Photovoltaic module ground mount

1. A collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework comprising:

at least two substantially parallel supporting beams; and

at least two substantially parallel photovoltaic module rails, wherein each photovoltaic module rail comprises:

a top plate having a first top surface and a first bottom surface opposite the first top surface, wherein the first bottom surface faces the at least two supporting beams:

a mounting structure having a second top surface and a second bottom surface opposite the second top surface, wherein the second top surface is configured to contact a photovoltaic module; and

a side edge extending upward from the first top surface to the second bottom surface, adjacent to the top plate and the mounting structure;

wherein each photovoltaic module rail is pivotally connected to the at least two supporting beams such that the photovoltaic module rails are configured to be moved from a position substantially oblique to the at least two supporting beams to a position substantially perpendicular to the at least two supporting beams;

wherein each supporting beam comprises a top plate having a first end, a second end, a first side edge, and a second side edge; a first substantially J-shaped side wall extending perpendicularly from the top plate and adjacent to the first side edge; and a second substantially J-shaped side wall extending perpendicularly from the top plate and adjacent to the second side edge.

2. The collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework of claim 1 , wherein the supporting beams comprise steel.

3. The collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework of claim 1 , wherein the supporting beams comprise aluminum.

4. The collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic module rails comprise steel.

5. The collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic module rails comprise aluminum.

6. The collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework is configured to position an array of a plurality of photovoltaic modules in a plurality of rows and columns.

7. The collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework of claim 6 , wherein the photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework is configured to position an array of 15 photovoltaic modules in a configuration comprising 3 rows of modules and 5 columns of modules.

8. The collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework of claim 1 , wherein each module rail is divided into a first end portion and a second end portion, and one of the connected supporting beams is positioned under the first end portion of each module rail, and the other of the connected supporting beams is positioned under the second end portion of each module rail.

9. The collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework of claim 1 , further comprising a lock configured to lock the photovoltaic module rails in the position substantially perpendicular to the at least two supporting beams.

10. A photovoltaic module ground mounting system comprising:

a supporting column comprising an upper end, wherein the supporting column can be installed perpendicular to a surface;

a bracket adjacent to the upper end of the supporting column;

a collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework configured to be mounted adjacent to the bracket, the module mounting assembly framework comprising:

two substantially parallel supporting beams; and

at least two substantially parallel photovoltaic module rails each configured to secure a portion of a photovoltaic module, each photovoltaic module rail having:

a top plate having a first top surface and a first bottom surface opposite the first top surface, wherein the first bottom surface faces the at least two supporting beams;

a mounting structure having a second top surface and a second bottom surface opposite the second top surface, wherein the second top surface is configured to contact a photovoltaic module; and

a side edge extending upward from the first top surface to the second bottom surface, adjacent to the top plate and the mounting structure;

wherein each of the module rails is pivotally connected to both of the supporting beams;

wherein the supporting beams can be moved to a relative position adjacent to each other by moving the module rails from a first orientation substantially perpendicular to the supporting beams to a second orientation substantially oblique to the supporting beams;

wherein each supporting beam comprises a top plate having a first end, a second end, a first side edge, and a second side edge; a first substantially J-shaped side wall extending perpendicularly from the top plate and adjacent to the first side edge; and a second substantially J-shaped side wall extending perpendicularly from the top plate and adjacent to the second side edge.

11. The photovoltaic module ground mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the supporting beams comprise steel.

12. The photovoltaic module ground mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the supporting beams comprise aluminum.

13. The photovoltaic module ground mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the photovoltaic module rails comprise steel.

14. The photovoltaic module ground mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the photovoltaic module rails comprise aluminum.

15. The photovoltaic module ground mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework is configured to position an array of a plurality of photovoltaic modules in a plurality of rows and columns.

16. The photovoltaic module ground mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework is configured to position an array of 15 photovoltaic modules in a configuration comprising 3 rows of modules and 5 columns of modules.

17. The photovoltaic module ground mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the supporting column comprises steel.

18. The photovoltaic module ground mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the supporting column comprises aluminum.

19. The photovoltaic module ground mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the bracket comprises steel.

20. The photovoltaic module ground mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the bracket comprises aluminum.

21. The photovoltaic module ground mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the bracket can be positioned to provide a module mounting position tilted with respect to the plane of the surface adjacent to which the supporting column can be installed.

22. The photovoltaic module ground mounting system of claim 10 , wherein each module rail is divided into a first end portion and a second end portion, and one of the connected supporting beams is positioned under the first end portion of each module rail, and the other of the connected supporting beams is positioned under the second end portion of each module rail.

23. A method of installing a photovoltaic module mounting system comprising the steps of:

positioning a supporting column comprising a bracket adjacent to a surface, wherein

the bracket is adjacent to the upper end of the supporting column;

attaching a collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework to the bracket, wherein the collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework comprises:

two substantially parallel supporting beams;

at least two substantially parallel photovoltaic module rails each configured to secure a portion of a photovoltaic module, each photovoltaic module rail having:

a top plate having a first top surface and a first bottom surface opposite the first top surface, wherein the first bottom surface faces the at least two supporting beams;

a mounting structure having a second top surface and a second bottom surface opposite the second top surface, wherein the second top surface is configured to contact a photovoltaic module; and

a side edge extending upward from the first top surface to the second bottom surface, adjacent to the top plate and the mounting structure; wherein each of the module rails is pivotally connected to both of the supporting beams,

wherein the supporting beams can be moved to a relative position adjacent to each other by moving the module rails from a first orientation substantially perpendicular to the supporting beams to a second orientation substantially oblique to the supporting beams;

wherein each supporting beam comprises a top plate having a first end, a second end, a first side edge, and a second side edge; a first substantially J-shaped side wall extending perpendicularly from the top plate and adjacent to the first side edge; and a second substantially J-shaped side wall extending perpendicularly from the top plate and adjacent to the second side edge; and

mounting a photovoltaic module to the second top surface.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the supporting beam comprises steel.

25. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of attaching a photovoltaic module to a photovoltaic module rail of the module mounting assembly framework.

26. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of adjusting the bracket to provide a module mounting position tilted compared to the surface.