Solar Power Structure

Abstract

A standalone or partially standalone solar photovoltaic structure and methods for assembling the structure are described. The solar photovoltaic structure can employ a hinged photovoltaic roof deck that can be folded for transportation. Described are hinges that can be removed after assembly and act as protective elements to facilitate transportation. Also described is an attachment arrangement for joining purlin or frame members to vertical support columns by locking the frame numbers into column capitals.

1 . A combination for supporting a standalone or partially-standalone solar PV roof deck including:
 a beam including a beam end portion;   the beam end portion including a first aperture and an enclosed hollow channel, together configured to pass one or more wires;   the beam end portion including a hook and a tab extending away from the beam end portion, the hook and the tab forming a hook/tab pair;   a column, including a column end portion forming a hollow conduit;   the column end portion including a pair of slots along a vertical length of the column end portion, the pair of slots receives the hook/tab pair and thereby securing the beam to the column in a fixed and non-rotatable position; and   a second aperture positioned along the vertical length of the column end portion, the second aperture positioned and shaped to align with the first aperture for passing the one or more wires into the column end portion.   
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein, the beam end portion is separately formed from the beam and secured to the beam. 
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 2  wherein, the column end portion is a column capital, secured to the column. 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the column capital including a plurality of approximately vertical faces, the plurality of approximately vertical faces forming the hollow conduit; and   the pair of slots and the second aperture positioned along a first face of the plurality of approximately vertical faces.   
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein, the column end portion is a column capital, secured to the column. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the column capital including a plurality of approximately vertical faces, the plurality of approximately vertical faces forming the hollow conduit; and   the pair of slots and the second aperture positioned along a first face of the plurality of approximately vertical faces.   
     
     
         7 . A combination for supporting a standalone or partially-standalone solar PV roof deck including:
 a first end support bracket with a first upper bracket portion and a first lower bracket portion, the first lower bracket portion including a first hook and a first tab extending away from the first lower bracket portion, the first hook and the first tab forming a first hook/tab pair;   a second end support bracket with a second upper bracket portion and a second lower bracket portion, the second lower bracket portion including a second hook and a second tab extending away from the second lower bracket portion, the second hook and the second tab forming a second hook/tab pair;   a first angle between the first upper bracket portion and the first lower bracket portion is 90 degrees−X; and   a second angle between the second upper bracket portion and the second lower bracket portion is 90 degrees+X, where X>0 degrees.   
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first upper bracket portion includes a wire receiving aperture; and   the second upper bracket portion includes a second wire receiving aperture.   
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 7 , further including:
 a first column, including a first column end portion forming a first hollow conduit; and   the first column end portion including a first pair of slots along a first vertical length of the first column end portion, the first pair of slots receives the first hook/tab pair and thereby securing the first upper bracket portion to the first column in a fixed and non-rotatable downward sloping position.   
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 9 , further including:
 a second column, including a second column end portion forming a second hollow conduit; and   the second column end portion including a second pair of slots along a second vertical length of the second column end portion, the second pair of slots receives the second hook/tab pair and thereby securing the second upper bracket portion to the second column in a fixed and non-rotatable upward sloping position.   
     
     
         11 . A combination of  claim 10 , further including:
 a solar PV roof deck; and   the first upper bracket portion and the second upper bracket portion are secured to opposing sides of the solar PV roof deck.