Quick lock module rail for solar tracker
AssigneeNextracker LLC
InventorsVenkata Nitin Mythreya Yadlapalli, Bhanu Rekha Bandhakavi, Jitendra Morankar
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Abstract
A coupling system for use with a solar tracker includes a support rail defining opposed top and bottom surfaces, the top surface configured to support a portion of a solar module, and a fastening assembly operably coupled to a portion of the support rail, the fastening system including a retaining bolt having an elongated head including opposed top and bottom surfaces extending between opposed first and second end portions, wherein the bottom surface of the elongated head is offset from the top surface of the support rail to define a gap, the gap configured to selectively receive a portion of a solar module therein.
Claims10
A coupling system for use with a solar tracker, comprising:
- a support rail defining opposed top and bottom surfaces, the top surface configured to support a portion of a solar module;
- a fastening assembly operably coupled to a portion of the support rail, the fastening assembly including a retaining bolt having an elongated head including opposed top and bottom surfaces extending between opposed first and second end portions;
- and
- a spring arm operably coupled to the bottom surface of the support rail and including an upturned flange that is configured to extend past the top surface of the support rail,
- wherein the bottom surface of the elongated head is offset from the top surface of the support rail to define a gap, the gap configured to selectively receive a portion of a solar module therein,
- wherein a portion of the solar module includes a retaining groove defined therethrough, the retaining groove configured to receive a portion of the elongated head of the retaining bolt therein, and
- wherein a boss of the retaining bolt includes an outer dimension that permits the retaining bolt to slide within the retaining groove of the solar module from a first position, where a portion of the solar module is not received within the gap, to a second position where a portion of the solar module is received within the gap.
A fastening assembly for use with a solar module, comprising:
- a retaining bolt, the retaining bolt including:
- an elongated head including opposed top and bottom surfaces extending between opposed first and second end portions;
- and
- a boss disposed on a portion of the bottom surface of the elongated head and disposed adjacent one of the first and second end portions;
- and
- a biasing element disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the elongated head,
- wherein the bottom surface of the elongated head is offset from a lower surface of the boss to define a gap, the gap configured to selectively receive a portion of the solar module therein,
- wherein a portion of the solar module includes a retaining groove defined therethrough, the retaining groove configured to receive a portion of the elongated head of the retaining bolt therein,
- wherein the boss of the retaining bolt includes an outer dimension that permits the retaining bolt to slide within the retaining groove of the solar module from a first position, where a portion of the solar module is not received within the gap, to a second position where a portion of the solar module is received within the gap, and
- wherein the biasing element is configured to be compressed to alter a dimension of the gap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.