# US 2021/0242819 A1 · Integrated photovoltaic module mounting system for installation on a sloped surface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0242819 A1 - Document ID: US20210242819A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/234,707 - Filed: 2021-04-19 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-20 - Assignees: Watershed Solar LLC - Applicants: Watershed Solar LLC - Inventors: Michael R. Ayers; S. Kyle Ehman; Neta Reef; Sharone Zehavi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210242819A1 ## CPC - H02S 20/10: Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground (H02S20/30 takes precedence) - F24S 25/13: Profile arrangements, e.g. trusses (F24S25/12 takes precedence) - 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 25/632: Side connectors; Base connectors - F24S 25/634: Clamps; Clips - F24S 25/636: clamping by screw-threaded elements - H02S 20/20: Supporting structures directly fixed to an immovable object (H02S20/30 takes precedence) - H02S 20/23: specially adapted for roof structures - H02S 20/25: Roof tile elements - H02S 30/10: Frame structures - H02S 40/22: Light-reflecting or light-concentrating means (directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H10F77/42) - H02S 40/425: {using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation} - H10F 19/20: comprising photovoltaic cells in arrays in or on a single semiconductor substrate, the photovoltaic cells having planar junctions (having multiple thin-film photovoltaic cells deposited on the same substrate H10F19/31) - F24S 25/20: Peripheral frames for modules - F24S 2025/6003: {by clamping} - F24S 2025/6005: {by screwed connection} - Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV] - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators - 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 A mounting system 180 for a solar panel 11 includes a rail 114 having an elongated mounting slot 116 secured to a flexible attaching connector 188 with fasteners and the flexible attaching connector for welding to a geomembrane overlying a slope surface, and a photovoltaic module 11 connected with fasteners to the rail, and optionally a ballast system 145 that includes a ballast tray 146 and ballast 152 coupled with fasteners to the rail. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solar photovoltaic module mounting system for installation on a sloped surface, comprising: a geomembrane sheet for overlaying on a sloped surface; a pair of elongate flexible strips for disposing in spaced-apart parallel relation to the geomembrane; a pair of elongate rails, each for securing to a respective one of the flexible strips; and at least one solar photovoltaic module for attaching to the rails, whereby the flexible strips being secured to the rails and attached to the geomembrane in spaced-apart parallel relation, support the solar photovoltaic module attached with fasteners to the rails while resisting sliding movement relative to the geomembrane and resisting wind uplift. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solar photovoltaic module mounting system as recited in claim 1, wherein the rail comprises a U-channel having a base and opposing side walls extending in a first direction therefrom, each side wall with a free distal end and a lip projecting towards the lip of the opposing distal end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The solar photovoltaic module mounting system as recited in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of fasteners for securing the photovoltaic module to the rails, each fastener comprising a plate having a threaded shaft extending therefrom for receiving the plate between the opposing side walls and the shaft for rotating to drive opposing ends of the plate into contact with the lips of the side walls, the threaded shaft for extending through an opening in a bracket of the solar photovoltaic module and being secured with a nut thereon. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The solar photovoltaic module mounting system as recited in claim 3, wherein said plate has a selected width smaller than the width of a channel defined by the opposing side walls and a length larger than the width of said channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The solar photovoltaic module mounting system as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one ballast tray having opposing ends for attaching to the opposing rails and a tray surface for supporting a ballast thereon, the ballast tray attached to the opposing rails prior to attaching the solar photovoltaic module to the rails in overlying relation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The solar photovoltaic module mounting system as recited in claim 1, wherein the geomembrane and the flexible strips are made of a synthetic material for heat welding together for secure attaching of the flexible strips to the geomembrane. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The solar photovoltaic module mounting system as recited in claim 5, wherein the geomembrane includes a light-reflective component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The solar photovoltaic module mounting system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sloped surface comprises a protected membrane roof; and further comprising an adhesive for securely attaching the geomembrane to the sloped surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The solar photovoltaic module mounting system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a spacer for attaching between the rail and the solar photovoltaic module to define an air flow space between a bottom surface of the solar photovoltaic module and the geomembrane, whereby air flow therethrough reduces heat build-up in the solar photovoltaic module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The solar photovoltaic module mounting system as recited in claim 9, wherein the spacer comprises a U-shaped channel having a base with at least one opening for receiving a fastener for securing the spacer to the rail, and opposing side walls extending in a first direction therefrom, each side wall with a free distal end and a lip projecting towards the lip of the opposing distal end. ### Claim 11 A method of installing a solar photovoltaic module on a sloped surface, comprising the step of: (a) providing a geomembrane sheet that overlays a sloped surface; (b) attaching a pair of elongate flexible strips in spaced-apart parallel relation to the geomembrane, the flexible strip each including an elongate rail secured thereto; and (c) attaching at least one solar photovoltaic module to the rails, whereby the flexible strips being secured to the rails and attached to the geomembrane in spaced-apart parallel relation, support the solar photovoltaic module attached with fasteners to the rails while resisting sliding movement relative to the geomembrane and resisting wind uplift. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the rail comprises a U-channel having a base and opposing side walls extending in a first direction therefrom, each side wall with a free distal end and a lip projecting towards the lip of the opposing distal end. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of securing the photovoltaic module to the rails with a plurality of fasteners. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method as recited in claim 13, wherein securing comprises receiving a plate between the opposing side walls and being rotated the opposing ends of the plate contact the lips of the side walls, and a threaded shaft extending from the plate receiving a nut. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11, forming the geomembrane and the flexible strips of a synthetic material for heat welding together for secure attaching of the flexible strips to the geomembrane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of providing the geomembrane with a light-reflective component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of adhering the geomembrane with an adhesive to a roof surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of positioning a spacer between the rail and the solar photovoltaic module to define an air flow space between a bottom surface of the solar photovoltaic module and the geomembrane, whereby air flow therethrough reduces heat build-up in the solar photovoltaic module.