Spacing gauge with thermal indicia for solar panel mounting systems

{
  "publication_number": "US8991065B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Spacing gauge with thermal indicia for solar panel mounting systems",
  "abstract": "Disclosed are devices and a system for compensating for thermal expansion and contraction of rail mounted solar panel rooftop systems. In one aspect, a floating end clamp that secures a solar panel in slidable captive cooperation with a mounting rail. In another aspect, a rail splice bridges two mounting rails with a gap between the rails for thermal expansion and contraction. The rail splice includes indicia for setting the gap distance between rails based on ambient temperature at the time of installation. In another aspect, a spacing gauge includes indicia for setting the gap distance between rails based on ambient temperature at the time of installation.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An spacing gauge for setting a gap between two mounting rails for a solar system, comprising: a wedge shaped portion with a first edge and a second opposing edge; and indicia along the first edge, each indicium representing a gap setting distance between the two mounting rails for a given ambient temperature.",
    "2. The spacing gauge of claim 1 wherein; each mounting rail including a mounting rail length; and each indicium position is proportional to a coefficient of thermal expansion of a rail material and proportional to the mounting rail length.",
    "3. The spacing gauge of claim 1 wherein placement of the indicia along the first edge is determined by an equation Dg=A·ΔT·L and Ip=Dg/sin(θ), where: Dg is the gap setting distance, A is a coefficient of thermal expansion, ΔT is a difference between a maximum anticipated temperature and the given ambient temperature for the indicium, L is a length of each of the two mounting rails, Ip is a distance from a wedge vertex to a location of the indicium, and θ is an angle between the first and the second opposing edge of the wedge shaped portion.",
    "4. The spacing gauge of claim 1 wherein placement of the indicia along the first edge is determined by a first equation Dg=A·ΔT·L and a second equation Ip=Dg/tan(θ), where: Dg is the gap setting distance, A is a coefficient of thermal expansion, ΔT is a difference between a maximum anticipated temperature and the given ambient temperature for the indicium, and L is a length of each of the two mounting rails, Ip is a distance from a wedge vertex to a location of the indicium, and θ is an angle between the first and the second opposing edge of the wedge shaped portion."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to solar photovoltaic (PV) panels systems and solar hot water systems, herein collectively referred to as solar panel systems. Specifically, the disclosure relates to an apparatus and system that compensates for thermal expansion and contraction of components in a solar panel system.\n\nSolar panel systems, and in particular, rooftop mounted solar panel systems are generally susceptible to the weather. This includes seasonal and daily temperature changes. For example, in a dry or desert climate, temperatures may vary between day and night by as much as 60° F. (33.3° C.). In some regions of the United States, temperatures can vary seasonally by over 150° F. (83.3° C.). These temperature variations can cause significant expansion and contraction to solar PV panels or solar hot thermal panels, collectively referred to herein as solar panels, and to their mounting rails. This is particularly apparent when the solar panels are mounted in a continuous run of 100 ft. (30.48 m) to 300 ft. (91.44 m) or more. For example, a solar panel installation with a 100 ft. (30.48 m) run of aluminum mounting rail can expand or contract approximately 1.5 in (0.038 m) over a seasonal variation of 100° F. (54.5° C.) typical in many regions of the world. For a 300 ft. (91.44 m) run of solar panels that expansion and contraction would be approximately 4.5 in (0.114 m) over the same seasonal 100° F. (54.5° C.) temperature variation.",
  "cpc": [
    "F24S 25/636",
    "F16B 2/065",
    "F16B 5/0068",
    "F16B 5/0685",
    "F16B 7/182",
    "F16B 7/187",
    "F24S 2025/015",
    "F24S 2025/801",
    "F24S 2025/807",
    "F24S 25/16",
    "F24S 25/20",
    "F24S 25/33",
    "F24S 25/61",
    "F24S 25/63",
    "F24S 25/632",
    "F24S 25/65",
    "F24S 25/67",
    "F24S 25/70",
    "F24S 40/80",
    "G01B 5/14",
    "Y02B 10/20",
    "Y02E 10/47",
    "Y10T 403/1616"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G01B 5/14"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "SunModo Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Clifford Schrock"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-11-23",
  "publication_date": "2015-03-31",
  "grant_date": "2015-03-31",
  "priority_date": "2013-04-29",
  "application_number": "US-201414551058-A",
  "family_id": "51788461",
  "cited_by_count": 35,
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}