The present invention relates to a supporting system for photovoltaic panels and, in particular, to a supporting beam for photovoltaic panels implemented so that it eases the installation phase thereof, by allowing also the use of robot for the positioning, and at the same time it allows a reduction in production and maintenance costs.

The present invention relates to a supporting system for photovoltaic panels and, in particular, to a supporting beam for photovoltaic panels implemented so that it eases the installation phase thereof, by allowing also the use of robot for the positioning, and at the same time it allows a reduction in production and maintenance costs.

A support foot for supporting a free standing structure on a support surface such as a rooftop includes a holding means for holding a profiled section to which other parts of said structure can be mounted. The profiled section includes at least one wall having apertures formed in it. The support foot includes a base part having a socket. The support foot furthermore includes a securing element adapted to be received in the socket and having at least one movable catch member to catch an edge of one of said apertures so as to secure the profiled section element to the support foot. The catch member is movable from a pre-assembly position, in which it can be inserted through the aperture, to a securing position, in which it engages over the edge of the aperture.

A system for mounting a solar panel(s) on a building may include a panel mounting bracket(s) including a base to be positioned on the building, a vertical extension having a proximal end coupled to the base and a distal end vertically spaced apart from the base, and a first lateral extension carried on an exterior surface of the vertical extension. An extension device for the at least one panel mounting bracket may include a first portion, a second portion carried by the first portion to be connected with the at least one solar panel, a second lateral extension carried by the second portion to be vertically aligned with the first lateral extension, and a screw including a head carried by the second portion to set the extension device relative to the base.

A tile system comprises at least two tiles and at least one elongate support. Each tile is generally rectangular in shape and has a first edge, and a second edge, the second edge being generally opposite the first edge. Each elongate support has an attachment portion and a support portion. Proximate the first edge each tile is provided with a groove, the groove being configured to receive the support portion of one of the elongate supports and a portion of an adjacent tile proximate its second edge.

Mounting components of photovoltaic (PV) modules and PV module assemblies are described, including PV module couplings and PV module mounting chassis. In an example, a PV module includes a PV module coupling having a toe portion extending from a PV module frame, and a PV module mounting chassis includes a toe slot to receive the toe. The toe and toe slot construction allows for the PV module frame to be assembled to the PV module mounting chassis without using tools, and thus, permits a PV module assembly to be quickly constructed during installation of a PV module system. Furthermore, the toe and toe slot construction accommodates thermal expansion and other environmental loads seen after installation, while providing a grounding connection for the PV module assembly.

This disclosure describes methods and apparatus for assembly a roofing structure that incorporates photovoltaic modules as shingles of the roofing structure. A sidelap is used to both establish consistent spacing between the solar shingles and prevent water passing between adjacent shingles from collecting beneath the solar shingles by guiding the water passing through the solar shingles and redirecting the water down-roof. In some embodiments, the sidelaps can have additional functionality. For example, a sidelap can include tabs configured to interact with lateral securing features positioned on downward-facing surfaces of the solar roofing modules to help keep the lateral sides of the photovoltaic modules from pulling away from the roofing structure during severe weather conditions. The sidelap could also include means for attaching a wire clip to one end of the sidelap.

Modular photovoltaic (PV) panel, system, and method of mounting. The system including a mounting flashing configured to mounted to a mounting surface and a folding PV panel. The folding PV panel including: a first subpanel including first PV cells, wherein the first subpanel extends along a first lateral plane and comprises a plurality of mounting hooks extending laterally from and affixed to a backside of the first subpanel, the mounting hooks configured to couple to the mounting flashing; a second subpanel including second PV cells, wherein the second subpanel extends along a second lateral plane, wherein the second subpanel comprises a front edge support configured to hold a front edge of the second subpanel away from the mounting surface; and a hinge assembly rotationally coupling the first subpanel and the second subpanel to allow an angle between the first lateral plane and the second lateral plane to change.

Mounting components of photovoltaic (PV) modules and PV module assemblies are described, including PV module couplings and PV module mounting chassis. In an example, a PV module includes a PV module coupling having a toe portion extending from a PV module frame, and a PV module mounting chassis includes a toe slot to receive the toe. The toe and toe slot construction allows for the PV module frame to be assembled to the PV module mounting chassis without using tools, and thus, permits a PV module assembly to be quickly constructed during installation of a PV module system. Furthermore, the toe and toe slot construction accommodates thermal expansion and other environmental loads seen after installation, while providing a grounding connection for the PV module assembly.

An aspect of the invention relates to a solar cell wall or roof structure. The solar cell wall or roof structure comprises a wall or roof panel comprising first and second ribs and a central portion between the first and second ribs, the first and second ribs protruding upwardly with respect to the central portion, each of the first and second ribs having an apex, the central portion having an upper surface. The structure further comprises a photovoltaic panel having a back side and a fastener. The fastener comprises a first interconnecting part bonded to the upper surface of the central portion of the wall or roof panel and a second interconnecting part bonded to the back side of the photovoltaic panel. The fastener is configured to slidably fasten the photovoltaic panel on the wall or roof panel by sliding one of the first and second interconnecting parts in the other of the first the second interconnecting parts. The back side of the photovoltaic panel is optionally located below the apex of the first and second ribs. Other aspects relate to a method for producing a solar cell wall or roof structure, method for installing a solar cell wall or roof and a method for replacing the photovoltaic panel of a solar cell wall or roof.