JP7384633B2 - Fasteners and fixings - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to fasteners and fasteners for panel-like members.

For example, panel-shaped members such as solar cell modules installed on the roofs of buildings such as houses are known. Such a panel-like member is fixed to the installation surface using an appropriate fixing device depending on the type of roof on which it is installed.

Patent Document 1 discloses a plurality of solar cell panels attached to a slope. This support unit that supports the solar panel includes a lower member, an upper member (fastener) placed on the lower member, and an intermediate member placed between the lower member and the upper member. For example, see FIG. 1A of Patent Document 1). The frame at the end of the solar cell panel is placed on the lower member and is pressed downward from above by a bent portion (pressing portion) of the upper member. Thereby, the frame at the end of the solar cell panel is sandwiched between the bent portion of the upper member and the lower member. Further, in Patent Document 1, the upper member has a pair of bent portions in order to press the frames at the ends of two mutually adjacent solar cell panels.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-173360

The inventor of the present application has developed a system that, when a plurality of panel-like members such as solar cell modules are arranged side by side, the spacing between the panel-like members can be precisely adjusted to a pre-designed value or accurately uniform. We found that it was difficult to quantify the value. For example, depending on the condition of the roof on which the panel-like members are installed, it may not be possible to arrange the plurality of lower members in a straight line and accurately. In this case, the distance between adjacent panel-like members may become larger or smaller than a predetermined value. In addition, depending on the condition of the roof, restrictions are imposed on the installation position of fixing devices for fixing panel-like members, and as a result of these restrictions, restrictions are also imposed on the position of panel-like members, and as a result, panel-like members adjacent to each other are The spacing between them may deviate from a pre-designed value.

As described above, when there are variations in the spacing between the panel-like members, it may become difficult for the fastener to press the ends of the panel-like members from above to below. Therefore, there is a need for a fastener that can easily press the ends of the panel-like members from above to below even if the spacing between the panel-like members varies, and for a fixing tool using the same.

The fastener according to one embodiment includes a first pressing portion that presses an end of one first panel member of the mutually adjacent panel-like members from above, and a second panel of the other of the mutually adjacent panel-like members. and a second pressing part that presses the end of the shaped member from above. The distance between the first pressing part and the second pressing part is configured to be variable.

A fixture according to one aspect includes the aforementioned fastener and a support member including a loading portion that supports the first panel-like member and the second panel-like member from below. The first pressing section and the second pressing section are arranged to face the loading section.

According to the above aspect, even if variations occur in the intervals between the panel-like members, it becomes easy to press the ends of the panel-like members downward from above.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the panel-shaped member supported on the installation surface. FIG. 2 is a side view of region 2R in FIG. 1 viewed from the direction of arrow 2A. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the fixture taken along line 3A-3A in FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a side view of the first member of the fixture according to one embodiment. FIG. 5 is a top view of the first member of the fixture seen from the direction 5A in FIG. 4; FIG. 3 is a side view of the second member of the fixture according to one embodiment. FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the second member of the fixture as seen from direction 7A in FIG. 6;

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same or similar parts are designated by the same or similar symbols. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the ratio of each dimension may differ from the actual one.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a panel-shaped member supported on an installation surface. FIG. 2 is a side view of region 2R in FIG. 1 viewed from the direction of arrow 2A. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the fixture taken along line 3A-3A in FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the first member of the fixture according to one embodiment. FIG. 5 is a top view of the first member of the fixture seen from direction 5A in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a side view of the second member of the fixture according to one embodiment. FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the second member of the fixture seen from direction 7A in FIG. 6.

The panel member 10 may be, for example, a solar cell module. The panel member 10 may be installed on an installation surface 50 such as the roof of a building.

Hereinafter, the X direction in the figure may be referred to as the horizontal direction, and the Y direction in the figure may be referred to as the vertical direction. Further, the Z direction in the figure corresponds to a direction approximately perpendicular to the installation surface or the panel of the panel-shaped member 10.

