A clamp for securing photovoltaic panels to a support tube of a photovoltaic panel array has a lower brace for positioning on the support tube perpendicular to the support tube. The lower brace has a central web with a pair of side walls depending from opposite edges of the web. Support shoulders ar
A clamp for securing photovoltaic panels to a support tube of a photovoltaic panel array has a lower brace for positioning on the support tube perpendicular to the support tube. The lower brace has a central web with a pair of side walls depending from opposite edges of the web. Support shoulders are formed in the side walls. Straps have tabs on an upper end that land on the support shoulders. An upper brace has flanges for engaging upper edge surfaces of adjacent ones of the panels. At least one deflectable standoff positions the upper brace a distance from the lower brace that is selected to be greater than a thickness of the adjacent ones of the panels. Tightening bolts between the braces deflects the standoff and draws the upper brace toward the lower brace to clamp the adjacent ones of the panels between the lower and upper braces.
대표청구항▼
1. A clamp for securing photovoltaic panels to a support tube of a photovoltaic panel array, comprising: a lower brace for positioning on the support tube perpendicular to the support tube, the lower brace having a central web with a pair of side walls depending from opposite edges of the web;first
1. A clamp for securing photovoltaic panels to a support tube of a photovoltaic panel array, comprising: a lower brace for positioning on the support tube perpendicular to the support tube, the lower brace having a central web with a pair of side walls depending from opposite edges of the web;first and second, sets of support shoulders in the side walls spaced apart from each other along a length of the lower brace, the support shoulders of each of the sets being opposite each other;first and second straps in engagement with the first and second sets of support shoulders, respectively, each of the straps having tabs on an upper end facing in opposite directions, each of the tabs of each of the straps landing on one of the support shoulders to retain each of the straps with the lower brace; anda fastener that secures lower ends of the straps to each other. 2. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein: a width of each of the straps between outer edges of the tabs is less than a distance between inner sides of the side walls. 3. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein: each of the support shoulders is located inward from an inner side of one of the side walls. 4. The clamp according to claim 1, further comprising: first and second stop surfaces adjacent the first and second sets of support shoulders, respectively, each of the stop surfaces depending downward from a lower side of the web; and whereineach of the stop surfaces is positioned for contact by the upper end of one of the straps during insertion of the strap into engagement with the support shoulders. 5. The clamp according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of protuberances protruding inwardly from each of the straps for contact with the support tube. 6. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of each of the straps comprises: a planar fastener section having an aperture through which the fastener extends, the fastener section being in a plane normal to the length of the lower brace;an inward inclined section depending from each of the fastener sections, each of the inclined sections having a lower free end; and wherein,the lower free ends abut each other and space the fastener sections apart from each other when the fastener is tightened. 7. The clamp according to claim 6, further comprising: a lip depending from the free ends, the lip being offset from a centerline between side edges of each of the straps, such that the lips are juxtaposed when the fastener secures the straps. 8. The clamp according to claim 1, further comprising: a recess in each of the side walls of the lower brace, the recess having two side edges inclining downward in opposite directions to a lower side of the lower brace for contacting inclined side surfaces of the support tube. 9. The clamp according to claim 1, further comprising: an upper brace parallel to and located above the lower brace, the upper brace having flanges extending in opposite directions from each other along a length of the upper brace for engaging upper edge surfaces of adjacent ones of the panels;at least one deflectable standoff that positions the upper brace a distance from the lower brace that is selected to be greater than a thickness of the adjacent ones of the panels;a pair of bolts extending vertically between the upper and lower braces; and whereintightening the bolts deflects the standoff and draws the upper brace toward the lower brace to clamp the adjacent ones of the panels between the lower and upper braces. 10. The clamp according to claim 1, further comprising: an electrical ground tooth projecting upward from the lower brace for embedding into one of the panels. 