GB2623328A

GB2623328A - Bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2623328A
Application number: GB2214996.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Reynolds Carl
Original assignee: SOLAR LIMPETS Ltd
Current assignee: SOLAR LIMPETS Ltd
Priority date: 2022-10-11
Filing date: 2022-10-11
Publication date: 2024-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2042-10-11
Also published as: GB2623328B; GB202214996D0

Abstract

A bracket arrangement of two or more brackets, the brackets comprising a plate providing a base 10 and a receptacle structure 16 protruding from the plate to provide a socket having a distal socket edge 16A. At least one bracket may be provided with an attachment component to provide a mounting location underneath the socket edge. The attachment component may comprise a wedge-shaped body and a washer with wedge-shaped profile to allow a component to be attached at an oblique angle relative to the socket. This can allow a panel such as a solar panel or photovoltaic (PV) panel to be installed closer to a surface and at an oblique angle.

Description

Bracket

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bracket, in particular a roof bracket used as part of an arrangement of brackets for mounting an article such as a solar panel to an existing roof. More particularly, the invention relates to a bracket arrangement facilitating an installation of components at a non-parallel pitch angle relatively to a plane or mounting surface underneath Backeifound Roof-mounted solar panels may be supported on support rails that are affixed to a roof structure underneath by a bracket or a so-called roof hook.

The installation of photovoltaic (PV), or "solar", panels and support structures onto a roof underneath is typically carried out manually and requires a high level of skill, because it involves the handling at height of relatively heavy and/or elongate components and relatively large panels. Many solar panels will have a preferable installation angle at which they harvest solar energy more efficiently than at other angles. Particularly for horizontally extending flat roofs, it is therefore practice to install solar panels at a pitch angle of around 10 to 12 degrees, relatively to a horizontal plane of a roof structure underneath. Due to the size of solar panels in the region of about a square meter or larger, such angled mounting arrangements require different mounting structures, typically a combination of brackets and spacers to extend to different heights to support solar panels. The different mounting structures require different configurations for a lower end and an upper end of a panel. The time required for adjustment of such mounting structures, and for securing and weatherproofing an installation once adjusted, adds to the complexity and cost of solar panel installations.

United Kingdom patent No GB2488188B by the present applicant is directed to a multi-component modular mounting bracket comprised of an adjustable bracket insert and a base carrying an integral receptacle for the bracket insert. The base may be installed at a suitable roof location for the bracket, while the adjustable bracket insert is adaptable to receive a support grid component or solar panel component at the suitable roof location and at a required angle. A typical installation might require around ten roof brackets to support a grid, although installations may have any number of brackets. The mounting bracket disclosed in GB2488188B has reduced a typical installation time for retro-fit roof-mounted solar panels from several days to about half a day.

The present invention seeks to further improve the installation process particularly for flat-roof installations and horizontal-roof installations.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a bracket arrangement as defined in claim 1, for mounting an article to be provided to a surface. The bracket arrangement comprises at least one bracket, the bracket comprising a plate providing a base comprising a first plate face and a second plate face opposite the first plate face, wherein the first plate face comprises a planar abutment structure for abutting the surface, and wherein the second plate face comprises a receptacle structure protruding from the plate to provide a socket with a distal socket edge spaced by a distance from the second plate face, wherein the bracket comprises a first attachment component configured, when it is attached to the receptacle structure, to provide a mounting location underneath the distal socket edge for said article to be provided.

With reference to the orientation in which the bracket is intended to be installed on a roof, the first plate face is understood to be the underside of the bracket and the second plate face is understood to be the upper, upward-facing side of the bracket.

The receptacle structure is a structure for attachment of a support component, such as for receiving a bracket insert or an attachment component. The receptacle may allow vertical adjustment of the position of the bracket insert relative to the second plate face.

The receptacle protrudes at a generally right angle from the second side of the base plate, i.e. upward when installed, although other angles may be suitable. The receptacle structure may comprise support ribs designed to support a load of articles such as solar panels mounted via the support component.

The receptacle structure comprises a receptacle wall surrounding a slot of generally elongate cross-section suitable to receive and hold a planar bracket portion perpendicular from the plate. The planar bracket portion may be part of a solid bracket insert. The bracket insert may be adjustable. For instance, the planar bracket portion may be a section of a pivoting bracket insert as described in the applicant's patent publication GB2488188B, which is incorporated by reference.

