# US 8,464,478 B2 · Next generation photovoltaic solar panel piggyback mounting system

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- Number: US 8,464,478 B2
- Document ID: US8464478B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/646,636
- Filed: 2012-10-05
- Published: 2013-04-11
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2011-10-07
- Applicants: Richard Tweedie
- Inventors: Richard Tweedie
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464478B2

## CPC

- F24S 25/67: for coupling adjacent modules or their peripheral frames (for fixing modules or their peripheral frames to supporting elements F24S25/63)
- F24S 25/30: using elongate rigid mounting elements extending substantially along the supporting surface, e.g. for covering buildings with solar heat collectors (extending in directions away from the supporting surface F24S25/10; peripheral frames for modules F24S25/20)
- F24S 25/61: for fixing to the ground or to building structures
- F24S 25/632: Side connectors; Base connectors
- F24S 2020/12: {Coplanar arrangements with frame overlapping portions}
- Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV]
- Y02B 10/20: Solar thermal
- Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking
- F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A system and method for mounting photovoltaic solar panels onto a roof. The system includes first and second strut rails spaced from the roof employing a series of standoffs, the strut rails having a length, cross section, a base and side walls, side walls terminating with first and second turned in edges. First and second mounting fixtures are attached to the photovoltaic solar panels which are of a type and geometry enabling the solar panels to be removably appended to the strut rails. The first and second mounting fixtures can be applied to the photovoltaic solar panels before being elevated to a roof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for mounting a plurality of photovoltaic solar panels onto a roof, said system comprising first and second strut rails, each strut rail having a length and a cross section, each cross section having a base, sidewalls and first and second turned in edges, a first mounting fixture comprising a first mounting block for removably appending said photovoltaic solar panels to a first of said strut rails, said first mounting block having a tooth at its first edge and a cam at its second edge, said tooth sized and positioned to fit beneath the first turned in edge of said first strut rail while said cam frictionally abuts a second turned in edge of said first strut rail and a second mounting fixture comprising a second mounting block for removably appending said photovoltaic solar panel to said second strut rail, said second mounting block comprising a protruding shaft being sized to extend between said sidewalls of said second strut rail and further having an indent configured within said protruding shaft for capturing one of said first or second turned in edges when said indent is urged against one of said first or second turned in edges for releasably securing said photovoltaic solar panels to said second strut rail, a first of said plurality of photovoltaic solar panels having said first mounting fixture affixed proximate a first edge thereof and said second mounting fixture affixed proximate a second edge thereof, providing a second photovoltaic solar panel being substantially rectangular, said second edge of said first photovoltaic solar panel and a first edge of said second photovoltaic solar panel having complimentary hook and groove features to enable said first and second photovoltaic solar panels to releasably attach to one another, said second photovoltaic solar panel being devoid of said first mounting fixture and having said second mounting fixture affixed proximate its second edge.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein a seam is established between the second edge of said first photovoltaic solar panel and said first edge of said second photovoltaic solar panel, said seam being sealed to substantially prevent water intrusion therethrough.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein a gap is established between said hook and groove features to allow for thermal expansion and contraction of said adjacent first and second photovoltaic solar panels.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein a ground clip is located between said second edge of said first photovoltaic solar panel and said first edge of said second photovoltaic solar panel for establishing electrical conductivity between said adjacent photovoltaic solar panels.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second strut rails are each comprised of a plurality of rail members joined end to end and further comprising shear plates positioned at said end to end joinder thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5 wherein said shear plates include relief areas sized to receive first and second mounting blocks therein.

### Claim 7

A system for mounting a plurality of photovoltaic solar panels onto a roof, said system comprising first and second strut rails, each strut rail having a length and a cross section, each cross section having a base, sidewalls and first and second turned in edges, a first mounting fixture comprising a first mounting block for removably appending said photovoltaic solar panels to a first of said strut rails, said first mounting block having a tooth at its first edge and a cam at its second edge, said tooth sized and positioned to fit beneath a first turned in edge of said first strut rail while said cam frictionally abuts a second turned in edge of said first strut rail, a ground clip affixed to said first mounting block extending to said tooth and providing a grounding path for as long as said first mounting block is in contact with said first strut rail and a second mounting fixture comprising a second mounting block for removably appending said photovoltaic solar panel to said second strut rail, said second mounting block comprising a protruding shaft being sized to extend between said sidewalls of said second strut rail and further having an indent configured within said protruding shaft for capturing one of said first or second turned in edges when said indent is urged against one of said first or second turned in edges for releasably securing said photovoltaic solar panels to said second strut rail and ground clips located between said plurality of photovoltaic solar panels for establishing electrical conductivity between them.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7 wherein said ground clip comprising parallel knife edges in that segment of said ground clip intended to contact said first strut rail when said first mounting block and first strut rail are in contact with one another.

### Claim 9

A system for mounting photovoltaic solar panels onto a roof, said system comprising first and second strut rails, each strut rail having a length and a cross section, each cross section having a base, sidewalls and first and second turned in edges, a first mounting fixture comprising a first mounting block for removably appending said photovoltaic solar panels to a first of said strut rails, said first mounting block having a tooth at its first edge and a cam at its second edge, said tooth sized and positioned to fit beneath a first turned in edge of said first strut rail while said cam frictionally abuts a second turned in edge of said first strut rail and a second mounting fixture comprising a second mounting block for removably appending said photovoltaic solar panel to said second strut rail, said second mounting block comprising a protruding shaft being sized to extend between said sidewalls of said second strut rail and further having an indent configured within said protruding shaft for capturing one of said first or second turned in edges when said indent is urged against one of said first or second turned in edges for releasably securing said photovoltaic solar panels to said second strut rail and further comprising a grounding path from said system, said grounding path established by a conductive wire and lay-in ground clip, said lay-in ground clip being substantially U-shaped with a channel sized to receive said wire and openings therein for securing said lay-in ground clip to at least one of said strut rails.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9 wherein said channel is configured such that as said lay-in ground clip is secured to at least one of said strut rails, said U-shaped lay-in ground clip acts to clamp down upon said wire substantially preventing its movement within said channel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10 wherein said wire is removable from said channel without requiring removal of said lay-in ground clip from at least one of said strut rails.