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Modular solar panel mounting clamps

a solar panel and module technology, applied in the direction of heat collector mounting/support, light and heating equipment, furniture parts, etc., can solve the problems of significant price drop per kwh, existing mounting systems designed to mount framed photovoltaic cells do not meet the requirements for mounting thin-film photovoltaic cells on the ground or on the roo

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-10-08
RENEWABLE ENERGY HLDG
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is about an apparatus for mounting frameless solar panels that includes an upper plate, lower plate, and a spacer with an aperture. The apparatus also includes a fastener system, cushions, brackets, and a rail insert fastener system. The upper and lower plates have grooves that align with the spacer's aperture. The apparatus allows for easy mounting of solar panels without the need for frames. The technical effects of the invention include improved stability and durability of the solar panels, simplified installation process, and reduced labor costs."

Problems solved by technology

Thin-film photovoltaic cells use less of the raw material (silicon or other light absorbers) compared to wafer based solar cells, leading to a significant price drop per kWh.
The existing mounting systems designed to mount framed photovoltaic cells do not fit the requirements for the mounting thin-film photovoltaic cells on the ground or on rooftop.

Method used

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  • Modular solar panel mounting clamps
  • Modular solar panel mounting clamps
  • Modular solar panel mounting clamps

Examples

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first embodiment

[0025]The present invention teaches clamp designs for mounting frameless, glass paneled, thin-film solar modules on slant-roof, flat roof, or ground-mounted solar systems. the present invention is a clamp designed to act as an adapter to attach thin-film solar modules to roof rail systems already available from Professional Solar Products, or UniRac® mounting systems and others. The clamp provides a means to attach universally to frameless panels from any manufacturer using readily available standard mounting hardware. The advantages of this clamp design are that it is significantly more cost effective, easy to manufacture, easy to install, and provides an optimal means to attach the panel while providing maximum support and gripping ability. Minor modifications can be made to this clamping device to accommodate different sizes of glass or gripping pressure by only adding different sized shims within the clamp. This system with adapter bar can be used on both the sloped roof system ...

second embodiment

[0034]the present invention is designed to mount frameless solar panels of varying thicknesses using a single set of clamps per two adjacent modules The advantages of this embodiment is that it allows for a cost effective means in which to mount the modules on a sloped roof using existing module mounting hardware such as those manufactured by Professional Solar Products, or UniRac®, it is easy to manufacture, easy to install, and provides an optimal means to attach the panel while providing maximum support and gripping ability. This embodiment can be used effectively on sloped roof systems.

[0035]Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an apparatus 200 is illustrated for mounting frameless solar panels includes an upper plate 202 having a top plane 202A and a bottom plane 202B and a centrally located aperture 202C, a lower plate 204 having a top plane 204A and a bottom plane 204B and a centrally located aperture 204C In addition, a spacer 206 is included having a top plane 206A, a bottom plane 2...

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Abstract

Clamps for mounting frameless, glass paneled, thin-film solar modules on slant-roof, flat roof, or ground-mounted solar systems. The clamps of the present invention can be also adapted to use with existing roof rail systems or other mounting brackets.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims one or more inventions which were disclosed in Provisional Application Number 61 / 031,244, filed, entitled “Modular Solar Panel Mounting Clamps”. The benefit under 35 USC § 119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention relates generally to a mounting system for solar panels. Specifically, the present invention relates to modular mounting clamps for installing frameless, thin-film solar panels on a rooftop or on the ground.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device that converts light energy into electrical energy by the photovoltaic effect. Traditionally the photovoltaic cells are made from crystalline silicone. Recently a new thin-film manufacturing process enables the production of photovoltaic cel...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A47B96/06
CPCF24J2/5207F24J2/5258F24J2002/5275Y02B10/12H02S20/23Y02E10/47Y02E10/50H02S20/00Y02B10/20H02S20/10F24S25/35F24S2025/011F24S25/636Y02B10/10
Inventor STRIZKI, MICHAEL
Owner RENEWABLE ENERGY HLDG
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