As disclosed in GB2488188B, within the receptacle wall there may be one or more mounting slots for a bolt or other suitable means for securing a bracket insert, received in the mounting slot, onto the bracket base. Furthermore, the receptacle wall may be provided with one or more grooves to assist alignment and temporary location of a bracket insert relative to the receptacle structure until it is more permanently fixed, e.g. tightened with a nut and bolt.

Preferably the entire base plate body is one integral component, for instance a unitary, moulded component.

The distal socket edge is understood to be the opening of the socket of the receptacle structure, for receiving the first attachment component. It will be appreciated that conventional inserts for roof bracket plates protrude beyond the distal socket edge to provide a mounting location On use) above the socket. By providing a configuration with a mounting location (in use) underneath the socket edge, between the socket edge and the second plate face, the mounting location can be secured to the receptacle structure yet be located closer to the base of the plate than would otherwise be possible if it extended upward from the receptacle structure.

In some embodiments, the arrangement further comprises a second attachment component configured such that, when it is attached to the receptacle structure, provides a mounting location on or above the distal socket edge for said article to be provided.

The arrangement may be provided as a kit of parts comprising first and second inserts.

The arrangement may comprise a second bracket with a plate comprising a receptacle structure. The plates with receptacle structure may be the same type of plate as the plate of the first bracket. One of the plates may be provided with a first attachment component and another one of the plates may be provided with a second attachment component. In this manner, the same type of base plate may be used with different attachment components.

In some embodiments, the arrangement comprises at least two brackets, at least one first attachment component and at least one second attachment component.

In some embodiments, the first attachment component is configured for attachment to an outside structure of the receptacle structure.

For instance, rather than being anchored within the receptacle structure, the attachment component may be affixed to an outer surface of the receptacle structure.

In some embodiments, at least one bracket comprises a receptacle structure with an externally-facing locating profile, the externally-facing locating profile constituting the outside structure.

In some embodiments, the first attachment structure comprises receptacle-facing surface and a rail-abutting surface extending at an oblique angle relative to the receptacle-facing surface.

In some embodiments, the arrangement further comprises a washer plate with tapering cross-section for affixing the first attachment structure to the receptacle structure.

In some embodiments, the second attachment structure comprises a receptacle-facing foot plate and a rail-abutting surface extending at an oblique angle relative to the receptacle-facing foot plate.

In some embodiments, the oblique angle of the rail-abutting surface matches an oblique angle of the first attachment structure.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a bracket attachment kit as defined in claim 10, for use as an attachment component with a bracket arrangement according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect. The kit comprises a bracket attachment component comprising a wedge-shaped body portion comprising a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface at an oblique angle relative to the first abutment surface, the bracket attachment component comprising a mounting aperture for a fixture to be provided, the kit further comprising a washer component comprising a wedge-shaped profile, the washer plate comprising a first washer surface and a second washer surface at an oblique angle relative to the first washer surface, wherein the oblique angles of the washer component and of the bracket attachment component are substantially the same.

The kit allows both the bracket attachment and the washer component to be installed in a manner in which the obliquely angled surfaces are plane-parallel to one another.

In some embodiments, the bracket attachment component and the washer component are separably attached to one another so as to be suppliable as a single component.

For instance, the bracket attachment component may be integrally moulded with the washer component, the washer component connected by a web or sprue. In this manner, the washer component may be manually removed from the attachment component prior to use, for instance by twisting or bending the washer component relative to the attachment component.

Different aspects and embodiments thereof may be embodied in a kit of parts comprising a bracket arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments and an arrangement of rails for attachment to the bracket arrangement.

The bracket arrangement and/or bracket insert of the preceding aspects and their embodiments may be comprised in a roof-mounted installation.

The invention is particularly suited for retro-fit installation of PV panel support rails to an existing surface such as a flat roof, allowing existing mounting brackets of a known plate-base design to be used of flat roofs. This is desirable because plate-based roof brackets, or so-called "roof hooks" are established components certified for various installation scenarios.

