Cam-actuated self-locking clamp assembly for solar panels
AssigneeDynoRaxx, Inc.
InventorNathan T. Rizzo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Clamp assemblies and systems for mounting solar panels to mounting units are presented. For instance, a clamp assembly for clamping a solar panel includes a clamp portion and a lever portion. The clamp portion includes at least one tooth for clamping onto a first flange of the solar panel. The lever portion is spaced apart from the clamp portion and include a cam and a guard. The cam includes a rounded surface and a flat surface. Each of the clamp portion and the lever portion comprise an opening for receiving a pivoting element. The opening is generally aligned when the clamp portion and the lever portion are fitted together. Upon rotation of the lever portion, the cam urges the clamp portion into a clamped condition.
Claims14
A clamp assembly for clamping a solar panel, the clamp assembly comprising:
- a clamp portion comprising at least one tooth for clamping onto a first flange of the solar panel;
- a lever portion spaced apart from the clamp portion, the lever portion comprising a cam and a guard, the cam comprising a rounded surface and a flat surface;
- wherein each of the clamp portion and the lever portion comprise an opening for receiving a pivoting element, the opening being generally aligned when the clamp portion and the lever portion are fitted together;
- and
- wherein upon rotation of the lever portion from a position in which the rounded surface of the cam rotates along the bottom of a support portion to a position in which the flat surface of the cam locks against the bottom of the support portion, the cam urges the clamp portion into a clamped condition such that the at least one tooth clamps onto the first flange of the solar panel.
A clamp assembly for mounting a solar panel to a mounting unit, the clamp assembly comprising:
- a saddle portion with a means for mounting the saddle portion to a tower of the mounting unit;
- a clamp portion fitted into a top of the saddle portion and comprising at least one tooth for clamping onto a first flange of the solar panel;
- a lever portion fitted into a bottom of the saddle portion, the lever portion comprising a cam and a guard, the cam comprising a rounded surface and a flat surface;
- wherein each of the saddle portion, the clamp portion and the lever portion comprise an opening for receiving a pivoting element, the opening being generally aligned when the saddle portion, the clamp portion and the lever portion are fitted together;
- wherein upon rotation of the lever portion from a position in which the rounded surface of the cam rotates along the bottom of the saddle portion to a position in which the flat surface of the cam locks against the bottom of the saddle portion, the cam urges the clamp portion into a clamped condition such that the at least one tooth clamps onto the first flange of the solar panel;
- and
- wherein upon continued rotation of the lever portion, the guard of the lever portion contacts the bottom of the saddle portion to prevent further rotation of the lever portion.
A system for toolless and railless mounting of a solar panel to a plurality of mounting units using a plurality of clamp assemblies, each clamp assembly of the plurality of clamp assemblies comprising:
- a saddle portion with a means for mounting the saddle portion to one tower of one mounting unit;
- a clamp portion fitted into a top of the saddle portion and comprising at least one tooth for clamping onto a flange of the solar panel;
- a lever portion fitted into a bottom of the saddle portion, the lever portion comprising a cam and a guard, the cam comprising a rounded surface and a flat surface;
- wherein each of the saddle portion, the clamp portion and the lever portion comprise an opening for receiving a pivoting element, the opening being generally aligned when the saddle portion, the clamp portion and the lever portion are fitted together;
- wherein upon rotation of the lever portion from a position in which the rounded surface of the cam rotates along the bottom of the saddle portion to a position in which the flat surface of the cam locks against the bottom of the saddle portion, the cam urges the clamp portion into a clamped condition such that the at least one tooth clamps onto a flange of the solar panel;
- wherein upon continued rotation of the lever portion, the guard of the lever portion contacts the bottom of the saddle portion to prevent further rotation of the lever portion;
- and wherein each clamp assembly of the plurality of clamping assemblies is mounted to a different tower of the plurality of mounting units such that the solar panel is mounted at an angle to the mounting units.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.