Strut runner member and assembly using same for mounting arrays on rooftops and other structures
AssigneePVT Solar, Inc.
InventorsJoshua Reed Plaisted, Brian West
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A strut runner includes a member extending lengthwise in a first direction, where the member includes an underlying panel and one or more walls that extend from the panel. The member may be configured to at least partially support the panel array while being integrated or directly connected to the underlying structure. Additionally, the strut runner may include one or more peripheral extensions that extend a distance outward from the body.
Claims18
A strut runner for mounting a module array to an underlying structure, the strut runner comprising:
- a member extending lengthwise in a first direction, the member including an underlying panel and one or more walls that extend from the panel, the member being configured to at least partially support the module array while being integrated to the underlying structure;
- and
- one or more peripheral extensions that extend widthwise from the member beneath a thickness of the underlying structure in order to integrate the strut runner with the underlying structure.
A mounting system for a solar module array, the mounting system comprising:
- a plurality of rail structures that combine to compress and retain a plurality of solar modules in position relative to one another and the plurality of rail structures;
- one or more strut runner members that combine to support the plurality of rail structures by being configured to integrate or directly connect to an underlying structure so as to interconnect the plurality of rail structures to the underlying structure at an incline,
- wherein each of the one or more strut runner members extends lengthwise in a first direction, and each of the one or more strut runner members includes an underlying panel and one or more walls that extend from the panel,
- wherein at least one of the one or more strut runner members includes a peripheral extension that extends, in a widthwise direction, a distance outward from the body and beneath a thickness of the underlying structure.
A mounted solar module array comprising:
- a plurality of strut runner members that are connected to an underlying structure;
- a plurality of rail structures that are connected to the underlying structure by the plurality of strut runner members, wherein the plurality of rail structures combine to compress and retain a plurality of solar modules in position on the underlying structure;
- wherein the plurality of strut runner members combine to support the plurality of rail structures by integrating or interconnecting to the underlying structure so as to interconnect the plurality of rail structures to the underlying structure at an incline,
- wherein each of the plurality of strut runner members extends lengthwise in a first direction, and wherein each of the plurality of strut runner members includes an underlying panel and one or more walls that extend from the panel,
- wherein at least one of the plurality of strut runner members includes one or more peripheral extensions that extend, in a widthwise direction, a distance outward from the body and beneath a thickness of the underlying structure, so as to flash the one strut runner member with the underlying structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.