초록 ▼

Rectangular PV modules (6) are mounted on a building roof (4) by mounting stands that are distributed in rows and columns. Each stand comprises a base plate (10) that rests on the building roof (4) and first and second brackets (12, 14) of different height attached to opposite ends of the base plate

Rectangular PV modules (6) are mounted on a building roof (4) by mounting stands that are distributed in rows and columns. Each stand comprises a base plate (10) that rests on the building roof (4) and first and second brackets (12, 14) of different height attached to opposite ends of the base plate (10). Each bracket (12, 14) has dual members for supporting two different PV modules (6), and each PV module (6) has a mounting pin (84) adjacent to each of its four corners. Each module (6) is supported by attachment of two of its mounting pins (84) to different first brackets (12), whereby the modules (6) and their supporting stands are able to resist uplift forces resulting from high velocity winds without the base plates (10) being physically attached to the supporting roof structure (4). Preferably the second brackets (14) have a telescoping construction that permits their effective height to vary from less than to substantially the same as that of the first brackets (12).

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A photovoltaic assembly in combination with a building roof, said assembly comprising: a plurality of PV modules; and a plurality of PV module mounting stands distributed on said roof, each of said mounting stands comprising a base plate resting on said roof, and first and se

What is claimed is: 1. A photovoltaic assembly in combination with a building roof, said assembly comprising: a plurality of PV modules; and a plurality of PV module mounting stands distributed on said roof, each of said mounting stands comprising a base plate resting on said roof, and first and second brackets mounted to said base plate in spaced relation to one another; each of said first brackets comprising first and second module-supporting means extending upwardly from said base plate away from said roof and each of said second brackets comprising third and fourth module-supporting means extending upwardly away from said base plate away from said roof, said first and second module-supporting means of each first bracket being attached to a first and second PV modules respectively and said third and fourth module-supporting means of each second bracket being attached to third and fourth PV modules respectively, with each of said PV modules being supported in vertical spaced relation to said roof by the first module-supporting means of a first bracket of a first mounting stand, the second module-supporting means of a first bracket of a second mounting stand, the third module-supporting means of a second bracket of a third mounting stand, and the fourth module-supporting means of a second bracket of a fourth mounting stand. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second module-supporting means of said first brackets extend vertically away from said roof a greater distance than said third and fourth module-supporting means of said second brackets, whereby said PV modules are tilted relative to said roof. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said module-supporting means comprises an arm extending vertically away from said roof. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said arms of said first and second module supporting means are of fixed length and said arms of said third and fourth module supporting means are of adjustable length. 5. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the outer ends of said arms are provided with slots, and said PV modules have mounting pins protruding from opposite side edges thereof that are received in said slots, whereby said modules are attached to and supported by said first and second brackets of said mounting stands. 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second brackets are adjustably secured to said base plates so that they can be moved to vary the distance between them and said first brackets. 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said first brackets has a first bottom portion secured to said base plates and said first and second module-supporting means comprise first and second arms respectively attached to and extending upwardly from said first bottom portion, and further wherein each of said second brackets comprises a second bottom portion secured to said one base plate and said third and fourth module-supporting means comprise third and fourth arms respectively extending upwardly from said second bottom portion, and first and second members that are coupled to said third and fourth arms respectively so as to form telescoping extensions of said third and fourth arms respectively, and further wherein said first and second arms of each of said first brackets are attached to said first and second PV modules respectively and said first and second members of each of said second brackets are attached to said third and fourth PV modules respectively. 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said stands are distributed on said roof in rows and columns, with said first and second module-supporting means of each first bracket being aligned with the first and second module-supporting means of other first brackets in each row of said stands. 9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each module is rectangular and has two mutually-spaced mounting pins projecting from one side thereof and two additional mutually-spaced mounting pins projecting from a second opposite side thereof, and further wherein said module-supporting means have openings in which said connecting pins are received so as to attach said PV modules to said brackets. 10. A photovoltaic assembly in combination with a building roof, said assembly comprising: a plurality of PV module assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising at least two PV modules that are electrically interconnected and mechanically ganged together; and a plurality of mounting stands distributed on said roof in rows and columns, each of said mounting stands comprising a base plate resting on said roof, and first and second brackets mounted to said base plate in spaced relation to one another, each of said first brackets comprising a first bottom portion secured to said base plate and first and second arms extending upwardly from said bottom portion, and said second brackets comprising three parts, a first part having a second bottom portion secured to said base plate and third and fourth arms attached to and extending upwardly from said second bottom portion, and second and third parts that are coupled to said third and fourth arms respectively of said first part so as to form telescoping extensions of said third and fourth arms of said first part, and further wherein said first and second arms of each of said first brackets is attached to first and second PV modules respectively and said third and fourth arms of said second brackets are attached to third and fourth PV modules respectively, with each PV module assembly being supported at two different points by a first arm of one first bracket and a second arm of another first bracket and at two additional points by a third arm of one second bracket and a fourth arm of another second bracket so that said each PV module extends at an inclined angle to said roof. 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said first and second arms of said first brackets extend for a first distance from said base plates, and said second and third parts are movable between a first position in which they extend for a second distance from said base plate that is less than said first distance and a second position in which they extend for a third distance from said base plate that is substantially the same as the same as said first distance. 