Integrated photovoltaic module mounting system for use with tufted geosynthetics

Abstract

A mounting system 110 for a solar panel 11 includes a base plate 114 having an elongated mounting slot 116, a spacer beam 124 with a slot 128, a first T-shaped fastener 131 having a mounting plate 132 with a width slightly smaller than the size of the slot and a length larger than the size of the slot, so that the mounting plate may be passed through the slot and then rotated so that it then cannot pass back through the slot. A second T-shaped fastener 137 having the same configuration couples the solar panel to the spacer. The system optionally has a ballast system 145 which includes a ballast tray 146 and third T-shaped fastener 155 of the same configuration for coupling the tray to the base plate. An anti-creep strip 161 is coupled to the base member through fourth T-shaped fasteners 162 of the same configuration.

1 . An integrated photovoltaic module mounting system for use in mounting a photovoltaic module to tufted geosynthetics, comprising:
 at least one elongated base plate;   at least one elongated rail, said elongated rail coupled to and longitudinally aligned with said base plate;   a plurality of rail fasteners coupling said base plate and said elongated rail;   a plurality of photovoltaic module fasteners coupling said rail with the photovoltaic module, and   an anti-creep strip coupled to a bottom surface of said base plate.   
     
     
         2 . The integrated photovoltaic module mounting system of  claim 1  wherein said base plate includes an elongated base plate slot and wherein said rail fasteners include a mounting plate having a selected width smaller than the width of said base plate slot and a length larger than the width of said base plate slot. 
     
     
         3 . The integrated photovoltaic module mounting system of  claim 2  wherein said elongated rail includes an elongated rail slot and wherein said photovoltaic module fasteners include a mounting plate having a selected width smaller than the width of said rail slot and a length larger than the width of said rail slot. 
     
     
         4 . The integrated photovoltaic module mounting system of  claim 1  wherein said elongated rail includes an elongated rail slot and wherein said photovoltaic module fasteners include a mounting plate having a selected width smaller than the width of said rail slot and a length larger than the width of said rail slot. 
     
     
         5 . The integrated photovoltaic module mounting system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of anti-creep strip fasteners with a mounting plate having a selected width smaller than the width of said base plate slot and a length larger than the width of said base plate slot. 
     
     
         6 . An integrated photovoltaic module mounting system for use in mounting a photovoltaic module to tufted geosynthetics, comprising:
 at least one elongated rail;   a plurality of first fasteners coupling said rail with the photovoltaic module; and   an anti-creep strip coupled to a bottom surface of said rail.   
     
     
         7 . The integrated photovoltaic module mounting system of  claim 6  wherein said rail includes an elongated slot and wherein said first fasteners include a mounting plate having a selected width smaller than the width of said slot and a length larger than the width of said slot. 
     
     
         8 . The integrated photovoltaic module mounting system of  claim 6  further comprising an elongated second rail, said elongated second rail being coupled to said rail and a plurality of second fasteners coupling said rail with said elongated second rail, and wherein the photovoltaic module is coupled to said rail through said elongated second rail and said plurality of second fasteners. 
     
     
         9 . The integrated photovoltaic module mounting system of  claim 8  wherein said elongated second rail includes an elongated rail slot and wherein said second fasteners include a mounting plate having a selected width smaller than the width of said rail slot and a length larger than the width of said rail slot. 
     
     
         10 . The integrated photovoltaic module mounting system of  claim 7  further comprising a plurality of second fasteners coupling said rail to said anti-creep strip, each said second fastener includes a mounting plate having a selected width smaller than the width of said base plate slot and a length larger than the width of said slot. 
     
     
         11 . An integrated photovoltaic module mounting system for use in mounting a photovoltaic module to tufted geosynthetics, comprising:
 at least one elongated base plate, said base plate having a base member, two opposing side walls each having an inwardly extending lip to define a base plate slot therebetween having a selected slot width;   a plurality of first fasteners coupling said base plate with the photovoltaic module, said first fasteners having a mounting plate with a selected width less than said selected slot width and a selected length greater than said selected slot width; and   an anti-creep strip coupled to a bottom surface of said base plate, said anti-creep strip including a support and a plurality of projections depending downwardly from said support.   
     
     
         12 . The integrated photovoltaic module mounting system of  claim 11  further comprising at least one elongated rail, said rail coupling said base plate to the photovoltaic module, and a plurality of second fasteners coupling said base plate to said elongated rail. 
     
     
         13 . The integrated photovoltaic module mounting system of  claim 12  wherein said rail includes an elongated rail slot and wherein said second fasteners include a mounting plate having a selected width smaller than the width of said rail slot and a length larger than the width of said rail slot. 
     
     
         14 . The integrated photovoltaic module mounting system of  claim 13  further comprising a plurality of third fasteners coupling said anti-creep strip to said base plate, each said third fastener having a mounting plate having a selected width smaller than the width of said base plate slot and a length larger than the width of said base plate slot. 
     
     
         15 . A method of mounting a photovoltaic module for use with tufted geosynthetics, comprising the steps of:
 (a) coupling an anti-creep strip to a bottom surface of an elongated rail;   (b) positioning the anti-creep strip onto a portion of a tufted geosynthetics covering a surface; and   (c) coupling a photovoltanic module to the elongated rail,   wherein the photovotanic module generates electricity and the anti-creep strip inter-engaged with the tufts of the tufted geosynthetics resists wind uplift.