Solar panel truss mounting systems and methods

A truss mounting system, comprising

• a base;
• a truss assembly coupled to the base, wherein the truss assembly comprises:
• a first panel rail mount;
• a second panel rail mount parallel to the first panel rail mount;
• a base rail mount parallel to the first and second panel rail mounts;
• and
• a plurality of support members, a first portion of the plurality of support members extending between the first panel rail mount and the second panel rail mount, a second portion of the plurality of support members extending between the first panel rail mount and the base rail mount, and a third portion of the plurality of support members extending between the second panel rail mount and the base rail mount, wherein the second portion of the plurality of support members comprises:
• a first support member, the first support member comprising a first end coupled to the first panel rail mount at a first position on the first panel rail mount and a second end coupled to the base rail mount at a first position on the base rail mount, the first end formed by the intersection of a generally conical first portion and a first mounting tab, the first mounting tab comprising:
• a first curved surface, curved along the lateral and longitudinal axis of the conical first portion, with a first end and a second end;
• and
• a first flat surface disposed substantially tangent to the first curved surface, proximate the second end of the first curved surface, wherein the first flat surface further defines a first mounting hole located proximate the center of the first flat surface;
• and
• a second support member, the second support member comprising a first end coupled to the first panel rail mount at the first position on the first panel rail mount and a second end coupled to the base rail mount at a second position on the base rail mount distinct from the first position on the base rail mount, the first end formed by the intersection of a generally conical second portion and a second mounting tab, the second mounting tab comprising:
• a second curved surface, curved along the lateral axis of the conical second portion, with a first end and a second end;
• a second flat surface, with a first end and a second end, disposed at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal axis of the second curved surface, the first end of the second flat surface disposed proximate the second end of the second curved surface, wherein the second flat surface further defines a second mounting hole located proximate the center of the second flat surface;
• and
• a stiffener disposed perpendicular to the perimeter of the second mounting tab, wherein the height of the stiffener tapers from a first pre-determined height proximate the second end of the second flat surface to a smaller, second pre-determined height proximate the first end of the second curved surface;
• a first fastener disposed through the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole, the first fastener coupling the first and second support members to the first rail mount;
• and
• a plurality of connectors coupled to the truss assembly adjacent the first and second panel rail mounts, the connectors for coupling one or more mountable devices to the truss assembly, wherein at least one connector in the plurality of connectors comprises:
• a female-helical-threaded aperture coupled to the first panel rail mount;
• a first male-helical-threaded fastener extending through one or more of the plurality of support members of the truss assembly and into a first end of the female-helical-threaded aperture, the first male-helical-threaded fastener subjected to a first amount of torque to couple the one or more of the support members to the first panel rail mount of the truss assembly via cooperative engagement of the female-helical-threaded aperture with the first male-helical-threaded fastener;
• and
• a second male-helical-threaded fastener extending into a second end of the female-helical-threaded aperture, the second male-helical-threaded fastener subjected to a second amount of torque less than the first amount of torque to couple the one or more mountable devices to the first panel rail mount via cooperative engagement of the female-helical-threaded aperture with the second male-helical-threaded fastener.