Patent ID: 8763321
Filing Date: 2014-07-01
Classification: F24S,H02S,Y02B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A system to suspend one or more photovoltaic modules relative to a surface, said surface comprising a left edge and a right edge, said system comprising: a first cable generally parallel to and spaced from a second cable, each of said cables comprising a left end and a right end; a first, second, third and fourth generally C-shaped cable arm, each of said cable arms having a base margin and a top margin; a first, second, third and fourth pivot joint assembly, each of said pivot joint assemblies comprising a plurality of mounting bolts, end keeper clips, a central mid keeper clip, a pair of opposed cross braces, a uni-strut base, and nuts; a cable arm assembly, said cable arm assembly comprising the cable arm, the pivot joint assembly, a cable arm pad, a pull eye bolt and a pull eye nut; the left end of the first cable attached to the top margin of the first cable arm; the right end of the first cable attached to the top margin of the second cable arm; the left end of the second cable attached to the top margin of the third cable arm; the right end of the second cable attached to the top margin of the fourth cable arm; the base margin of the first cable arm spaced from the surface and secured proximate to the left edge of the surface by the first pivot joint assembly; the base margin of the second cable arm spaced from the surface and secured proximate to the right edge of the surface by the second pivot joint assembly; the base margin of the third cable arm spaced from the surface and secured proximate to the left edge of the surface by the third pivot joint assembly; the base margin of the fourth cable arm spaced from the surface and secured proximate to the right edge of the surface by the fourth pivot joint assembly; a lift tensioner assembly in cooperative association with each cable, said lift tensioner assembly comprising a lift box, a pull eye bolt, a pull eye nut, a lift box bolt and a spring nut; a vertical rail generally perpendicular to and spanning the first and second cables; at least two spaced horizontal rails retained on the vertical rail and positioned generally parallel to and intermediate to the cables; said first cable retained under a first desired tension force applied to the first and second cable arms transferring a lesser portion of the first desired tension force to the top margin of the first and second cable arms at a non-penetrating point of contact between the top margins of the first and second cable arms and the surface, and a greater portion of the first desired tension force to the first and second pivot joint assemblies; said second cable retained under a second desired tension force applied to the third and fourth cable arms transferring a lesser portion of the second desired tension force to the top margin of the third and fourth cable arms at a non-penetrating point of contact between the top margins of the third and fourth cable arms and the surface, and a greater portion of the second desired tension force to the third and fourth pivot joint assemblies; and, at least one module retained against the horizontal rails by a plurality of photovoltaic clamps.