In this embodiment, as an example, the panel-shaped member 10 is installed on an installation surface 50 having unevenness. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the installation surface 50 has a plurality of convex portions 52 extending in the vertical direction, and the plurality of convex portions 52 are arranged side by side at a predetermined pitch in the horizontal direction. As such an installation surface 50, for example, there is a roof having a raised roof. In this case, the convex portion 52 corresponds to a ridge.

In FIG. 1, a plurality of panel-like members 10 are arranged side by side in the vertical and horizontal directions. The panel member 10 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 1, and the panel members 10 may be arranged along either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, or only one panel member 10 may be installed.

The panel-shaped member 10 is fixed to the installation surface 50 by a fixture 100. As shown in FIG. 1, each panel-like member 10 may be fixed by a plurality of fixing devices 100.

The panel member 10 may have a panel portion and a frame portion. When the panel-shaped member 10 is a solar cell module, the panel portion corresponds to a photoelectric conversion panel that converts solar energy into electrical energy, and the frame portion corresponds to a frame provided around the photoelectric conversion panel.

The fixture 100 may include a support member 300 and a fastener 400. The support member 300 is fixed to the installation surface 50 by a plurality of second fastening members 700. Support member 300 may extend laterally. When the installation surface 50 has the protrusions 52 as described above, the support member 300 may extend across at least two protrusions 52 in the lateral direction. The support member 300 may be sufficiently shorter than the length of the panel-like member 10 in the lateral direction, or may be substantially as long as the length of the panel-like member 10 in the lateral direction.

The support member 300 may have a substantially U-shape when viewed from the lateral direction (see FIG. 3). Specifically, the support member 300 may have a bottom portion 310 and a pair of side portions 320. The pair of side portions 320 may stand upward from both ends of the bottom portion 310 in the vertical direction. The bottom portion 310 and the pair of side portions 320 form a substantially U-shape when viewed from the lateral direction.

The support member 300 may have an upper portion extending inward in the vertical direction from the upper ends of the pair of side portions 320. The upper part of this support member 300 constitutes a loading section 330 that supports the end of the panel-like member 10 from below. The support member 300 may have a pair of loading parts 330 that support the ends of the panel-like members 10 adjacent to each other from below.

The support member 300 may have a gap 340 between the pair of loading parts 330, through which the first fastening member 490 is passed. The first fastening member 490 fastens the support member 300 and a fastener 400, which will be described later, to each other.

The first fastening member 490 may be formed of a member such as a bolt and a nut. In this case, the first fastening member 490 may include a bolt including a core portion 492 and a head portion 494, and a nut 496. The diameter of the head portion 494 is larger than the diameter of the core portion 492. In this case, the size of the gap 340 in the vertical direction is preferably larger than the diameter of the core portion 492 in the vertical direction and smaller than the diameter of the head 494 in the vertical direction. Thereby, the head 494 is maintained without coming out upward from the space 350 formed under the upper part of the support member 300.

Furthermore, the gap 340 through which the first fastening member 490 passes may extend in the lateral direction. As an example, the gap 340 may extend from one end of the support member 300 to the other end in the lateral direction. Thereby, in a state where the first fastening member 490 is loosened, the first fastening member 490 is configured to be slidable in the lateral direction with respect to the support member 300 together with the fastener 400 described later. Thereby, the position of the fastener 400 can be adjusted according to the installation position of the panel-shaped member 10.

The fastener 400 is configured to press an end of the panel-like member 10 placed on the loading section 330, for example, a frame (not shown), from above to below. In this embodiment, the fastener 400 includes a first member 420, a second member 440, and a first fastening member 490. The second member 440 may be made of a different member from the first member 420.

The first member 420 includes a first contact portion 422 that contacts the side of the panel-like member 10, and a first pressing member that presses the end of one of the mutually adjacent panel-like members 10 from above. 424 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

The first contact portion 422 has a surface that stands upright from the installation surface 50 so as to contact the side portion of the panel-shaped member 10 . The first pressing portion 424 is configured by a portion protruding from the upper portion of the first contact portion 422 in the lateral direction. The first pressing portion 424 faces the loading portion 330 of the support member 300.

The first member 420 may have a first plate-like portion 426 . The first plate-shaped portion 426 may be a plate-shaped portion extending from the wall portion constituting the first contact portion 422 in the direction opposite to the panel-shaped member 10 that contacts the first contact portion 422. . The first plate portion 426 faces the second plate portion 446 of the second member 440, as described later.

