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US 11,979,110 B2Granted
Solar panel mounting assembly
AssigneesCanadian Solar (USA) Inc., Csi Solar Co., Ltd.
InventorsCharles Jonathan Reynolds, George Kuo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This disclosure generally relates to solar module mounting and racking. More specifically, this disclosure relates to integrated solar racking systems, which facilitate slide and snap in place mounting technology that achieves solar module mounting and electrical grounding. This design eliminates the need for mounting fasteners and tools, and facilitates reliable and repeatable installation.
Claims18
A solar racking system comprising:
- a rail having a bottom wall and a sidewall extending upward from the bottom wall;
- a clamp assembly configured to couple the rail to a support;
- and
- a grounding lock including:
- an arm having a first end and an opposing second end;
- a mounting interface coupling the arm to the sidewall;
- a grounding interface extending from the arm between the first end and the opposing second end;
- and
- a locking interface extending from the opposing second end, and including a first tab having a tapered profile and a second tab having a non-tapered profile;
- wherein the rail and the grounding lock are configured to engage with a frame assembly of a solar module to (i) ground the solar module and (ii) provide fastener-less mounting of the solar module.
7 more elements
A solar racking system comprising:
- a first rail assembly;
- and
- a second rail assembly;
- wherein the first rail assembly and the second rail assembly are configured to engage with a solar module;
- and
- wherein each of the first rail assembly and the second rail assembly includes:
- a mounting rail including a bottom wall, a first sidewall extending from a first longitudinal edge of the bottom wall, a second sidewall extending from an opposing second longitudinal edge of the bottom wall, a first lip extending from a first free end of the first sidewall, and a second lip extending from a second free end of the second sidewall, wherein the bottom wall, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall define an internal volume, wherein a longitudinal opening is defined between the first lip and the second lip, wherein at least one of the first lip or the second lip defines a locking aperture, and wherein the bottom wall defines a first clamp aperture and a second clamp aperture;
- a first clamp arm having a first end and a second end, the first end including a first retainer that engages with the first clamp aperture of the mounting rail;
- a second clamp arm having a third end and a fourth end, the third end including a second retainer that engages with the second clamp aperture of the mounting rail, wherein the second end of the first clamp arm and the fourth end of the second clamp arm are selectively coupled together;
- and
- a grounding lock disposed within the internal volume of the mounting rail, the grounding lock including a locking interface, a grounding interface, and a mounting interface coupled to one of the first sidewall or the second sidewall, wherein the locking interface is configured to selectively retract from the locking aperture and bias back through the locking aperture to secure the solar module in position along the mounting rail, and wherein the grounding interface is configured to bias into engagement with a portion of the solar module to facilitate electrically grounding the solar module.
8 more elements
A solar racking system comprising:
- a solar module including a frame assembly having:
- a frame defining first interfaces, the frame configured to support a solar panel;
- and
- a frame channel;
- and
- a racking assembly configured to couple the solar module to a support, the racking assembly including:
- a plurality of rail assemblies configured to be arranged consecutively along the support, the plurality of rail assemblies including a first rail assembly and a second rail assembly that engage with the solar module, each of the plurality of rail assemblies including:
- a mounting rail defining:
- an internal volume;
- a longitudinal opening that receives the frame channel of the frame assembly such that the frame channel extends into the internal volume of the mounting rail when the frame assembly engages with the first rail assembly and the second rail assembly;
- and
- a second interface positioned to align with a respective one of the first interfaces of the frame;
- a clamp configured to couple the mounting rail to the support;
- and
- at least one grounding lock disposed within the internal volume of the mounting rail, the at least one grounding lock including:
- a mounting flange coupled to an interior surface of the mounting rail;
- a locking arm extending from the mounting flange and terminating with a locking flange, the locking flange extending through the respective one of the first interfaces of the frame and the second interface of the mounting rail;
- and
- a grounding interface extending from the locking arm proximate the mounting flange, the grounding interface terminating with an electrical grounding contact, the electrical grounding contact positioned to engage with the frame channel extending into the internal volume of the mounting rail to facilitate electrically grounding the frame assembly.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.