Photovoltaic Module Mounting Clip with Integral Grounding

Abstract

An electrically conductive mounting/grounding clip, for use with a PV assembly of the type having an electrically conductive frame, comprises an electrically conductive body. The body has a central portion and first and second spaced-apart arms extending generally perpendicular to the central portion. Each arm has an outer portion with each outer portion having an outer end. At least one frame surface-disrupting element is at each outer end. The central portion defines a plane with the frame surface-disrupting elements pointing towards the plane. In some examples each arm extends from the central portion at an acute angle to the plane.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a clip assembly;

FIG. 1A is an enlarged partial side view of the clip of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is an assembled isometric view of the clip assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the clip assembly of FIG. 2 shown secured to adjacent PV assemblies;

FIG. 4 is a simplified overall view of two adjacent PV assemblies secured to one another using the clip assembly FIGS. 1-3;

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate different types of clip assemblies used with different types of support structures;

FIG. 9 is an overall view of a peripheral clip assembly;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the clip assembly of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a clip assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 used at the periphery of a PV array with a spacer;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are exploded isometric and isometric views of an internal clip assembly; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the clip assembly of FIG. 13 secured to the internal lip of the frame of a PV assembly.

Claims

1. An electrically conductive mounting/grounding clip for use with PV assemblies of the type having electrically conductive frames separated by gaps, the clip comprising: an electrically conductive body comprising a central portion and first and second spaced-apart arms extending generally perpendicular to the central portion;each arm having an outer portion, each outer portion having first and second outer ends;a frame surface-disrupting element at each outer end;the central portion defining a plane; andthe frame surface-disrupting elements pointing towards the plane.

2. The clip according to claim 1 wherein the frame surface-disrupting elements comprise frame-surface-penetrating teeth.

3. The clip according to claim 1 wherein the arms are generally T-shaped.

4. The clip according to claim 1 wherein each arm extends from the central portion at an acute angle to the plane.

5. The clip according to claim 4 wherein the acute angle is 80-88°.

6. The clip according to claim 4 wherein the acute angle is about 83°.

7. The clip according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said frame surface-disrupting elements at each outer end.

8. The clip according to claim 7 wherein the frame surface-disrupting elements of each arm are oriented in a direction generally parallel to a line connecting the outer ends of said arm.

9. An electrically conductive mounting/grounding clip for use with PV assemblies of the type having electrically conductive frames separated by gaps, the clip comprising: an electrically conductive body comprising a central portion and first and second spaced-apart, generally T-shaped arms extending from the central portion;each arm extending from the central portion at an acute angle to the plane;each arm having an outer portion, each outer portion having first and second outer ends;a plurality of frame surface-disrupting elements at each outer end;the frame surface-disrupting elements of each arm being oriented in a direction generally parallel to a line connecting the outer ends of said arm; andthe central portion defining a plane and the frame surface-disrupting elements pointing towards the plane.

10. An electrically conductive mounting/grounding clip assembly for use with PV assemblies of the type having electrically conductive frames separated by gaps, the clip assembly comprising: an electrically conductive clip comprising: a central portion and first and second spaced-apart arms extending generally perpendicular to the central portion;each arm having an outer portion, each outer portion having first and second outer ends;a frame surface-disrupting element at each outer end; andthe central portion defining a plane and the frame surface-disrupting elements pointing towards the plane;a second member; andmeans for (1) biasing the frame surface-disrupting elements of the clip against electrically conductive frames of adjacent PV assemblies thereby electrically connecting the frames to one another through the clip, and (2) securing the clip to the second member.

11. A PV installation comprising: a support;first and second PV assemblies of the type having electrically conductive frames separated by a gap, the frames each having an upper surface; andan electrically conductive mounting/grounding clip assembly for use with the first and second PV assemblies, the clip assembly comprising: an electrically conductive clip comprising: a central portion and first and second spaced-apart, generally T-shaped arms extending generally perpendicular to the central portion, the central portion and arms defining an access region accessible from above;each arm having an outer portion, each outer portion having first and second outer ends;at least one frame surface-disrupting element at each outer end; andthe central portion defining a plane;a second member positioned generally beneath the first and second PV assemblies and supported by the support;an elongated connection member securing the clip to the second member and extendable within the gap between the electrically conductive frames so that the frame-disrupting element can be forced against the electrically conductive frames thereby electrically connecting the frames to one another through the clip; andthe central portion comprising a hole and the elongated connection member comprising a connection element passing through the hole, the connection element having an upper end, the upper end located completely within the access region and below the upper surface.