12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said second and third parts of said second brackets are movable between a first retracted position and a second extended position, and further wherein said PV module assemblies are inclined relative to said roof when said second and third parts are in said first retracted position and are substantially parallel to said roof when said second and third parts are in said second extended position. 13. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said roof is flat and extends substantially horizontally. 14. A photovoltaic assembly comprising: a plurality of mounting stands distributed on a roof in rows and columns, each of said mounting stands comprising a base plate and first and second brackets mounted to said base plate in spaced relation to one another, each of said first brackets comprising a first base portion overlying and attached to said base plate and first and second mutually-spaced arms attached to and extending upwardly from said base portion, each of said second brackets comprising a second base portion and third and fourth mutually-spaced arms attached to and extending upwardly from said base portion, each of said first, second, third and fourth arms having an outer end that is adapted for attachment to a PV module whereby to permit a plurality of PV modules to be supported by said mounting stands; and a plurality of PV modules each comprising four side edge surfaces disposed in a rectangular configuration and first and second mounting pins attached to and protruding from one of said four side surfaces and third and fourth mounting pins attached to and protruding from another of said four side surfaces opposite said one side surface, said PV modules being supported by said mounting stands with each of said PV modules having its said first and second mounting pins attached to said outer ends of said first arm of a first bracket and said third arm of a second bracket respectively, and its said third and fourth mounting pins attached to said outer ends of said second third arm of another first bracket and said fourth arm of another second bracket respectively. 15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said first or second brackets are movable on said base plates, whereby to permit adjustment of the distance between said first and second brackets on said base plates. 16. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said outer ends of said first, second, third and fourth arms are provided with slots for receiving mounting pins carried by PV modules. 17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said slots are L-shaped. 18. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said base plates are elongate and have a longitudinal axis, and further wherein said arms of said brackets are flat members that have surfaces that extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base plate to which the brackets are attached. 19. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said third and fourth arms of said second brackets are adjustable in length, whereby to permit said modules to be adjustably positioned at a selected angle relative to said roof. 20. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said arms of at least said first brackets are provided with slots at said outer ends thereof to removably accommodate said mounting pins. 21. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said arms of at least said second brackets are provided with slots at said outer ends thereof to accommodate said mounting pins. 22. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said arms of said first and second brackets are provided with slots at said outer ends thereof to accommodate said mounting pins. 23. Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said slots are L-shaped, and further wherein each mounting stand has its said first bracket oriented relative to its said second bracket so that the L-shaped slots of the two arms of its said first bracket are oriented in reverse relation to the L-shaped slots of the two arms of its said second bracket. 24. A photovoltaic assembly in combination with a building roof, the assembly comprising: a plurality of PV module mounting stands distributed on said roof in rows and columns, each of said mounting stands comprising a base plate resting on said roof, and first and second brackets mounted to said base plate in spaced relation to one another, each of said first brackets comprising first and second module support means disposed in spaced side-by-side relation and extending upwardly from said base plate away from said roof, each of said second brackets comprising third and fourth module support means disposed in spaced side-by-side relation and extending upwardly from said base plate away from said roof, said stands being oriented and positioned so that (a) in alternating rows of stands said first and second module support means are aligned with one another and said third and fourth module support means are aligned with one another and (b) in each column each first, second, third and fourth module support means is aligned with other first second, third and fourth module support means respectively; and a plurality of laminated PV modules each having a rectangular configuration characterized by first and second opposite ends and a first and second opposite sides, first and second mounting pins protruding from said first sides adjacent said first and second ends respectively and third and fourth mounting pins protruding from said second side adjacent said first and second ends respectively; said PV modules being attached to and supported by said PV module mounting stands in vertical spaced relation with said roof surface, with each PV module having its said first mounting pin attached to said first module-supporting means of one of said first brackets, its second mounting pin attached to said third module-supporting means of one of said second brackets, its said third mounting pin attached to said second module-supporting means of another of said first brackets, and said fourth mounting pin attached to said fourth module-supporting means of another of said second brackets. 25. Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein each of said first and second brackets has a bottom portion attached to one of said base plates, said first and second module-supporting means are attached to and extend a fixed distance upwardly from said bottom portions of said first brackets, and each of said third and fourth module-supporting means comprises a first part attached to said bottom portion of said second brackets and a second part that is attached to one of said PV modules via one of said mounting pins and is movable lengthwise relative to said first part whereby to permit adjustment of the angle of each PV module relative to said roof. 26. Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said mounting pins are attached to said module-supporting means in a manner that permits pivotal movement of said modules relative to said roof in response to lengthwise movement of said second parts relative to said first parts. 27. Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said first brackets have conduits to accommodate electrical conductors for electrically interconnecting PV modules. 28. A photovoltaic assembly in combination with a building roof, said assembly comprising: a plurality of PV module mounting stands distributed on said roof in rows and columns, said mounting stands having module support arms that extend vertically up away from said roof, with each module support arm having an upper end with a slot extending in from an edge thereof; and a plurality of rectangular PV modules each having first and second opposite end edges and a first and second opposite side edges, first and second mounting pins protruding from said first side edges adjacent said first and second end edges respectively and third and fourth mounting pins protruding from said second side edge adjacent said first and second end edges respectively; each PV module having its said first, second, third and fourth mounting pins removably positioned in said slots of the module support arms of first, second, third and fourth mounting stands respectively, whereby said PV modules are supported by said mounting stands in spaced relation with said roof.