EP1605554B1

EP1605554B1 - Electrical connection box for photovoltaic or solar plates

Info

Publication number: EP1605554B1
Application number: EP20040026833
Authority: EP
Inventors: José Manuel Vera Dominguez
Original assignee: Europa Tecnosolar Sl; Europa Tecnosolar S L
Current assignee: EUROPA TECNOSOLAR SL
Priority date: 2004-06-08
Filing date: 2004-11-11
Publication date: 2013-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 2024-11-11
Also published as: EP1605554A3; EP1605554A2

Description

Object of the invention

The object of the present invention patent, as expressed in the title of this disclosure, is related to an electrical connection box for photovoltaic or solar plates, the function of which is to join photovoltaic or solar panels and external plants. The box is designed to contain the printed circuit plate, with the connection terminal, in its configuration the box has holes bored laterally on one of its sides, through which pass the wiring soldered to the printed circuit plate, the connection terminals functioning as outputs for the conductors for other panels or to the receiving plant.

Background of the invention

In the market there are different electrical boxes designed to hold terminal strips and circuits for carrying out the connection of the input and output wires. These boxes are made of different materials according to their functions, as well as corresponding lids that are screwed onto to the basis of the box.
DE 37 12 294 document relates to a plastic housing for an electrical apparatus having a printed circuit board which has display and control elements on its front edge and plug connectors and a main connecting cord on its rear edge. The cover part and base part are screwed together by means of a single central screw.
US 4 632 269 document relates to a waterproof electrical enclosures for the encapsulation of electrical components which have a box-like base part to be fixed to a support surface by screws or like mounting fixtures and a sealing cover held to the base part by special fasteners located in special mounting points in the corners of the enclosure.
GB 2 366 096 document relates to an electrical connector box for sockets and plugs. The sealing against ingress of water is produced upon closing the lid and body-part, by means of resilient sealing means that comprise a pair of resilient elements which are carried out by the lid and body-part respectively.
In order to eliminate all of these problems that exist in currently available boxes, an innovative new electrical connection box for photovoltaic or solar panels has been designed, to hold the printed circuit, the interface unit, the lengthwise slot on the surface of the basis side for wire output, the limiting walls of the printed circuit, the dice or support bases for the connection terminals, the housing for the input of the locking bolts or latches for the lid, which facilitates avoiding the use of screws, a flange, the function of which is to prevent the lid from falling when taken of the base box and near the base box, for later use, and closure of the lid on the base box.

Description of the invention

The electrical connection box for photovoltaic or solar panels is designed to join photovoltaic or solar panels and external plants, being situated within the basis box of a printed circuit, with the terminals (connection terminals) soldered to the printed circuit of the photovoltaic or solar panel, as well as the output connection terminals for other panels or receiver plant.
The location of the printed circuit and its positioning allows jumping cables of rectifying diodes to be soldered, in order to protect the photovoltaic or solar panel. Due to the design of the printed circuit, the jumping cables that are soldered vary depending on the type of plant and the power generated, as well as the output voltage of the panels.
The printed circuit is attached to the base box by a screw positioned between the two output terminals.
The printed circuit remains flat and parallel to the surface of the basis of the box due to the stoppers positioned on the bottom of the base box.
The base box allows the output electrical conducts to be made through the presses built into the base box, these being made up of the adjusting nuts and the nut cones, as well as the stopper between nut and cone these elements (electrical wire, nut cone, nut and stopper between nut and cone) facilitate the leaktightness of the electrical connection box.
The basis box for electrical connections is closed with the lid that has four locking bolts, latches or gaffs, in order to lodge it in the entry nooks provided on the base box, eliminating closure screws and allowing rapid opening and closing maneuvers. The lid has a rubber joint located along the perimeter of the box, facilitating sealing the box upon closing it. The position that the box has once installed on the panel facilitates the output of water through the existing draining channels, thus avoiding water collecting on the lid.

Detailed description of the drawings

In order to provide an improved understanding of the object of the present invention, a preferred practical embodiment of the electrical connection box for photovoltaic or solar panels based on the attached figures.

Figure 1 shows a raised plan view of the electrical connection base box, where the positioning of all of the elements that it is composed of are shown.
Figure 2 shows a view of the closure lid of the electrical connection box, a plan and raised front view of said closure lid, with the positioning of the locking bolts or latches, as well as the feeder ear where the flange that holds the lid of the base box.
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the nut, as well as a raised and a section of the adjusting nut.
Figure 4 shows a plan and a raised view of the cone of the nut, as well as a lengthways section where its configuration is shown.
Figure 5 shows a view of the joint of the lid, its configuration where the slot for attaching it to the perimetral profile of the connection box.
Figure 6 shows a plan and raised view of the terminal screw, as well as a section to show its configuration.
Figure 7 shows a view of the connection terminal, where its configuration is shown.
Figure 8 shows s view of the stopper to be situated between the nut and nut cone.
Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the box and of the lid with the joining flange, which facilitates keeping the lid and the box joined together once separated.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

