Corner connector for photovoltaic module frame

Abstract

Corner connection members for a photovoltaic module frame include thru-passages for receiving insert components that perform and facilitate a variety of functions, such as attaching the photovoltaic module to a roof, providing a ground connection for the solar cells, to facilitate the mechanical and electrical connection of photovoltaic modules which are arranged side-by-side, to facilitate securing photovoltaic modules in a stack, and providing mechanical and electrical connections to adjacent photovoltaic modules in an array. Insert components may also include electronic devices, such as microinverters and energy storage devices, which are connected to the photovoltaic modules when the insert component is installed in the corner member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A photovoltaic module comprising:
 a planar solar collection assembly defining a planar front side surface and a planar backside surface;   four frame members arranged to form a rectangular frame onto which the solar collection assembly is mounted, the rectangular frame having four corners, each of the four corners being defined by a pair of the frame members; and   four corner members that connect the frame members to each other at each of the four corners of the frame,   wherein at least one of the corner members includes a through-hole that extends through the at least one corner member perpendicularly with respect to the planar front side and backside surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 1 , wherein the through-hole is configured to receive an attachment member that is used to secure the photovoltaic module to a support structure. 
     
     
         3 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an attachment member configured to be extended through the through-hole to secure the photovoltaic module to a support structure.   
     
     
         4 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 1 , wherein the through-hole of the at least one corner member is configured to receive an insert component that is configured to be connected to the solar collection assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 4 , wherein the insert component comprises at least one of a micro-inverter, an energy storage device, a module level monitoring device, a remote disconnect device or an outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment member comprises at least one of a micro-inverter, an energy storage device, a module level monitoring device, a remote disconnect device or an outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 5 , wherein the photovoltaic module further comprises the insert component. 
     
     
         8 . A frame-less photovoltaic module comprising:
 a planar solar collection assembly defining a planar front side surface and a planar backside surface,   wherein the solar collection assembly includes a rectangular body having four corners, each of the four corners having corner members that are attached to the solar collection assembly,   wherein at least one of the corner members includes a through-hole that extends through the at least one corner member perpendicularly with respect to the planar front side and backside surfaces.   
     
     
         9 . A stack of photovoltaic modules, comprising:
 a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each of the photovoltaic modules including:
 a planar solar collection assembly defining a planar front side surface and a planar backside surface; 
 four frame members arranged to form a rectangular frame onto which the solar collection assembly is mounted, the rectangular frame having four corners, each of the four corners being defined by a pair of the frame members; and 
 four corner members that connect the frame members to each other at each of the four corners of the frame; and 
   a connecting rod,   wherein at least one of the corner members of each of the photovoltaic modules is configured as a connection member having a through-hole that extends through the connection member perpendicularly with respect to the planar front side and backside surfaces,   wherein the photovoltaic modules are stacked on top of one another such that the connection members having the through-holes are arranged on top of each other with the through-holes aligned to form a continuous passage that extends through the stack,   wherein the connecting rod is sized and shaped complementarily with respect to the continuous passage, and   wherein the connecting rod is configured to be extended through the continuous passage to connect and retain the photovoltaic modules in a stacked configuration.   
     
     
         10 . The stack of photovoltaic modules of  claim 9 , wherein the connecting rod is formed of a conductive material having high strength. 
     
     
         11 . The stack of photovoltaic modules of  claim 10 , wherein the connecting rod is formed of steel. 
     
     
         12 . The stack of photovoltaic modules of  claim 10 , wherein the photovoltaic modules include grounding connections, and
 wherein the connecting rod or at least the first of a plurality of interconnected connecting rods is coupled to the grounding connections of the photovoltaic modules when the connecting rod is extended through the continuous passage.   
     
     
         13 . An array of photovoltaic modules, comprising:
 a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each of the photovoltaic modules including:
 a planar solar collection assembly defining a planar front side surface and a planar backside surface; 
 four frame members arranged to form a rectangular frame onto which the solar collection assembly is mounted, the rectangular frame having four corners, each of the four corners being defined by a pair of the frame members; and 
 four corner members that connect the frame members to each other at each of the four corners of the frame; and 
   wherein at least one of the corner members of each of the photovoltaic modules is configured as a connection member having a through-hole that extends through the connection member perpendicularly with respect to the planar front side and backside surfaces,   wherein the photovoltaic modules are arranged in an arrayed configuration, and   wherein the connection members of each of the photovoltaic modules are configured to be secured to the connection members of adjacent photovoltaic modules to retain the photovoltaic modules in the arrayed configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The array of photovoltaic modules of  claim 13 , wherein each of the connection members each includes a lateral extension that defines the through-hole,
 wherein the lateral extensions of the adjacent photovoltaic modules are configured to overlap such that the through-holes of the overlapped lateral extensions align to form a continuous passage, and   wherein an attachment member is extended through the continuous passage to secure the connection members of the adjacent photovoltaic modules to each other.   
     
     
         15 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 14 , wherein each of the connection members includes electrical connections from the corresponding solar collection assembly, and
 wherein the attachment member is configured to connect the electrical connections of the connection members to each other when the attachment member is extended through the continuous passage.   
     
     
         16 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 15 , wherein the attachment member is configured to be secured to a roof after being extended through the continuous passage.