US-20260128708-A1 - DEVICES, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS FOR INSTALLATION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS

US20260128708A1US 20260128708 A1US20260128708 A1US 20260128708A1US-20260128708-A1

Abstract

Devices, methods, and systems for installing photovoltaic systems are provided that are simple and easy to install, and that minimize the number of separate components or parts needed. Such devices, methods, and systems ensure seamless mechanical and electrical connectivity by their design, and minimize the time and effort expended by tradespersons or other technicians, especially in dangerous environments.

Inventors

Joseph Tomlinson

Assignees

PV SOLUTIONS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20250609

Claims (20)

1 . A system for securing an energy capturing/storage device to a surface, comprising: a rail, affixed to the surface and comprising a groove disposed on at least one face; and a shuttle, comprising: a fastener, securely seated within the groove of the rail; at least one intermediate component, comprising a means for electrically interconnecting the energy capturing/storage device to the rail or a component disposed therein, and securely interconnected to the fastener; and a device attachment, securely holding the energy capturing/storage device in place, securely interconnected to at least one intermediate component, and comprising a lever or other means allowing a user to selectively detach the energy capturing/storage device from the system.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one intermediate component comprises a first intermediate component and a second intermediate component, wherein the first intermediate component is securely interconnected to the fastener and the second intermediate component is securely interconnected to the device attachment, and wherein the first and second intermediate components may be selectively detached from each other.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the shuttle comprises a void extending from a surface of the shuttle into an interior of the shuttle, and wherein the system further comprises a key adapted to be selectively disposed within the void to selectively prevent movement of at least one of the fastener, an intermediate component, and the device attachment relative to at least one of the rail, the fastener, at least one intermediate component, and the device attachment.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is securely interconnected to at least one intermediate component along two or more sides or surfaces of the fastener.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rail comprises means for electrically interconnecting two or more energy capturing/storage devices associated with the rail.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the shuttle may slide within the groove of the rail in and/or along at least one of a length, a width, and a height of the rail to be selectively positioned at a desired position of the rail.
7 . The system of claim 6 , comprising at least two shuttles, wherein the at least two shuttles may be selectively configured to slide within the groove of the rail together and/or as a single unit.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy capturing/storage device is a photovoltaic solar panel.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the surface is a roof.
10 . A shuttle for securing an energy capturing/storage device to a surface, comprising: a fastener, adapted to be securely seated within a groove disposed on a face of a rail; at least one intermediate component, comprising a means for electrically interconnecting the energy capturing/storage device to the rail or a component disposed therein, and securely interconnected to the fastener; and a device attachment, securely holding the energy capturing/storage device in place, securely interconnected to at least one intermediate component, and comprising a lever or other means allowing a user to selectively detach the energy capturing/storage device from the shuttle.
11 . The shuttle of claim 10 , wherein the at least one intermediate component comprises a first intermediate component and a second intermediate component, wherein the first intermediate component is securely interconnected to the fastener and the second intermediate component is securely interconnected to the device attachment, and wherein the first and second intermediate components may be selectively detached from each other.
12 . The shuttle of claim 11 , further comprising: a void, extending from a surface of the shuttle into an interior of the shuttle; and a key, adapted to be selectively disposed within the void to selectively prevent movement of at least one of the fastener, an intermediate component, and the device attachment relative to at least one of the rail, the fastener, at least one intermediate component, and the device attachment.
13 . The shuttle of claim 10 , wherein the fastener is securely interconnected to at least one intermediate component along two or more sides or surfaces of the fastener.
14 . The shuttle of claim 10 , wherein the shuttle is adapted to slide within the groove of the rail in and/or along at least one of a length, a width, and a height of the rail to be selectively positioned at a desired position of the rail.
15 . The shuttle of claim 14 , wherein the shuttle is selectively reconfigurable to allow the shuttle to slide within the groove of the rail together and/or as a single unit with a separate shuttle.
16 . The shuttle of claim 10 , wherein the energy capturing/storage device is a photovoltaic solar panel.