11. A clamp for securing photovoltaic panels to a support tube of a photovoltaic panel array, comprising: a lower brace for positioning on the support tube perpendicular to the support tube;a retainer that secures to the lower brace for looping around the support tube to retain the lower brace on the support tube;an upper brace located above and parallel with the lower brace, the upper brace having flanges facing in opposite directions along a length of the upper brace for overlying and engaging an upper edge surface of adjacent ones of the panels;at least one deflectable standoff between the lower brace and the upper brace that initially positions the upper brace a distance above the lower brace that is selected to be greater than a thickness of adjacent ones of the panel;a pair of bolts extending vertically between the upper and lower braces; and whereintightening the bolts deflects the standoff and draws the upper brace toward the lower brace to clamp the adjacent ones of the panels between the lower and upper braces. 12. The clamp according to claim 11, wherein the at least one standoff comprises: a pair of standoff flaps, each of the standoff flaps having one edge integrally formed with one of the braces, each of the standoff flaps inclining from said one of the braces; and whereintightening the bolts bends each of the standoff flaps about said one edge. 13. The clamp according to claim 11, wherein the lower brace comprises: a central web with a pair of side walls depending from opposite edges of the web; andfirst and second sets of support shoulders in the side walls and spaced apart from each other along a length of the lower brace, the support shoulders of each of the sets being opposite each other; wherein the retainer comprises:first and second straps in engagement with the first and second sets of support shoulders, respectively, each of the straps having tabs on an upper end facing in opposite directions, each of the tabs of each of the straps landing on one of the support shoulders to retain each of the straps with the lower brace; anda fastener that secures lower ends of the straps to each other. 14. The clamp according to claim 13, wherein: a width of each of the straps between outer edges of the tabs is less than a distance between inner sides of the side walls; andeach of the support shoulders is located inward from an inner side of each of the side walls. 15. The clamp according to claim 14, further comprising: first and second stop surfaces adjacent the first and second sets of support shoulders, respectively, each of the stop surfaces depending downward from a lower side of the web; and whereineach of the stop surfaces is positioned for contact by the upper end of one of the straps during insertion of the strap into engagement with the support shoulders. 16. A method of securing a photovoltaic panel to a support tube of a solar array, comprising: (a) providing a lower brace with a central web having a pair of side walls depending from opposite edges of the web, and two sets of support shoulders in the side walls, the support shoulders of each of the sets being opposite each other;(b) providing a pair of straps, each of the straps having tabs on an upper end facing in opposite directions;(c) placing the lower brace on the support tube with a length of the lower brace perpendicular to the support tube;(d) inserting each of the straps between the side walls and placing each of the tabs on one of the support shoulders; then(e) positioning the straps alongside opposite sides of the support tube, and fastening lower ends of the straps to each other below the support tube; and(f) placing a lower side of an edge of the photovoltaic panel on the lower brace and tightly securing an upper brace over an upper side of the edge of the photovoltaic panel. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein; step (a) comprises providing a downward extending stop surface adjacent each of the support shoulders; andstep (d) comprises sliding the upper end of each of the straps along a lower side of the web until contacting one of the stop surfaces; andstep (e) comprises after contacting the stop surfaces, rotating the straps about the upper end to a generally vertical orientation. 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein step (f) comprises: providing at least one deflectable standoff on one of the braces, and with the standoff, positioning the upper brace a selected distance above the lower brace that is greater than a thickness of the photovoltaic panel;inserting the edge of the photovoltaic panel between the braces while the standoff maintains the upper brace at the selected distance; thenmoving the upper brace toward the lower brace and against the edge of the photovoltaic panel, thereby deflecting the standoff. 19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the support tube has downwardly extending side surfaces that incline in opposite directions from an upper surface of the support tube, and the method further comprises: in step (a), providing recesses in each of the side walls of the lower brace, each of the recesses having two downward inclined side edges that incline in opposite directions; andstep (c) comprises placing the side edges of the recesses in contact with the side surfaces of the support tube. 20. The method according to claim 16, wherein: step (a) comprises providing an electrical ground tooth projecting upward from the lower brace; andstep (f) comprises while securing the upper brace, embedding the tooth into the photovoltaic panel to electrically ground the photovoltaic panel to the lower brace.
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