Different aspects and embodiments thereof may be embodied in a photovoltaic system installation mounted on a bracket arrangement according to any one of the preceding aspects and embodiments.

The bracket arrangement may be comprised in a photovoltaic system installation, particularly in a photovoltaic system installation comprising a surface-mounted support grid.

Description of the Figures

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric top/side view of a roof bracket base body; Figure 2 is an exploded isometric view of components used in a roof bracket assembly; Figure 3 is a photograph of a flat roof installation of solar panels at a pitched angle; Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a bracket configuration; Figure 5 illustrates components used in exemplary embodiments of the invention; Figure 6 is a schematic side view of another bracket configuration; Figure 7 is a top view of the Figure 6 arrangement; and Figure 8 is a schematic side view of an arrangement using two bracket configurations.

Description

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a base body 10 of a roof bracket. The base body may be the base of a so-called "roof hook". The base body 10 comprises a generally rectangular plate body with an underside 12 constituting a first plate face and an upper surface 14 constituting a second plate face. On the upper surface 14 there is provided a receptacle structure 16 constituting a socket for receiving a bracket insert to be provided. The receptacle structure 16 is disclosed in the applicant's patent publication GB2488188B, and incorporated by reference, although other suitable receptacle structures may be used. The receptacle structure 16 protrudes to provide a socket extending at a generally right angle from the base body 10 and comprises a receptacle wall delineating a receiving channel for receiving a bracket insert (bracket insert not shown in Figure 1, see Figures 4 to 8). A socket height of the receptacle structure is defined by the distal (in use: upper) edge of the socket edge 16A. The socket has a height of about 10 centimetres permitting anchoring and vertical adjustment of a bracket insert, while still being able to securely retain a bracket insert that is not fully inserted into the socket. As illustrated in Figure 1, the receptacle structure 16 is provided on one half of the upper surface 14 (i.e., in the lower half with reference to the orientation when installed) leaving the remaining part, about half, of the upper surface 14 as a free area 14A, so as to allow the base body 10 to be overlapped by a higher row of roof tiles if it is installed in place of a roof tile. However, the base body 10 may also be used for roof installations without tiles, such as flat roofs.

Such flat roofs may extend horizontally or at a non-horizontal angle.

The base body 10 comprises a plurality of (here: two) screw holes 20 that extend through the thickness of the base body 10 Figure 2 shows an exploded isometric view of components used to install a base body of Figure 1 onto a roof structure. Throughout the figures, the same reference numerals may be used for same components without repeating the description thereof. The roof structure comprises a surface layer mounted on a series of battens 3a,3b supported on a plurality of rafters 5. For simplification, Figure 2 shows a surface layer 1, a portion of a single rafter 5 and portions of two battens 3a,3b. To install the base body 10, holes are drilled in a location corresponding to the battens 3a,3b where these cross the rafter 5, and the holes are provided with collets 42a,42b and sealant, which may be an appropriate sealant such as adhesive, silicone, resins, or the like. A commonly used sealant is a hybrid polymer adhesive sold under the trade name CT1 (RTM) (available from C-Tec NI Limited, Newry, Co.Down, N. Ireland, BT34 1BY), however other sealants may be used. As additional seal, each screw hole 20 may be provided with an annular seal 40a,40b surrounding the underside of the screw hole 20. The annular seal 40a,40b may be a rubber or foam component comprising an adhesive surface attachable to the underside 12 of the base body. The base body 10 is fixed to the structures underneath with two bolts 6a, 6b and washers 8a,8b. Suitable seal arrangements are disclosed in the applicant's patent publication GB2601807A, however it will be appreciated that other seal arrangements may be used, according to requirements.

The present invention relates to scenarios in which a roof hook or roof bracket is used to support an item such as a photovoltaic panel on a flat roof. It will be understood that the description provided above of rafters and battens is exemplary and that other roof-support structures may be used to support a surface layer 1 particularly for flat roof structures, and in that case the base body may be anchored to the roof in a different manner.

