The present disclosure provides clamps used to assemble photovoltaic (PV) arrays with frameless PV modules. The clamp includes a clamp cover configured to fit within a clamp grip such that when the clamp cover is fitted to the clamp grip pockets are formed to receive portions of PV modules. A base o
The present disclosure provides clamps used to assemble photovoltaic (PV) arrays with frameless PV modules. The clamp includes a clamp cover configured to fit within a clamp grip such that when the clamp cover is fitted to the clamp grip pockets are formed to receive portions of PV modules. A base of the clamp cover may include one or more legs that act as a stop to prevent over tightening the clamp.
대표청구항▼
1. A clamp comprising: a clamp cover having a base, first and second side walls extending from the base and forming a channel, a first clamp arm extending from the first side wall, and a second clamp arm extending from the second side wall; anda clamp grip having base and first and second side walls
1. A clamp comprising: a clamp cover having a base, first and second side walls extending from the base and forming a channel, a first clamp arm extending from the first side wall, and a second clamp arm extending from the second side wall; anda clamp grip having base and first and second side walls extending from the base forming a channel to receive the clamp cover channel, wherein the first side wall includes an upper wall, a lower wall and a notch between the upper and lower walls, the notch defining a bending point for the first side wall, and wherein the second side wall includes an upper wall, a lower wall and a notch between the upper and lower walls, the notch defining a bending point for the second side wall;wherein when the clamp cover channel is inserted into the clamp grip channel the first clamp arm engages the upper wall of the first side wall of the clamp grip such that the upper wall of the first side wall of the clamp grip bends at the bending point away from the clamp grip channel to form a pocket to receive at least a portion of a frameless PV module, andwherein when the clamp cover channel is inserted into the clamp grip channel the second clamp arm engages the upper wall of the second side wall of the clamp grip such that the upper wall of the second side wall of the clamp grip bends at the bending point away from the clamp grip channel to form a pocket to receive at least a portion of a frameless PV module. 2. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the clamp cover base includes at least one leg extending from a bottom surface of the clamp cover base, and wherein the at least one leg pierces the clamp grip base when the clamp cover channel is inserted into the clamp grip channel and the clamp cover and the clamp grip are secured to a rail. 3. The clamp according to claim 2, wherein the at least one leg pierces the rail when the clamp cover channel is inserted into the clamp grip channel and the clamp cover and the clamp grip are secured to the rail to form an electrically conductive path between the rail and the clamp. 4. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the clamp cover is made of an electrically conductive material. 5. The clamp according to claim 4, wherein the electrically conductive material comprises stainless steel, aluminum and aluminum alloy. 6. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the clamp grip is made of a non-conductive material. 7. The clamp according to claim 6, wherein the non-conductive material comprises rubber. 8. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the clamp cover base has an aperture for receiving a mounting fastener and the clamp grip base has an aperture for receiving the mounting fastener, and wherein the clamp grip base aperture is aligned with the clamp cover base aperture. 9. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the clamp cover base includes at least one bonding member extending from a bottom surface of the clamp cover base. 10. The clamp according to claim 9, wherein the at least one bonding member comprises a volcano. 11. The clamp according to claim 9, wherein the at least one bonding member comprises a serrated volcano. 12. A clamp comprising: a clamp cover having a base, first and second side walls extending from the base and forming a channel, a first clamp arm extending from the first side wall, and a second clamp arm extending from the second side wall, wherein the base includes at least one leg extending from an end of the base; anda clamp grip having base and first and second side walls extending from the base forming a channel to receive the clamp cover channel, wherein the first side wall includes an upper wall, a lower wall and a notch between the upper and lower walls, the notch defining a bending point for the first side wall, and wherein the second side wall includes an upper wall, a lower wall and a notch between the upper and lower walls, the notch defining a bending point for the second side wall;wherein when the clamp cover channel is inserted into the clamp grip channel the first clamp arm engages the upper wall of the first side wall of the clamp grip such that the upper wall of the first side wall of the clamp grip bends at the bending point away from the clamp grip channel to form a pocket to receive at least a portion of a frameless PV module, andwherein when the clamp cover channel is inserted into the clamp grip channel the second clamp arm engages the upper wall of the second side wall of the clamp grip, such that the upper wall of the second side wall of the clamp grip bends at the bending point away from the clamp grip channel to form a pocket to receive at least a portion of a frameless PV module. 