# US 2014/0196769 A1 · Mounting structures for photovoltaic cells > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196769 A1 - Document ID: US20140196769A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/155,139 - Filed: 2014-01-14 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-15 - Assignees: Global Solar Energy, Inc.; Hanergy Hi-Tech Power (HK) Limited - Applicants: Global Solar Energy, Inc.; Hanergy Hi-Tech Power (HK) Limited - Inventors: Urs SCHOOP; Scot ALBRIGHT; Darren VEREBELYI; Walter STOSS; Michael L. PODKIN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196769A1 ## CPC - H02S 20/23: specially adapted for roof structures - F24S 25/33: forming substantially planar assemblies, e.g. of coplanar or stacked profiles - F24S 25/61: for fixing to the ground or to building structures - F24S 25/615: for fixing to protruding parts of buildings, e.g. to corrugations or to standing seams - H10F 19/80: Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells - F24S 2025/601: {by bonding, e.g. by using adhesives} - F24S 2025/806: {having curved portions} - Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV] - Y02B 10/20: Solar thermal - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - 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) - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - 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 ## Abstract Mounting systems for PV modules and assemblies of modules, including apparatus and methods of use. The disclosed systems generally involve mounting a flexible photovoltaic module in a slight arch, bending it with a large radius around one axis of the module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A photovoltaic assembly, comprising: first and second photovoltaic mounting structures, each including: a body portion having a bottom surface configured to be attached to an underlying structure and a side support surface configured to support a lateral part of the photovoltaic module, and a module retention portion configured to receive an edge portion of a photovoltaic module; and a flexible photovoltaic module disposed between the mounting structures with a first edge of the module positioned within the module retention portion of the first mounting structure and a second edge of the module positioned within the module retention portion of the second mounting structure; wherein the first and second mounting structures are disposed a distance apart less than a distance between the first and second edges of the module, thereby causing the module to curve between the mounting structures. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the module retention portion of each mounting structure is a groove of substantially constant width formed between the body portion and an overlap portion of each respective mounting structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the module retention portion of each mounting structure is a gap that narrows toward its proximal end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the module retention portion of each mounting structure includes a pinch point that fixes the position of the module as the module passes through the pinch point. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the module retention portion of each mounting structure is a narrowing gap terminating in a distal pinch point. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting structures are two-part structures with the module retention portion selectively attachable and removable from the body portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting structures are bidirectional and symmetric about a central axis. ### Claim 8 A mounting structure for mounting flexible photovoltaic modules to a surface, comprising: a body portion including a bottom surface configured to be mounted to an underlying structure and a pair of arcuate lateral surfaces each configured to support an edge portion of a flexible photovoltaic module; and a bidirectional module retention portion disposed above the body portion and having two sides, each side of which is configured to receive and retain an edge of a flexible photovoltaic module by retaining the edge of the module in a groove formed between the side of the module retention portion and the body portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The mounting structure of claim 8, wherein the module retention portion is selectively attachable and removable from the body portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The mounting structure of claim 8, wherein the module retention portion includes two angled surfaces characterized by a first slope relative to the bottom surface, the arcuate lateral surfaces each have an upper portion characterized by a second slope relative to the bottom surface, and the first slope is less than the second slope. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The mounting structure of claim 8, wherein the module retention portion is configured to exert a force on each mounted module which is perpendicular to the module surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The mounting structure of claim 8, wherein the body portion includes a plurality of profile features disposed along the lateral surfaces. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The mounting structure of claim 12, wherein the profile features are recessed grooves. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The mounting structure of claim 8, wherein the module retention portion includes a plurality of apertures extending into the body of the mounting structure and configured to provide ventilation to the mounting structure for the purpose of dissipating heat transferred to the mounting structure by an installed photovoltaic module. ### Claim 15 A photovoltaic array, comprising: a plurality of photovoltaic module mounting structures each including at least one module retaining groove configured to receive a lateral edge of a flexible photovoltaic module; and a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each with a first edge retained within the retaining groove of one of the mounting structures and a second edge retained within the retaining groove of another of the mounting structures; wherein each module has a width, and the mounting structures are spaced apart by a distance less than the width, thereby causing the modules to be curved between the mounting structures. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The photovoltaic array of claim 15, wherein the mounting structures each include a lower mounting component configured to be attached to a mounting rail, and an upper mounting component defining the module retaining groove and configured to be attached to the corresponding lower mounting component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The photovoltaic array of claim 16, wherein each lower mounting structure is configured to be attached to a receiving bracket that can be selectively positioned at any desired position on the mounting rail. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The photovoltaic array of claim 16, wherein the lower mounting component includes a T-shaped groove into which a complementary T-shaped lower portion of the upper mounting component can be positioned. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The photovoltaic array of claim 18, wherein the retaining grooves are angled slightly upward relative to an underlying mounting surface, to approximately match the curvature of the modules. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The photovoltaic array of claim 15, wherein mounting structures disposed at a lateral edge of the array are unidirectional and define exactly one retaining groove, and mounting structures disposed at positions other than a lateral edge of the array are bidirectional and define a pair of module retaining grooves.