Figure 3 shows a photograph of PV installation 100 installed on a flat roof surface layer 1, the installation comprising two panels 102a, 102b. Each panel 102a, 102b is mounted on a plurality of roof hooks (described below) carrying two rows of support rails 30a, 30b to which the panels are mounted. Because the installation 100 is installed on a flat roof, if it is desired for the panels 102a, 102b to be installed at an angle, they rails 30a, 30b are spaced at different heights from the flat roof such that each panel 102a, 102b has a lower edge 104 and an upper edge 106. For instance, in many regions of the territories of the United Kingdom a typical angle for solar panels may be in the region of 10 to 12 degrees, although it will be appreciated that the angles may be chosen differently depending on geographical location, underground structure, and other factors.

The process of carrying out a vertical and angular adjustment, and adjusting relative spacing between support brackets and other structures can be time consuming and cumbersome. In addition, the location of roof anchors or roof brackets may be dictated by the roof structure, such as the spacing of battens etc. Furthermore, many types of solar panels available for this type of installation may have predetermined mounting points at which they can be mounted to a support rail. In some scenarios, it may be a requirement to use the mounting location in order to comply with certification or warranty requirements.

Figure 4 shows a side view of a base body 10 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprising a receptacle structure 16. The receptacle structure 16 is provided with a bracket insert 32 of a general straight, slab form, the bracket insert 32 constituting a second attachment component, comprising a bracket foot 34, here constituting a receptacle-facing foot plate for anchoring it in the receptacle structure 16, and a distal end 38 protruding vertically beyond the distal socket edge 16A from the receptacle structure 16. The distal end 38 is provided with a tapered surface 36 constituting a mounting location, providing a rail-abutting surface, that can be positioned such that it is located on or above the receptacle structure when the bracket foot 34 is anchored in the receptacle structure 16. The surface taper may be at a non-orthogonal angle relative to the extension of the bracket foot 34, e.g. between 5 and 35 degrees. In the present Figure, the angle is 10 degrees from the vertical extension. A support rail 30 may be fixed to the tapered surface 36 using a bolt 31 and nut, or other suitable fixing means. As shown herein, the support rail 30 is a side-facing rail, however other rail types may be used depending on installation type. As will be appreciated, and as illustrated in Figure 4, by fixing a support rail 30 at a non-orthogonal angle of (here:) 10 degrees relative to the vertical extension, a panel 102 (indicated in Figure 4 by a dashed line) mounted to the side-facing support rail 30 is thereby inclined at a corresponding angle of (here:) 10 degrees.

The bracket foot 34 may be vertically adjustable as indicated by an arrow AH within the receptacle structure 16 to be fixed in a desired position using a screw, bolt or other suitable fixture (not shown in Figure 4). By using brackets with different height adjustments, the same kit of components may be used to support a panel 102 at an angle, one bracket arranged such that its bracket foot 34 extends further (higher) in the region of an upper edge 106, and another bracket such that its bracket foot 34 extends less (less high) in the region of the lower edge 104. The Figure 4 arrangement is hitherto unknown and will appear counterintuitive to a person skilled in the art, at least because the plane of the panel 102 is inclined downwards, from the receptacle structure 16 towards the free area 14A of the upper surface 14.

An appreciation underlying the present invention was that the use of the bracket components in this form is advantageous, because it allows for the use of a standardised base body component. In this regard, it must be appreciated that components used for roof installations and retrofit installations may be subject to rigorous certification procedures, safety standards and regulatory requirements with regard to water ingress rating, wind load rating, fire rating, corrosion resistance, and other requirements. As such, a system is desirable that allows existing components or as many existing components as possible to be used for different roof types. Furthermore, this also allows components to be manufactured and stored in larger quantities, which provides a significant environmental benefit compared to small batch production.

While the arrangement of Figure 4 is useful in many circumstances, it results in a minimum distance of the lower edge 104 from a roof surface layer 1 due to the height of the distal socket edge 16A of the receptacle structure 16, and requires a minimum mounting surface on the distal end 38 to protrude from the receptacle structure 16.

