Photovoltaic panel racking system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A photovoltaic module mounting system, comprising:
- a right-hand support runner and a left-hand support runner, each support runner including;
first and second separated rooftop contacting portions defining a rooftop contacting plane,a first curved extension portion extending from one end of the first rooftop contacting portion a first distance away from the rooftop contacting plane,a first connecting flange disposed at another, terminal end of the first rooftop contacting portion,a second curved extension portion extending from one end of the second rooftop contacting portion a second distance away from the rooftop contacting plane,a second connecting flange disposed at another, terminal end of the second rooftop contacting portion,a transverse module support portion connecting the first curved extension portion to the second curved extension portion and thereby connecting the first and second rooftop contacting portions to each other, andfirst and second module clamp assemblies configured to be attached at respective ends of the transverse module support portion and to support a photovoltaic module;
wherein the first and second rooftop contacting portions, the first and second curved extension portions, and the transverse module support portion of each said support runner are composed of hollow tubing; and
wherein the transverse module support portion of the right-hand support runner and the transverse module support portion of the left-hand support runner collectively define a photovoltaic module support plane oriented at a predetermined angle relative to the rooftop contacting plane.
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Abstract
A photovoltaic module mounting system may include a right-hand support runner and a left-hand support runner. The support runners collectively define a rooftop contacting plane and a photovoltaic module support plane oriented at a predetermined angle relative to the rooftop contacting plane. The support runners may be interconnected with each other, and with additional support runners, to form an interconnected support structure that can be used to mount an array of photovoltaic modules upon a planar surface such as a building rooftop.
275 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic module mounting system, comprising:
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a right-hand support runner and a left-hand support runner, each support runner including; first and second separated rooftop contacting portions defining a rooftop contacting plane, a first curved extension portion extending from one end of the first rooftop contacting portion a first distance away from the rooftop contacting plane, a first connecting flange disposed at another, terminal end of the first rooftop contacting portion, a second curved extension portion extending from one end of the second rooftop contacting portion a second distance away from the rooftop contacting plane, a second connecting flange disposed at another, terminal end of the second rooftop contacting portion, a transverse module support portion connecting the first curved extension portion to the second curved extension portion and thereby connecting the first and second rooftop contacting portions to each other, and first and second module clamp assemblies configured to be attached at respective ends of the transverse module support portion and to support a photovoltaic module; wherein the first and second rooftop contacting portions, the first and second curved extension portions, and the transverse module support portion of each said support runner are composed of hollow tubing; and wherein the transverse module support portion of the right-hand support runner and the transverse module support portion of the left-hand support runner collectively define a photovoltaic module support plane oriented at a predetermined angle relative to the rooftop contacting plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A photovoltaic module mounting system, comprising:
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a first plurality of right-hand support runners and a second plurality of left-hand support runners, each support runner including; first and second separated rooftop contacting portions defining a rooftop contacting plane, a first curved extension portion extending from one end of the first rooftop contacting portion a first distance away from the rooftop contacting plane, a first connecting flange disposed at another, terminal end of the first rooftop contacting portion, a second curved extension portion extending from one end of the second rooftop contacting portion a second distance away from the rooftop contacting plane, a second connecting flange disposed at another, terminal end of the second rooftop contacting portion, a transverse module support portion connecting the first curved extension portion to the second curved extension portion and thereby connecting the first and second rooftop contacting portions to each other, and first and second module clamp assemblies configured to be attached at respective ends of the transverse module support portion and to support a photovoltaic module; wherein the first and second rooftop contacting portions, the first and second curved extension portions, and the transverse module support portion of each said support runner are composed of hollow tubing; wherein the transverse module support portion of each right-hand support runner and the transverse module support portion of an adjacent left-hand support runner collectively define a photovoltaic module support plane oriented at a predetermined angle relative to the rooftop contacting plane; and wherein each connecting flange of each right-hand support runner is configured to be brought into mating alignment and joined with one of the connecting flanges of another right-hand support runner and with one of the connecting flanges of each of two left-hand support runners to form an interconnected web of four support runners. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A photovoltaic module mounting system, comprising:
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a first plurality of right-hand support runners and a second plurality of left-hand support runners, each support runner including; first and second separated rooftop contacting portions defining a rooftop contacting plane, a first curved extension portion extending from one end of the first rooftop contacting portion a first distance away from the rooftop contacting plane, a first connecting flange disposed at another, terminal end of the first rooftop contacting portion, a second curved extension portion extending from one end of the second rooftop contacting portion a second distance away from the rooftop contacting plane, a second connecting flange disposed at another, terminal end of the second rooftop contacting portion, a transverse module support portion connecting the first curved extension portion to the second curved extension portion and thereby connecting the first and second rooftop contacting portions to each other, and first and second module clamp assemblies configured to be attached at respective ends of the transverse module support portion and to support a photovoltaic module; wherein the first and second rooftop contacting portions, the first and second curved extension portions, and the transverse module support portion of each said support runner are composed of hollow tubing; wherein the transverse module support portion of each right-hand support runner and the transverse module support portion of an adjacent left-hand support runner collectively define a photovoltaic module support plane oriented at a predetermined angle relative to the rooftop contacting plane; and wherein the first and second connecting flanges of each right-hand support runner are configured to be brought into mating alignment and joined with the first and second connecting flanges, respectively, of one of the left-hand support runners to form an interconnected network of support runners. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification