ITPD20070357A1 - SUPPORT DEVICE FOR PHOTO-VOLTAIC PANELS INTENDED FOR PLANTS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ELECTRICITY - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a support device for photovoltaic panels intended for plants for the production of electrical energy, having the characteristics set out in the preamble of the main claim n.

1.

In the technical field of plants for the production of electricity, through the conversion of light radiation by photo-voltaic effect, radiation-capturing elements (photovoltaic cells) are known to be made in the form of panels, which are mounted on susceptible support structures to be commanded in an orientation movement around one or more axes.

An example of support having the aforementioned characteristics is known from the Italian patent application PD2006A0001 65 in the name of the same Applicant. There is described a support structure with orientation around a single axis, comprising a support shaft, rotatably supported around the aforesaid axis, and on which photovoltaic panels forming the surface for capturing the light radiation are constrained. Also described is a kinematic transmission between a driving element and the shaft for transmitting the driving motion in rotation thereto about the orientation axis. In the kinematic transmission, braking means are provided between the motor and the panel support shaft, which can be selectively activated, to lock the shaft in a preselected angular position by integrating it with the stationary support structure of the support device. In fact, since these support devices are normally exposed to stresses and / or vibrations deriving mainly from external actions including those of a meteorological nature (for example due to the wind), which are moreover amplified due to the amplitude of the absorbing surfaces, the transmission kinematics is subject to premature wear as well as to localized damage phenomena. The anchoring and fixing systems of the structures provided in these devices are also subject to these phenomena, with the risk of possible yielding due to unscrewing or loosening of the fixing elements.

The main object of the invention is to provide a support device with two or more orientation axes of the radiation-capturing surface, designed to overcome the aforementioned limits and drawbacks with reference to the cited known art.

This object is achieved by a support device for photovoltaic panels made in accordance with the following claims.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof illustrated, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

figure 1 is a side elevation view of a support device for photovoltaic panels made in accordance with the present invention, figures 2 and 3 are perspective views on an enlarged scale of a detail of the device of figure 1,

Figure 4 is a front elevation view of the detail of Figures 2 and 3,

Figure 5 is a partial section perspective view of the detail of Figures 2 and 3.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, 1 indicates as a whole a device for supporting photovoltaic panels intended for electrical energy production plants, made in accordance with the present invention.

The device comprises a stationary support structure in the form of a column support 2 capable of fixing and anchoring to the ground. By means of this support the device 1 is then placed and fixed to the ground, for example with screw anchoring means.

A toothed wheel 3 is rotatably supported on the support 2 at its opposite end to the one for fixing to the ground, around an axis of rotation Z, by means of respective bearings not shown. The external toothing of the wheel 3 is capable of meshing with a toothed sprocket 4 which is in turn integral in rotation with the output shaft 5 of a reducer 6, preferably with orthogonal axes, whose input shaft 6a is coupled in rotation, by means of a corresponding gear, with the drive shaft 7 of an electric motor 8, the latter arranged to drive the toothed wheel 3 in rotation by means of the aforementioned kinematic transmission, around the axis Z. Conveniently, the motor-reduction unit 6-7 is mounted on a support bracket 8a integral with the support 2. Said wheel 3 is in turn integral with a support 9, which is consequently conducted in an orientation movement around the axis Z, following the rotation induced on the gear wheel 3.

The support 9 conveniently comprises a plate-like base 9a, suitable for being integral with a lateral side of the toothed wheel 3, and from which a pair of shoulders 10 are equally erected. A shaft 11 is rotatably supported between the shoulders 10, around an axis of rotation indicated by X, conveniently directed perpendicular to the Z axis.

The shaft 11 is also arranged to support a frame structure 12 intended to house photovoltaic panels, all indicated with 13, in the manner described in detail below.

The frame 12 is rigidly constrained to the shaft 11, for example by means of a counter-frame 14 having a base 14a that can be constrained to the frame 12, from which a pair of plate-like appendages 15 are erected as a square, capable of being rigidly fixed to the outer shell of the shaft 11.

The frame 12 comprises a plurality of longitudinal and transverse profiles (only partially shown in the figures) suitably connected to each other to form corresponding frames to house individual elements of the photovoltaic panel, the panels 13 being arranged coplanar with each other so as to define a surface as a whole. for capturing solar radiation with a substantially flat profile.

It is also provided that the fixing point of the frame 12 to the counter-frame 14 is located in a position such as to reduce or cancel the imbalance of the overall masses supported by the supports 2 and 9 in the orientation movement of the absorbing surface around the X axes and Z.

