Patent ID: 11949032
Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
Field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  Y | IPC H

Claim 2:
3. A photovoltaic (PV) assembly comprising:
a first and second PV module on a mounting structure, each comprising:
a laminate comprising a plurality of solar cells,
a frame at least partially surrounding the laminate, the frame comprising an outer surface feature;

at least one spacing device positioned above the mounting structure between the first and second PV modules, the at least one spacing device comprising:
a spacer body having a bowed structure defining a width between a first end of the bowed structure and a second end of the bowed structure opposite the first end, wherein the bowed structure of the spacer body of the spacing device forms a cavity between the first end and the second end, and wherein the spacing device comprises only a single crosspiece, wherein the crosspiece is a centrally curved outermost crosspiece with a curvature that is outward relative to the cavity, wherein the spacing device is symmetrical about an axis extending through a center of the bowed structure, through a center of the cavity, through a center of the single crosspiece and through a mid-point between the first end and the second end;
a non-pivoting upper engagement feature and a non-pivoting lower engagement feature each on a corresponding outwardly curved portion of the bowed structure for non-pivotably engaging the outer surface feature of the frame of the first PV module, wherein a width of the spacing device from an end of the non-pivoting lower engagement feature to an end of the non-pivoting upper engagement feature is greater than the width between the first end of the bowed structure and the second end of the bowed structure along a direction from the end of the non-pivoting lower engagement feature to the end of the non-pivoting upper engagement feature; and
an abutting portion on the bowed structure for contacting an outer edge of the frame of the second PV module;

wherein the width defined by the bowed structure of the at least one spacing device sets a lateral gap between the first and second PV modules.