PHOTOVOLTAIC SUPPORT FRAME RAIL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS

A lockable clamping system for use in securing photovoltaic (PV) panels to a frame rail component, wherein the frame rail component includes structure for engaging with a portion of the lockable clamping system. The lockable clamping system may have a clamp member having a body portion, with the body portion having a bore. A fastener may be operatively coupled to the clamp member and may extend through the bore in the clamp member generally perpendicular to the clamp member. The fastener may have a head portion having a key shaped recess, the key shaped recess configured to allow rotation of the fastener only via predetermined security key shaped to engage with the key shaped recess. The clamp member and the fastener may cooperatively operate to clamp adjacently positioned edges of a pair of PV panels to the frame rail component by engagement of a portion of the fastener with a portion of the frame rail component, while rotation of the clamp member is inhibited except through the use of the predetermined security key.