System and method of assembling structural solar panels
OwnerThomas J. Kacandesinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular assembly of solar panels is held together in a rigid fashion through the use of two J-channels arranged on either side thereof in oppositely facing directions. Brackets hold these J-channels to flanges on the underside of the solar panels. In the argot of solar panel installation, the J-channels extend in the north-south direction. Between each solar panel there is disposed a liquid collecting pan extending in the east-west direction. This collecting pan also acts as a clip providing both a structural and electrical connection between adjacently disposed solar panels in a column assembly which is rendered capable of installation as a single unit from the ground.
Claims18
A solar panel module comprising:
- a plurality of solar panels arranged in a column, said solar panels having frames with inwardly directed, substantially horizontal frame edges on undersides of said panels;
- a pair of J-channel supports disposed in mirror image fashion on both sides of said column of solar panels, said J-channel supports extending beyond said solar panel frames with taller portions of said J-channel supports being disposed distally from said frames;
- and
- a plurality of brackets affixed to said horizontal frame edges and to interior facing portions of said J-channel supports, whereby said column of solar panels is supported on either side by J-channel supports so as to form a substantially rigid structure which is installable as a single unit.
A roof structure comprising:
- a plurality of solar panel modules of individual solar panels, said solar panel modules forming columns of solar panels disposed edge-to-edge, said solar panels within said modules having frames with inwardly directed, substantially horizontal frame edges on undersides of said panels;
- J-channel supports disposed in mirror image fashion and extending between said columns of said solar panel modules, said J-channel supports extending beyond said solar panel frames with taller portions of said J-channel supports being disposed distally from said frames;
- and
- a plurality of brackets affixing said J-channel support members to said horizontal frame edges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.