Modular Mounting Apparatus
A mounting apparatus, primarily for solar panels and other renewable energy panels. The mounting apparatus has a base, sides, a front, a back, and a top. It is generally wedge-shaped. It has a depression designed to fit photovoltaic and solar thermal panels. It has a number of mounting mechanisms, including ballast, tethers, and fasteners, designed to minimize the number of roof-top holes needed to anchor a system.
The applicants claims priority under 35 USC 119, et. seq., to a prior filed provisional utility patent application No. 61/474,263, filed Apr. 11, 2011; entitled, “Modular Mounting Apparatus;” by named inventors Rajul L. Patel, Reynold Hendrickson, and Jon Karpovich.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThis invention relates to the field of mounting apparatus. Specifically, this invention relates to the mounting hardware and methods for renewable energy panels, satellites, and other roof mounted equipment.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONMounting apparatus have been developed over the years to anchor items such as signs, solar panels, satellite dishes, HVAC units and the like to buildings and the ground. Many of these apparatus are used on the roof. For many items the roof is the ideal mounting location. For instance, the roof is an ideal mounting location for a solar panel because it is not obstructed from the sun. Additionally, the roof is the ideal mounting place for billboards, because such a mounted billboard is easy to see. Last, for items that people prefer to keep out of sight, like an HVAC unit, the roof is also ideal. Rooftops, thus, increase the usable space of a building.
Traditionally, building owners were reluctant to fasten large items to their roof, for fear that the equipment would be damaged by the elements. As land became more precious, and as the desire to mount certain items out of site, the capabilities of mounting apparatus have improved. Mounting apparatus for the roof have advanced to a point that many components may be safely anchored to the roof, while withstanding the elements of weather such as wind, rain, snow and the like. Depending on the land and the use, a land owner may decide to put solar panels, HVAC units, signs, satellite dishes and the like on the ground, adjacent to the building.
One drawback of current technology is that, when mounted to a flat top roof, often found with commercial buildings, it requires the use of many drill holes. Adding holes to sealed rooftops provokes leakage by creating paths for water to find its way inside the building, potentially damaging the structure and the interior of the building. The more holes that are added to anchor a component to a roof, the more potential for leak paths and water entry into the building. For example, solar panels are typically designed in 4×8 sizes. Generally, a large number of solar panels are required to work in unison to generate enough electricity to power a building. Often, these solar panels are mounted to a roof top and typically require that each of the four corners of a rectangular solar panel be anchored to a rooftop. These panels are first secured to a mounting system or frame and then the frame may be anchored to the roof of the building. Each of the four corners of the mounting system must be anchored to the rooftop, thus requiring the addition of four holes to the rooftop for securement means.
Often, current mounting apparatus are manufactured of steel, aluminum, or like metal, that are heavy, large and bulky to transport and install. They may also add additional unnecessary weight to any roof. These mounting systems may also be quite costly to manufacture, transport and install.
Therefore, a need exists for a modular mounting apparatus that may be anchored to buildings or the ground that is lightweight and inexpensive to manufacture while at the same time reducing the number of mounting holes that may be added to a rooftop of a building or ground and may be used to mount signs, satellite dishes, solar panels and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA modular mounting apparatus for solar panels is disclosed. The mounting apparatus has a number of embodiments designed to reduce or eliminate the need for roof-top anchors. The mounting apparatus has a cavity that can be loaded with a heavy substance, to prevent the mounting apparatus from moving. The mounting apparatus also includes a system to mate several mounts together, creating a larger, more inert mass. The mounting apparatus comes with a tethering system to reduce the number of roof-top anchors.
The detailed description is intended to illustrate the present invention, without, in any way, limiting its scope. The drawings are not scale models, and the drawings do not show all the potential embodiments of the present invention. The drawings represent the preferred embodiment, and important alternative embodiments of the present invention, known to the inventors.
A mounting apparatus 10 is illustrated in
Top surface 22 includes a depression 24. Depression 24 may be sized to accept, secure, or facilitate the mounting of any type of component desired. As seen in
Top surface 22 further includes a first set of cutouts 30 that are generally positioned at an edge of top surface 22 at side walls 14 and 16. Cutouts 30 may extend from depression 24 through top surface 22 and into side walls 14 and 16. Cutouts 30 may be generally rectangular in shape and are generally sized to accept any type of anchor system to adequately secure panel 26 to mounting apparatus 10. Looking at
As shown in
Typically, solar panels, whether photovoltaic or thermal in nature, are mounted in arrays. Manufacturing and transportation considerations restrict the effective size of a single panel. While an array of panels is convenient for manufacturing and installation, the panels must be positioned in such a manner that the flow of water and electricity is efficient. Typically, this means that the panels must interface with one or more conduit for routing electricity or water.
Looking at
Looking at
In
Side walls 14 and 16 include holes 40 and 42. Hole 40 is generally located near front wall 20 of mounting apparatus 10 and typically runs the width of mounting apparatus 10 from side wall 14 to side wall 16. Similarly, hole 42 is generally located near rear wall 18 and typically runs the width of mounting apparatus 10 from side wall 14 to side wall 16. A rope, cable or other tether may be passed through each of holes 40 and 42, to help secure the mounting apparatus 10, in situ. Each end of the tether may be anchored to the roof, ground or other surface in order to fix the mounting apparatus 10.
