US20130082014A1

US20130082014A1 - Device for fastening at least one solar module

Info

Publication number: US20130082014A1
Application number: US13/511,075
Authority: US
Inventors: Matthias Nitzko; Susanne Geis; Kai Rothfuchs; Simon Schaller; Nico Baumann; Christof Lagaly; Sandra Foster
Original assignee: Juwi R and D Res and Dev & Co KG GmbH
Current assignee: JUWI TECHNOLOGIES GmbH; Juwi R and D Res and Dev & Co KG GmbH
Priority date: 2009-11-21
Filing date: 2010-10-30
Publication date: 2013-04-04
Also published as: WO2011060754A2; EP2502008A2; DE102009054242A1; DE202010018095U1; WO2011060754A3

Abstract

A device for fastening at least one solar module, in particular a photovoltaic module, includes at least one module carrier on which at least one holding part for force fitting and/or form fitting fastening of the solar module is arranged. The holding part is configured for supporting at least one solar module.

Description

The invention relates to a device for fastening at least one solar module, in particular a photovoltaic module, having at least one module carrier on which at least one holding part for force fitting and/or form fitting fastening of the solar module is arranged.
DE 199 34 073 B4 discloses a device for fastening solar modules, which have a profile frame, wherein friction fitting connection is formed between the frame of the solar module and a carrier profile. A latching connection is established between the carrier profile and the frame by means of a clamping element. The connection between the clamping element and the carrier profile is formed by an angled part which is arranged on the clamping element and which form fittingly engages behind a cranking of a leg of the carrier profile and by a stop for the carrier profile which stop is arranged on the clamping element and prevents a lateral shifting of the carrier profile relative to the clamping element in the plane of the cross section of the carrier profile. Problematic is the particular configuration of the frame of the solar module which has to be configured to be clipped.
DE 20 2006 012 495 U1 describes a module carrier for a solar module series having a lower chord with a seating surface for seating the module carrier on a support surface of a support structure which support surface is tilted from the horizontal with a defined tilt angle, and an upper chord with a mounting side which is spaced apart and parallel to the seating surface of the lower chord for a fastening of solar modules in series. A main bridge securely connects the lower chord with the upper chord below a defined tilting angle. The upper chord has a mounting groove which is undercut and open toward the mounting side, which mounting groove serves for fastening the solar module by means of screwable module clamps. For this, slot nuts with an internal threading are inserted into the mounting groove. This configuration is disadvantageous insofar as on one hand water accumulates in the mounting groove, which leads to corrosion of the module carrier and on the other hand the mounting by means of slot nuts which are movable in the mounting groove is relatively time consuming.
The object of the invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned type, which serves for a secure fastening of add-on components at a small installation effort.
According to the invention, the object is solved in that the holding part is configured for supporting at least one solar module.
Based on this configuration, for fastening a solar module, the solar module is placed on the holding part, in particular border side, i.e. on the border of an outer row of an arrangement of solar modules which are preferably configured as photovoltaic modules, and securely fastened at a small installation effort, in particular by means of a clip plate, which is explained below. Further, force and/or form fitting fastening enables a geometry of the module carrier, in which at least in the mounting region of the holding parts no water accumulates.
According to a refinement, the holding part serves for supporting two solar modules on sides opposing the module carrier. As a result, the holding part makes it possible to support two solar modules of neighboring rows on both sides of the module carrier, wherein the number of the holding parts is reduced compared to the state of the art and with this also the installation effort. The module carrier can be fastened on any subsurface or frame either fixedly or movable together with further module carriers which are arranged parallel to one another as well as spaced apart in a grid spacing which is determined by the solar modules. In particular, the holding part is significantly shorter than the module carrier and/or the solar module and is cut, for example by sawing, from a rod material.
The holding part is configured to be force and/or form fittingly fixed on an upper chord of the module carrier, wherein the tube-shaped module carrier in particular has a square-shaped, preferably a trapeze-shaped cross section. Thus, the module carrier, which is manufactured as drawn or extruded part, in particular from aluminum is constructed statically stable at a relatively small weight and can therefore be manufactured cost effectively.
