Roof support system for a solar panel

A mounting system for mounting a solar panel containing at least one module above a roof and secured to at least one roof rafter, said mounting system comprising:

• a) at least two roof mounts, each roof mount comprising:
• a substantially hollow cylinder having a base end, said cylinder having an offset wall, and an insertion opening pointing away from the roof;
• a guide tunnel extending through said offset wall in parallel relationship with said insertion opening;
• a hole in said base end for fastening said roof mount to a rafter;
• an elongate member having a top end and a bottom end, said bottom end being fitted into said insertion opening, thereby orientating said elongate member away from the roof;
• b) a pair of C-shaped horizontal members, each horizontal member secured to respective roof mounts;
• c) two end clamps for securing therebetween a solar panel to a respective horizontal member;
• f) a bi-module clamp for securing a pair of adjacent modules to a horizontal member wherein the number of bi-module clamps required is determined by the formula:
• number of bi-module clamps=(number of modules−1),
• g) means for fastening said end clamps to a respective said C-shaped horizontal member;
• and
• h) means for fastening said bi-module clamps to a respective said C-shaped horizontal member.

A mounting base for supporting an object above a roof rafter comprising:

• a base and an integrated hollow cylinder, said cylinder having an insertion opening pointing away from the roof;
• an aperture positioned in the mounting base distal from said insertion opening, said aperture having a common axis of symmetry with said insertion opening;
• said insertion opening capable of receiving a lag bolt having a head and stem;
• and said aperture sized to permit the stem to pass through for frictional engagement with the rafter.

A method for securing a mounting base to a roof rafter comprising the steps of:

• providing a mounting base having a base and a substantially hollow cylinder having a base end, said cylinder having an offset wall and an insertion opening pointing away from the roof;
• a guide tunnel extending through said offset wall in parallel relationship with said insertion opening;
• and a hole in said base end extending through said base for receiving the stem of a lag bolt for fastening said roof mount to a rafter;
• positioning said mounting base directly over a roof rafter so that said guide tunnel is in alignment with the rafter;
• inserting a drill bit through said guide tunnel and drilling a pilot hole into the rafter;
• sliding said mounting base so that said hole in said base end is in alignment with said pilot hole;
• inserting a lag bolt through said insertion opening;
• and,
• fastening said mounting base to the roof by frictional engagement of the lag bolt to the rafter.

A solar panel support for supporting a solar panel having at least one module and which is mounted to a plurality of roof mounts comprising:

• a pair of extruded C-shaped horizontal members;
• each horizontal member having a track;
• a plurality of inserts for each horizontal member, each of said inserts adapted for slidable movement within the track of said horizontal member and each of said inserts having a threaded aperture;
• a pair of end clamps for each horizontal member, each of said end clamps having an aperture for allowing the threaded stem of a bolt to pass through, said end clamps capable of being positioned for securing a solar panel therebetween when said end clamp is fastened to a respective horizontal member;
• a plurality of bi-module clamps for each horizontal member, each of said bi-module clamps having an aperture for allowing the threaded stem of a bolt to pass through, said bi-module clamps capable of being positioned for securing adjacent solar modules when said bi-module clamp is fastened to a respective horizontal member, wherein the number of bi-module clamps required is determined by the formula:
• number of bi-module clamps=(number of modules−1);
• and,
• means for attaching said pair of horizontal members to a plurality of roof mounts.