Flexible roof-mount system and method for solar panels

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for efficiently securing solar panels on a roof surface that does not require penetration of the roof membrane. Supports for the solar panels are designed with a small footprint with sufficient spacing to allow free drainage between the supports. A simple, low-cost attachment member or clip can be integrated with each support to attach the panel to the support, and in some instances the clip (or its mount on the support) can also be used to lift the support to the roof. The panels can include one or more rails that can slide through a loosened clip, but be held securely in place by a tightened clip. The panels can be installed initially with the clips grasping the rails loosely and once the supports and rails are in their final positions, the clips can be fully tightened to form a rigid solar panel array.

1 . A non-invasive, roof-mounting system for flexible configurations of photo-voltaic (PV) panels having an attachment member, comprising:
 a non-slip pad suitable for placement on a roof surface;   a PV-panel support resting on the non-slip pad; and   a clip attached to the support, the clip capable of being tightened to the attachment member of the PV panel to affix the PV panel above the roof.   
     
     
         2 . The PV roof mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the clip provides an electrical connection to the attachment member of the PV-panel. 
     
     
         3 . The PV roof mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the support is of sufficient weight to hold the non-slip pad to the roof surface. 
     
     
         4 . The PV roof mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the support is of a form factor that permits water and debris to flow around it. 
     
     
         5 . The PV roof mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the support is formed from concrete. 
     
     
         6 . The PV roof mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the clip is integral to the support. 
     
     
         7 . The PV roof mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the clip is captive, wherein loosening is performed by motioning in one direction and tightening is performed by motioning in an opposite direction. 
     
     
         8 . The PV roof mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the clip is predominately in the shape of a U. 
     
     
         9 . The PV roof mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the clip is attached to the support via a clip mount. 
     
     
         10 . The PV roof mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the clip is configured with a shape that accommodates a contour of the attachment member, whereby the attachment member can be slid thorugh the clip when the clip is loosely attached to the attachment member. 
     
     
         11 . A non-invasive, roof-mounting system for flexible configurations of photo-voltaic (PV) panels having an attachment member, comprising:
 means for non-slipping suitable for placement on a roof surface;   means for supporting a PV-panel, the supporting means resting on the means for non-slipping; and   means for attaching the support to the PV-panel, the means for attaching being attached to a rail of the PV-panel and capable of being tightened to the rail to affix the PV panel above the roof.   
     
     
         12 . The PV roof mounting system of  claim 11  wherein the means for attaching provides an electrical connection to the rail of the PV-panel. 
     
     
         13 . The PV roof mounting system of  claim 11 , wherein the means for supporting is of sufficient weight to hold the non-slipping means to the roof surface. 
     
     
         14 . The PV roof mounting system of  claim 11 , wherein the means for supporting is of a form factor that permits water and debris to flow around it. 
     
     
         15 . The PV roof mounting system of  claim 11 , wherein the means for attachment is integral to the means for supporting. 
     
     
         16 . The PV roof mounting system of  claim 11 , wherein the means for attachment is attached to the means for supporting via a mounting means. 
     
     
         17 . A method for non-invasive, flexibly configured mounting of photo-voltaic (PV) panels having an attachment member to a roof, comprising:
 placing a non-slip pad on a membrane of the roof;   placing a PV-panel support on the non-slip pad;   attaching a clip to the support; and   attaching the clip to the attachment member of the PV panel, wherein the PV panels are supported above the roof by a network of the non-slip pads, PV-panel supports and clips.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of attaching includes loosing the clip to allow the attachment member to be slid through the clip and tightening the clip to fix the attachment member. 
     
     
         19 . A method for non-invasive, flexibly configured mounting of photo-voltaic (PV) panels having an attachment member to a roof, comprising:
 placing a non-slip pad on a membrane of the roof;   attaching a clip to a PV-panel support;   lifting the PV-panel support onto the non-slip pad using a portion of the clip as a lifting point; and   attaching the clip to the attachment member of the PV panel, wherein the PV panels are supported above the roof by a network of the non-slip pads, PV-panel supports and clips.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein attaching the clip is performed by motioning a bolt in a determined direction, and opening the clip by motioning in an opposite determined direction.