US 12,278,592 B2
Low-profile backrail module clamp
Lucas Creasy, Scottsdale, AZ (US); Nathan Schuknecht, Golden, CO (US); and Benjamin C. De Fresart, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Assigned to ARRAY TECH, INC., Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed by ARRAY TECH, INC., Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed on Mar. 8, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/599,714.
Application 18/599,714 is a division of application No. 17/805,010, filed on Jun. 1, 2022, granted, now 11,962,269.
Application 17/805,010 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/652,440, filed on Feb. 24, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/228,261, filed on Aug. 2, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/153,326, filed on Feb. 24, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0213915 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
Int. Cl. H02S 30/00 (2014.01); B21D 28/26 (2006.01); B25B 5/16 (2006.01); H02S 20/32 (2014.01)
CPC H02S 30/00 (2013.01) [B21D 28/26 (2013.01); B25B 5/16 (2013.01); H02S 20/32 (2014.12)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of forming a module clamp of a photovoltaic module support structure, the method comprising:
cutting a folding pattern into a sheet of metal, the folding pattern including one or more width-wise slits relative to the sheet of metal, one or more length-wise slits relative to the sheet of metal, and a hole;
stamping a first jog feature and a second jog feature onto the sheet of metal with the folding pattern to form a stamped sheet; and
folding the sheet along a line extending parallel to the one or more length-wise slits and at ends of the one or more width-wise slits to form a U-shaped module clamp having a first wall, a second wall, a base surface a first tab, and a second tab, wherein:
the hole is defined by the base surface,
the first jog feature is in the first wall,
the second jog feature is in the second wall,
the first tab extends below the first wall and is shaped to interface, at least in part, with a torque tube, and
the second tab extends below the second wall and is shaped to interface, at least in part, with the torque tube.