Rail clamp for solar panel module
A clamp couples to a rail on solar panel modules are supported and transitions between an unclamped state and a clamped state. The clamp includes a first body having a shelf on which a first arm of the rail rests, a flange, and a channel. The first arm is at least partially disposed in the channel in the clamped state. The clamp includes a second body having a shelf on which a second arm of the rail rests, a flange, a channel. The second arm is at least partially disposed in the channel in the clamped state. The second body has a slot through which a fastener is disposed for coupling the clamp to a mount. A receptacle is formed at least in part by the first body and the second body, and the rail is at least partially disposed in the receptacle.
1 . A clamp for supporting a rail, the clamp comprising:
a first body including:
a sidewall,
an opening disposed through the sidewall of the first body,
a first arm extending from the sidewall of the first body,
a second arm extending from the sidewall of the first body,
a shelf extending from the sidewall of the first body, and
a channel formed at least in part by the first arm and the second arm;
a second body including:
a sidewall,
a first opening disposed through the sidewall of the second body,
an arm extending from the sidewall of the second body, the arm of the second body being at least partially disposed in the channel of the first body, wherein the arm of the second body is disposed against the first arm of the first body,
a channel formed at least in part by the sidewall of the second body and the arm of the second body, the second arm of the first body being at least partially disposed in the channel of the second body, and
a second opening disposed through the arm of the second body, the second opening being oriented transverse to the first opening in the sidewall,
a shelf extending from the sidewall of the second body; and
a fastening mechanism disposed through the opening in the first body and through the first opening in the second body to couple the first body and the second body together, the fastening mechanism to transition the clamp between an unclamped state in which the rail is removable from the clamp, and a clamped state in which the rail is secured within the clamp.
2 . The clamp of claim 1 , wherein:
the first body includes a second channel;
the second body includes a second channel; and
the rail includes:
a first arm at least partially disposed in the second channel in the clamped state, and
a second arm at least partially disposed in the second channel of the second body in the clamped state.
3 . The clamp of claim 1 , wherein:
a fastener is disposed through the second opening, the fastener to couple the clamp to a mount; and
the mount couples to a surface.
4 . The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises:
a pin;
a lever including a first cam surface and a second cam surface; and
a shaft disposed through the pin and the lever for hingedly coupling the lever to the pin.
5 . The clamp of claim 1 , wherein:
the second arm includes one or more teeth; and
the channel of the second body has one or more notches to engage with the one or more teeth in the clamped state.
6 . A clamp for coupling to a rail, the clamp to transition between an unclamped state and a clamped state, the clamp comprising:
a first body including:
a sidewall,
a shelf extending from the sidewall, wherein a first arm of the rail rests on the shelf of the first body,
a flange extending from the sidewall of the first body, and
a channel formed at least in part by the shelf of the first body and the flange of the first body, the first arm of the rail being at least partially disposed in the channel of the first body in the clamped state;
a second body including:
a sidewall,
a shelf extending from the sidewall of the second body, wherein a second arm of the rail rests on the shelf of the second body,
a flange extending from the sidewall of the second body,
a channel formed at least in part by the shelf of the second body and the flange of the second body, the second arm being at least partially disposed in the channel of the second body in the clamped state, and
a slot through which a fastener is disposed for coupling the clamp to a mount;
a receptacle formed at least in part by the first body and the second body, the rail being at least partially disposed in the receptacle; and
a fastening mechanism to transition the clamp between the unclamped state and the clamped state, the fastening mechanism being disposed through the sidewall of the first body and the sidewall of the second body.
7 . The clamp of claim 6 , wherein the mount includes a passage in which a seam of a metal roof is at least partially disposed.
8 . The clamp of claim 6 , wherein:
the first body includes:
a first arm,
a second arm, and
a second channel defined at least in part by the first arm and the second arm; and
the second body includes:
an arm at least partially disposed in the second channel of the first body, and
a second channel in which the second arm is at least partially disposed.
9 . The clamp of claim 8 , wherein:
the second arm includes one or more teeth; and
one or more notches are disposed in the second channel of the second body, the one or more teeth being engaged with the one or more notches in the clamped state.
10 . The clamp of claim 1 , wherein:
the first arm extends from the sidewall of the first body by a first distance; and
the second arm extends from the sidewall of the first body by a second distance that is greater than the first distance.
11 . The clamp of claim 6 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises:
a pin;
a lever including a first cam surface and a second cam surface; and
a shaft disposed through the pin and the lever for hingedly coupling the lever to the pin.
12 . The clamp of claim 6 , wherein:
the sidewall of the first body includes an opening;
the sidewall of the second body includes an opening; and
the fastening mechanism is disposed through the opening in the sidewall of the first body and the sidewall of the second body.
13 . The clamp of claim 6 , wherein:
in the clamped state, the rail is secured within the clamp; and
in the unclamped state, the rail is insertable and removable from the clamp.
14 . A clamp comprising:
a first body including:
a sidewall,
a first arm extending from the sidewall of the first body,
a second arm extending from the sidewall of the first body, the second arm having a tooth,
a shelf extending from the sidewall of the first body, and
a channel formed at least in part by the first arm and the second arm;
a second body including:
a sidewall,
an arm extending from the sidewall of the second body, the arm of the second body being at least partially disposed in the channel of the first body, wherein the arm of the second body is disposed against the first arm of the first body,
a channel formed at least in part by the sidewall of the second body and the arm of the second body, the channel of the first body including one or more notches, wherein the second arm of the first body is disposed within the channel of the second body such that the tooth engages with one notch of the one or more notches, and
a shelf extending from the sidewall of the second body; and
a fastening mechanism disposed through the first body and the second body to couple the first body and the second body together, the fastening mechanism to transition the clamp between an unclamped state and a clamped state.
15 . The clamp of claim 14 , wherein:
the first body includes an opening disposed through the sidewall of the first body;
the second body includes an opening disposed through the sidewall of the second body; and
the fastening mechanism is disposed through the opening of the first body and the opening of the second body.
16 . The clamp of claim 15 , wherein the second body includes a second opening disposed through the arm of the second body, the second opening being oriented transverse to the opening in the sidewall of the second body.
17 . The clamp of claim 16 , wherein:
a fastener is disposed through the second opening;
the fastener couples the clamp to a mount; and
the mount couples to a surface.
18 . The clamp of claim 14 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises:
a pin;
a lever including a first cam surface and a second cam surface; and
a shaft disposed through the pin and the lever for hingedly coupling the lever to the pin.
19 . The clamp of claim 14 , wherein the fastening mechanism transitions the clamp between the unclamped state in which a rail is removable from the clamp, and the clamped state in which the rail is secured within the clamp.
20 . The clamp of claim 19 , further comprising a receptacle formed at least in part by the first body and the second body, the rail being at least partially disposed in the receptacle.