초록 ▼

Embodiments of the present inventions are directed to systems, devices for use with systems, and method of mounting and retaining solar panels. A solar module mounting system may include: a support mechanism including a support post pivotably attached to a support base, and an attachment module for

Embodiments of the present inventions are directed to systems, devices for use with systems, and method of mounting and retaining solar panels. A solar module mounting system may include: a support mechanism including a support post pivotably attached to a support base, and an attachment module for attaching a solar panel to the support mechanism.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of installing a solar panel array, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a first support mechanism comprising: a support post pivotably attached to a support base and multiple attachment points on the support post configured for attaching a solar panel at different heights above

1. A method of installing a solar panel array, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a first support mechanism comprising: a support post pivotably attached to a support base and multiple attachment points on the support post configured for attaching a solar panel at different heights above the support base;a support frame coupled to the support post, the support frame comprising a first elongated member coupled to the support post and extending from a front end to a rear end along a direction substantially perpendicular to the support post, a second elongated member extending at an angle to the first elongated member between a front end coupled to the front end of the first elongated member and a rear end, the second elongated member include at least one facility adapted to receive an attachment module to couple the solar panel to the support frame, and a facility for adjusting the height of the first elongated member relative to the support base to a selected one of a plurality of heights;selecting an angular orientation of the support post with respect to the support base;setting the selected an angular orientation of the support post;selecting a height of the first elongated member relative to the support base;setting the height of the first elongated member relative to the support base to the selected height;coupling the attachment module to the second elongated member;obtaining a first solar panel;selecting one of the multiple attachment points at a selected height on the first support mechanism for attaching the first panel; andattaching the first panel to the first support mechanism at the selected height using the selected one of the multiple attachment points. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the angular orientation of the support post is selected to compensate for a local undulation in a surface on which the first support mechanism is located. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the height on the first support mechanism for attaching the panel is selected to compensate for the local undulation in the surface on which the first support mechanism is located. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein attaching the first panel to the first support mechanism comprises coupling an attachment module to the first solar panel; and after coupling the attachment module to the first solar panel, coupling the attachment module to the first support mechanism. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises a facility for adjusting the angle of the second elongated member to the first elongated member to a selected one of a plurality of angles; the method comprising: selecting a mounting angle of the solar panel;setting the angle of the second elongated member to the first elongated member to correspond to the mounting angle of the solar panel. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining a second solar panel;attaching the second solar panel to the first support mechanism by coupling an attachment module to the second solar panel; and, after coupling the attachment module to the second solar panel, coupling the attachment module to the first support mechanism. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining a second support mechanism, the second support mechanism comprising: a support post pivotably attached to a support base; anda support frame coupled to the support post, the support frame comprising:a first elongated member coupled the support post and extending from a front end to a rear end along a direction substantially perpendicular to the support post; anda second elongated member extending at an angle to the first elongated member between a front end coupled to the front end of the first elongated member and a rear end, the second elongated member include at least one facility adapted to receive a second attachment module to couple the solar panel to the support frame; andfor the second support mechanism: selecting an angular orientation of the support post with respect to the support base and selecting a height on the first support mechanism for attaching the first panel, wherein at least one of the angular orientation of the support post and the height on the first support mechanism for attaching the first panel is selected to compensate for a local undulation in a surface on which the second support mechanism is located;setting the selected angular orientation of the support post; andattaching the first panel to the second support mechanism at the selected height. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining a second support mechanism, the second support mechanism comprising: a support post pivotably attached to a support base; anda support frame coupled to the support post, the support frame comprising: a first elongated member coupled to the support post and extending from a front end to a rear end along a direction substantially perpendicular to the support post;a second elongated member extending at an angle to the first elongated member between a front end coupled to the front end of the first elongated member and a rear end, the second elongated member include at least one facility adapted to receive a second attachment module to couple the solar panel to the support frame; andattaching the front end of the first elongated member of the first support mechanism to the rear end of the first elongated member of the second support mechanism. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the front end of the first elongated member of the first support mechanism and the rear end of the first elongated member of the second support mechanism are attached using a facility which allows for the relative position and angular orientation of the first elongated members of the first and second support mechanisms to be adjusted; and further comprising selecting and setting the relative position and angular orientation of the attached elongated members. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the relative position or angular orientation of the attached first elongated members of the first and second support mechanisms is adjusted to compensate for a variation in change in a slope of the surface underlying the first and second support mechanisms. 11. A method of installing a solar panel array, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a first plurality of solar panels;placing a first plurality of support mechanisms, each comprising a support post pivotably attached to a support base and multiple attachment points on the support post configured for attaching a solar panel at different heights above the support base, on a first region of a surface, the first region having a generally flat portion and localized undulations;for each respective support mechanism in the first plurality: selecting an angular orientation of the support post with respect to the support base;setting the selected an angular orientation of the support post;selecting one of the multiple attachment points at a selected height on the first support mechanism for attaching the first panel;attaching the first panel to the first support mechanism at the selected height using the selected one of the multiple attachment points; wherein the selected angular orientations and the attachment heights are selected to compensate for the local undulations in the first region such that each of the first plurality of panels are positioned with substantially the same orientation relative to the generally flat portion of the surface in the first region;obtaining a second plurality of support mechanisms;attaching at least one of the support mechanisms of the first plurality with at least one support mechanisms in the second plurality; wherein, for each support mechanism of the first plurality which is attached to a support mechanism in the second plurality:the support mechanism of the first plurality comprises an attachment facility that allows for the relative angular orientation of two support members to be adjusted to one of a plurality of orientations; andattaching the support mechanism using the facility to set the relative angular orientation to compensate for the difference in the slopes of the first region and a second region. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the orientation relative to the generally flat portion of the surface in the first region comprises a height of the at least one respective solar panel relative to the generally flat portion of the surface in the first region. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of panels are each attached to a respective support mechanism while the support mechanism is unattached to any other support mechanisms. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising attaching each support mechanism in the first plurality of support mechanisms to at least one other support mechanism in the first plurality of support mechanisms. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: attaching cross bracing between at least two adjacent support mechanisms in the first plurality of support mechanisms. 16. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the support mechanisms in the first plurality are substantially identical. 17. The method of claim 11, further comprising: obtaining a second plurality of solar panels;placing the second plurality of support mechanisms, each comprising a support post pivotably attached to a support base, on the second region of the surface, the first region having a generally flat portion and localized undulations, the second region being adjacent to the first region and having a general slope which differs from a general slope of the first region;for each respective support mechanism in the second plurality: selecting an angular orientation of the support post with respect to the support base;setting the selecting an angular orientation of the support post;selecting an attachment height on the first support mechanism for attaching a solar panel; andattaching at least one respective solar panel from the second plurality of solar panels to the respective support mechanism at the selected height;wherein the angular orientations and the attachment heights are selected to compensate for the local undulations in the second region such that each of the second plurality of panels are positioned with substantially the same orientation relative to the generally flat portion of the surface in the second region. 18. The method of claim 11, wherein each support mechanism of the first and second pluralities of support mechanisms are substantially identical. 19. The method of claim 10, wherein substantially no portion of each of the support mechanisms in the first plurality is located below the surface. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising driving one or more nails through the at least one of the support mechanisms and the surface to secure the support mechanism to the surface.