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US 2011/0299957 A1Published application
Module clamp and fastener apparatus
AssigneePreformed Line Products Company
InventorThomas Young
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method of employing modified twist-to-engage bolts that attach a photovoltaic (PV) module to an extrusion rail or channel within a rail are disclosed. In addition to a modified twist-to-engage bolt (e.g., “t-bolt”), a complementary bracket portion having alignment tabs locks in place and clamps the modules to the rail. The anti-rotation locking system prevents twist-to-engage bolts from disengaging without the removal of the complementary bracket.
Claims20
A photovoltaic (PV) module clamping system, comprising:
- a t-bolt that comprises a shaft having a shank with a shape that is non-cylindrical;
- and
- a clamp apparatus having an aperture consistent with the shape of the shank and a pair of tabs, wherein the shape and the pair of tabs facilitate alignment of the t-bolt within a slot of a rail.
A method of self-aligning a PV module clamp, comprising,
- inserting one end of a self-locking bolt having a non-cylindrical shank into a channel of an extruded rail;
- and
- inserting the other end of the self-locking bolt through an aperture of a PV module clamp, wherein the aperture is consistent with a shape of the shank and maintains a locked position within the rail when positioned to secure two PV modules.
A PV module clamping system, comprising:
- a twist-lock bolt having a substantially rectangular-shaped head on one end and a non-cylindrical threaded shaft on the other end;
- and
- a clamp apparatus comprising:
- an aperture disposed in a surface having a shape consistent with the non-cylindrical shaft of the twist-lock bolt;
- and
- at least one tab integral and perpendicular to the surface;
- wherein the twist-lock bolt locks into a channel of an extruded rail and the aperture ensures the tabs are correctly positioned between two disparate PV panels.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.