12. The PV installation according to claim 11 wherein the frame surface-disrupting elements point towards the plane.

13. The PV installation according to claim 11 wherein each arm extends from the central portion at an acute angle to the plane.

14. The clip assembly according to claim 11 further comprising a plurality of said frame surface-disrupting elements at each outer end.

15. The PV installation according to claim 11 further comprising a plurality of the frame surface-disrupting elements at each outer end, the frame surface-disrupting elements of each arm oriented in a direction generally perpendicular to the frames.

16. The PV installation according to claim 11 wherein connection element comprises a bolt, the upper end comprises a bolt head, and the second member comprises a threaded hole with which the bolt is threadably engaged.

17. The PV installation according to claim 11 wherein connection element comprises a stud extending from the second member and the upper end comprises a threaded portion of the stud and a nut threadably engaging the threaded portion.

18. The PV installation according to claim 11 wherein the support comprises a chosen one of a building roof, a support frame member and the ground.

19. The PV installation according to claim 11 wherein the frame comprises an electrically non-conductive surface and the frame surface-disrupting portion comprises surface-penetrating teeth.

20. The PV installation according to claim 11 wherein the clip assembly further comprises means for preventing the clip from tipping away from the frame as the clip is biased against the frame by the elongated connection member.

21. The PV installation according to claim 11 further comprising spacer means for properly spacing the first and second PV assemblies so that said gap is a properly sized gap to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction.

22. An electrically conductive mounting/grounding clip for use with a PV assembly of the type having an electrically conductive frame, the clip comprising: an electrically conductive body comprising a central portion and first and second spaced-apart arms extending generally perpendicular to the central portion;each arm having an outer portion, each outer portion having an outer end;a plurality of frame surface-disrupting elements at each outer end; andthe central portion defining a plane with the frame surface-disrupting elements pointing towards the plane.

23. The clip according to claim 22 wherein each arm extends from the central portion at an acute angle to the plane.

24. An electrically conductive mounting/grounding clip assembly for use with a PV assembly of the type having electrically conductive frame, the clip assembly comprising: an electrically conductive clip comprising: a central portion and first and second spaced-apart arms extending from the central portion;each arm having an outer portion, each outer portion having an outer end;a frame surface-disrupting element at each outer end; andthe central portion defining a plane and the frame surface-disrupting elements pointing towards the plane;a second member supportable by a support element;means for (1) biasing the frame surface-disrupting elements of the clip against the electrically conductive frame of an adjacent PV assembly thereby electrically connecting the frame to the clip, and (2) securing the clip to the second member;means for preventing the clip from tipping away from the frame as the clip is biased against the frame by the biasing and securing means.

25. The clip assembly according to claim 23 wherein each arm extends from the central portion at an acute angle to the plane.

26. A PV installation comprising: a support;a PV assembly of the type having an electrically conductive frame, the frame having an upper surface; andan electrically conductive mounting/grounding clip assembly for use with the PV assembly, the clip assembly comprising: an electrically conductive clip comprising: a central portion and first and second spaced-apart arms extending generally perpendicular to the central portion, the central portion and arms defining an access region accessible from above;each arm having an outer portion, each outer portion having an outer end;at least one frame surface-disrupting element at each outer end; andthe central portion defining a plane and the frame surface-disrupting element pointing towards the plane;a second member positioned generally beneath the PV assembly and supported by the support;an elongated connection member securing the clip to the second member so that the frame-disrupting element can be forced against the electrically conductive frame thereby electrically connecting the frame to the clip;the central portion comprising a hole and the elongated connection member comprising a connection element passing through the hole, the connection element having an upper end, the upper end located completely within the access region and below the upper surface; andmeans for preventing the clip from tipping away from the frame as the clip is biased against the frame by the elongated connection member.

27. The PV installation according to claim 25 further comprising a plurality of the frame surface-disrupting elements at each outer end.