First Solar, Inc.

Other

Larry G Crosser

James B Foote

Benjamin L Richie, Jr

Donald R Mapes

David Jeffrey Aitchison

A photovoltaic array includes a plurality of elongated rails and rectangular photovoltaic modules. Each rail can have an extruded resin construction and can include a lower base and an upper cap that cooperate to define a pair of grooves that open in opposite directions from each other. The elongated rails can be mounted on a support surface and extend in a spaced and parallel relationship with each other. During mounting, edges of the photovoltaic modules can be received by the grooves. In this way, the photovoltaic modules can be mounted above the support surface in a spaced relationship from the support surface.

Photovoltaic array

The tools (wrenches) of this invention provide a one color instant identification of color coded tools. Preferably, the tools have a portion of their outer surface colored. Typically, the color impregnates the metal or plating during the manufacturing process. Another embodiment is a colored applique, band or sleeve on the outer surface of the tools. The key of this coloring is to identify the tool quickly by coloring a large area of the tool. This provides for quick identification of the tool even if the numerical designations are illegible because of small sizing or dirt obliteration. In a preferred embodiment, virtually the entire tool is colored during manufacturing. In another preferred embodiment, large raised numbers combine with the overall color scheme to make the tools quickly identifiable. Dirting the large colored surface is very unlikely as is obliterating the large raised fractional numbers.

Color coded tools

A photovoltaic array ( &prime;) includes a plurality of elongated rails ( ) each of which has a lower base ( ) and an upper cap ( ) of an extruded resin construction defining a pair of grooves ( ) that open in opposite directions from each other to receive edges of rectangular photovoltaic modules ( ) so as to provide mounting thereof on a support surface ( ). The photovoltaic modules ( ) are arranged in pairs ( ) with the modules of each pair abutting each other and with each pair of modules being spaced along the elongated lengths of the rails from each adjacent pair of modules to provide openings ( ) therebetween. Cross members ( ) extend between the lower bases ( ) of the rails to space the rails from each other and have upwardly opening shapes that receive electrical wiring ( ).

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Perrysburg, OH, United States of America

Larry G Crosser