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Title: Photovoltaic array mounting apparatus, systems, and methods

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting a photovoltaic (PV) module on a surface, including a support with an upper surface, a lower surface, tabs, one or more openings, and a clip comprising an arm and a notch, where the apparatus resists wind forces and seismic forces and creates a grounding electrical bond between the PV module, support, and clip. The invention further includes a method for installing PV modules on a surface that includes arranging supports in rows along an X axis and in columns along a Y axis on a surface such that in each row the distance between two neighboring supports does not exceed the length of the longest side of a PV module and in each column the distance between two neighboring supports does not exceed the length of the shortest side of a PV module.

Inventors:
; ; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Zep Solar, LLC, San Rafael, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1164707
Patent Number(s):
8898971
Application Number:
14/137,989
Assignee:
Zep Solar, LLC (San Rafael, CA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
DOE Contract Number:  
EE0005439
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2013 Dec 20
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 42 ENGINEERING

Citation Formats

West, John Raymond, Atchley, Brian, Hudson, Tyrus Hawkes, and Johansen, Emil. Photovoltaic array mounting apparatus, systems, and methods. United States: N. p., 2014. Web.
West, John Raymond, Atchley, Brian, Hudson, Tyrus Hawkes, & Johansen, Emil. Photovoltaic array mounting apparatus, systems, and methods. United States.
West, John Raymond, Atchley, Brian, Hudson, Tyrus Hawkes, and Johansen, Emil. Tue . "Photovoltaic array mounting apparatus, systems, and methods". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1164707.
@article{osti_1164707,
title = {Photovoltaic array mounting apparatus, systems, and methods},
author = {West, John Raymond and Atchley, Brian and Hudson, Tyrus Hawkes and Johansen, Emil},
abstractNote = {An apparatus for mounting a photovoltaic (PV) module on a surface, including a support with an upper surface, a lower surface, tabs, one or more openings, and a clip comprising an arm and a notch, where the apparatus resists wind forces and seismic forces and creates a grounding electrical bond between the PV module, support, and clip. The invention further includes a method for installing PV modules on a surface that includes arranging supports in rows along an X axis and in columns along a Y axis on a surface such that in each row the distance between two neighboring supports does not exceed the length of the longest side of a PV module and in each column the distance between two neighboring supports does not exceed the length of the shortest side of a PV module.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2014},
month = {12}
}

Patent:

Works referenced in this record:

Clip fastener for photovoltaic system
patent, April 2014


Solar Panel Mounting System
patent-application, September 2012


    Works referencing / citing this record:

    Self-locking photovoltaic module mounting system
    patent, July 2016


    Photovoltaic array mounting apparatus, systems, and methods
    patent, January 2016


    Photovoltaic array mounting apparatus, systems, and methods
    patent, April 2015