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US 12,771,282 B2Granted
Rail mounted junction box
AssigneeUnirac, Inc.
InventorsBrian Wares, Ethan Ely, Sushrut Bapat, Gary Rossi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a bracket assembly for securing a photovoltaic (PV) module. The bracket assembly may include a bracket having a top portion and a bottom surface and a clip coupled to the bracket. The clip may include a hooked portion, wherein the clip is configured to be displaced by a PV module from a first position to a second position. The clip may be biased toward the first position, and the hooked portion may be configured to engage an edge feature of the PV module.
Claims20
A junction box comprising:
- a housing including:
- a base,
- sidewalls extending from the base,
- receptacles disposed on the sidewalls, and
- an interior cavity defined at least in part by the base and the sidewalls;
- a lid positionable on the housing, the lid including:
- a top surface,
- a bottom surface, opposite the top surface of the lid,
- a channel formed on the bottom surface of the lid, the channel to mate with a surface formed at a top end of the sidewalls, and
- through holes disposed between the top surface of the lid and the bottom surface of the lid, wherein individual through holes of the through holes align with individual receptacles of the receptacles;
- at least one bracket to attach the housing to a solar array rail structure, the at least one bracket including:
- a first portion that extends perpendicular to a first sidewall of the sidewalls, and
- a second portion connected to the first portion, the second portion being substantially parallel to the first sidewall, wherein the second portion is interposed between a side of the solar array rail structure and the first sidewall;
- and
- fasteners, wherein individual fasteners of the fasteners are disposable through the individual through holes and into the individual receptacles to secure the lid to the housing, and wherein the housing remains connected to the solar array rail structure when the lid is disconnected from the housing.
12 more elements
A junction box comprising:
- a housing including:
- a first sidewall,
- a second sidewall,
- a third sidewall, and
- a fourth sidewall;
- a connector to attach the housing to a solar array rail structure, the connector including:
- a first portion that engages with a top surface of the solar array rail structure,
- a second portion that engages with a bottom surface of the solar array rail structure, wherein a distance disposed between the first portion and the second portion is adjustable to attach the connector to the solar array rail structure, and
- a third portion that connects to the housing;
- and
- a lid removably connected to the housing via a first fastener disposed at an intersection of the first sidewall and the second sidewall, a second fastener disposed at an intersection of the second sidewall and the third sidewall, a third fastener disposed at an intersection of the third sidewall and the fourth sidewall, and a fourth fastener disposed at an intersection of the fourth sidewall and the first sidewall, wherein the housing remains connected to the solar array rail structure when the lid is disconnected from the housing, the lid including a channel on an underside of the lid and extending around a perimeter of the underside of the lid, wherein respective top ends of the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the third sidewall, and the fourth sidewall are received within the channel to form a seal between the lid and the housing.
8 more elements
An assembly that attaches to a solar array rail structure, the assembly comprising:
- a junction box including:
- a housing having:
- an interior bottom surface,
- sidewalls extending upwardly from a periphery of the interior bottom surface, and
- receptacles disposed at corners of the sidewalls, respectively, and
- a lid that attaches to the sidewalls via fasteners that are disposed through the lid and into the receptacles, respectively, and wherein the housing remains connected to the solar array rail structure when the fasteners are removed from the receptacles;
- and
- a connector to attach the junction box to the solar array rail structure, the connector including:
- a first portion disposable against a first surface of the solar array rail structure,
- a second portion disposable against a second surface of the solar array rail structure, the second surface being opposite the first surface, and
- a third portion at least partially disposable against a third surface of the solar array rail structure, the third portion being substantially parallel to the third surface and disposable directly adjacent to a first sidewall of the sidewalls, and wherein the third portion of the connector is disposable internal to a length of the first sidewall that extends between a first end of the first sidewall and a second end of the first sidewall.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.