TWI784960B - System for covering flat surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

System for covering a flat surface able to be installed on a support structure formed from support poles (2) kept in position by a network of tie rods (3), both the support poles (2) and the tie rods (3) being fixed onto the flat surface through suitable pins. Said system comprises elongated support elements (6，6’) positioned between such support poles (2) that support protection nets or protection sheets (7) that in open position cover the area beneath the support structure and that in closed position are positioned compacted and amassed between adjacent support poles of the same row, the movement for passing from the open position to the closed position and vice-versa taking place by sliding of the protection (7) sheet along the elongated support elements (6，6’) through moving means.

Description

System for covering flat surfaces

The invention concerns a support structure on which is mounted a system adapted for adjustable covering of flat surfaces.

Such a covering may be a covering suitable for creating a protective shelter from the sun's rays, or a covering suitable for establishing different temperature conditions, such as a greenhouse or the like, ie a covering suitable for protection against atmospheric events such as hailstones. According to a preferred embodiment, the surface to be protected or covered is indeed agricultural land (another option for such applications includes areas intended for parking). In particular, such structures are achieved through an arrangement of poles distributed along the agricultural land itself.

Structures consisting of pole arrangements that can be placed on agricultural land to support electrical energy generating units such as photovoltaic panels or wind power units arranged on top of such structures are known.

Patent No. WO2010103378 describes a support structure formed by support rods. The support rods are kept in position by a tie rod net, and both the support rods and the tie rods are fixed to the ground through pins. The positionable solar panels are of the so-called "sun tracker" type, which can rotate around two axes. This type of tracker includes a load level supervisor that can be Its axis rotates, while a plurality of secondary pipes are connected to the main pipe, fixed perpendicular to the main pipe and rotatable around the axis of the secondary pipe. Solar panels are fixed to such secondary tubes. The ends of the main tube of the tracker are supported and fixed on the support poles.

Patent No. WO2013076573 describes this type of support pole structure, which also supports wind power modules. This type of structure is made in a two-dimensional "checkerboard" configuration and can also be installed on farmland due to the height of the stand and the distance between the support posts allowing the passage of even large farm machinery.

Patent application No. US2011277809 describes a flexible sheet on which a photovoltaic module is arranged. Such sheets are placed on poles to allow proper positioning, such as a predetermined inclination, so that the photovoltaic modules are exposed to direct sunlight.

The applicant has found that the solar exposure of the spaces between the supporting poles can advantageously be adjusted by means of movable lamellae or canopies which are tied to such poles and/or canopies by means of mechanisms and guides or tie rods, these mechanisms and guides also allow the sheet or canopy to move. In addition, in order to adjust the luminosity on the agricultural land, photovoltaic modules can be positioned on such thin plates to generate electricity.

The object of the present invention is to provide an extendable structure for shading agricultural land or similar substantially flat surfaces, which is provided with a plurality of photovoltaic modules, and has the characteristics of claim 1 of the accompanying application.

2: Support pole

3: Tie rod

4: Load level supervisor

5: Secondary tube

6: Slender support element

6': Slender support element

7: Protective sheet

8: restraint means

9: ring

9': Bushing

9”: support piece

10: endless belt

11: Driving pulley

12: driven pulley

13: Electric motor

14: Shaft

61: Vertex

71: Photovoltaic module

711: Parallel strips

81: ring sector

82: ring sector

83: Groove

84: through hole

85: Bracket

91: eye hole

91": fixed eyelet

P: solar panels

With reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, the following features of the present invention and The examples and non-limiting descriptions of the advantages will be more clear with the specific embodiments of the invention, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a protective sheet, on which a plurality of photovoltaic modules are arranged on the upper surface of the protective sheet Figure 2 is a side view of a support structure with a shading system according to the invention installed; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a support structure with a covering/shading system according to the invention ; Figure 4 is a part of the supporting structure shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5a shows in particular, the means of fixing the system to the tie rods on the top of the supporting structure; Figure 5b is a special drawing Shows the fixing means of the system for one of the end support poles of the support structure, and the moving means of the protective sheet combined with this support pole; Fig. 5c shows in particular, the system The fixing means of the supporting rod, and the moving means of the opposite protective sheet combined with this supporting rod; Figure 6 is a diagram showing the sliding restraint means of the protective sheet relative to the elongated support element; Figure 7 is a special drawing It shows the means of fixing and moving the protection sheet of the system to one of the supporting poles of the support structure; Figure 8 is a diagram, as shown in Figure 5, the sliding restraint means of the protection sheet; Figure 9 is a diagram Shown, the protective sheet combined with the support pole manual means of movement.