The second member 440 includes a second contact portion 442 that contacts the side portion of the panel-like member 10, and a second pressing member that presses the end of the other second panel-like member from above among the mutually adjacent panel-like members 10. 444 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

The second contact portion 442 has a surface that stands up against the installation surface 50 so as to contact the side portion of the panel member 10 . The second pressing portion 444 is configured by a portion that protrudes laterally from the upper portion of the second contact portion 442 . The second pressing portions 444 each face the loading portion 330 of the support member 300.

The second member 440 may have a second plate-like portion 446. The second plate-shaped portion 446 may be a plate-shaped portion extending from the wall portion constituting the second contact portion 442 in the direction opposite to the panel-shaped member 10 that contacts the second contact portion 442. . The second plate portion 446 faces the first plate portion 426 of the first member 420 described above. Specifically, the second plate-like part 446 is located above the first plate-like part 426 and overlaps with the first plate-like part 426 when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the panel-like member 10.

The first member 420 and the second member 440 may be fastened to each other at the first plate portion 426 and the second plate portion 446 by a first fastening member 490 .

The first plate portion 426 of the first member 420 may have a first hole portion 427 through which the first fastening member 490 passes. The second plate portion 446 of the second member 440 may have a second hole portion 447 through which the first fastening member 490 passes. The second hole 447 is aligned with the first hole 427. The first fastening member 490 passes through the first hole 427 and the second hole 447 and fastens the first member 420 and the second member 440 to each other.

By fastening the first member 420, the second member 440, and the support member 300 to each other by the first fastening member 490, the first pressing part 424 and the second pressing part 444 can hold the end of the panel-like member 10 330.

In this embodiment, the first fastening member 490 serves both the role of fastening the first member 420 and the second member 440 to each other and the role of fastening the fastener 400 to the support member 300. Thereby, the number of members for fastening each member can be reduced. Instead of this embodiment, the member that fastens the first member 420 and the second member 440 to each other may be provided separately from the member that fastens the fastener 400 to the support member 300.

In the fastener 400 in this embodiment, the distance between the first pressing part 424 and the second pressing part 444 is configured to be variable. In other words, the first pressing section 424 is configured to be movable relative to the second pressing section 444. More specifically, the fastener 400 connects the first member 420 and the second member 440 to each other using the first fastening member 490 while changing the distance between the first pressing part 424 and the second pressing part 444. Preferably, they are configured to be connectable. Thereby, the distance L between the first contact portion 422 and the second contact portion 442 is configured to be variable.

By configuring the distance between the first pressing part 424 and the second pressing part 444 to be variable, even if the distance between adjacent panel-shaped members 10 varies, the distance between the panel-shaped members 10 It becomes easier to press the end from above to below.

For example, if the spacing between the protrusions 52 on the installation surface 50 on which the panel-shaped member 10 is installed is not uniform, or if the height of the protrusions 52 is not uniform, the spacing between the supporting members 300 may vary, or if the supporting member 300 is It may be installed out of direction. In this case, the spacing between the panel-like members 10 placed on the loading section 330 of the support member 300 may deviate from a predetermined design value. Even in this case, by configuring the distance between the first pressing part 424 and the second pressing part 444 to be variable, the first contact part 422 and the second contact part 442 can be connected to the panel adjacent to each other. The first pressing section 424 and the second pressing section 444 can press the side sections of the panel-shaped members 10 adjacent to each other against the stacking section 330 while making contact with the side sections of the panel-shaped members 10 .

In the illustrated embodiment, the second hole portion 447 formed in the second plate-like portion 446 of the second member 440 extends laterally longer than the core portion 492 of the first fastening member 490 (see FIG. 7). . As a result, even if the second member 440 is laterally shifted to some extent with respect to the first member 420, the second hole portion 447 is aligned with the first hole portion 427. As a result, even if the distance between the first pressing part 424 and the second pressing part 444 is changed to some extent, the fastener 400 is able to maintain the distance between the first member 420 and the second member 444 by the first fastening member 490. are configured so that they can be connected to each other.

