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US 2023/0287674 A1Published application
One-piece bonding splice for rails
AssigneePegasus Solar Inc.
InventorsErich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A splice having a main body and one or more protrusions extending from the main body. The one or more protrusions can be operable to interfere with a rail when the main body is installed into an opening of the rail. The one or more protrusions may be operable to cut into a coating of the rail and form an electrical connection between the rail and the main body.
Claims20
A method for connecting rails of a solar panel mount assembly, the method comprising:
- aligning first and second edges at a first end of a splice with first and second guides of a first rail;
- inserting the splice into the first rail until the splice is partially installed within the first rail;
- aligning first and second edges at a second end of the splice with first and second guides of a second rail;
- inserting the splice into the second rail;
- and
- securing one of the rails to a roof attachment bracket.
3 more elements
A solar panel mount assembly comprising:
- a first rail having a first moment capacity, the first aluminum rail including:
- a first cross-sectional shape having a substantially u-shaped cavity, wherein the first cross-sectional shape is uniform along an entire length of the first rail and,
- a first inwardly protruding guide, and
- a second inwardly protruding guide;
- and
- a splice having a second moment capacity and configured to fit within the first rail, the splice including:
- a first edge configured to slide along the first inwardly protruding guide of the first rail;
- and
- a second edge configured to slide along the second inwardly protruding guide of the first rail.
6 more elements
A solar panel mount assembly comprising:
- a first aluminum rail having a first moment capacity and a substantially u-shaped first cross-section, the first aluminum rail including:
- a first guide extending inwardly from a first side wall of the substantially u-shaped first cross-section, the first guide having:
- a first surface;
- a second surface that is substantially orthogonal to the first side wall of the aluminum rail;
- and
- a sloped transition surface between the first surface and the second surface;
- and
- a second guide extending inwardly from a second side wall of the substantially u-shaped first cross-section;
- and
- a splice having a second moment capacity and a substantially u-shaped second cross-section that fits into the substantially u-shaped first cross-section of the first aluminum rail, the splice including:
- a first edge that cooperates with the first guide of the first aluminum rail;
- and
- a second edge that cooperates with the second guide of the first aluminum rail.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.