Sunmodo Corporation

Clifford Schrock

Jun Liu

Roland Jasmin

Steve Mumma

Boutros Abou Chacra

A solar panel racking system that can include end clamps, mid clamps, bottom clamps, L-foot adapter assemblies, rails, and L-foot assemblies. The solar panel racking system minimizes the use of tools by snapping many of the mounting components in place. The end clamps, mid clamps, and bottom clamps can snap over the rail sides and lock into upper detented portions of the rail sides. The upper detented portions are structured to prevent upward movement of the end clamps, mid clamps, and bottom clamps. The L-foot adapter body of the L-foot adapter assembly snaps over lower detented portions of rail sides and secures the rail to an L-foot assembly. The end clamps, mid clamps, bottom clamps, rails, and L-foot adapter assemblies are independent of the L-foot assembly, allowing a selection of L-foot assemblies to be used as appropriate with the solar panel racking system.

Solar panel racking system and devices for the same

A solar panel end clamp that with other components can mount solar panels of various heights or thicknesses to roofs. The solar panel end clamp includes a clamp leg and a clamping member that is pivotally attached to the clamp leg. The clamping member engages the frame top surface and frame side surface of the solar panel. A fastener assembly secures the end clamp assembly to a solar panel mounting platform such as a rail or rail-less mounting structure. As the fastener assembly is tightened, the clamp leg pivots about the panel clamp, the second end of the clamp leg distal to the pivot end moves away from the solar panel, creating pressure against the solar panel mounting platform, causing the panel clamp to move downward, and securing the frame top surface and frame side surface.

End clamp for attaching solar panels to roofs

Disclosed are devices and a system for compensating for thermal expansion and contraction of rail mounted solar panel rooftop systems. In one aspect, a floating end clamp that secures a solar panel in slidable captive cooperation with a mounting rail. In another aspect, a rail splice bridges two mounting rails with a gap between the rails for thermal expansion and contraction. The rail splice includes indicia for setting the gap distance between rails based on ambient temperature at the time of installation. In another aspect, a spacing gauge includes indicia for setting the gap distance between rails based on ambient temperature at the time of installation.

Thermal expansion compensation apparatus for mounting solar panels

Disclosed is a device for securing, mounting, aligning, and grounding solar panels to a roof mounted rail. The device in combination with a t-bolt, a nut, and a solar panel end-clamp or mid-clamp, secure, mount, align, and ground the solar panels to the roof mounted rail. The device can be inserted into the top of the rail anywhere along its length. After the device and t-bolt are inserted in the rail, the t-bolt rotated so it inserts into a slot at the bottom of the rail thereby securing the device to the rail, assuring the proper orientation of the t-bolt, and preventing further rotation of the t-bolt.

Solar panel rooftop mounting and grounding device

Disclosed is a device and a system that provides a bond and ground for the mounting of solar panel systems. The grounding element is pressed into and captivity held in a mounting component of a solar panel system. This can be done during the fabrication process at the manufacturer or distributor so that the mounting component and grounding element can be transported together as a single unit. In an installed solar panel system, the mounting component that includes the captive grounding element makes contact with other elements of the solar panel mounting system and electrically bonds with them.

Grounding element for solar panel mounting systems

Disclosed is a seam clamp for securing equipment, such as solar PV panels, to standing roofs. The seam clamp includes an outer clamp member, an outer support member, and an inner clamp member. The inner clamp member and outer clamp member both include a clamping jaw projecting inward toward each other. The inner clamping member movably attached to the outer support member allowing the clamping jaws to engage and secure a standing seam. For ease of assembly, the outer clamp member and outer support member are slideably engaged and can be optionally captively slideably engaged. The seam clamp can be configured to accommodate different standing seam shapes by substituting alternative outer clamp members.

Seam clamp for solar panel and rooftop objects

Spacing gauge with thermal indicia for solar panel mounting systems

Disclosed is a device for mounting solar panels and other equipment to tile roofs, or similar roof structures, that does not require removal of roofing tile for installation. A stanchion is inserted into a hole drilled into a roofing tile. Two or more wood securing fasteners are inserted into diagonal and crossing through-holes in the sides of the stanchion above the tile and exit on opposing sides of the stanchion, with respect to their insertion point, below the tile. The ends of the wood securing fasteners engage the surface of the roof sheeting beneath the tile at a distance outwardly away from the stanchion. With this arrangement, the tile roof equipment-mounting device engages the roof surface over a wider area than the diameter of the hole drilled into the roof tile without the need for removing the roof tile.

Solar panel tile roof mounting device installation method

Disclosed is an apparatus for mounting solar panels and other rooftop objects to a shingle roof or other roof structures. The apparatus includes a panel-mount and a base-plate. The base-plate is securable to the roof structures. The panel-mount can be secured to the base-plate and intermediary flashing plate. The panel-mount includes vertical sidewalls adapted to receive and hold wires, and panel-mount top surface adapted to seat solar panels. In one aspect, the panel-mount top surface includes an alignment projection adapted to align solar panels in one of two orthogonal directions. Grounding pins are arranged in a square pattern and aligned with the corners of the alignment projection in order to assure that the solar panel frame will make contact with at least two of the grounding pins in either of the two possible alignments.

Direct rooftop mounting apparatus for solar panels

Disclosed is a tile roof equipment-mounting device for mounting solar panels and other equipment to tile roofs. The tile roof mount includes a base and an angled bracket. The base can include a base portion channel projecting upward from the base, with stepped grooves, as well as first and second slots running along opposing sides of the base portion channel in a direction parallel to the base. The angled bracket can include complementary stepped grooves that engage the base portion channel. The angled bracket can include a third slot that is perpendicular to the vertex between angled portions of the angled bracket. A threaded fastener can adjustably engage first, second, and third slots. This combination allows the tile roof mount so that the height is vertically discreetly adjustable and horizontally continuously adjustable.

Adjustable solar panel tile roof mounting device

Disclosed is a tile roof equipment-mounting device for mounting solar panels and other equipment to tile roofs. The tile roof mount includes a base, a vertical bracket, and a hook arm. The base includes a vertical channel with stepped grooves and a horizontal slot. The vertical bracket has complementary stepped grooves and a vertical slot that engage the vertical channel and horizontal slot of the vertical channel. This combination allows the tile roof mount so that the height is vertically discreetly adjustable and horizontally continuously adjustable.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Clifford Schrock