SOLAR PANEL CLAMP

摘要

A clamping apparatus secures a photovoltaic module to a rail. The clamping apparatus includes a bolt extending between a first end and a second end of the bolt. The clamping apparatus includes a clamp defining a bolt opening into which the bolt is received and a support structure. The support structure positions the clamp at a first location on the bolt. The first location is a first distance from a top rail surface plane within which a top surface of the rail lies. The support structure is adjustable to position the clamp at a second location on the bolt. The second location is a second distance from the top rail surface plane. The first distance is different than the second distance. The support structure has a support structure thickness corresponding to a third distance that is less than the first distance and less than the second distance.

主权项

1. A clamping apparatus configured to secure one or more photovoltaic modules to a rail, the clamping apparatus comprising:
a bolt extending along a bolt axis between a first end of the bolt and a second end of the bolt, where the second end of the bolt is configured to be received within the rail; a clamp defining a bolt opening into which the bolt is received; and a support structure configured to:
position the clamp at a first location on the bolt when the second end of the bolt is received within the rail and the clamp does not secure the one or more photovoltaic modules to the rail, the first location a first distance from a top rail surface plane within which a top surface of the rail lies where the first distance extends along a first distance axis that is parallel to the bolt axis and is measured from the top rail surface plane to a bottom surface of the clamp, and where the clamp is disposed to a first side of the top rail surface plane when the clamp is positioned at the first location and the second end of the bolt is disposed to a second side of the top rail surface plane when the second end of the bolt is received within the rail,position the clamp at a second location on the bolt when the second end of the bolt is received within the rail and the clamp does secure the one or more photovoltaic modules to the rail, the second location a second distance from the top rail surface plane where the second distance extends along a second distance axis that is parallel to the bolt axis and is measured from the top rail surface plane to the bottom surface of the clamp, and where the clamp is disposed to the first side of the top rail surface plane when the clamp is positioned at the second location, the first distance different than the second distance,where the support structure has a support structure thickness corresponding to a third distance measured from a first end of the support structure to a second end of the support structure, where the third distance extends along a support structure axis that is parallel to the bolt axis and is less than the first distance and less than the second distance.