Please refer to the cited drawings, the covering system according to the present invention is installed on a support structure formed by a plurality of support poles 2, and maintains the support poles in position by a network of tie rods 3, the support structure consists of a group of standing on a flat surface The support posts 2 on the surface constitute, both the support posts and the tie rods are fixed to a flat surface, ie the ground, by means of suitable pins. Such support structures are laid out in two dimensions, for example following a "checkerboard" scheme, and are also possible due to their height and the distance between the support posts to allow, for example, the passage of even large agricultural machinery or vehicles. Installed on farmland or parking lot.

On such support structures, electrical energy generating units can be mounted or positioned, such as photovoltaic panels or wind power units arranged on top of such support structures. Such units may be arranged directly on top of the support poles, or may be positioned horizontally between one support pole and another support pole.

In the example shown in the drawings, solar trackers are arranged on the support structure, the trackers comprise a load level main tube 4, which is rotatable around its axis, and to which secondary tubes 5 are connected, Fixed perpendicular to the main pipe and rotatable about its axis. Solar panels P are fixed on such secondary pipes.

The covering system comprises a plurality of elongated support elements positioned between the support posts, which support a plurality of protective nets or protective sheets which, in the deployed position, cover the area beneath the support structure , and are positioned to be compactly collapsed between adjacent support poles 2 of the same row in the collapsed position. Transform from this expanded position to this The stowed position and reverse movement are produced by the sliding of the protective sheet along the elongated support elements.

In the example shown in the drawings, there are plural pairs of elongated support elements 6 and 6', the elongated support elements 6 and 6' have lower ends and upper ends, the elongated support elements 6 and 6' have lower ends and upper ends Positioned on such a support pole 2, and the upper end of the elongated support element is connected with the upper end of another elongated support element at a raised position to form a plurality of pairs of slopes, such a protective net or protective sheet 7 can be located on these slopes.

In general, the protection nets that can be combined with the system of the present invention can be of different types depending on the needs of the crop below the device.

In addition, in the example shown in the drawings, two layers of protective sheets can be seen positioned between the paired slopes to form a "ridge tent" structure. In an equivalent manner, the protective sheets can be arranged in a single layer.

Typically, the system is designed as a shade net for farming. Basically, these shading nets are nets made of stabilized UV-resistant polyethylene with different shading levels (50%, 70%, 90% according to requirements). However, it is also possible to install hail protection nets (for both farming and car parks), or to install transparent sheets (in which case lateral vertical closures should also be foreseen) in order to form a greenhouse, instead of shade nets.

Furthermore, in addition to shading, such protective sheets can be used to reduce the aerosol effect in the case of irrigation or fertilization from above.

The protective sheet 7 can be made as in Fig. 1, wherein a plurality of photovoltaic modules 71 are foreseen on top of the protective sheet. Advantageously, each photovoltaic module comprises a plurality of parallel strips 711 of photovoltaic cells so as not to interfere with the The movement of the protective thin plate does not hinder the folding between the support rods 2 .

The junction and maximum height or apex 61 of each pair of elements is advantageously located on such tie rods 3 . Furthermore, advantageously, such elongated support elements are constrained to the support poles at a substantially intermediate height relative to the height of the support poles themselves.

In the particular embodiment shown in the drawings, such elongate support elements are metal cables or metal round bars, but may be replaced in an equivalent manner by section bars.

The protective sheets are combined with elongated support elements 6 or 6' by means of restraints 8 which slide along such elongated support elements. In the example shown in the drawings, such means of restraint consist of a sleeve made of two annular sectors 81 and 82 provided with notches on the edges, when these annular sectors are connected to each other, for example by means of screws At this time, a groove 83 will be formed to join the edge of the protective sheet. A through hole 84 of the sleeve allows sliding over the elongated support element.

Clearly, such a solution could replace the cable 6 or 6' by equivalent means, such as an elongated profile. The profile is provided with dovetail guides in which the restraining means of the sliding sheet engage.

This type of sliding restraint also includes a bracket 85 associated with the sleeve, which is moved along with the sleeve by means of movement of the protective sheets associated with the support posts. The elongated support element moves.

The elongated supporting elements are fixed to the supporting poles and the tie rods through a plurality of fixing means. These fixing means comprise a ring 9 engaged on the support rod, the ring is provided with a plurality of eyelets 91 , when the support pole is an intermediate support pole of the support structure, the ends of the elongated support elements 6 or 6' are fixed to the eyelets. If the support pole is located at the outermost side of the support structure, such fastening means consist of a bushing 9' through which the support pole and an elongated support element is fixed to the ground at one end. Such fixing means also comprise a support 9" joined to the tie rod 3, which support has in its lower part a plurality of fixing eyelets 91" for the elongated support element 6 or 6'.

