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US 12,139,905 B2Granted
One-piece bonding splice for rails
AssigneePegasus Solar Inc.
InventorsErich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A splice having a main body and one or more protrusions extending from the main body. The one or more protrusions can be operable to interfere with a rail when the main body is installed into an opening of the rail. The one or more protrusions may be operable to cut into a coating of the rail and form an electrical connection between the rail and the main body.
Claims20
A method for connecting rails of a solar panel mount assembly, the method comprising:
- aligning first and second edges at a first end of a u-shaped splice with first and second inwardly protruding guides of a first u-shaped rail;
- inserting the splice into the first u-shaped rail until the splice is partially installed within the first u-shaped rail;
- aligning first and second edges at a second end of the splice with first and second inwardly protruding guides of a second u-shaped rail;
- inserting the splice into the second u-shaped rail in cooperation with the first and second inwardly protruding guides, wherein the first and the second inwardly protruding guides prevent lateral movement of the u-shaped splice as the u-shaped splice is inserted into the second u-shaped rail;
- and
- securing one of the first u-shaped rail and the second u-shaped rail to a roof attachment bracket.
3 more elements
A solar panel mount assembly comprising:
- a first rail having a first moment capacity, the first rail including:
- a first cross-sectional shape having a substantially u-shaped cavity, wherein the first cross-sectional shape is uniform along an entire length of the first rail,
- a first inwardly protruding guide, and
- a second inwardly protruding guide;
- and
- a u-shaped splice having a second moment capacity and configured to fit within the first rail, the u-shaped splice including:
- a first edge configured to slide along the first inwardly protruding guide of the first rail, wherein the first inwardly protruding guide is configured to prevent lateral movement when the u-shaped splice is fitted into the first rail;
- and
- a second edge configured to slide along the second inwardly protruding guide of the first rail, wherein the second inwardly protruding guide is also configured to prevent lateral movement when the u-shaped splice is fitted into the first rail.
6 more elements
A solar panel mount assembly comprising:
- a first aluminum rail having a first moment capacity and a substantially u-shaped first cross-section, the first aluminum rail including:
- a first guide extending inwardly from a first side wall of the substantially u-shaped first cross-section, the first guide having:
- a first surface;
- a second surface that is substantially orthogonal to the first side wall of the aluminum rail;
- and
- a sloped transition surface between the first surface and the second surface;
- and
- a second guide extending inwardly from a second side wall of the substantially u-shaped first cross-section;
- and
- a splice having a second moment capacity and a substantially u-shaped second cross-section that fits into the substantially u-shaped first cross-section of the first aluminum rail, the splice including:
- a first edge that cooperates with the first guide of the first aluminum rail, wherein the first guide is configured to prevent lateral movement of the splice as the splice is fitted into the first aluminum rail;
- and
- a second edge that cooperates with the second guide of the first aluminum rail, wherein the second guide is also configured to prevent lateral movement of the splice as the splice is fitted into the first aluminum rail.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.