Photovoltaic array mounting apparatus, systems, and methods

摘要

An apparatus for mounting a photovoltaic (PV) module on a surface, including a support with an upper surface, a lower surface, tabs, one or more openings, and a clip comprising an arm and a notch, where the apparatus resists wind forces and seismic forces and creates a grounding electrical bond between the PV module, support, and clip. The invention further includes a method for installing PV modules on a surface that includes arranging supports in rows along an X axis and in columns along a Y axis on a surface such that in each row the distance between two neighboring supports does not exceed the length of the longest side of a PV module and in each column the distance between two neighboring supports does not exceed the length of the shortest side of a PV module.

主权项

1. A method for installing photovoltaic modules on a surface comprising the steps of:
arranging a plurality of supports in one or more rows along an X axis and in one or more columns along a Y axis on a surface, such that in each row a distance between neighboring supports does not exceed a length of a longest side of a photovoltaic module and in each column a distance between neighboring supports does not exceed a length of a shortest side of the photovoltaic module; placing the photovoltaic module on the supports, such that each corner of a frame of the photovoltaic module rests on the supports; and connecting the supports to the photovoltaic module by engaging a clip to at least a portion of the frame of the photovoltaic module and to the supports, wherein each clip flexes to lock the photovoltaic module to one of the supports, and wherein the clip has a head at one end of a spring arm and a catch at the other end of the spring arm, and wherein the head of the clip locks onto both the support and the photovoltaic module and a catch of the clip locks onto the photovoltaic module when the spring arm is flexed; thereby providing a secure connection between the photovoltaic module and the supports, creating an upward force and a downward force on the photovoltaic module by way of the clip, creating an electrical grounding bond, thus facilitating the installation process for mounting photovoltaic modules.