Clamp for Solar Panel Array

摘要

A clamp for securing photovoltaic panels to a support tube of a photovoltaic panel array has a lower brace for positioning on the support tube perpendicular to the support tube. The lower brace has a central web with a pair of side walls depending from opposite edges of the web. Support shoulders are formed in the side walls. Straps have tabs on an upper end that land on the support shoulders. An upper brace has flanges for engaging upper edge surfaces of adjacent ones of the panels. At least one deflectable standoff positions the upper brace a distance from the lower brace that is selected to be greater than a thickness of the adjacent ones of the panels. Tightening bolts between the braces deflects the standoff and draws the upper brace toward the lower brace to clamp the adjacent ones of the panels between the lower and upper braces.

主权项

1. A clamp for securing photovoltaic panels to a support tube of a photovoltaic panel array, comprising:
a lower brace for positioning on the support tube perpendicular to the support tube, the lower brace having a central web with a pair of side walls depending from opposite edges of the web; first and second sets of support shoulders in the side walls spaced apart from each other along a length of the lower brace, the support shoulders of each of the sets being opposite each other; first and second straps in engagement with the first and second sets of support shoulders, respectively, each of the straps having tabs on an upper end facing in opposite directions, each of the tabs of each of the straps landing on one of the support shoulders to retain each of the straps with the lower brace; and a fastener that secures lower ends of the straps to each other.