Figure 5 shows an adapter component 50 for use with a base body 10, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The adapter component 50 comprises a plate body with a first face 51 and a second face 52 opposite the first face 51. The first face 51 is generally flat or contoured such that it may be mounted to the outer surface of the receptacle structure 16 (see Figures 6 and 7 below), and constitutes a receptacle-facing surface. The second face 52 is provided with a wedge profile 54 comprising an abutment surface at a non-parallel angle, here constituting an oblique angle, relative to the first face 51. For instance, the wedge profile 54 may be angled 10 or 12 degrees relative to the first face 51. As will be appreciated, the angle of the wedge profile 54 may be selected such that, in use, when installed in an arrangement also comprising another plate with a bracket insert 32 (see Figure 8), the plane of the wedge profile 54 extends essentially parallel to the tapered surface 36 of the bracket insert 32. The wedge profile provides a rail-abutting surface. A support rail 30, here a side-facing rail comprising a panel-mounting profile 30P at one face and a fixing profile 30F oriented perpendicularly to it, may be fixed to the surface of the wedge profile 54, whereby the panel-mounting profile 30P is, when affixed in this manner, inclined at an angle of 10 degrees relative to a parallel surface underneath. The adapter component 50 comprises a recess or hole 53 extending through the full thickness of the adapter component 50 in a region of the wedge profile 54. The hole 53 provides a passage for a fixture such as a bolt 72 for affixing the fixing profile 30F to the wedge profile 54 with a corresponding nut 70. The bolt 72 may be a T-bolt of a type comprising an elongate head of generally rectangular shape, the head allowing insertion into a re-entrant groove in one orientation and retaining the head in the re-entrant groove when rotated in another orientation, however other fixing means may be suitable.

The arrangement of Figure 5 includes an angled lock washer 60 constituting a washer plate or washer component, comprising a first washer face 62 and a second washer face 64 opposite the first washer face 62, and a through hole 68. The second washer face 64 comprises a series of grooves in the form of a tooth profile suitable for engaging a corresponding tooth profile (see tooth profile 17 in Figure 7) in the receptacle structure 16. The grooves may improve the engagement of the washer 60 against the receptacle structure 16 during installation before the assembly is fully tightened. The grooves also help to inhibit rotation of the washer plate and as such provide a rotation-inhibiting alignment feature. Other rotation-inhibiting alignment features may be provided. The first washer face 62 is tapered at a non-parallel angle relative to the second washer face 64, and is thereby provided with a tapering cross-section, to match the angle of the wedge profile 54 (here: 10 degrees). In this manner, when the angled lock washer 60 is rotated in an appropriate orientation, the first washer face 62 can remain aligned plane-parallel to the wedge profile 54. In this manner, the bolt 72 and the nut 70 may engage the assembly at a right angle relative to the plane of the first washer face 62 and to the wedge profile 54. The angularly matched lock washer 60 in combination with the angled wedge profile 54 help to ensure that the bolt 72 and any abutment surfaces of the bolt head and the re-entrant fixing profile 30F engage in the manner of a plane-parallel, or practically plane-parallel, face-to-face engagement.

Figure 6 shows an assembly of a base body 10 and the adapter component 50 affixed to an external side of the receptacle structure 16. The support rail 30 is secured to the adapter component 50 via the wedge profile 54 thereof and held in place with a bolt 72.

In this manner, the panel-mounting profile 30P of the support rail 30 is inclined at the angle determined by the wedge profile 54, here: 10 degrees, relative to the extension of the upper surface 14 of the base body 10. As will be appreciated, a panel 102 mounted to the support rail 30 will therefore also be inclined at an angle of 10 degrees.

Contrasting the arrangement of Figure 6 with that of Figure 4, the adapter component allows the support rail 30, the support rail 30 constituting an article to be provided, to be mounted underneath the distal socket edge 16A of the receptacle structure 16. More specifically, the mounting location for the bolt 72 holding the support rail 30 is underneath the (when installed) distal socket edge 16A of the receptacle structure 16.

In addition, the adapter component 50 allows the support rail 30 to sit forward (i.6., here: to the right) of the receptacle structure 16.

Figure 7 shows a top view corresponding to the Figure 6 image, to better show the internal features of the receptacle structure 16, including a tooth profile 17 for engagement with the grooves of the second washer face 64 (see Figure 5). As will be appreciated, the provision of parallel linear grooves or tooth profiles provides a rotation inhibiting feature to help ensure the first washer face 62 is angled plane-parallel to the wedge profile 54. The receptacle structure comprises on its externally facing wall an arrangement of (here: two) ribs 19 providing an engagement feature, constituting an externally-facing locating profile for a corresponding groove in the first face 51 of the adapter component 50.

