Mounting system for installing an array of solar battery modules of a panel-like configuration on a roof

A mounting system claimed in combination with suitable to install an array of solar battery modules, each of the solar battery modules providing a plurality of solar cells arranged within a rectangular frame to form a panel-like configuration on a roof, the roof having roof sheathing extending from a ridge of the roof, said system including:

• a plurality of vertical rails secured to the roof and slopingly extend along the roof from the ridge of the roof toward the eaves, a laterally adjacent pair of said vertical rails hold the solar battery modules in a spaced relation from the roof sheathing;
• each of said vertical rails having a rectangular base secured to the roof sheathing, a pair of stepped shoulders which extend away from the rectangular base toward the solar battery modules along an entire length of said vertical rail to support thereon the rectangular frames of adjoining solar battery modules;
• a pair of trough sections which extend away from the rectangular base toward the solar battery modules along the entire length of said vertical rail, the trough sections being disposed outwardly of the stepped shoulders relative to a longitudinal axis of the vertical rails to receive rainwater that passes through joints formed by the rectangular frames within the vertical rails;
• and
• a plurality of horizontal rails extending in a direction perpendicular to a sloping direction of the roof, each horizontal rail engaging an intermediate portion of the rectangular frame between lateral ends of each vertically adjoining solar battery module, said horizontal rails secured at a bottom to the roof and having hooks that engage the frames of the adjoining solar battery modules located on opposite sides of each horizontal rail.