FR3131364A1 - MONOBLOC ATTACHMENT DEVICE FOR A PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a one-piece attachment device (10) for a photovoltaic panel, the attachment device comprising: - a shaft (11) comprising a threaded passage (12) which extends along an elongation axis XX ' of said cask; - a main plate (13) comprising a face, called the front face (15), from which the shaft extends, the said main plate comprising an opening making the threaded passage accessible through a rear face of the said main plate opposite the front face ; - two tabs (16, 17) secured, each by a bent section (18, 19), to the main plate, the two tabs being diametrically opposite one another with respect to the axis of elongation and in next to the rear face, each tongue being configured, once the barrel and the main plate are inserted into the attachment groove, to accommodate, with the rear face, one of the attachment flanges. Figure 5

Description

MONOBLOCK ATTACHMENT DEVICE FOR A PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of photovoltaic panels, and in particular to the attachment of the latter to support rails. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for attaching a photovoltaic panel to a rail.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Photovoltaic panels generally include a peripheral frame by which said panels can be held to a support structure. The latter may in particular include retaining rails.

Maintaining a photovoltaic panel can use attachment devices configured to cooperate with the peripheral frame. In particular, the peripheral frame may include a groove in which the attachment devices hold the photovoltaic panel to a holding rail.

As illustrated in , the peripheral frame 10 is held on a flat section 20 of a retaining rail by means of a fastening device formed by a bolt 30 and a nut 40. More particularly, the bolt 30 passes through a drilling formed in the section plane and enters the groove 50. The latter is delimited by two side walls 51 and 52 whose free edges, folded internally, form bearing edges 53 and 54 against the flat section 20. The nut 40 cooperating with the thread of the bolt 30 exerts a tightening against folded edges 53 and 54, and thus keeps the peripheral frame 10 and the flat section 20 tight against each other.

However, such an arrangement is not satisfactory. In fact, the space available for positioning nut 40 and tightening it on bolt 30 remains very limited.

An aim of the present invention is therefore to propose a fastening device which can be implemented in a reduced space and which allows lasting clamping over time of a photovoltaic panel against a retaining rail.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a fastening device that can be used in small spaces.

Another aim of the present invention is to propose a fastening device that is not very sensitive to the pre-alignment of the photovoltaic panel before its tightening against a fastening rail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a one-piece fastening device for a photovoltaic panel provided with a peripheral frame which comprises a fastening groove, the fastening groove being delimited by two side walls whose free edges each have a rim of fastener, the two fastening edges, folded internally and parallel to each other, are intended to cooperate with the fastening device to hold the photovoltaic panel against a rail, the fastening device comprising:

- a barrel comprising a threaded passage which extends along an elongation axis XX' of said barrel;

- a main plate comprising a face, called the front face, from which the barrel extends, said main plate comprising an opening making accessible the threaded passage through a rear face of said main plate opposite the front face;

- two tongues secured, each by a bent section, to the main plate, the two tongues being diametrically opposed to each other in relation to the axis of elongation and facing the rear face, each tongue being configured , since the barrel and the main plate are inserted into the attachment groove, to accommodate, between said tongue and the rear face, one of the attachment edges.

According to one mode of implementation, the tongues are symmetrical to each other by a rotation of 180° around the axis of elongation.

According to one embodiment, each bent section forms a stop.

According to one embodiment, the tabs are configured so that, when a rotation around the elongation axis XX' in a predefined direction is imposed on said attachment device after insertion of the barrel and the main plate into the attachment groove, allow, on the one hand, the engagement of one of the attachment edges between one of the tongues and the rear face, and allow, on the other hand, the engagement of the other attachment edges between the other tabs and the rear face.

According to one embodiment, each tab comprises a folded section configured to prevent disengagement of the attachment device as soon as each of the attachment edges is engaged between one of the tabs and the rear face.

According to one embodiment, the main plate comprises two folded stops configured to each abut against an interior face of one or the other of the two side walls delimiting the attachment groove.

According to one embodiment, said fastening device comprises a screw intended to be inserted into the threaded passage through the rear face of the main plate.

The invention also relates to a photovoltaic panel provided with a peripheral frame which comprises an attachment groove, the attachment groove being delimited by two side walls whose free edges each have an attachment edge, the two edges of fastener, folded internally and parallel to each other, said photovoltaic panel being fixed to a rail by means of at least one fastening device according to the present invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows with reference to the appended figures in which:

There is a representation of a fastening device known from the state of the art, on this the device cooperating with a frame provided with a groove;

There represents a profile capable of being implemented within the framework of the present invention in a perspective view;

There represents the profile of the along a cutting plane perpendicular to the axis of extension of said profile;

There is a representation of a support rail on which a photovoltaic panel can be fixed, more particularly the support rail is represented along a section plane perpendicular to an axis of extension of said support rail;

There is a schematic representation of a fastening device conforming to the principles of the present invention;

There is a schematic representation of the attachment device of the inserted into a rail;

There is a schematic representation of the attachment device of the inserted into a rail and for which the attachment edges are engaged between a tongue and the rear face;

There is a schematic representation, in a top view, of the attachment device of the inserted into a rail and for which the attachment edges are engaged between a tongue and the rear face;

There is a schematic representation of the attachment device of the inserted into a rail and for which the attachment edges are engaged between a tongue and the rear face.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a one-piece fastening device for a photovoltaic panel provided with a peripheral frame which includes a fastening groove. The attachment groove is delimited by two side walls whose free edges each have an attachment edge. The two attachment edges, folded internally and parallel to each other, are, in this regard, intended to cooperate with the attachment device to hold the photovoltaic panel against a rail.

