Photovoltaic array mounting structure

A frame for a photovoltaic array mounting structure for supporting a photovoltaic array including a plurality of photovoltaic modules, the frame comprising:

• a) a plurality of spaced apart, parallel lengthwise beams extending in a first direction along the length of the frame;
• b) a plurality of spaced apart, parallel widthwise channels disposed on the plurality of lengthwise beams, the plurality of widthwise channels extending in a second direction along the width of the frame, the plurality of widthwise channels being spaced so as to receive the plurality of photovoltaic modules of the photovoltaic array between adjacent pairs of the plurality of widthwise channels, each channel of the plurality of widthwise channels including a top surface extending along the channel, a pair of lateral sides including a first lateral side and a second lateral side extending downwardly from opposite sides the top surface and a pair of flanges, a first flange of the pair of flanges extending outwardly from the first lateral side of the pair of lateral sides and a second flange of the pair of flanges extending outwardly from the second lateral side of the pair of lateral side, the top surface of the channel including a plurality of spaced apart fastener-receiving holes and a plurality of spaced apart anti-rotation tab holes, each anti-rotation tab hole of the plurality of anti-rotation tab holes being spaced from a corresponding fastener-receiving hole of the plurality of fastener-receiving holes by a predetermined distance as measured along a longitudinal extent of the top surface of the channel, edge portions of individual photovoltaic modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules resting upon facing flanges of adjacent pairs of the plurality of widthwise channels;
• c) a plurality of mounting clips, each mounting clip of the plurality of mounting clips disposed on a top surface of a respective channel of the plurality of widthwise channels, each mounting clip including a mounting hole, a downwardly extending anti-rotation tab spaced from the mounting hole and an outwardly extending pair of flanges;
• and
• d) a plurality of fasteners, for each mounting clip of the plurality of mounting clips, a fastener of the plurality of fasteners extending through the mounting hole of the mounting clip and into a fastener-receiving hole in the top surface of the corresponding channel to secure the mounting clip to the top surface of the channel, the anti-rotation tab being received in a respective anti-rotation tab hole of the top surface of the channel to prevent rotation of the mounting clip with respect to the channel as the fastener is tightened.

A photovoltaic array comprising:

• a) a photovoltaic array including a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each photovoltaic module having a length and a width;
• b) a photovoltaic array frame having a width and a length for supporting the photovoltaic array, the photovoltaic array frame comprising:
• i) a plurality of spaced apart, parallel lengthwise beams extending in a first direction along the length of the frame;
• ii) a plurality of spaced apart, parallel widthwise channels disposed on the plurality of lengthwise beams, the plurality of widthwise channels extending in a second direction along the width of the frame, the plurality of widthwise channels being spaced so as to receive the plurality of photovoltaic modules of the photovoltaic array between adjacent pairs of the plurality of widthwise channels, each channel of the plurality of widthwise channels including a top surface extending along the channel, a pair of lateral sides including a first lateral side and a second lateral side extending downwardly from opposite sides the top surface and a pair of flanges, a first flange of the pair of flanges extending outwardly from the first lateral side of the pair of lateral sides and a second flange of the pair of flanges extending outwardly from the second lateral side of the pair of lateral side, the top surface of the channel including a plurality of spaced apart fastener-receiving holes and a plurality of spaced apart anti-rotation tab holes, each anti-rotation tab hole of the plurality of anti-rotation tab holes being spaced from a corresponding fastener-receiving hole of the plurality of fastener-receiving holes by a predetermined distance as measured along a longitudinal extent of the top surface of the channel, edge portions of individual photovoltaic modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules resting upon facing flanges of adjacent pairs of the plurality of widthwise channels;
• and
• iii) a plurality of mounting clips, each mounting clip of the plurality of mounting clips disposed on a top surface of a respective channel of the plurality of widthwise channels, each mounting clip including a mounting hole, a downwardly extending anti-rotation tab spaced from the mounting hole and an outwardly extending pair of flanges, a downwardly extending anti-rotation tab and an outwardly extending pair of flanges;
• and
• iv) a plurality of fasteners, for each mounting clip of the plurality of mounting clips, a fastener of the plurality of fasteners extending through the mounting hole of the mounting clip and into a fastener-receiving hole in the top surface of the corresponding channel to secure the mounting clip to the top surface of the channel, the anti-rotation tab being received in a respective anti-rotation tab hole of the top surface of the channel to prevent rotation of the mounting clip with respect to the channel as the fastener is tightened, upon tightening of the fastener, the pair of flanges of the mounting clip bear against edge portions of respective photovoltaic modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules to hold the respective photovoltaic modules in place with respect to the plurality of widthwise channels.

A photovoltaic array mounting structure for supporting a photovoltaic array including a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each photovoltaic module having a length and a width, the photovoltaic array mounting structure comprising:

• a) a frame for holding the plurality of photovoltaic modules of the photovoltaic array, the frame including;
• i) at least one lengthwise beam extending in a first direction along the length of the frame;
• ii) a plurality of spaced apart, parallel widthwise channels disposed on the at least one lengthwise beam, the plurality of widthwise channels extending in a second direction along the width of the frame, the plurality of widthwise channels being spaced so as to receive the plurality of photovoltaic modules of the photovoltaic array between adjacent pairs of the plurality of widthwise channels, each channel of the plurality of widthwise channels including a top surface extending along the channel, a pair of lateral sides including a first lateral side and a second lateral side extending downwardly from opposite sides the top surface and a pair of flanges, a first flange of the pair of flanges extending outwardly from the first lateral side of the pair of lateral sides and a second flange of the pair of flanges extending outwardly from the second lateral side of the pair of lateral side, the top surface of the channel including a plurality of spaced apart fastener-receiving holes and a plurality of spaced apart anti-rotation tab holes, each anti-rotation tab hole of the plurality of anti-rotation tab holes being spaced from a corresponding fastener-receiving hole of the plurality of fastener-receiving holes by a predetermined distance as measured along a longitudinal extent of the top surface of the channel, edge portions of individual photovoltaic modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules resting upon facing flanges of adjacent pairs of the plurality of widthwise channels;
• iii) a plurality of mounting clips, each mounting clip of the plurality of mounting clips disposed on a top surface of a respective channel of the plurality of widthwise channels, each mounting clip including a mounting hole, a downwardly extending anti-rotation tab spaced from the mounting hole and an outwardly extending pair of flanges;
• and
• iv) a plurality of fasteners, for each mounting clip of the plurality of mounting clips, a fastener of the plurality of fasteners extending through the mounting hole of the mounting clip and into a fastener-receiving hole in the top surface of the corresponding channel to secure the mounting clip to the top surface of the channel, the anti-rotation tab being received in a respective anti-rotation tab hole of the top surface of the channel to prevent rotation of the mounting clip with respect to the channel as the fastener is tightened.