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US 9,178,293 B2Granted
Cord plate
AssigneeFirst Solar, Inc.
InventorsBrian E. Cohen, Raymond Domsic
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A photovoltaic module cord plate is disclosed. The cord plate has a base and channel.
Claims22
A photovoltaic module cord plate comprising:
- a base comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the cord plate is configured to be mounted to a surface of a photovoltaic module cover plate by positioning the bottom surface adjacent to the surface of the photovoltaic module;
- a junction on the top surface of the base configured to intersect a first conductor and a second conductor, the first conductor extending from an interior of the photovoltaic module and the second conductor being external to the photovoltaic module, wherein the junction comprises an opening formed in the bottom surface of the base and a channel extending from the opening and configured to position the first conductor to be electrically connected to the second conductor;
- an arch adjacent to the channel configured to receive the second conductor into the channel;
- a cradle adjacent to the arch configured to receive the second conductor into the arch;
- and
- a conductor support adjacent to the cradle and configured to receive the second conductor into the cradle, wherein the conductor support is colinear to the arch and the cradle and wherein the arch, the cradle, and the conductor support form a first wire path from the perimeter of the base to the channel, configured to secure the second conductor and keep it straight with respect to the cord plate,
- wherein the arch and the conductor support define a second wire path perpendicular to the first wire path.
4 more elements
A photovoltaic module comprising:
- a first conductor positioned adjacent to a cover plate of a photovoltaic device, the first conductor comprising a first end extending from an interior of the photovoltaic device and configured to be connected to the photovoltaic device and a second end located proximate to a connector on a first surface of the cover plate;
- a cord plate positioned on the first surface of the cover plate over the connector, the cord plate comprising
- a base comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the cord plate is configured to be mounted to a surface of a photovoltaic module cover plate by positioning the bottom surface adjacent to the surface of the photovoltaic module;
- a junction on the top surface of the base configured to intersect the first conductor and a second conductor external to the photovoltaic device, wherein the junction comprises an opening formed in the bottom surface of the base and a channel extending from the opening and configured to position the first conductor to be electrically connected to the second conductor;
- an arch adjacent to the channel configured to receive the second conductor into the channel;
- a cradle adjacent to the arch configured to receive the second conductor into the arch;
- and
- a conductor support adjacent to the cradle and configured to receive the second conductor into the cradle, wherein the conductor support is colinear to the arch and the cradle and wherein the arch, the cradle, and the conductor support form a first wire path from the perimeter of the base to the channel, configured to secure the second conductor and keep it straight with respect to the cord plate;
- wherein a portion of the second conductor is positioned in the channel along the first wire path and an adjacent portion of the second conductor is electrically connected to the first conductor, and
- wherein the arch and the conductor support define a second wire path perpendicular to the first wire path.
7 more elements
A photovoltaic module cord plate comprising:
- a base comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the cord plate is configured to be mounted to a surface of a photovoltaic module cover plate by positioning the bottom surface adjacent to the surface of the photovoltaic module;
- a junction on the top surface of the base configured to intersect a first conductor and a second conductor, the first conductor extending from an interior of the photovoltaic module and the second conductor being external to the photovoltaic module, wherein the junction comprises an opening formed in the bottom surface of the base and a channel extending from the opening and configured to position the first conductor to be electrically connected to the second conductor;
- an arch adjacent to the channel configured to receive the second conductor into the channel;
- a cradle adjacent to the arch configured to receive the second conductor into the arch;
- and
- a conductor support adjacent to the cradle and configured to receive the second conductor into the cradle, wherein the conductor support is colinear to the arch and the cradle and wherein the arch, the cradle, and the conductor support form a first wire path from the perimeter of the base to the channel, configured to secure the second conductor and keep it straight with respect to the cord plate.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.