The attachment device comprises a barrel provided with a threaded passage which extends along an elongation axis XX' of said barrel.

The attachment device also includes a main plate provided with a face, called the front face, from which the barrel extends. The main plate comprises an opening making the threaded passage accessible through a rear face of said plate opposite the front face.

Finally, the attachment device also includes two tabs secured, each by an angled section, to the main plate. The two tabs are diametrically opposite each other in relation to the elongation axis and facing the rear face. Each tongue is also configured, once the barrel and the main plate are inserted into the attachment groove, to accommodate, between said tongue and the rear face, one of the attachment edges.

A photovoltaic panel comprises a peripheral frame 1 intended to ensure mechanical cohesion of said panel. In this regard, the peripheral frame may comprise an assembly of four profiles 2 which give the peripheral frame 1 a rectangular shape. The invention should not, however, be limited to this form alone, and those skilled in the art may consider others.

There represents in this regard a profile 2 capable of being implemented within the framework of the present invention. There represents the same profile 2 along a section plane perpendicular to the axis of extension of said profile.

The profile 3 comprises, from an exposed face E towards a contact face C of the photovoltaic panel, a holding section 2A and a hooking section 2B. More particularly, the holding section 2A forms a reception slot configured to accommodate an active plate of the photovoltaic panel. The invention nevertheless does not relate to the geometry of the holding section 2A and those skilled in the art may consider other geometries for the holding section.

The attachment section 2B defines an attachment groove 3. In this regard, said attachment section 2B comprises two side walls 4A and 4B whose free edges each have an attachment rim 5A and 5B. The two attachment edges 5A and 5B, folded internally and parallel to each other (represented in ). By folded internally, we mean folded in a convergent manner so that each of the two edges is directed towards the other of the two edges.

The peripheral frame 1 is intended to be hung on a support rail 6 shown in the . In particular, the support rail 6, the cross section of which may be C-shaped, comprises a bearing surface 6A against which the attachment edges 5A and 5B are intended to bear.

More particularly, the attachment edges 5A and 5B comprise a contact surface 7A and 7B, flat, and accessible by the contact face C. By “accessible by the contact face C”, we mean a support surface exposed by the contact face vs.

There is a schematic representation of the attachment device 10 according to the present invention.

The attachment device 10 comprises in this regard a barrel 11. In particular, the barrel 11 is of generally cylindrical shape around an axis of elongation XX'. The barrel 11 defines a threaded passage 12 which extends along the axis of elongation XX' of said barrel.

The attachment device 10 also comprises a main plate 13. More particularly, the main plate 13 comprises two faces, called respectively, front face 14 and rear face 15, essentially parallel to each other. In particular, the barrel 11 extends from the front face 14. More particularly, the main plate 13 includes an opening making the threaded passage 12 accessible through the rear face 15 of the main plate.

The attachment device 10 also comprises two tongues 16 and 17 secured, each by a bent section 18 and 19, to the main plate 13. The two tongues 16 and 17 are diametrically opposed to each other with respect to the 'elongation axis XX' and facing the rear face 15 of the main plate.

In particular, each tongue 16 and 17 is configured, since the barrel 11 and the main plate 13 are inserted into the attachment groove 3, to accommodate, between said tongue and the rear face 15, one of the attachment edges 5A, 5B.

In this regard, each of the tongues 16 and 17 can correspond to an extension of the main plate 13 folded towards the rear face 15 of said main plate 13.

Advantageously, the tongues 16 and 17 are symmetrical to each other by a rotation of 180° around the axis of elongation.

More particularly, and as illustrated in , the tongues 16 and 17 can be configured for, when a rotation around the elongation axis XX' in a predefined direction is imposed on the attachment device 10 after the insertion of the barrel 11 and the main plate 13 in the attachment groove 3, allow, on the one hand, the engagement of one of the attachment edges 5A and 5B, between one of the tongues and the rear face, and allow, on the other hand, the engagement of the other of the attachment edges between the other of the tabs and the rear face.

In this regard, the is a schematic representation of the insertion of the attachment device 10 into the attachment groove 3 of a peripheral frame of a photovoltaic panel.

The insertion is in particular carried out by presenting the barrel 11 of the attachment device 10 facing the attachment groove 3 and by exerting a movement of said attachment device 10 in order to engage the latter in the attachment groove 3. The insertion of the attachment device 10 can be followed by a rotation ( ) of the latter so as to engage an attachment edge 5B between one of the tongues 16 and the rear face 15, and allow, on the other hand, the engagement of the other of the attachment edges 5A between the the other of the tabs 17 and the rear face 15.

