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A unitized photovoltaic assembly is disclosed. A unitized photovoltaic assembly consists of a unitary frame designed to retain a plurality of photovoltaic modules. The unitary frame is formed by orienting a plurality of rails in the lateral direction above and mounted to a plurality of struts orient

A unitized photovoltaic assembly is disclosed. A unitized photovoltaic assembly consists of a unitary frame designed to retain a plurality of photovoltaic modules. The unitary frame is formed by orienting a plurality of rails in the lateral direction above and mounted to a plurality of struts oriented in the vertical direction. Once the unitary framed is formed, photovoltaic modules slide into slots running the length of the rails and are thus retained in the unitary frame. Also added to the unitary frame are a series of power conversion elements, retaining brackets, mounting brackets, and cleaning elements. The completed unitized photovoltaic assembly can be fabricated off-site, transported as a single unit and installed to a roof or other surface with the use of a specialized lifting frame, also disclosed. Additional unitized photovoltaic assemblies can be mechanically and electrically interconnected to form a complete photovoltaic system.

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1. A unitized photovoltaic assembly, the assembly comprising: a unitary framework comprised of first and second spaced apart, laterally-extending horizontal rails and a plurality of struts joined to the horizontal rails and extending in a direction transverse to the horizontal rails, each horizontal

1. A unitized photovoltaic assembly, the assembly comprising: a unitary framework comprised of first and second spaced apart, laterally-extending horizontal rails and a plurality of struts joined to the horizontal rails and extending in a direction transverse to the horizontal rails, each horizontal rail defining a laterally-extending receiving slot;a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each photovoltaic module comprising a photovoltaic member, each photovoltaic module having a first pair of opposing edges and a second pair of opposing edges, said first pair of opposing edges being retained within the receiving slots of said first and second horizontal rails so that the photovoltaic module spans a space between the first and second rails, the receiving slots having surfaces configured so that the first pair of opposing edges are slidable within the receiving slots;a retaining bracket fastened to one of said first and second horizontal rails and extending into the space between the first and second horizontal rails so as to retain the photovoltaic modules by blocking them from sliding laterally past the retaining bracket, the retaining bracket being adjacent one of the second pair of opposing edges of one of the plurality of photovoltaic modules; anda panel spacer interposed between adjacent first and second ones of the plurality of the photovoltaic modules so as to maintain a gap between the adjacent photovoltaic modules;wherein the panel spacer is attached to and supported by the first one of the plurality of the photovoltaic modules and is independent of the second one of the plurality of the photovoltaic modules. 2. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said unitary framework comprises: a plurality of horizontal rails having a uniform double “I” cross-section;a plurality of vertical struts having a uniform “I” cross section;uniform rows and columns of said horizontal rails and vertical struts comprising said unitary framework;a plurality of welds for securing said horizontal rails and vertical struts comprising said unitary framework, the horizontal rails being welded to the vertical struts at the plurality of welds; anda plurality of mounting brackets. 3. The unitized voltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said retaining bracket further comprises: a bracket affixed to said horizontal rail;a retaining surface abutting at least one edge of said second pair of opposing edges of at least one photovoltaic module; anda fastener securing said retaining surface to said bracket. 4. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 3, wherein said retaining surface is removable. 5. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, further comprising: at least one spray head;at least one connector connected to said spray head;a plurality of tubing attached to said connector; andat least one fluid interconnect attached to said tubing. 6. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein said panel spacers further comprises: a mounting portion configured to allow attachment of the spacers to said photovoltaic module; anda first fin abutting one edge of said second pair of opposing edges of a first photovoltaic module and a second fin abutting one edge of said second pair of opposing edges of a second photovoltaic module. 7. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 1 in conjunction with a second unitized photovoltaic assembly, each unitized photovoltaic assembly further comprising a plurality of mounting interlocks fastened to said horizontal rails or said vertical struts and positioned such that at least one mounting interlock of the unitized photovoltaic assembly is coupled with the mounting interlock of the second unitized photovoltaic assembly. 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the unitized photovoltaic assembly and second unitized photovoltaic assembly each further comprise a plurality of power conversion elements fastened to the respective unitary framework and electrically connected to at least one corresponding photovoltaic module and a plurality of wiring, the assembly further comprising a plurality of polarized power connectors connected to said wiring and positioned such that at least one polarized power connector for the unitized photovoltaic assembly is aligned with at least one polarized power connector for the second unitized photovoltaic assembly when the photovoltaic assemblies are coupled together. 9. A unitized photovoltaic assembly, the assembly comprising: a unitary framework comprised of first and second spaced apart horizontal rails and a plurality of vertical struts joined to the horizontal rails, each horizontal rail defining a laterally-extending receiving slot;a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each photovoltaic module comprising a photovoltaic member, each photovoltaic module having a first pair of opposing edges and a second pair of opposing edges, said first pair of opposing edges being retained within the receiving slots of said first and second horizontal rails so that the photovoltaic module spans a space between the first and second rails, the receiving slots having surfaces configured so that the first pair of opposing edges are slidable within the receiving slots;a retaining bracket fastened to one of said first and second horizontal rails and extending into the space between the first and second horizontal rails so as to retain the photovoltaic modules by blocking them from sliding laterally past the retaining bracket, the retaining bracket being adjacent one of the second pair of opposing edges of one of the plurality of photovoltaic modules; anda lifting frame, said lifting frame comprising:a framework; anda plurality of tabs extending from the lifting frame framework, the tabs configured to engage with said unitary framework at a plurality of spaced-apart tab contact points. 10. The unitized assembly of claim 9 additionally comprising a panel spacer interposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of the photovoltaic modules so as to maintain a gap between the adjacent photovoltaic modules. 