Cost Effective, Elongate Member Mounting System For Photovoltaic Devices
Methods and devices are provided for improved rooftop solar module mounting assemblies. In one embodiment, an assembly is provided for mounting a plurality of photovoltaic devices over a roof surface. The assembly comprises of a plurality of elongate metal rods, wherein the elongate metal rods are connected together to define a support grid; a plurality of non-roof penetrating grid supports configured to elevate the support grid above the roof surface; and a plurality of grid-to-roof anchors that secure the entire support grid over the roof surface, wherein the number of grid-to-roof anchors is less than about ¼ of the number of non-roof penetrating grid supports to minimize the number of locations where water may enter the roof surface.
1 . An assembly for mounting a plurality of photovoltaic modules over an installation surface, the assembly comprising:
a plurality of non-roof penetrating grid supports configured to elevate a support grid above the installation surface.
2 . An assembly for mounting a plurality of photovoltaic modules over a roof surface, the assembly comprising:
a plurality of non-roof penetrating grid supports configured to elevate the support grid above the roof surface; and
a plurality of grid-to-roof anchors that secure the entire support grid over the roof surface.
3 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein the grid comprises of a rigid structure formed by rigidly coupling the plurality of elongate members together.
4 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein the grid comprising a plurality of sections, wherein each section comprise of a plurality of elongate members rigidly connected together.
5 . An assembly for mounting a plurality of photovoltaic modules over a roof surface, the assembly comprising:
a plurality of elongate metal rods, wherein the elongate metal rods are connected together to define a support grid;
a plurality of non-roof penetrating grid supports configured to elevate the support grid above the roof surface; and
a plurality of grid-to-roof anchors that secure the entire support grid over the roof surface, wherein the number of grid-to-roof anchors is less than about ¼ of the number of non-roof penetrating grid supports used to support the modules to minimize the number of locations where water may enter the roof surface.
6 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein the elongate metal rods comprises of reinforcing steel bars (rebar).
7 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein the elongate metal rods comprises of ribbed steel bars.
8 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein the elongate metal rods comprises of solid cylindrical metal bars, approximately ⅛-3 inch diameter, made in varying lengths from 4′ to 20′.
9 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein the elongate metal rods are epoxy coated.
10 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein the support grid is defined by a plurality of metal rods arranged longitudinally and a plurality of metal rods arrange latitudinally.
11 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein the support grid comprises of a rectangular array.
12 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein the non-roof penetrating grid supports are located at intersections of longitudinally oriented metal rods and latitudinally oriented metal rods.
13 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein the non-roof penetrating grid supports each include a substantially flat bottom surface to engage the roof surface.
14 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein the non-roof penetrating grid supports each include a first cutout to receive a longitudinally oriented metal rod and to a second cutout to receive a latitudinally oriented metal rod.
15 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein the non-roof penetrating grid supports are adjustable in height to address undulations in the roof surface while maintaining the support grid in a substantially flat configuration.
16 . The assembly of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of photovoltaic device mounts to secure the photovoltaic devices over the support grid.
17 . The assembly of claim 16 wherein the photovoltaic device mounts are mounted on the on-roof penetrating grid supports.
18 . The assembly of claim 16 wherein the photovoltaic device mounts are mounted on the elongate metal rods that define the support grid.
19 . The assembly of claim 16 wherein the photovoltaic device mounts are configured to engage two separate photovoltaic devices by securing one edge of one photovoltaic device and one edge of a different photovoltaic device.
20 . The assembly of claim 16 wherein the photovoltaic device mounts clamp the photovoltaic device between one surface on the mount and one surface on the non-roof penetrating grid support.
21 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein the photovoltaic device mounts connect the modules to the mounts using hinge connectors to allow for angular motion of the photovoltaic devices.
22 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein the photovoltaic device mounts connect the modules to the mounts using press-fit connectors.
23 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein the photovoltaic device mount comprises of an elevated section so that each photovoltaic device is mounted at an angle relative to horizontal.