Module rail for a photovoltaic system

• US 9,194,613 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2014
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Nuernberger, Eric Roland, McCarthy, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Triggs, Andrew J
• Application Number:
  US14/506,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20150020873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 521/733
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/00 Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/12 using posts in combination with upper profiles
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/13 Profile arrangements, e.g. trusses F24S25/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/30 using elongate rigid mounting elements extending substantially along the supporting surface, e.g. for covering buildings with solar heat collectors extending in directions away from the supporting surface F24S25/10; peripheral frames for modules F24S25/20
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/33 forming substantially planar assemblies, e.g. of coplanar or stacked profiles
• 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 25/37 forming coplanar grids comprising longitudinal and transversal profiles
• 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: H02S 20/10 Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/24 specially adapted for flat roofs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49355 Solar energy device making

Abstract

A module rail for a photovoltaic system includes a module-supporting surface extending along the length of the module rail for supporting at least one photovoltaic module thereon. A vertical sidewall extends downward from a side of the module-supporting surface. Fastener openings are spaced apart from one another along the length of the rail. Each of the fastener openings extend through the sidewall generally adjacent to a juncture of the module-supporting surface and the sidewall. Each of the fastener openings is configured to receive a clip fastener for securing a photovoltaic module on the module-supporting surface.

Claims

1. A module rail for a photovoltaic system, the module rail having a length and a height, the module rail comprising:

a module-supporting surface extending along the length of the module rail for supporting at least one photovoltaic module thereon;

a vertical sidewall extending downward from a side of the module-supporting surface and generally along the height of the module rail, wherein the sidewall has an inner surface partially defining an interior of the module rail, and outer surface partially defining an exterior of the module rail; and

fastener openings spaced apart from one another along the length of the rail, each of the fastener openings extending through the sidewall generally adjacent to a juncture of the module-supporting surface and the sidewall in a direction generally transverse to the height and the length of the module rail, wherein each of the fastener openings extends through the inner and outer surfaces of the sidewall from the exterior to the interior of the module rail, wherein each of the fastener openings is configured to receive a clip fastener for securing a photovoltaic module on the module-supporting surface.

2. The module rail set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the fastener openings also extends through the module supporting portion.

3. The module rail set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the fastener openings is slot-shaped having major axis extending along the length of the module rail.

4. The module rail set forth in claim 1, further comprising an upper portion extending upward from the module-supporting surface and generally along the height of the module rail.

5. The module rail set forth in claim 4, further comprising another module-supporting surface extending along the length of the module rail for supporting at least one photovoltaic module thereon, wherein the module-supporting surfaces are at opposite sides of the upper portion.

6. The module rail set forth in claim 5, further comprising another vertical sidewall extending downward from a side of the other module-supporting surface and generally along the height of the module rail, wherein the vertical sidewalls generally oppose one another.

7. The module rail set forth in claim 6, further comprising lower flanges extending laterally outward from lower ends of the respective sidewalls.

8. The module rail set forth in claim 1, in combination with a plurality of clip fasteners for securing the at least one photovoltaic module to the module rail, each of the clip fasteners includes upper and lower clip jaws partially defining a press-fit channel, wherein the lower clip jaw is sized and shaped for insertion into any one of the fastener openings.

9. A photovoltaic system comprising:

a module rail having a length and comprising a module-supporting surface extending along the length of the module rail, a vertical sidewall extending downward from a side of the module-supporting surface and generally along the height of the module rail, and fastener openings spaced apart from one another along the length of the rail, each of the fastener openings extending through the sidewall generally adjacent to a juncture of the module-supporting surface and the sidewall in a direction generally transverse to the height and the length of the module rail;

at least one photovoltaic module secured to the module rail, the photovoltaic module including a lower flange; and

clip fasteners securing the at least one photovoltaic module to the module-supporting surface of the module rail, each clip fastener including upper and lower clip jaws partially defining a press-fit channel, wherein the lower clip jaw of each clip fastener is inserted into one of the fastener openings such that the module-supporting surface and the lower flange of the photovoltaic module are press-fit into the press-fit channel.

10. The photovoltaic system set forth in claim 9, wherein each of the fastener openings also extends through the module-supporting surface.

11. The photovoltaic system set forth in claim 9, further comprising an upper portion extending upward from the module-supporting surface and generally along the height of the module rail.

12. The photovoltaic system set forth in claim 11, further comprising another module-supporting surface extending along the length of the module rail, wherein the module-supporting surfaces are at opposite sides of the upper portion.

13. The photovoltaic system set forth in claim 12, further comprising another vertical sidewall extending downward from a side of the other module-supporting surface and generally along the height of the module rail, wherein the vertical sidewalls generally oppose one another.

14. The photovoltaic system set forth in claim 13, further comprising lower flanges extending laterally outward from lower ends of the respective sidewalls.

15. The photovoltaic system set forth in claim 14, wherein each of the fastener openings is slot-shaped having major axis extending along the length of the module rail.

16. A module rail for a photovoltaic system, the module rail having a length and a height, the module rail comprising:

a module-supporting surface extending along the length of the module rail for supporting at least one photovoltaic module thereon;

a vertical sidewall extending downward from a side of the module-supporting surface and generally along the height of the module rail; and

fastener openings spaced apart from one another along the length of the rail, each of the fastener openings extending through the sidewall generally adjacent to a juncture of the module-supporting surface and the sidewall in a direction generally transverse to the height and the length of the module rail, wherein each of the fastener openings is configured to receive a clip fastener for securing a photovoltaic module on the module-supporting surface,

wherein each of the fastener openings also extends through the module supporting surface.