13. The clamp according to claim 12, wherein the at least one leg extending from an end of the clamp cover base comprises a first leg extending from a first end of the clamp cover base and a second leg extending from a second end of the clamp cover base. 14. The clamp according to claim 12, wherein the clamp cover is made of an electrically conductive material. 15. The clamp according to claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive material comprises stainless steel, aluminum and aluminum alloy. 16. The clamp according to claim 12, wherein the clamp grip is made of a non-conductive material. 17. The clamp according to claim 16, wherein the non-conductive material comprises rubber. 18. The clamp according to claim 12, wherein the clamp cover base has an aperture for receiving a mounting fastener and the clamp grip base has an aperture for receiving the mounting fastener, and wherein the clamp grip base aperture is aligned with the clamp cover base aperture. 19. The clamp according to claim 12, wherein the clamp cover base includes at least one bonding member extending from a bottom surface of the clamp cover base. 20. The clamp according to claim 19, wherein the at least one bonding member comprises a volcano. 21. The clamp according to claim 19, wherein the at least one bonding member comprises a serrated volcano. 22. A clamp comprising: a clamp cover having a clamp arm and first and second side walls extending from the clamp arm, the clamp arm having a first clamp arm portion and a second clamp arm portion; anda clamp grip having base and first and second side walls extending from the base forming a channel to receive the first and second clamp cover side walls, wherein the first clamp grip side wall includes an upper wall, a lower wall and a notch between the upper and lower walls, the notch defining a bending point for the first clamp grip side wall, and wherein the second clamp grip side wall includes an upper wall, a lower wall and a notch between the upper and lower walls, the notch defining a bending point for the second clamp grip side wall;wherein when the clamp cover side walls are inserted into the clamp grip channel the first clamp arm portion engages the upper wall of the first clamp grip side wall such that the upper wall of the first clamp grip side wall bends at the bending point away from the clamp grip channel to form a pocket to receive at least a portion of a frameless PV module, andwherein when the clamp cover side walls are inserted into the clamp grip channel the second clamp arm portion engages the upper wall of the second clamp grip side wall such that the upper wall of the second clamp grip side wall bends at the bending point away from the clamp grip channel to form a pocket to receive at least a portion of a frameless PV module. 23. The clamp according to claim 22, wherein a distal end of the first clamp cover side wall pierces the clamp grip base when the first clamp cover side wall is inserted into the clamp grip channel and the clamp cover and the clamp grip are tightened to a rail, and wherein a distal end of the second clamp cover side wall pierces the clamp grip base when the second clamp cover side wall is inserted into the clamp grip channel and the clamp cover and the clamp grip are tightened to the rail. 24. The clamp according to claim 23, wherein when the distal end of the first clamp cover side wall pierces the clamp grip base, the distal end of the first clamp cover side wall pierces non-conductive coatings on the rail when the clamp cover and the clamp grip are further tightened to the rail, and wherein when the distal end of the second clamp cover side wall pierces the clamp grip base, the distal end of the second clamp cover side wall pierces non-conductive coatings on the rail when the clamp cover and the clamp grip are further tightened to the rail. 25. The clamp according to claim 22, wherein the clamp cover is made of an electrically conductive material. 26. The clamp according to claim 25, wherein the electrically conductive material comprises stainless steel, aluminum and aluminum alloy. 27. The clamp according to claim 22, wherein the clamp grip is made of a non-conductive material. 28. The clamp according to claim 27, wherein the non-conductive material comprises rubber. 29. The clamp according to claim 22, wherein the clamp cover arm has an aperture for receiving a mounting fastener and the clamp grip base has an aperture for receiving the mounting fastener, and wherein the clamp grip base aperture is aligned with the clamp cover arm aperture. 30. The clamp according to claim 22, wherein a distal end of the first clamp cover side wall comprises a tapered end, a pointed end, a rounded end or a flat end. 31. The clamp according to claim 22, wherein a distal end of the second clamp cover side wall comprises a tapered end, a pointed end, a rounded end or a flat end.
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