The electrical connection box for photovoltaic or solar panels, whose function is to join the photovoltaic or solar panels and external plants. The base box, due to its design, allows housing within it the specific printed circuit plate. The configuration of the box includes output holes for the electrical connections, towards other panels or the receiving plant.
In figure 1 the box (1), electrical connection basis, with the lengthways slot (8) for entrance to the panel connectors, the wire output holes (11), which are bored on one lateral side of the base box and are drawn out as cylinders or bushings located on its exterior, these holes having at their outer area reinforcements (10) for wire output, being located inside the cylinders or bushings the nut cones (5), as shown in fig. 4. The threading that the cylinders or bushings have at their exterior areas, the nut (4) is threaded, see fig. 3. Between the cone of the nut cone (5) and the nut (4) the stopper (23) is situated, as shown in fig. 8. Within the base box and inside it are located the walls (9), which support the printed circuit in order to isolate it from the surface of the basis of the box. On the surface of the base box are situated the terminal support dice (13) or blocks, located between them the base cylinder (14) with nerves, which holds the printed circuit fixing screw, on the side where the electrical wire output holes are situated, and within the inside of the base box the higher walls (15) are positioned, limiting the printed circuit, in order for it to be completely fixed and avoid its movement within the base box. The base box (1) has housings (12) at each of the angular ends of the base box, in order to allow the entry of the locking bolts or latches (17) positioned on the lid (2), this lid has around its inner perimeter a joint (3), with the guide positioning (20) as shown in fig. 5, which once closed obtains a leak-proof seal.
The design of the box allows the printed circuit to be attached by a screw, located between the two output terminals, as well as the printed circuit remaining flat and parallel to the surface of the base box by way of the stoppers positioned on the bottom of the base box as shown in fig. 1.
In the base box, the electrical output conducts are made by the presses built into it, configured by the adjusting nuts (4), the nut cones (5) and the stopper (23). These elements (electrical wires, nut cones, nuts and stoppers) together allow the sealing and isolation of the elements located within the base box.
The base box (1) of electrical connections in its entirety is closed by the lid (2). This lid (2) includes locking bolts, latches (17), or gaffs, which are lodged in the housings (12) that are positioned in the base box, this allows screws to be eliminated, as well as quick maneuvers of opening and closing the box. Preferably, the lid (2) has four locking bolts or latches (17) lodged in the appropriate housings (12) in the base box. The lid (2), includes a ridge (19) with a reference point for locating a rubber joint (3) along its entire perimeter, which, once positioned on the base box and closed obtains its leak proof sealing. Once installed on the panel there exist drainage channels in the box in order to conduce water and thus avoid water collecting on the lid.
The different elements that make up the box of electrical connections are made of the following materials. The basis, lid, nut and stopper of polycarbonate. The nut cones and the lid joint, of elastomer. The connection terminal (6) and screw (7), of copper, the terminals being later tinned, and the screw, nickelled. The attaching screw of the printed circuit, of zinc steel. The flange that joins the lid and the base box is polyamide.
In fig. 9 are shown the box (1), the lid (2), joined by the flange (22) which is lodged in the ear (18), positioned in the box and lid.
Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention as well as a preferred embodiment, it is stated for the relevant purposes, that the materials, shape, size and arrangement of the described elements can be modified provided that this does not involve an alteration of the essential features of the invention which are claimed below.

Claims

Electrical connection box for photovoltaic or solar panels, whose fuction is to join photovoltaic or solar panels to external plants, allowing the specific positioning of the printed circuit and the components that compose the basic the basic electrical assembly lodged within this type of box, comprising a base box and a closing lid (2) fastened together by means of fastening elements, said base box comprising a plurality of supporting walls and means for fixing a printed circuit and other components of the electrical assembly, characterized in that said base box allows the input and output of the wires by means of a lengthwise slot (8) and wire output holes (11) respectively, said wire output holes (11) being made through presses built into the base box and configured by cylinders or bushings threaded at their ends, said cylinders or bushings being provided with nut cones (5) being located inside the cylinders and nuts (4) for fastening, producing leak-tightness of the assembly at the wire output point.
Electrical connection box for photovoltaic or solar panels according to claim 1, characterized in that stoppers (23) are fixed between each nut cone (5) and nut (4) producing leak-tightness of the assembly at the wire output point.
Electrical connection box for photovoltaic or solar panels according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wire output holes (11) are bored on one lateral side of the base box, where cylinders or bushings are located on its exterior and threaded at their ends to receive corresponding nuts (4).
Electrical connection box for photovoltaic or solar panels according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that nut cones (5) and stoppers (23) are lodged within the inside of the cylinders or bushings.
Electrical connection box for photovoltaic or solar panels according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening elements of the base box and the closing lid (2) are configured by housings (12) in the base box and locking bolts or latches (17) at the closing lid (2), said locking bolts or latches (17) being suitable to be lodged into their corresponding housings (12).
Electrical connection box for photovoltaic or solar panels according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing lid (2) comprises a ridge (19) having a guide positioning (20) point for positioning the lid joint along its inner perimeter.
Electrical connection box for photovoltaic or solar panels according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base box and the closing lid (2) may be joined together by means of a flange (22) which passes through ears (18) positioned on the base box and closing lid (2), in order to keep the base box and closing lid (2) joined together once the electrical connection box is opened.
Electrical connection box for photovoltaic or solar panels according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base box is provided with a plurality of support dice or blocks (13) for the connection terminals (6).
Electrical connection box for photovoltaic or solar panels according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base box is provided with a base cylinder (14) for positioning and fixing the printed circuit.
Electrical connection box for photovoltaic or solar panels according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises supporting vertical walls (9) that are positioned on the interior sides of the base box and serve to support the printed circuit, as well as higher vertical walls (15) that are positioned on the interior side of the base box but closer to the wire output holes (11) and serve for limiting the printed circuit.