IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0566935
(2012-08-03)
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등록번호 |
US-8745936
(2014-06-10)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Plaisted, Joshua Reed
- West, Brian
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
3 |
초록
▼
A rack assembly is provided for mounting solar modules over an underlying body. The rack assembly may include a plurality of rail structures that are arrangeable over the underlying body to form an overall perimeter for the rack assembly. One or more retention structures may be provided with the plu
A rack assembly is provided for mounting solar modules over an underlying body. The rack assembly may include a plurality of rail structures that are arrangeable over the underlying body to form an overall perimeter for the rack assembly. One or more retention structures may be provided with the plurality of rail structures, where each retention structure is configured to support one or more solar modules at a given height above the underlying body. At least some of the plurality of rail structures are adapted to enable individual rail structures o be sealed over the underlying body so as to constrain air flow underneath the solar modules. Additionally, at least one of (i) one or more of the rail structures, or (ii) the one or more retention structures are adjustable so as to adapt the rack assembly to accommodate solar modules of varying forms or dimensions.
대표청구항
▼
1. A rack assembly for mounting solar modules over an underlying body, the rack assembly comprising: a plurality of rail structures that are arrangeable over the underlying body to form an overall perimeter for the rack assembly, the plurality of rail structures including multiple pairs of interleav
1. A rack assembly for mounting solar modules over an underlying body, the rack assembly comprising: a plurality of rail structures that are arrangeable over the underlying body to form an overall perimeter for the rack assembly, the plurality of rail structures including multiple pairs of interleaved rail structures, each pair of interleaved rail structures including a lower rail structure and an upper rail structure, the upper rail structure having a rail segment protruding downward therefrom, the rail segment having a protruding height, the lower rail structure having a receiving segment extending upward therefrom to receive the rail segment therein, the receiving segment having a depth, the protruding height of the rail segment is greater than the depth of the receiving segment;one or more retention structures provided with one or more of the upper rail structures, wherein the retention structures are configured to support one or more solar modules at a given elevation above the underlying body; andwherein at least some of the plurality of rail structures are adapted to enable individual rail structures in the plurality of rail structures to be sealed over the underlying body so as to constrain air flow underneath the one or more solar modules; andwherein each retention structure of the plurality of rail structures is adjustable to adapt to a thickness of a corresponding solar module that is being supported by that retention structure. 2. The rack assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more coupling structures, wherein each of the one or more coupling structures enables at least a portion of one of the plurality of rail structures to be sealed over the underlying body. 3. The rack assembly of claim 1, further comprising a combination of coupling structures provided on or with individual rail structure to enable those rail structures to be sealed over the underlying body. 4. The rack assembly of claim 3, wherein the combination of coupling structures includes an underlying flashing component that extends from each of the individual rail structure into or against the underlying body. 5. The rack assembly of claim 4, wherein the combination of coupling structures includes an overlaying flashing component that extends from each of the individual rail structures over the underlying flashing component. 6. The rack assembly of claim 1, further comprising a compression mechanism that is manipulated to compress the retention structures in order to cause the retention structures to grip a corresponding solar module and to provide the corresponding solar module in a fixed position. 7. The rack assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of solar modules, wherein one or more of the plurality of solar modules corresponds to a thermal panel for directly converting solar energy to heat. 8. The rack assembly of claim 7, wherein each thermal panel includes a translucent material, an absorption layer, and a frame for containing at least the translucent material. 9. The rack assembly of claim 8, wherein an effective thickness of at least one thermal panel is adjustable. 10. The rack assembly of claim 8, wherein at least one thermal panel includes a shim plate that is adjustably mountable to the frame to adjust an overall thickness of that thermal panel. 11. A rack assembly for mounting solar modules over an underlying body, wherein the rack assembly is installed over an underlying body and comprises: a plurality of rail structures that are arranged to form an overall perimeter for the rack assembly, at least some of the plurality of rail structures are sealed over the underlying body so that at least a portion of the overall perimeter is sealed over the underlying body, each of the plurality of rail structures including: one or more retention structures to support one or more solar modules mounted thereon at a given elevation over the underlying body,an upper rail structure having a rail segment protruding downward therefrom, anda lower rail structure having a receiving segment extending upward therefrom to receive the rail segment therein, the rail segment having a height that is greater than a depth of the receiving segment to allow the retention structures to be adjustable so as to adapt the rack assembly to accommodate solar modules of varying forms or dimensions, anda channel that guides air flow is formed at least in part by the at least some of the portion of the overall perimeter that is sealed over the underlying body and occupies at least a portion of the given elevation separating the one or more solar modules from the underlying structure. 12. The rack assembly of claim 11, wherein an opening of the channel is oriented to be provided by a remaining portion of the overall perimeter that is open to permit the exchange of air with an environment of the rack assembly. 13. The rack assembly of claim 12, wherein the overall perimeter is rectangular, and wherein the portion of the overall perimeter is sealed with the underlying body includes a majority of three lengths of the rectangle, and wherein the remaining portion of the overall perimeter that is open to permit the exchange of air with the environment corresponds to at least a portion of the remaining length of the rectangle. 14. The rack assembly of claim 11, further comprising one or more sealing features provided with the plurality of rail structures, wherein the one or more sealing features enable the individual rail structure to be sealed over the underlying body to guide airflow so as to form at least a portion of the channel. 15. The rack assembly of claim 14, wherein the one or more sealing features is an underlying flashing component that extends into or against the underlying body. 16. The rack assembly of claim 14, wherein the one or more sealing features is an overlaying flashing component that extends over the underlying flashing component. 17. The rack assembly of claim 11, further comprising a compression mechanism that is manipulated to compress the retention structures in order to cause the retention structures to grip a corresponding solar module and to provide the corresponding solar module in a fixed position. 18. The rack assembly of claim 11, wherein the rack assembly is cooperatively positioned with an air driver to enable the air driver to direct air through the one or more channels so that the air is heated by heat from a solar module. 19. The rack assembly of claim 18, wherein one or more of the plurality of rail structures include an interior surface from which one or more corresponding retention structures are provided, and wherein each of the one or more rail structures is provided a shim plate on an exterior surface that forms the portion of the overall perimeter so as to support that rail structure when compressed by the compression mechanism.
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