Boltless support and securement of solar modules

Abstract

Systems and techniques for boltlessly supporting and securing solar modules are disclosed. For example, in an aspect, a system features a support structure including a support rail, and a frame including a plurality of rails each having a slot to receive a solar module therein and a bottom plate to boltlessly couple to the top surface of the support rail via one or more boltless mounting components. A boltless mounting component may include a post operative to interlock with an insertion hole for securing the frame to the support structure. Moreover, a locking pin may be disposed through a pin hole on each of the top surface of the support rail and the bottom plate of the frame, where the locking pin advantageously maintains a predetermined alignment and advantageously provides a shared electrical ground connection between the support rail and the frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A boltless system for supporting and securing a solar module, the system comprising:
 a support structure including a support rail having a top surface;   a frame including a plurality of rails, each of the plurality of rails having (a) a slot at a first end thereof and (b) a bottom plate at a second end thereof, wherein the slot is structurally configured to receive at least a portion of a solar module therein, and wherein the bottom plate is structurally configured for coupling to the top surface of the support rail;   one or more boltless mounting components operative to attach the frame to the support rail, at least one of the one or more boltless mounting components including (i) a post integrated onto at least one of the top surface of the support rail and the bottom plate of the frame, and (ii) an insertion hole on at least one of the top surface of the support rail and the bottom plate of the frame, wherein the post is operative to interlock with the insertion hole for securing the frame to the support structure;   a pin hole disposed on each of the top surface of the support rail and the bottom plate of the frame, wherein a predetermined alignment of the support rail and the frame is maintained when the pin hole of the support rail is aligned with the pin hole of the frame; and   a locking pin disposed through the pin hole of each of the top surface of the support rail and the bottom plate of the frame, the locking pin maintaining the predetermined alignment and providing an electrical ground connection between the support rail and the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the post defines a void for receiving at least a portion of a rivet therethrough, the rivet including a portion that is compressible to secure a position of the post relative to the insertion hole. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking pin includes a rivet. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking pin includes a self-tapping screw. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the boltless mounting components comprises (i) a tab integrated onto at least one of the top surface of the support rail and the bottom plate of the frame, and (ii) a slot on at least one of the top surface of the support rail and the bottom plate of the frame, wherein the tab is operative to interlock with the slot for securing the frame to the support structure. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the insertion hole comprises a modified keyhole formation with at least one locking slot extending from a receiving hole. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the modified keyhole formation includes at least two locking slots. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the post is integrated onto the top surface of the support rail, and wherein the insertion hole is disposed on the bottom plate of the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the post is integrated onto the bottom plate of the frame, and wherein the insertion hole is disposed on the top surface of the support rail. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rails of the frame include at least a first module frame rail and a second module frame rail, wherein slots of the first module frame rail and the second module frame rail oppose one another when bottom plates of the first module frame rail and the second module frame rail are stacked upon one another. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the post includes one of a cap, a head, or a hat that mechanically prevents the frame from separating with the support structure when in the predetermined alignment. 
     
     
         12 . A method of supporting and securing a solar module, the method comprising:
 placing a bottom plate of a frame on a top surface of a support rail of a support structure, the frame including a rail having a slot structurally configured to receive at least a portion of a solar module therein;   engaging, without using bolts, one or more boltless mounting components to attach the frame to the support rail, at least one of the one or more boltless mounting components including (i) a post integrated onto at least one of the top surface of the support rail and the bottom plate of the frame, and (ii) an insertion hole on at least one of the top surface of the support rail and the bottom plate of the frame;   interlocking the post with the insertion hole to at least partially secure the frame to the support structure;   aligning a pin hole on the top surface of the support rail with a pin hole on the bottom plate of the frame to place the support rail and the frame in a predetermined alignment; and   securing a locking pin through the pin hole of each of the top surface of the support rail and the bottom plate of the frame thereby maintaining the predetermined alignment and providing an electrical ground connection between the support rail and the frame.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising placing at least a portion of a rivet within a void of the post, and compressing a portion of the rivet to secure a position of the post relative to the insertion hole. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the locking pin is a rivet. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the locking pin is a self-tapping screw. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the boltless mounting components comprises (i) a tab integrated onto at least one of the top surface of the support rail and the bottom plate of the frame, and (ii) a slot on at least one of the top surface of the support rail and the bottom plate of the frame, wherein the tab is operative to interlock with the slot for securing the frame to the support structure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the post is integrated onto the top surface of the support rail, and wherein the insertion hole is disposed on the bottom plate of the frame. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the post is integrated onto the bottom plate of the frame, and wherein the insertion hole is disposed on the top surface of the support rail. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising forming at least a portion of the frame by stacking a bottom plate of a first module frame upon a bottom plate of a second module frame such that a panel slot of the first module frame opposes a panel slot of the second module frame. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising placing at least the portion of the solar module within the slot.