11. The unitized assembly of claim 9, wherein the lifting frame is attachable to a crane hook, and the lifting frame is configured so that an angle of the framework relative to horizontal can be adjusted when the lifting frame is hanging from the crane hook. 12. A unitized photovoltaic assembly, comprising: a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each photovoltaic module comprising a photovoltaic member, opposing first and second sliding edges and opposing first and second outer edges;first and second laterally-directed rails, each rail having an extruded structure defining a U-shaped slot comprising upper and lower portions connected by a web portion, the slots each configured to slidably receive a sliding edge of one of the photovoltaic modules therein between the upper and lower portions;a plurality of elongate struts attached to the first and second rails and extending in a direction transverse to the rails; anda retaining element;wherein the first and second rails are spaced apart from one another, a first sliding edge of a first one of the photovoltaic modules is received in the first rail slot, and a second sliding edge of the first one of the photovoltaic modules is received in the second rail slot so that the first and second rails support the first one of the photovoltaic modules so that the first one of the photovoltaic modules is slidable in opposing first and second lateral directions that are parallel to a plane defined between the first and second rail slots; andwherein in a first configuration the retaining element extends transverse to and across the plane between the first and second rail slots so as to be adjacent the first outer edge of the first one of the photovoltaic modules so that when the first one of the photovoltaic modules slides in the first lateral direction the first outer edge engages the retaining element, and the retaining element laterally retains the first one of the photovoltaic modules by stopping it from sliding further in the first lateral direction. 13. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second rail slots define surfaces configured so that the first and second sliding edges slide over the surfaces. 14. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 12, wherein each of the rails additionally comprises a mounting portion unitarily formed with the slot and positioned below the slot, and wherein the struts are joined to the rails at the mounting portions. 15. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 14, wherein the rails and struts collectively define a unitized framework. 16. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 12, wherein the photovoltaic module comprises a frame disposed about the photovoltaic member, the first and second sliding edges being defined on the frame. 17. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 12, wherein a first sliding edge of a second one of the photovoltaic modules is received in the first rail slot, and a second sliding edge of the second one of the photovoltaic modules is received in the second rail slot so that the first and second rails support the second one of the photovoltaic modules and the second one of the photovoltaic modules is slidable in a lateral direction, a first outer edge of the second one of the photovoltaic modules facing the second outer edge of the first one of the photovoltaic modules. 18. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 17 additionally comprising a gap between the second outer edge of the first one of the photovoltaic modules and the first outer edge of the second one of the photovoltaic modules. 19. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 18, additionally comprising a resilient spacer at least partially disposed in the gap, the spacer being interposed between the first and second ones of the photovoltaic modules so as to maintain the gap between the first and second ones of the photovoltaic modules. 20. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 18, wherein the gap is not aligned with any of the struts. 21. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 17, wherein the first and second outer edges of the first and second ones of the photovoltaic modules are at the same elevation. 22. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second outer edges of the first one of the photovoltaic modules are at the same elevation. 23. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 22, wherein the first rail is vertically higher than the second rail. 24. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 12, wherein the retaining element is releasably attached to the first rail, the retaining element engaging the second outer edge of the first one of the photovoltaic modules to retain the module by blocking it from sliding. 25. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 24 additionally comprising one or more secondary elements attached to one of the rails or struts vertically below the plurality of photovoltaic modules, wherein when the retaining element is detached one or more of the plurality of photovoltaic modules can be slid so as to provide access to the one or more secondary elements. 26. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 25, wherein the one or more secondary elements comprise one or more of a power conversion element, a plurality of wiring, and roof mounts. 27. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 12, wherein in a second configuration the retaining element is positioned so that it does not cross the plane between the first and second rail slots, and the first one of the photovoltaic modules is slidable in the first lateral direction without the first free end engaging the retaining element. 28. The unitized photovoltaic assembly of claim 27, wherein the retaining element is detachably connected to one of the first and second rails, and the retaining element is detached when in the second configuration. 29. A system comprising a unitized photovoltaic assembly in conjunction with a lifting frame, the unitized photovoltaic assembly comprising: first and second photovoltaic modules, each photovoltaic module comprising a photovoltaic member, opposing first and second sliding edges and opposing first and second outer edges;first and second laterally-directed rails, each rail having a slot, the slots each configured to slidably receive a sliding edge of one of the photovoltaic modules therein; anda plurality of elongate struts attached to the first and second rails and extending in a direction transverse to the rails;the first and second rails being spaced apart from one another, the first sliding edges of the first and second photovoltaic modules being received in the first rail slot, and the second sliding edges of the first and second photovoltaic modules being received in the second rail slot so that the first and second rails support the first and second photovoltaic modules adjacent one another with a gap between the second outer edge of the first photovoltaic module and the first outer edge of the second photovoltaic module;the lifting frame being formed separately from the unitized photovoltaic assembly, and comprising a rigid framework and a plurality of spaced apart lifting tabs, a first one of the lifting tabs sized and configured to fit through the gap and engage the first rail, a second one of the lifting tabs sized and configured to fit through the gap and engage the second rail. 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the lifting frame comprises a crane attachment configured to be attachable to a crane, and the first and second lifting tabs comprise hooks that engage the first and second rails, respectively, so that when the lifting frame is lifted, the first and second lifting tab hooks apply lifting forces to the unitized photovoltaic assembly at the spaced-apart first and second rails.