# US 12,760,937 B2 · Clamping arrangement and mounting arrangement for a solar cell module

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- Number: US 12,760,937 B2
- Document ID: US12760937B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/603,571
- Filed: 2024-03-13
- Published: 2024-09-19
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2023-03-14
- Assignees: SFS Group International AG
- Applicants: SFS Group International AG
- Inventors: Terje Sameien
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760937B2

## CPC

- F24S 25/636: clamping by screw-threaded elements
- F24S 25/16: Arrangement of interconnected standing structures; Standing structures having separate supporting portions for adjacent modules
- H02S 20/23: specially adapted for roof structures
- H02S 30/10: Frame structures
- F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00)
- H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00)

## Abstract

A clamping arrangement for solar modules includes an assembly having at least one C-shaped, longitudinally extended guide rail and first and second holders. These holders have an angle with two legs. A first leg includes a first, extended, straight section; the second, angled leg/section has a gripping section at its end to positively grip a solar module frame. The holders are inserted into longitudinal ends of the guide rail. The inner space of the guide rail has a guide dimensioned such that the first leg/section of the holders is displaceably guided therein. One eyelet each on the holder or the guide rail is connectable via a spring such that the holder is pulled into the guide of the guide rail and exerts a tensile force on the gripping section. A mounting arrangement for solar cell modules for façades includes this clamping arrangement, a mounting rail and a solar cell module.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A clamping arrangement (100) for a solar module, the clamping arrangement comprising:
an assembly having at least one longitudinally extended guide rail which is C-shaped in cross-section and has a length s, and first and second holders, the first and second holders:
are arranged at the longitudinal ends of the guide rail and are fixed in an inner space of the guide rail;
each of the first and second holders is L-shaped, having a first, extended, straight section of length I and width b, and a second section angled thereto and having a gripping section that is adapted to positively grip a frame of the solar module;
the first and second holders and the guide rail have openings for fastening elements for fixing the holders to the guide rail in a secured position;
the inner space of the guide rail has a guide for accommodating the first section of the first and second holders;
the guide has two U-shaped grooves which are spaced apart from each other and define openings that face towards each other, and each of the grooves has a width w and a distance d from groove bottom to groove bottom, so that the first sections of the guide rail are adapted to be displaceably guided in the guide;
wherein a first side wall of the two U-shaped grooves is formed jointly by an outer wall of the guide rail and a second side wall is formed in each case as a separate, rib-shaped projection of height h, which is arranged at a parallel distance w from the first side wall; and
the guide rail has a first eyelet which extends at right angles from the first side wall into the inner space of the guide rail.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The clamping arrangement according to claim 1, wherein for the second side walls w<h<5w and 2h<<d and d<≈b.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The clamping arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a position of the holders when arranged in the guide is securable relative to the guide rail via fasteners arranged in correspondingly overlapping ones of the openings in both the guide rail and the first and second holders.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The clamping arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the opening in the first holder is an elongated hole.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The clamping arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first holder has a second eyelet arranged on a narrow side of the first section opposite a clamping region, and the second eyelet extends at right angles away from a plane of the first section, and the second eyelet faces into the inner space when the first holder is arranged in the guide of the guide rail.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The clamping arrangement according to claim 5, wherein a line of sight through the first and second eyelet extends parallel to a plane of the first side wall of the guide rail.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The clamping arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the first and second eyelets comprise stop points for a spring which, when the first holder is installed in the guide, exerts a tensile force between the guide rail and the first holder such that a tensile force acts on the clamping area.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The clamping arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the guide rail comprises an extruded aluminum profile with a uniform cross-section.

### Claim 9

A mounting arrangement for a solar module, comprising:
a clamping arrangement including an assembly having at least one longitudinally extended guide rail which is C-shaped in cross-section and has a length s, and first and second holders, the first and second holders are arranged at the longitudinal ends of the guide rail and are fixed in an inner space of the guide rail, each of the first and second holders is L-shaped, having a first, extended, straight section of length I and width b, and a second section angled thereto and having a gripping section that is adapted to positively grip a frame of the solar module, the first and second holders and the guide rail have openings for fastening elements for fixing the holders to the guide rail in a secured position, and the inner space of the guide rail has a guide for accommodating the first section of the first and second holders;
a mounting rail that is designed to be attached horizontally to a load-bearing substructure; and
the clamping arrangement is dimensioned so as to securely grip an edge region or frame of a solar module;
wherein both the guide rail and the mounting rail have a C-shaped cross-sections; and
an open end section of the C-shaped cross-sections are shaped to interlock when the guide rail is hooked into the mounting rail, with the openings of the C-shaped cross-sections aligned with one another.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The mounting arrangement according to claim 9, wherein first and second end sections of the guide rail and first and second end sections of the mounting rail are designed differently, the first end section of the mounting rail is complementary to and engageable with the first mounting section of the guide rail and the second end section of the mounting rail complementary to and engageable with the second mounting section of the guide rail.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The mounting arrangement according to claim 9, wherein two of the guide rails are arranged offset in parallel and are provided for securing the solar panel, and the guide rails engage in two corresponding ones of the mounting rails.