Hole-thru-laminate mounting supports for photovoltaic modules

Abstract

A mounting support for a photovoltaic module is described. The mounting support includes a pedestal having a surface adaptable to receive a flat side of a photovoltaic module laminate. A hole is disposed in the pedestal, the hole adaptable to receive a bolt or a pin used to couple the pedestal to the flat side of the photovoltaic module laminate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A photovoltaic system, comprising:
 a support structure mounted on a mounting surface; and   a plurality of photovoltaic module laminates, each photovoltaic module laminate comprising an array of solar cells and a hole offset from the plurality of solar cells and disposed through the photovoltaic module laminate, wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic module laminates is fastened to the support structure through the hole.   
     
     
         2 . The photovoltaic system of  claim 1 , wherein each photovoltaic module laminate of the plurality of photovoltaic module laminates comprising a layer of EVA material, a layer comprising the array of solar cells, a sheet of glass, a J-box and electrical buses. 
     
     
         3 . The photovoltaic system of  claim 1 , wherein the hole of each photovoltaic module laminate is outside of an outermost perimeter of the array of solar cells. 
     
     
         4 . The photovoltaic system of  claim 1 , wherein the hole of each photovoltaic module laminate is within an outermost perimeter of the array of solar cells. 
     
     
         5 . The photovoltaic system of  claim 1 , wherein the hole of each photovoltaic module laminate has a flexible rubber grommet therein. 
     
     
         6 . The photovoltaic system of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of pedestals. 
     
     
         7 . The photovoltaic system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic module laminates is a bifacial laminate. 
     
     
         8 . The photovoltaic system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic module laminates is fastened to the support structure by a bolt disposed through the hole. 
     
     
         9 . The photovoltaic system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic module laminates is fastened to the support structure by a pin disposed through the hole. 
     
     
         10 . The photovoltaic system of  claim 1 , wherein each photovoltaic module laminate comprises one or more additional holes offset from the plurality of solar cells and disposed through the photovoltaic module laminate, wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic module laminates is fastened to the support structure through the one or more additional holes. 
     
     
         11 . A method of installing a photovoltaic system, the method comprising:
 mounting a support structure on a mounting surface; and   placing a plurality of photovoltaic module laminates on the support structure, each photovoltaic module laminate comprising an array of solar cells and a hole offset from the plurality of solar cells and disposed through the photovoltaic module laminate; and   fastening each of the plurality of photovoltaic module laminates to the support structure through the hole.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein fastening each of the plurality of photovoltaic module laminates to the support structure through the hole comprising inserting a bolt through the hole. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein fastening each of the plurality of photovoltaic module laminates to the support structure through the hole comprising inserting a pin through the hole. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each photovoltaic module laminate comprises one or more additional holes offset from the plurality of solar cells and disposed through the photovoltaic module laminate, and wherein fastening each of the plurality of photovoltaic module laminates to the support structure further comprises fastening each of the plurality of photovoltaic module laminates to the support structure through the one or more additional holes. 
     
     
         15 . A photovoltaic assembly, comprising:
 a support structure for mounting on a mounting surface; and   a plurality of photovoltaic module laminates, each photovoltaic module laminate comprising an array of solar cells and a hole offset from the plurality of solar cells and disposed through the photovoltaic module laminate, wherein the hole is for fastening the photovoltaic module laminate to the support structure.   
     
     
         16 . The photovoltaic assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a plurality of bolts, one of the plurality of bolts for inserting in the hole to fasten the photovoltaic module laminate to the support structure.   
     
     
         17 . The photovoltaic assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a plurality of pins, one of the plurality of pins for inserting in the hole to fasten the photovoltaic module laminate to the support structure.   
     
     
         18 . The photovoltaic assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the hole of each photovoltaic module laminate has a flexible rubber grommet therein. 
     
     
         19 . The photovoltaic assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of pedestals. 
     
     
         20 . The photovoltaic assembly of  claim 15 , wherein each photovoltaic module laminate comprises one or more additional holes offset from the plurality of solar cells and disposed through the photovoltaic module laminate.