Photovoltaic module clamp system and method

Abstract

A module clamp for coupling one or more solar panels to a racking system of a solar tracker. The module clamp includes a bolt and a clamp head.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A module clamp for coupling one or more solar panels to a racking system of a solar tracker, the module clamp comprising:
 a bolt that includes:
 a shaft configured to extend within a slot between a first and second planar solar panels and past bottom faces of the first and second planar solar panels; and 
 a flange head that is coupled to a first end of the shaft configured to engage a top face of the first and second planar solar panels; and 
   a J-shaped clamp head that includes:
 a base, with the shaft extending through and rotatably coupled to the base such that turning the bolt or a nut causes the clamp head to move up and down on the shaft of the bolt, 
 a first arm that extends from a first side of the base that is configured to engage one of a respective first and second elongated rail; and 
 a second arm that extends from a second side of the base, the second arm including a tab that extends from an end of the second arm with the end of the second arm defining a first and second shelf on opposing sides of the tab, the tab configured to extend within the slot between first and second planar solar panels and with the first and second shelf engaging the bottom faces of the first and second planar solar panels. 
   
     
     
         2 . The module clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the module clamp is configured to engage the first and second planar solar panels with the base spaced apart from and not touching the first and second solar planar panels. 
     
     
         3 . The module clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the module clamp is configured to engage an elongated rail with the first arm of the clamp head extending over a first terminal lip of the elongated rail and engaging a first flange of the elongated rail on a first face of the first flange opposing a second face of the first flange that the first and second planar solar panels engage. 
     
     
         4 . The module clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the module clamp is configured to engage the first and second planar solar panels with portions of sidewalls of the first and second planar solar panels that define the slot between the first and second planar solar panels engaging sides of the tab of the module clamp to define the slot having a consistent width along the length of the slot. 
     
     
         5 . A solar assembly comprising the module clamp of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . A module clamp for coupling one or more solar panels to a racking system of a solar tracker, the module clamp comprising:
 a bolt that includes:
 a shaft configured to extends within a slot between a first and second solar panel and past bottom faces of the first and second solar panels; and 
 a flange head that is coupled to a first end of the shaft that is configured to engage a top face of the first and second solar panels; and 
   a clamp head that includes:
 a base, with the shaft coupled to the base; 
 a first arm that extends from a first side of the base configured to engage a first rail; and 
 a second arm that extends from a second side of the base, the second arm including a tab that extends from an end of the second arm, the tab configured to extend within the slot between the first and second solar panels. 
   
     
     
         7 . The module clamp of  claim 6 , wherein turning the bolt or a nut causes the clamp head and the flange head of the module clamp to move closer together, the moving closer together configured to tighten engagement between the first and second solar panels, the module clamp and the first rail. 
     
     
         8 . The module clamp of  claim 7 , wherein the tightening is configured to cause a break in an anodization of the first and second solar panels to generate a bonding path between the first rail and the first and second solar panels via the module clamp. 
     
     
         9 . The module clamp of  claim 6 , wherein the end of the second arm defines a first and second shelf on opposing sides of the tab, with the first and second shelf configured to engage the bottom faces of the first and second solar panels. 
     
     
         10 . The module clamp of  claim 6 , wherein the module clamp is configured to engage the first rail with the first arm of the clamp head extending over a first terminal lip of the first rail and engaging a first flange of the first rail on a first face of the first flange opposing a second face of the first flange that the first and second solar panels engage. 
     
     
         11 . The module clamp of  claim 6 , wherein the module clamp is configured to engage the first and second solar panels with portions of sidewalls of the first and second solar panels that define the slot between the first and second solar panels engaging sides of the tab of the module clamp to define the slot having a consistent width along the length of the slot. 
     
     
         12 . A solar assembly comprising the module clamp of  claim 6 . 
     
     
         13 . A module clamp for coupling one or more solar panels to a racking system of a solar tracker, the module clamp comprising:
 a bolt; and   a clamp head.   
     
     
         14 . The module clamp of  claim 13 , wherein the bolt includes a shaft configured to extends within a slot between a first and second solar panel and past bottom faces of the first and second solar panels. 
     
     
         15 . The module clamp of  claim 13 , wherein the bolt includes a flange head that is coupled to a first end of a shaft that is configured to engage a top face of a first and second solar panel. 
     
     
         16 . The module clamp of  claim 13 , wherein the clamp head includes a base, with a shaft coupled to the base. 
     
     
         17 . The module clamp of  claim 13 , wherein the clamp head includes a first arm that extends from a first side of a base. 
     
     
         18 . The module clamp of  claim 17 , wherein the clamp head includes a second arm that extends from a second side of the base, the second arm including a tab that extends from an end of the second arm. 
     
     
         19 . The module clamp of  claim 18 , wherein the tab is configured to extend within a slot between a first and second solar panel.