IP Library Granted Patent US 9,231,517
Granted Patent B2
US 9,231,517 · App. 14/593,430 · Granted Jan 5, 2016

Photovoltaic array mounting apparatus, systems, and methods

Inventors: Jack Raymond West (San Rafael, CA); Brian Atchley (San Rafael, CA); Tyrus Hawkes Hudson (San Rafael, CA); Emil Johansen (San Rafael, CA)
Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
H02S20/23H01L31/042H01L31/0422H01L31/18H02S20/00H02S20/10H02S20/24Y02B10/12Y02E10/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,231,517
App. No.
14/593,430
Granted
Jan 5, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A photovoltaic array, including: (a) supports laid out on a surface in rows and columns; (b) photovoltaic modules positioned on top of the supports; and (c) fasteners connecting the photovoltaic modules to the supports, wherein the supports have an upper pedestal surface and a lower pedestal surface such that the photovoltaic modules are positioned at a non-horizontal angle when edges of the photovoltaic modules are positioned on top of the upper and lower pedestal surfaces, and wherein a portion of the fasteners rotate to lock the photovoltaic modules onto the supports.

Claims (17)

1. A photovoltaic array, comprising:

(a) supports laid out on a surface in rows and columns;

(b) photovoltaic modules positioned on top of the supports; and

(c) lever clips connecting the photovoltaic modules to the supports,

wherein the supports have an upper pedestal surface and a lower pedestal surface such that the photovoltaic modules are positioned at a non-horizontal angle when edges of the photovoltaic modules are positioned on top of the upper and lower pedestal surfaces, and

wherein the lever clips lock the photovoltaic modules onto the supports; and

(d) wind deflectors attached to the supports, wherein the wind deflectors each comprise an upright flange spaced apart from the upper edges of the photovoltaic modules so as to leave a pressure equalization air gap between the wind deflectors and the upper edges of the photovoltaic modules, and wherein each wind deflector has a lower portion that is disposed at an angle from the upright flange and is positioned underneath the photovoltaic module.

2. The array of claim 1 , wherein the corners of two of the photovoltaic modules are positioned on the upper pedestal surface of each of the supports, and the corners of two of the other photovoltaic modules are positioned on the lower pedestal surface of each of the supports.

3. The array of claim 1 , wherein four corners of each photovoltaic module are positioned on top of four different supports.

4. The array of claim 1 , wherein each lever clip forms an electrical ground bond between one of the photovoltaic modules and one of the supports such that an electrical ground bond is formed across the array.

5. The array of claim 1 , wherein each lever clip has a head at one end of a spring arm and a catch at the other end of the spring arm.

6. The array of claim 1 , wherein the lever clips are received into openings in the upper or lower pedestal surfaces of the support.

7. The array of claim 1 , wherein each support is a continuous member formed to have an inclined center portion between the upper and lower pedestal surface, and a pair of support flanges formed at the front and back ends of the support.

8. The array of claim 1 , wherein the non-horizontal angle is from 2 to 40 degrees.

9. The array of claim 8 , wherein the non-horizontal angle is approximately 5 degrees.

10. The array of claim 1 , wherein in each row of supports, the distance between two neighboring supports does not exceed the length of the longest side of the module.

11. The array of claim 1 , wherein in each column of supports, the distance between two neighboring supports does not exceed the length of the shortest side of the module.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2021
From: SOLARCITY CORPORATION
To: TESLA, INC.
Reel/Frame 056172/0062 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2015
From: WEST, JOHN RAYMOND; ATCHLEY, BRIAN; HUDSON, TYRUS HAWKES; JOHANSEN, WMIL
To: ZEP SOLAR, LLC
Reel/Frame 036092/0163 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2015
From: ZEP SOLAR LLC
To: SOLARCITY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035496/0341 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 14308954 · Jun 19, 2014
Continuation In Part 14137989 · Dec 20, 2013
Provisional Application 61841381 · Jun 30, 2013
Provisional Application 61740410 · Dec 20, 2012
Related Publication 20150180405A1 · Jun 25, 2015