# US 2014/0190096 A1 · System and method of assembling structural solar panels > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190096 A1 - Document ID: US20140190096A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/738,411 - Filed: 2013-01-10 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10 - Inventors: Thomas J. Kacandes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190096A1 ## CPC - H02S 20/23: specially adapted for roof structures - F24S 25/33: forming substantially planar assemblies, e.g. of coplanar or stacked profiles - F24S 25/37: forming coplanar grids comprising longitudinal and transversal profiles - F24S 25/632: Side connectors; Base connectors - F24S 40/44: Draining rainwater or condensation - F24S 80/70: Sealing means - F24S 2025/80: {Special profiles} - Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV] - Y02B 10/20: Solar thermal - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - Y10T 29/49355: Solar energy device making - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - Y10T 29/49959: Nonresilient fastener - 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) - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A modular assembly of solar panels is held together in a rigid fashion through the use of two J-channels arranged on either side thereof in oppositely facing directions. Brackets hold these J-channels to flanges on the underside of the solar panels. In the argot of solar panel installation, the J-channels extend in the north-south direction. Between each solar panel there is disposed a liquid collecting pan extending in the east-west direction. This collecting pan also acts as a clip providing both a structural and electrical connection between adjacently disposed solar panels in a column assembly which is rendered capable of installation as a single unit from the ground. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solar panel module comprising: a plurality of solar panels arranged in a column, said solar panels having frames with inwardly directed, substantially horizontal frame edges on undersides of said panels; a pair of J-channel supports disposed in mirror image fashion on both sides of said column of solar panels, said J-channel supports extending beyond said solar panel frames with taller portions of said J-channel supports being disposed distally from said frames; and a plurality of brackets affixed to said horizontal frame edges and to interior facing portions of said J-channel supports, whereby said column of solar panels is supported on either side by J-channel supports so as to form a substantially rigid structure which is installable as a single unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solar panel module of claim 1 further including a strip of polymeric material disposed on an exterior facing, upright portion of said J-channel supports. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The solar panel module of claim 1 in which at least one of said plurality of brackets has two separate parts, a first part that attaches to said solar panel and to one of said J-channel supports and a second part for attachment to an underlying structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The solar panel module of claim 1 further comprising a clip disposed between adjacent solar panels in said column, said clip being disposed substantially perpendicular to said J-channel supports. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The solar panel module of claim 4 in which said clip comprises a connecting pan which also functions to drain water into said J-channel supports. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The solar panel module of claim 1 in which an elastomeric sealing strip is disposed between pairs of adjacent ones of said panels in said column, said strip being supported from below by a flat strip lying beneath said adjacent panels and affixed thereto by at least one clip linking adjacent ones of said frame edges. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The solar panel module of claim 1 in which said solar panels are photovoltaic. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The solar panel module of claim 1 in which said solar panels are solar thermal. ### Claim 9 A roof structure comprising: a plurality of solar panel modules of individual solar panels, said solar panel modules forming columns of solar panels disposed edge-to-edge, said solar panels within said modules having frames with inwardly directed, substantially horizontal frame edges on undersides of said panels; J-channel supports disposed in mirror image fashion and extending between said columns of said solar panel modules, said J-channel supports extending beyond said solar panel frames with taller portions of said J-channel supports being disposed distally from said frames; and a plurality of brackets affixing said J-channel support members to said horizontal frame edges. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The roof structure of claim 9 further including a polymeric strip disposed between solar panels assemblies, whereby adjacent columns of said solar panel assemblies are provided with at least some degree of watertightness. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The roof structure of claim 9 further including a clip disposed between adjacent solar panels in said column, said clip being disposed substantially perpendicular to said J-channel supports. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The roof structure of claim 11 in which said clip comprises a connecting pan which also functions to drain water into said J-channel supports. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The roof structure of claim 9 further including fasteners disposed through said brackets and said J-channel supports affixing said assembly columns together. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) A structural architectural unit comprising the roof structure of claim 9 further including a modularly framed structure supporting said roof structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The structural architectural unit of claim 14 in which said modularly framed supporting structure is affixed to the ground. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The structural architectural unit of claim 14 in which said modularly framed supporting structure comprises material selected from the group consisting of steel, wood and aluminum. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The roof structure of claim 9 in which said solar panels are photovoltaic ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The roof structure of claim 9 in which said solar panels are solar thermal. ### Claim 19 A method for installing solar panels, said method comprising the step of: assembling said panels into an integrated module having J-shaped channel supports on the sides thereof, said J-shaped channel supports providing structural integrity and a structure for water drainage. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 further including the step of moving said assembly of said panels to a point of installation as a unit.