System for mounting a photovoltaic module to a surface
AssigneeUnirac, Inc.
InventorJohn E. Liebendorfer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for removably and adjustably mounting a device on an object is provided. The system for removably and adjustably mounting a device on an object, according to the present invention, includes an apparatus and method useful for removably and adjustably mounting one or more photovoltaic modules on an object such as a pole or roof, and includes one or more triple track rails. Also included are one or more connector brackets that are demountably attachable to the one or more triple track rails and to the object.
Claims34
A system for removably and adjustably mounting a photovoltaic module or other flat panel on a surface, comprising:
- a rail with at least two tracks;
- wherein the rail has a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a hollow chamber therebetween;
- wherein the rail is removably mountable on a footing grid;
- wherein each of the at least two tracks has a channel extending a length of the rail;
- and further wherein the channel in each of the at least two tracks has a slot extending the length of the rail, wherein the slot in one of the at least two tracks is disposed substantially at a right angle to the slot in any other of the at least two tracks;
- a plurality of keepers on which to mount the rail;
- and
- one or more clamps for connecting a photovoltaic module or other flat panel to the rail, wherein the one or more clamps includes a base, a descending member monolithically extending from the base, and an ascending member monolithically extending from the base in a direction substantially opposite a direction of the descending member.
An apparatus for positioning a photovoltaic module or other flat panel on a surface, comprising:
- a footing grid, wherein the footing grid includes at least one keeper;
- a rail with at least two tracks, wherein the rail is removably mountable on the footing grid;
- and further wherein the rail is variably positionable on the at least one keeper;
- and
- one or more clamps variably positionable on the rail for demountably securing a photovoltaic module or other flat panel to the rail;
- and further wherein the rail has a body having a proximal end, a distal end, a hollow chamber between the proximal end and distal end, opposing sides, and opposing shoulders.
A system for removably and adjustably mounting a photovoltaic module or other flat panel on a surface, comprising:
- a rail with at least two tracks;
- wherein each of the at least two tracks has a slot, wherein the slot in one of the at least two tracks is disposed substantially at a right angle to the slot in any other of the at least two tracks;
- and further wherein the rail has a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a hollow chamber therebetween;
- and one or more clamps for connecting a photovoltaic module or other flat panel to the rail;
- wherein the one or more clamps includes a base, a descending member monolithically extending from the base, and an ascending member monolithically extending from the base in a direction substantially opposite a direction of the descending member.
An apparatus for positioning a photovoltaic module or other flat panel on a surface, comprising:
- a footing grid, wherein the footing grid includes at least one keeper;
- a rail with at least two tracks, wherein the rail is removably mountable on the footing grid;
- wherein the rail has a body having a proximal end, a distal end, a hollow chamber between the proximal end and distal end, opposing sides, and opposing shoulders;
- and further wherein the body has a first channel in one of the opposing sides for slidably engaging the rail to the at least one keeper;
- and one or more clamps variably positionable on the rail for demountably securing a photovoltaic module or other flat panel to the rail;
- wherein the one or more clamps includes means for variably positioning the one or more clamps in a second channel of the body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.