In the embodiment described above, the second hole portion 447 extends long in the lateral direction. Alternatively, the first hole portion 427 may extend laterally. In addition, the length of at least one of the first hole portion 427 and the second hole portion 447 is the diameter of the first fastening member 490 in the direction in which the first pressing portion 424 and the second pressing portion 444 are lined up. should be longer than the diameter of the core portion 492.

A plurality of recesses or protrusions 428, 448 for positioning may be formed on the surfaces of the first plate-like part 426 and the second plate-like part 446 that face each other. Specifically, a plurality of positioning recesses or protrusions 428 are formed on the upper surface of the first plate-like part 426, and a plurality of positioning recesses or protrusions 448 are formed on the lower surface of the second plate-like part 446. It is formed. Each of the plurality of positioning recesses or protrusions 428, 448 extends in a direction intersecting the direction in which the first pressing section 424 and the second pressing section 444 are lined up. The positioning recess or projection 428 of the first plate-like portion 426 may be configured to mesh with the positioning recess or projection 448 of the second plate-like portion 446 .

The positioning recesses or protrusions 428 and 448 are used to position the first member 420 and the second member 440 with respect to each other before the first member 420 and the second member 440 are fastened together by the first fastening member 490. . Thereby, when the first member 420 and the second member 440 are fastened by the first fastening member 490, it is possible to suppress the positional shift between the first member 420 and the second member 440.

Instead of the above embodiment, the first member 420 and the second member 440 may not have the recesses or protrusions 428, 448 for positioning.

The first member 420 may have a leg portion 432 and a support portion 434 extending from the first plate portion 426 toward the loading portion 330 . The leg portion 432 may be configured by a portion that continuously extends downward from the first contact portion 422.

The height H11 from the end of the leg portion 432 on the loading portion 330 side, that is, the lower end of the leg portion 432 to the first pressing portion 424, is the thickness of the portion of the panel-shaped member 10 that is pressed by the first pressing portion 424. (Figure 4). Similarly, the height H2 from the end of the second member 440 on the side of the loading section 330, that is, the lower end, to the second pressing section 444 is the thickness of the portion of the panel-shaped member 10 that is pressed by the second pressing section 444. (Fig. 6). That is, when the first pressing part 424 and the second pressing part 444 are in contact with the panel-shaped member 10 and are not receiving the fastening force from the first fastening member 490, the leg part 432 of the first member 420 and the second The lower end of the member 440 is in a floating state from the support member 300.

As a result, when the first member 420 and the second member 440 are fastened to the support member 300 by the first fastening member 490, the first plate portion 426 and the second plate portion 446 move toward the support member 300. It bends. Since force is applied downward to the first pressing section 424 and the second pressing section 444, the first pressing section 424 and the second pressing section 444 can press the end of the panel-shaped member 10 more strongly.

Note that when the first member 420 and the second member 440 are fastened to the support member 300 by the first fastening member 490, the legs 432 of the first member 420 and the lower ends of the second member 440 contact the support member 300. It's fine. In this case, since it is possible to suppress the first plate-like part 426 and the second plate-like part 446 from being bent greatly, the fastening force for fastening the first member 420, the second member 440, and the support member 300 can be prevented from weakening. It can be suppressed.

The support portion 434 of the first member 420 is provided at a position farther from the first pressing portion 424 than the leg portion 432 is. Further, the height H12 from the end of the support portion 434 of the first member 420 on the loading portion 330 side, that is, the lower end of the support portion 434 to the first pressing portion 424 is The thickness may be smaller than or substantially the same as the thickness of the portion pressed against (FIG. 4). Preferably, the height H12 from the lower end of the support part 434 to the first pressing part 424 is greater than the height H11 from the lower end of the leg part 432 to the first pressing part 424. Note that the difference between the height H12 and the height H11 may be, for example, about 1 mm to 5 mm.

As a result, when the first member 420 and the second member 440 are fastened together by the first fastening member 490, the support portion 434 contacts the loading portion 330 before the leg portion 432 contacts the loading portion 330. Therefore, in the process of fastening with the first fastening member 490, the support part 434 supports the first plate part 426 even though the first plate part 426 is bent as described above. Thereby, it is possible to suppress excessive bending of the first plate-like part 426 and the second plate-like part 446, and to suppress a decrease in the fastening force by the support member 300.