The tether system will allow several of the mounting apparatus 10 to be positioned side by side as illustrated by
Looking at
As described above, a two piece mounting apparatus 10 design may work well to provide for easy transportation and installation. However, the present invention is not limited to two-piece construction of the mounting apparatus 10. For example,
An alternative embodiment of the present invention provides a draw 64 for the mounting apparatus 10 as shown in
Drawer 64 may be used to add ballast to mounting apparatus 10. As stated above, material such as water, sand, gravel, rock, lead, ground tires, steel and the like may be added to drawer 64 to provide added weight or ballast so that mounting apparatus 10 may maintain its position once optimally located.
Drawer 64 may also be used to house a typical heat exchanger. Water or other types of fluids such as glycol and the like may be heated in the solar panel that is secured to mounting apparatus 10. The fluid passing through the panel and heated by the sun's solar heat may be directed into compartment 76 of drawer 64. Looking at
In another embodiment of the present invention illustrated by
In this particular embodiment, mounting apparatus 10 may be used to take advantage the night air, which may typically be at a lower temperature than the air during the day and sunlight. Water or other fluids that may be passed through pipe 92 of end cap 90 will encounter air that is at a lower temperature then the fluids passing though pipe 92. As with any type of heat exchange, the fluids passing through pipe 92 that are at a higher temperature than the air will begin to lower in temperature and approach the temperature of the air as the temperature of the air increases to that of the fluid temperature. A constant supply of cool air into cap 90 and around pipe 92 will continue to lower the temperature of the fluid passing though pipe 92. As stated previously, a number of mounting apparatus 10 may be assembled in an array such that the length of pipe 92 may be increased in length to maximize exposure to the air.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention shown in
In another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of holes 104 may be added to top surface 22 near ridge 108 as illustrated by
In another embodiment of the present invention, mounting apparatus 10 may be used to cool water. Mounting apparatus 10 may be configured to accept the water that has been heated. When thermodynamically efficient, water may be pumped to mounting apparatus 10 and though the solar panel 26, in order to cool the water.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the multiple drawers 64 and compartments 76 included in mounting apparatus 10 may be used to collect rainwater and run-off.
In another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in
The mounting apparatus 10 may be manufactured of any material including plastics, metal, wood and the like. The mounting apparatus 10 may also include a roof friendly pad (not shown) for fitting underneath mounting apparatus 10 during installation to help prevent wear and damage to the roof as mounting apparatus 10 is positioned and secured on the roof.
Although the mounting apparatus 10 is illustrated as having a general wedge shape, it is important to note, however, that mounting apparatus 10 may be manufactured in any particular geometric shape, such as rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular and the like, while still maintaining the inventive concepts outlined above.
Claims
1. A mounting apparatus comprising: a base member; a pair of side walls extending vertically from the base; a rear wall that extends upward from the base at an angle less than 90 degrees; a front wall that extends from the base member; and a top surface that extends from the front wall to the rear wall and is intersected by the two side walls.
2. The invention as described in 1, in which the shape of the mounting apparatus is wedge-shaped, with the front wall being the narrow part and the rear wall being the tall part.
3. The invention as described in 2, in which the angle of the wedge is selected to maximize the amount of sunlight incident on a panel installed to the mounting apparatus.
4. The invention as described in 1, in which the mounting apparatus has a cutout to facilitate the mounting of solar panels.
5. The invention as described in 4, in which the cutout is replaced with a blank panel, so that the surface of the mounting apparatus can be used for mounting.
6. The invention as described in 1, in which the top and/or side have cutouts for mounting hardware.
7. The invention as described in 1, in which there are a plurality of semi-circular other semi-round cutouts to route conduits for water or electricity.
8. The invention as described in 1, in which the mounting apparatus contains a ballast cavity.
9. The invention as described in 1, in which the mounting apparatus contains lips on their front and back walls, so that multiple mounting apparatus may be hooked together, front-to-back.
10. The invention as described in 1, in which the sides of the mounting apparatus have tabs and sleeves, so that multiple mounting apparatus may be hooked together, side-by-side.
11. The invention as described in 1, in which the mounting apparatus contains tether holes.
12. The invention as described in 1, in which the mounting apparatus contains drawers, capable of holding water, ballast, a heat exchanger, etc.
13. The invention as described in 1, in which the mounting apparatus has at lease one pipe containing holes, and plumbing connecting the pipe to a liquid source, so that the liquid can be pumped from the interior of the mounting apparatus onto its surface.
14. The invention as described in 1, in which the mounting apparatus is modular, with at least two sections.
15. The invention as described in 14, in which the modular mounting apparatus has at least three sections.
16. The invention as described in 14, in which the modular sections fit together through the use of male and female locking sleeves.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 11, 2012
Publication Date: Oct 11, 2012
Inventors: Reynold Hendrickson , Rajul Patel , Jon Karpovich
Application Number: 13/444,128
International Classification: E04D 13/18 (20060101); E04B 1/38 (20060101);