Still advantageously, each bent section 18 and 19 forms a stop. In particular, the bent sections 18 and 19 are configured to limit the rotational movement of the attachment device when each of the attachment edges 5A and 5B is engaged between one of the tongues 16 and 17 and the rear face 15.

Advantageously, each tab 16 and 17 comprises a folded section 20 and 21 configured to prevent disengagement of the attachment device as soon as each of the attachment edges is engaged between one of the tabs and the rear face. More particularly, each folded section 20 and 21 is configured to cooperate with one or the other of an external face of the walls 4A and 4B of the peripheral frame 2.

The folded sections 20 and 21 are in particular configured to prevent any rotation of the attachment device tending to disengage the attachment edges 5A and 5B, and consequently keep the attachment device secured to the peripheral frame.

Still advantageously, the main plate 13 can comprise two folded stops 22 and 23 configured to each abut against an interior face of one or the other of the two side walls 4A and 4B delimiting the attachment groove 3.

The attachment device 10 may also comprise reinforcing means 24 and 25 arranged at the base of the barrel 11 (by “base of the barrel” we mean the end of the barrel linked to the main plate).

These reinforcing means 24 and 25 can in particular be formed by local stamping of the main plate 13.

The attachment device 10 also includes a screw 26 intended to be inserted into the passage threaded by the rear face of the main plate ( ). More particularly, the screw 26 is used to secure the attachment device 10 with the bearing surface 6A of the support rail 6. A hole can be formed in the bearing surface 6A for the passage of the screw 24 and thus allowing the tightening of the peripheral frame against said support surface 6A. The barrel can also be configured to be pinched during tightening by the screw 26. This last aspect makes it possible to create a resistant torque when the screw is inserted into the barrel, and thus to clip the attachment device to the support rail before tightening final.

Finally, the invention also relates to a photovoltaic panel provided with a peripheral frame which comprises an attachment groove, the attachment groove being delimited by two side walls whose free edges each have an attachment edge, the two edges attachment, folded internally and parallel to each other, said photovoltaic panel being fixed to a rail by means of at least one attachment device 10.

The attachment device 10 according to the present invention thus allows easier mounting (securing) of the photovoltaic panel to a support rail. In particular, this attachment device can be operated when the available volumes are reduced.

The arrangement of the screw and the barrel also makes it possible to form a fastening device of a reduced size, thus making it possible to insert said fastening device into a groove of reduced size, or having reinforcements likely to hinder the insertion of said fastening device into said groove.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and alternative embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (8)

One-piece fastening device (10) for a photovoltaic panel provided with a peripheral frame (1) which comprises a fastening groove (3), the fastening groove (3) being delimited by two side walls (4A, 4B) whose free edges each have an attachment edge, the two attachment edges (5A, 5B), folded internally and parallel to each other, are intended to cooperate with the attachment device (10 ) to hold the photovoltaic panel against a rail, the attachment device (10) comprising:
- a barrel (11) comprising a threaded passage (12) which extends along an elongation axis XX' of said barrel (11);
- a main plate (13) comprising a face, called the front face (14), from which the barrel (11) extends, said main plate (13) comprising an opening making the threaded passage (12) accessible through a rear face (15) of said main plate (13) opposite the front face (14);
- two tongues (16, 17) secured, each by a bent section (18, 19), to the main plate (13), the two tongues (16, 17) being diametrically opposed to each other with respect to the elongation axis and facing the rear face (15), each tongue being configured, since the barrel (11) and the main plate (13) are inserted in the attachment groove (3), for accommodate, between said tongue and the rear face (15), one of the attachment edges (5A, 5B). Fastening device (10) according to claim 1, in which the tongues (16, 17) are symmetrical to each other by a rotation of 180° around the axis of elongation. Fastening device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each bent section (18, 19) forms a stop. Attachment device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3 in which, the tongues (16, 17) are configured for, when a rotation around the axis of elongation XX' in a predefined direction is imposed said attachment device (10) after inserting the barrel (11) and the main plate (13) into the attachment groove (3), allow, on the one hand, the engagement of one of the edges of attachment between one of the tabs (16, 17) and the rear face (15), and allow, on the other hand, the engagement of the other of the attachment edges between the other of the tabs (16, 17) and the rear face (15). A fastener (10) according to claim 4, wherein each tab includes a folded section (20, 21) configured to prevent disengagement of the fastener (10) once each of the fastening edges is engaged between one of the tabs (16, 17) and the rear face (15). Attachment device (10) according to claim 5, in which the main plate (13) comprises two folded stops configured to each abut against an interior face of one or the other of the two side walls (4A, 4B) delimiting the attachment groove (3). Fastening device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which said fastening device (10) comprises a screw (26) intended to be inserted into the threaded passage (12) through the rear face (15). ) of the main plate (13). Photovoltaic panel provided with a peripheral frame (1) which comprises an attachment groove (3), the attachment groove (3) being delimited by two side walls (4A, 4B) whose free edges each have a rim of fastener, the two fastening edges (5A, 5B), folded internally and parallel to each other, said photovoltaic panel being fixed to a rail by means of at least one fastening device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7.