The leg portion 432 of the first member 420 may be provided closer to the first pressing portion 424 than the first hole portion 427 . On the other hand, the support portion 434 of the first member 420 is preferably provided on the opposite side of the first pressing portion 424 with respect to the first hole portion 427 . As a result, when the first member 420 and the second member 440 are fastened to the support member 300 by the first fastening member 490, the first plate portion 426 and the second plate portion 446 are largely bent by the support portion 434. You can control things even more.

As described above, the content of the present invention has been disclosed through the embodiments, but the statements and drawings that form part of this disclosure should not be understood as limiting the present invention. Various alternative embodiments, implementations, and operational techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is determined only by the matters specifying the invention in the claims that are reasonable from the above description.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the leg portion 432 of the first member 420 is provided closer to the first pressing portion 424 than the first hole portion 427, and the support portion 434 of the first member 420 is provided closer to the first pressing portion 424 than the first hole portion 427. The first pressing portion 424 is provided on the opposite side with respect to the first pressing portion 424 . However, the positions of the leg portions 432 and the support portions 434 are not particularly limited as long as the first member 420 and the second member 440 can be fastened to each other. Further, one or both of the leg portions 432 and the support portions 434 may be omitted.

Further, in the above embodiment, at least one of the first hole 427 and the second hole 447 through which the first fastening member 490 is passed is an elongated hole, so that the first pressing portion 424 and the second pressing portion 444 The distance between them is configured to be variable. Instead, for example, the distance between the first pressing part 424 and the second pressing part 444 is configured to be variable by connecting the first member 420 and the second member with an elastic body such as a spring. You can. In this case, the fastener 400 does not need to be separated into the first member 420 and the second member 440, if possible.

10 Panel-shaped member 50 Installation surface 100 Fixture 300 Support member 400 Fastener 420 First member 424 First pressing part 426 First plate-shaped part 427 First hole part 440 Second member 444 Second pressing part 446 Second plate-shaped Part 447 Second hole part 490 First fastening member

Claims (7)

A fastener,
a first member including a first pressing portion that presses an end of one of the first panel members adjacent to each other from above;
a second member that is different from the first member and includes a second pressing portion that presses an end of the other second panel member of the mutually adjacent panel members from above;
The distance between the first pressing part and the second pressing part is configured to be variable,
The fastener is configured to be able to connect the first member and the second member to each other while changing the distance between the first pressing part and the second pressing part,
The first member has a first plate-shaped portion,
The second member has a second plate-like part facing the first plate-like part,
A fastener, wherein a plurality of recesses or protrusions for positioning are formed on surfaces of the first plate-like part and the second plate-like part that face each other. The first plate-shaped part has a first hole through which the fastening member passes,
The fastener according to claim 1 , wherein the second plate portion has a second hole through which the fastening member passes and is aligned with the first hole. According to claim 2 , the length of at least one of the first hole portion and the second hole portion is longer than the diameter of the fastening member in the direction in which the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion are lined up. Fasteners as listed. According to any one of claims 1 to 3 , each of the plurality of positioning recesses or protrusions extends in a direction intersecting a direction in which the first pressing part and the second pressing part are lined up. Fasteners. The first member has a support portion extending from the first plate-like portion toward a loading portion that supports the first panel-like member from below,
The fastener according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the support part is provided on the opposite side of the first pressing part with respect to the first hole part. The first member is
Legs extending from the first plate-shaped part toward a loading part that supports the first panel-shaped member from below;
a support part extending from the first plate-shaped part toward the loading part,
The support portion is provided at a position farther from the first pressing portion than the leg portion,
The height from the end of the support part on the loading part side to the first pressing part is greater than the height of the leg part from the end part on the loading part side to the first pressing part. The fastener described in any one of Items 1 to 5 . A fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
a support member including a loading section that supports the first panel-like member and the second panel-like member from below;
The first pressing section and the second pressing section are arranged to face the loading section.

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