These protective sheet moving means for unfolding and retracting the protective sheet essentially comprise an endless belt 10 for at least one side of the protective sheet. The endless belt is generally arranged adjacent to one of the elongated support elements 6 or 6' and substantially follows the length of movement of the drive pulley 11 associated with the support poles and is positioned at the apex of the support structure 61, advantageously the drag length of the driven pulley 12 at the support 9″. Thus, the endless belt is arranged along the entire path of the sliding restraints 8, which are removed by means of the above-mentioned brackets 85 Constrained to this protective sheet, is also constrained to such endless belts.

Each drive pulley can be rotated by an electric motor 13 , preferably provided with a reduction mechanism, or manually moved by a shaft 14 . The driven pulley 12 is advantageously associated with the support 9" of the support structure.

2: Support pole

3: Tie rod

5: Secondary tube

6: Slender support element

6': Slender support element

7: Protective sheet

P: solar panels

Claims (17)

A system for covering a flat surface, capable of being mounted on a support structure formed by a plurality of support rods (2), held in position by means of a web of tie rods (3), the support structure standing on the flat surface by a set of The support rods (2) constitute, both of the support rods (2) and the tie rods (3) are fixed on the flat surface by a plurality of suitable pins, the system includes a plurality of A plurality of elongated support elements (6, 6') between the support poles (2) supporting a plurality of protective nets or protective sheets (7) in the deployed position is to cover the area below the support structure and in the collapsed position is positioned so as to be tightly collapsed between adjacent support poles (2) in the same row, transitioning from the deployed position to the collapsed position, and the movement from the folded position to the unfolded position is produced by moving means by sliding the protective sheets (7) along the elongated supporting elements (6, 6'), characterized in that the The means of movement of the protective sheet (7) comprises an endless belt (10) substantially arranged adjacent to one of the elongated supporting elements (6, 6'), substantially imitating the elongated supporting elements (6, 6') ') is moved by a driving pulley (11) combined with the support poles (2) and dragged by a driven pulley (12), so that the endless belt (10) is constrained along the sliding The entire path configuration of the means (8), the binding means (8) of sliding type is also bound to the endless belt (10) through a bracket (85). The system according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of photovoltaic modules (71) on the upper surfaces of the protective sheets (7). The system according to claim 1, wherein each photovoltaic module (71) includes a plurality of parallel strips (711) of photovoltaic cells. The system according to claim 1, wherein the elongated support elements (6, 6') form plural pairs of elongated support elements (6, 6'), the plural pairs of elongated support elements (6, 6') Having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of the elongated support element (6, 6') is positioned on the support poles (2), and the upper end of the elongated support element (6, 6') is in a raised position with The upper ends of another elongated support element (6, 6') are connected to form pairs of slopes on which the protective nets or protective sheets (7) can be positioned as "ridge tents" "Structure. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connection and maximum height, or apex (61), of each pair of elongated support elements (6, 6') are positioned on the tie rods (3). The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated support elements (6, 6') are constrained to the support poles (2) at a substantially intermediate height relative to the height of the support pole (2) itself . As the system of claim 1, wherein the elongated supporting elements (6, 6') are metal cables or metal round rods, or profiles. The system of claim 1, wherein the protective sheets (7) are combined with the elongated support elements (6, 6') through a plurality of restraint means (8), and the restraint means (8) can be Shaped support elements (6, 6') slide. As the system of claim 8, wherein the constraining means (8) include a sleeve, which is formed into two annular sectors (81, 82), with notches on the edges, when the annular sectors (81, 82) 82) When interconnected, the notches will form A groove (83) engages the edge of the protective sheet (7), and a through hole (84) of the sleeve allows sliding on the elongated support element (6, 6'). The system of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the driven pulley (12) is positioned at the apex (61) of the support structure. The system according to claim 9, wherein each driving pulley (11) is rotated by an electric motor (13), or manually rotated by a rotating shaft (14). The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated support elements (6, 6') are fixed to the support poles (2) and the tie rods (3) through a plurality of fixing means, and the fixing means include: A ring (9) joined to the support pole (2), the ring (9) is provided with a plurality of eyelets (91), when the support pole is one of the intermediate support poles of the support structure, the elongated The ends of the shaped support elements (6, 6') are fixed to the eyelets (91), a bushing (9'), if the support pole (2) is located at the outermost side of the support structure, the bushing ( 9') through the support rod (2) and the elongated support element (6, 6') fixed at one end to the flat surface, a support (9"), joined to the tie rod (3), the The support (9") has in its lower part a plurality of fixing eyelets (91") for the elongated support elements (6, 6'). The system according to claim 12, wherein the driven pulley (12) is combined with the support (9") of the support structure. The system according to claim 1, wherein the protective nets or protective sheets (7) are shading nets or sheets used in agriculture. The system according to claim 1, wherein the protective sheets (7) are hail protection sheets. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electric energy generating unit or the wind power unit is installed on the supporting structure. The system according to claim 16, wherein the electric energy generating unit is a photovoltaic panel.

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