Figure 8 illustrates a schematic side view a bracket arrangement comprising a first bracket 10A and a second bracket 10B. The first bracket 10A comprises a base body with a receptacle structure 16 and an adapter component 50 affixed to the receptacle structure 16 to support a first support rail 30A. The second bracket 10B comprises a base body with a receptacle structure 16 and a bracket insert 32 anchored in the receptacle structure 16 to support a second support rail 30B. The second bracket 10B provides a mounting location near or at an upper edge 106 of a panel 102 and the first bracket 10A provides a mounting location near or at a lower edge 104. It will be appreciated that the base bodies may be of identical design to support the same type of support rail 30A, 30B. However, by way of using the adapter component 50 in at least one of the brackets, the panel 102 can be installed lower, i.e. closer to a surface underneath, than would otherwise be the case if two vertically adjustable bracket inserts 32 were to be used at different heights. Specifically, the mounting location of the adapter component 50 for the support rail 30A is underneath the distal socket edge 16A.

The examples herein refer to a 10 degree angle relative to the vertical/horizontal planes, to provide a panel pitch of about 10 degrees. It will be appreciated that the invention is not necessarily limited to a particular angle, and that it may be used for various degrees of panel pitch, e.g. an angle of at least 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 to 15 degrees and/or an angle of no more than 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 25, 27, 30, or 35 degrees.

It will be appreciated that the description hereinbefore is exemplary in accordance with embodiments the invention and that a wide range of modifications and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A bracket arrangement for mounting an article to be provided to a surface, the bracket arrangement comprising at least one bracket, the bracket comprising a plate providing a base comprising a first plate face and a second plate face opposite the first plate face, wherein the first plate face comprises a planar abutment structure for abutting the surface, and wherein the second plate face comprises a receptacle structure protruding from the plate to provide a socket with a distal socket edge spaced by a distance from the second plate face, wherein the bracket comprises a first attachment component configured, when it is attached to the receptacle structure, to provide a mounting location underneath the distal socket edge for said article to be provided.
2. The bracket arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a second attachment component configured such that, when it is attached to the receptacle structure, provides a mounting location on or above the distal socket edge for said article to be provided.
3. The bracket arrangement according to claim 2, comprising at least two brackets, at least one first attachment component and at least one second attachment component.
4. The bracket arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first attachment component is configured for attachment to an outside structure of the receptacle structure.
5. The bracket arrangement according to claim 4, wherein at least one bracket comprises a receptacle structure with an externally-facing locating profile, the externally-facing locating profile constituting the outside structure.
6. The bracket arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first attachment structure comprises receptacle-facing surface and a rail-abutting surface extending at an oblique angle relative to the receptacle-facing surface.
7. The bracket arrangement according to claim 6, further comprising a washer plate with tapering cross-section for affixing the first attachment structure to the receptacle structure.
8. The bracket arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims when depending from claim 2, wherein the second attachment structure comprises a receptacle-facing foot plate and a rail-abutting surface extending at an oblique angle relative to the receptacle-facing foot plate.
9. The bracket arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the oblique angle of the rail-abutting surface matches an oblique angle of the first attachment structure.
10. A bracket attachment kit for use as an attachment component with a bracket arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, the kit comprising a bracket attachment component comprising a wedge-shaped body portion comprising a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface at an oblique angle relative to the first abutment surface, the bracket attachment component comprising a mounting aperture for a fixture to be provided, the kit further comprising a washer component comprising a wedge-shaped profile, the washer plate comprising a first washer surface and a second washer surface at an oblique angle relative to the first washer surface, wherein the oblique angles of the washer component and of the bracket attachment component are substantially the same.
11. The bracket attachment kit according to claim 10, wherein the bracket attachment component and the washer component are separably attached to one another so as to be suppliable as a single component.
12. A kit of parts comprising a bracket arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims and an arrangement of rails for attachment to the bracket arrangement.
13. A roof-mounted installation comprising a bracket arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims.
14. A photovoltaic system installation mounted on a bracket arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims.