and the roof structure other than through the respective frames of the PV modules; and f. attaching a PV support member to said roof structure remote from the corners and attaching said first PV module to said PV support member. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A rail-less roof mounting system for installing a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules on a roof structure, the rail-less roof mounting system comprising:
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a. a flashing assembly attached to the roof structure comprising; i. a base member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface being engaged with the roof structure, the base member including an upstanding sleeve; ii. an elevated seal portion and a vertical engaging portion, the elevated seal portion having a borehole formed therethrough to receive the upstanding sleeve; iii. a top slider having a top portion with a horizontal slot and a bottom portion having a sliding member; and iv. a clamp assembly attached to the flashing assembly having a clamp member interlocking a frame member of a PV module to a frame member of an adjacent PV module by sandwiching above and beneath frame members of the plurality of PV modules; b. whereby the plurality of PV modules are interlocked in a way to provide a corner-to-corner coupling arrangement which enables the connection of PV module corners to adjacent PV module corners by sandwiching above and beneath frame members of the plurality of PV modules; and c. wherein the clamp assembly is elevated entirely above said roof structure without any load bearing connection between the clamp assembly and the roof structure other than through the respective frames of the PV modules. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification