초록 ▼

A PV assembly including framework, PV laminate(s), and a stiffening device. The framework includes a perimeter frame at least 10 feet in length and at least 5 feet in width. The PV laminate(s) are assembled to the perimeter frame to define a receiving zone having a depth of not more than 8 inches. T

A PV assembly including framework, PV laminate(s), and a stiffening device. The framework includes a perimeter frame at least 10 feet in length and at least 5 feet in width. The PV laminate(s) are assembled to the perimeter frame to define a receiving zone having a depth of not more than 8 inches. The stiffening device is associated with the framework and is configured to provide a first state and a second state. In the first state, an entirety of the stiffening device is maintained within the receiving zone. In the second state, at least a portion of the stiffening device projects from the receiving zone. The stiffening device enhances a stiffness of the PV assembly in a plane of the perimeter frame, and can include rods defining truss structures.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A photovoltaic assembly comprising: framework including a perimeter frame defining a length, a width and a height, the perimeter frame including: a PV support section having opposing, first and second PV support faces each defining a plane;one or more PV laminates assembled to the perimeter frame

1. A photovoltaic assembly comprising: framework including a perimeter frame defining a length, a width and a height, the perimeter frame including: a PV support section having opposing, first and second PV support faces each defining a plane;one or more PV laminates assembled to the perimeter frame to collectively define a PV front surface and a PV rear surface, the PV front surface being proximate the first PV support face plane and the PV rear surface being spaced from the second PV support face plane to define a receiving zone bounded by the perimeter frame and the second PV support face plane;wherein the receiving zone defines a depth in a direction of the height; anda stiffening device associated with the framework and configured to provide: a first state in which an entirety of the stiffening device is maintained within the receiving zone,a second state in which at least a portion of the stiffening device projects from the receiving zone beyond the second support face plane;wherein the second state of the stiffening device enhances a stiffness of the perimeter frame as compared to a stiffness in the first state, wherein the stiffening device includes a plurality of rods that define at least one truss structure in at least the second state, wherein the perimeter frame includes opposing, first and second side frame members defining the length, and opposing, first and second end frame members defining the width, and further wherein the plurality of rods includes:a first rod set comprising first and second rods each having a base end and a leading end, wherein the base ends are coupled to the first side frame member in a spaced apart fashion in at least the second state;a second rod set comprising first and second rods each having a base end and a leading end, wherein the base ends of the rods of the second rod set are coupled to the second side frame member in a spaced apart fashion in at least the second state;wherein in the second state, the leading ends of the rods of the first and second rod sets are coupled to one another, and wherein the first rod set further includes:a third rod having a base end and a leading end, and further wherein in at least the second state, the base end of the third rod is coupled to the first side frame member, and the leading end of the third rod is coupled to a support rod immediately adjacent the leading ends of the first and second rods, the support rod interconnecting the leading ends of the first and second rods with the leading end of the third rod;wherein the second rod set further includes:a fourth rod having a leading end and a base end coupled to the second side frame member in at least the second state at a location spaced from the base end of the second rod in a direction opposite the base end of the first rod; anda support rod interconnecting the first and second rods with the leading end of the fourth rod of the second rod set;wherein at least some of the base ends are pivotably coupled to the first side frame member such that the rod sets are foldable relative to the framework between the first and second states, and wherein the second rod set nests within the first rod set in the first state, the second side frame member including coupling bodies for receiving the base ends of the second rod set in the second state. 2. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein the depth is not more than 5 inches. 3. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 2, wherein the depth is not more than 4 inches. 4. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 3, wherein the length of the perimeter frame is at least 12 feet and the width is at least 6 feet. 5. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein the perimeter frame is configured to be stackable between two identical perimeter frames in a stacked arrangement consisting of an upper frame, the perimeter frame, and a lower frame, and further wherein the perimeter frame defines a pitch as a linear distance between a first load bearing surface contacting the upper frame and a second load bearing surface contacting the lower frame, the pitch being not more than 8 inches. 6. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein the perimeter frame further includes a skirt section extending from the PV support section and having opposing, first and second reinforcement faces, the first reinforcement face extending between the PV support face planes and the second reinforcement face spaced from the second PV support face plane opposite the first PV support face plane. 7. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 6, wherein an overall height of the perimeter frame is defined between the first PV support face and the second reinforcement face. 8. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 7, wherein the overall height is greater than the depth and is not more than 12 inches. 9. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 6, wherein the PV support section further includes a first nesting face extending from the first PV support face to the first reinforcement face, and the skirt section includes a second nesting face extending from the second reinforcement face to the second PV support face. 10. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 6, wherein a pitch of the perimeter frame is defined as the greater of a linear distance between the first and second PV support faces and a linear distance between the first and second reinforcement faces, the pitch being not more than 8 inches. 11. The photo voltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein the first state of the stiffening device is a shipping configuration in which the photovoltaic assembly is stackable in a cargo shipping container. 12. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein the first rod set further includes a fourth rod having a leading end and a base end coupled to the first side frame member in at least the second state at a location spaced from the base end of the second rod in a direction opposite the base end of the first rod. 13. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of rods are uncoupled from the framework in the first state. 14. A shippable photovoltaic kit comprising: a plurality of photovoltaic assemblies each comprising: framework including a perimeter frame defining a length, a width, and a height, the perimeter frame including: a support section having opposing, first and second PV support faces each defining a plane,one or more PV laminates assembled to the perimeter frame to collectively define a PV front surface and a PV rear surface, the PV front surface being proximate the first PV support face plane and the PV rear surface being spaced from the second PV support face plane to define a receiving zone bounded by the perimeter frame and the second PV support face plane, the receiving zone having a depth,a stiffening device associated with the framework and configured to provide: a first state in which an entirety of the stiffening device is maintained within the receiving zone,a second state in which at least a portion of the stiffening device projects from the receiving zone beyond the second PV support face plane,wherein the second state of the stiffening device enhances a stiffness of the perimeter frame as compared to the first state; anda cargo shipping container sized to contain the plurality of photovoltaic assemblies in a stacked arrangement, wherein the perimeter frame further includes a skirt section having opposing, first and second reinforcement faces, the first reinforcement face extending between the PV support face planes and the second reinforcement face spaced from the second PV support face plane opposite the first PV support face plane, and further wherein the stacked arrangement includes the first reinforcement face of a first photovoltaic assembly in load bearing abutment with the second reinforcement face of a second photovoltaic assembly, and the first reinforcement face of the second photovoltaic assembly in load bearing abutment with the second reinforcement face of a third photovoltaic assembly. 15. The shippable photovoltaic kit of claim 14, wherein the stacked arrangement includes each of the photovoltaic assemblies in the first state and the perimeter frame of adjacent photovoltaic assemblies in abutting contact. 16. The shippable photovoltaic kit of claim 15, wherein the stacked arrangement includes an intermediate photovoltaic assembly located between an immediately upper photovoltaic assembly and an immediately lower photovoltaic assembly, and further wherein a pitch of the intermediate photovoltaic assembly is defined by a linear distance between an upper load bearing surface at which the perimeter frame of the intermediate photovoltaic assembly abuttingly receives and supports the perimeter frame of the upper photovoltaic assembly and a lower load bearing surface at which the perimeter frame of the intermediate photovoltaic assembly is received and supported by the perimeter frame of the lower photovoltaic assembly, the pitch being not more than 8 inches. 17. The shippable photovoltaic kit of claim 16, wherein the depth is less than the pitch. 18. The shippable photovoltaic kit of claim 17, wherein the pitch is not more than 5 inches. 19. The shippable photovoltaic kit of claim 14, wherein the stiffening device of each of the photovoltaic assemblies is foldably coupled to the corresponding perimeter frame. 20. The shippable photovoltaic kit of claim 14, wherein the support section further includes a first nesting face extending from the first PV support face to the first reinforcement face, and the skirt section further includes a second nesting face extending from the second reinforcement face to the second PV support face, and further wherein the stacked arrangement includes the first nesting face of the first photovoltaic assembly abutting the second nesting face of the second photovoltaic assembly, and the first nesting face of the second photovoltaic assembly abutting the second nesting face of the third photovoltaic assembly. 21. The shippable photovoltaic kit of claim 14, wherein the PV laminates include silicon cells, and further wherein the cargo shipping container has an external length in the range of 20-40 feet, and the plurality of photovoltaic assemblies in the cargo shipping container has a collective shipping density of at least 100 kWp. 22. The shippable photovoltaic kit of claim 14, wherein the PV laminates include thin film cells, and further wherein the cargo shipping container has an external length in the range of 20-40 feet, and the plurality of photovoltaic assemblies in the cargo shipping container has a collective shipping density of at least 60 kWp.