To control the rotation of the shaft 11 around the X axis, in a first orientation motion of the capturing surfaces with respect to the incident direction of the light radiation, a first kinematic transmission is provided comprising a motor 16, operatively connected to the shaft 11, for the rotation command of the latter. More specifically, the motor 16 is combined with a reducer 17, with orthogonal shafts, whose output shaft 17a is coaxially connected to the shaft 11. The input shaft of the reducer 17, on the other hand, is coupled in rotation, by means of a corresponding gear, with the shaft of the motor 16, the latter being therefore arranged to rotate the capturing surface of the panels, by means of the aforementioned kinematic transmission, around the X axis. Conveniently, the motor-reduction unit 16-17 is mounted on a support bracket 16b attached to the support 9.

Reference 18 indicates a first braking means, conveniently chosen as the negative electromagnetic brake, which is provided in the kinematic chain between the motor 16 and the drive shaft 11. It can be selectively activated to lock the shaft 11 in a preselected position. angular by integrating the same with the structure of the support 9 of the device, thus discharging any stresses or vibrations on the support 9, preserving the motor 16 and the kinematic coupling members of the reducer 17. Conveniently, the brake 18 is normally chosen active on the support shaft 11 and selectively disengageable from said shaft 11 by means of an electric power supply to the brake. By means of the brake 18, a total action filter is therefore realized with regard to vibrations and / or stresses deriving from external actions including those of a meteorological nature (for example deriving from the action of the wind), this filter thus preserving the motorization 16-17 from local damage due to accidental actions, from premature wear over time and, more generally, from loosening or unscrewing of the fastening elements provided on the device.

According to a main feature of the invention, a corresponding second braking means, designated 20, is provided in the kinematic chain of the motion transmission between the motor 8 and the support 2.

The braking means 20 is conveniently chosen as the negative electromagnetic brake, and is designed to be selectively activated to lock the support 9 in a preselected angular position by integrating it with the stationary structure of the support 2 of the device, thus relieving any stresses or vibrations on the support 2, preserving the motor 8 and the kinematic coupling members of the reducer 6. Conveniently, the brake 20 is selected of the type normally active on the support 9 and can be selectively disengaged from said support by means of an electrical power supply to the brake. By means of the brake 20, a total action filter is therefore realized with regard to vibrations and / or stresses deriving from external actions including those of a meteorological nature (for example deriving from the action of the wind), this filter thus preserving the motorization 6-7 from local damage due to accidental actions, from premature wear over time and, more generally, from loosening or unscrewing of the fastening elements provided on the device.

In detail, the brake 20 comprises a first and a second part 20a, 20b, in relative rotation, the first part 20a integral with the support 9, the second part 20b integral with the support 2, respective friction surfaces being provided between said parts to allow relative locking when the brake is applied.

It can also be provided that, in one or both kinematic chains relating to motion transmissions in the orientation around the respective X and Z axes, between the brake 18 (or 20) and the shaft the (or the support 9) can be an elastic means with damping capacity, for example realized as an elastic joint, is interposed.

Although the invention refers to a device with orientation control on two distinct axes (X and Z), each provided with separate and distinct braking means (brakes 18 and 20), it is understood that the inventive concept can also be applied to further orientation axes, if provided, for example applied to a third orientation axis orthogonal with respect to the X and Z axes described above. A corresponding braking means could therefore also be provided on this additional axis in the corresponding kinematic chain provided for the orientation motion of the absorbing surface around said axis.

The invention thus solves the proposed problem achieving numerous advantages with respect to known solutions.

The main advantage lies in the fact that the vibrations and / or stresses deriving from external actions, including those of a meteorological nature (for example the wind) acting on the panels, preserving the motorization and the other kinematic elements of the transmission provided for each orientation axis from premature wear or from localized damage or avoiding loosening or unscrewing of the fastening elements following the vibrations transferred to the device.

Claims (4)

CLAIMS 1. Device for supporting photovoltaic panels intended for electricity production plants, comprising: - at least a first shaft rotatably supported on a first support around a first axis of rotation, with respect to which the surfaces of said panels that capture the light radiation are oriented, - at least one frame arranged to house one or more of said photovoltaic panels, said frame being rigidly constrained to said first shaft so that the absorbing surfaces of said panels are oriented by rotation around said first axis, - first motor means operatively associated with said first support shaft for the control of rotation thereof about said first axis, in the kinematic transmission between said first motor means and said first control shaft first braking means being provided, which can be selectively activated, for locking said first shaft in a preselected angular position, - at least a second stationary support for supporting the device, said first support being rotatably supported on said second support about a second axis of rotation, - second motor means operatively associated with the first support for controlling its rotation around said second axis, characterized in that in the kinematic transmission between said second motor means and said first support second braking means are provided, which can be selectively activated, to lock said first support in a preselected angular position integrating the same with the stationary support structure of said second support. Device according to claim 1, wherein the second braking means comprises a negative braking element. 3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said braking element comprises an electromagnetic brake which is normally active on the first support and which can be disengaged from said first support by means of an electric power supply of said brake. 4. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which elastic damping means are further interposed in the kinematic transmission chain between the second braking means and the first support.