17 . The shuttle of claim 10 , wherein the surface is a roof.
18 . A method for positioning and securing a solar panel on a surface, comprising: (a) interconnecting the solar panel to a shuttle, wherein the shuttle is securely interconnected to a groove in a rail affixed to the surface and positioned at or near one end of the rail; (b) sliding the shuttle within the groove to a desired position on the rail; and (c) fixing the shuttle in place at the desired position on the rail.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein step (c) comprises placing the shuttle in association with an element that physically blocks and/or prevents further movement of the shuttle along the rail.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein step (c) comprises activating an element that selectively locks the shuttle and/or presses the shuttle in place against the rail at the desired position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/932,040, filed Oct. 30, 2024, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/089,181, filed Dec. 27, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/288,229, filed Apr. 23, 2021, which is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 and claims the benefit of PCT Application No. PCT/US2019/057685 having an international filing date of 23 Oct. 2019, which designated the United States, and which PCT application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/749,648, filed 23 Oct. 2018. The entireties of each of the above-referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to devices, methods, and systems for installing photovoltaic systems, and specifically to photovoltaic installation systems that reduce the cost and time associated with photovoltaic installation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Current devices, methods, and systems for installing photovoltaic systems, especially residential photovoltaic systems, suffer from several drawbacks. Such devices, methods, and systems are often complex and difficult to install, and may require the use of many separate components or parts. These devices, methods, and systems typically also require a tradesperson or other technician to expend significant time and effort ensuring that the photovoltaic system is properly installed and that the system's mechanical and electrical connections to other components are secure; as a result, the tradesperson or other technician may need to move frequently for an extended period of time, often in a dangerous environment (e.g. on top of a roof). There is thus a need in the art for devices, methods, and systems for installing photovoltaic systems that are simple and easy to install, and that minimize the number of separate components or parts needed. It is further advantageous for such devices, methods, and systems to ensure seamless mechanical and electrical connectivity by their design, and to minimize the time and effort expended by tradespersons or other technicians, especially in dangerous environments. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a system for securing an energy capturing/storage device to a surface, comprising a rail, affixed to the surface and comprising a groove disposed on at least one face; and a shuttle, comprising a fastener, securely seated within the groove of the rail; at least one intermediate component, comprising a means for electrically interconnecting the energy capturing/storage device to the rail or a component disposed therein, and securely interconnected to the fastener; and a device attachment, securely holding the energy capturing/storage device in place, securely interconnected to at least one intermediate component, and comprising a lever or other means allowing a user to selectively detach the energy capturing/storage device from the system. In embodiments, the at least one intermediate component may comprise a first intermediate component and a second intermediate component, wherein the first intermediate component is securely interconnected to the fastener and the second intermediate component is securely interconnected to the device attachment, and wherein the first and second intermediate components may be selectively detached from each other. The shuttle may comprise a void extending from a surface of the shuttle into an interior of the shuttle, and the system may further comprise a key adapted to be selectively disposed within the void to selectively prevent movement of at least one of the fastener, an intermediate component, and the device attachment relative to at least one of the rail, the fastener, at least one intermediate component, and the device attachment. In embodiments, the fastener may be securely interconnected to at least one intermediate component along two or more sides or surfaces of the fastener. In embodiments, the rail may comprise means for electrically interconnecting two or more energy capturing/storage devices associated with the rail. In embodiments, the shuttle may be adapted to slide within the groove of the rail in and/or along at least one of a length, a width, and a height of the rail to be selectively positioned at a desired position of the rail. The system may comprise at least two shuttles, wherein the at least two shuttles may be selectively configured to slide within the groove of the rail together and/or as a single unit. In embodiments, the energy capturing/storage device may be a photovoltaic solar panel. In embodiments, the surface may be a roof. It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a shuttle for securing an energy capturing/storage device to a surface, comprising a fastener, adapted to be securely seated within a groove dis