Advantageously, the upper chord is connected to the lower chord via bridges so that extending on both sides of the module carrier and along the longitudinal axis of the module projections for the holding part are formed in the region of the upper chord, and protrusions are formed which extend in the region of the lower chord, wherein at least one of the protrusions serves for fixing the module carrier on at least one slanted carrier of a support structure. The upper chord can for example extend parallel to the lower chord and the bridges which connect the upper chord to the lower chord to form a box profile are spaced apart relative to the outer longitudinal edges of the upper chord or respectively the lower chord, so that necessarily projections or respectively, protrusions which are configured according to demand are present. The slanted carrier of the frame is for example fixed in a kind of triangle joint on a support which can be vertically fixed in the ground.
Preferably, the holding part has a base bridge which on its top side serves for supporting at least one solar module and from whose bottom side a hook and a clip arm extend spaced apart for fixing the holding part on the protrusions of the upper chord. The base bridge extends for example over the width of the module carrier, so that solar modules of neighboring rows can preferably be supported on both sides of the module carrier. If the holding part is intended for mounting on a border side, the base plate can of course be configured so that only one solar module is to be supported. For example, one of the protrusions in the region of the upper chord is configured in the manner of a tongue, which has a radially shaped thickening on its end side, for engagement of the hook of the holding part which hook has a geometry which corresponds to the thickening. The other projection is configured in the shape of a rectangular attachment for fixing the holding part on the upper chord, which attachment is overlapped by the clip arm on the bottom side of the base bridge of the holding part.
For fast tool less mounting, the holding part expediently engages with a clip plate on the top side, which clip plate fixes the solar module which is supported on the base bridge. The clip plate, which is for example made of corrosion free steel is force and/or form fittingly connected to the holding part which is fixed on the module carrier and causes the solar module which rests on the base bridge to be held.
In order to be able to manufacture the holding part in a simple manner for example as extruded or drawn aluminum part, the holding part has preferably two spaced apart legs which extend perpendicular from the top side of the base bridge, at least one first one of which legs has a clip nose which is oriented in the direction of the opposing second leg for fastening the clip plate. Expediently, the second leg of the holding part extends further than the first leg and is provided with at least one groove for border side insertion of the clip plate, wherein the second leg preferably has a pre-tensioning bridge which extends in the direction of the first leg, and whose free front edge slightly extends over the upper edge of the first leg. In a further embodiment, the clip plate has a hook-shaped engagement element on the longitudinal side which is associated with the second leg, which engagement element engages in the groove of the second leg, and an elastic clip arm which engages with the clip nose of the first leg, wherein the clip plate extends over the first leg and the adjoining support region of the base bridge, in order to fix the solar module border side. Thus when mounting the clip plate, the clip plate is first introduced into the groove, deformed via the pre-tensioning bridge and subsequently clipped in.
In order to facilitate mounting, a bridge advantageously extends from the second leg of the holding part which bridge extends over the base bridge for forming a receiving groove for the solar module. When placing a solar module, the latter is inserted with one of its sides into the receiving groove of the holding part of a first module carrier, which receiving groove is formed between the bridge, the second leg and the base bridge, and placed on the base bridge of the holding part of a second module carrier and fastened with the clip plate.
For protecting the edges of the solar module and to fasten the solar module in a slide-prove manner at least the base bridge of the holding part has indentations for fastening a rubber profile.
The object on which the invention is based is also solved with a device for fastening at least one solar module, in particular a photovoltaic-module, with at least one module carrier on which at least one holding part for force fittingly and/or form fittingly fastening a solar module is arranged, in that a cable channel which extends along the longitudinal axis of the module carrier is force fittingly and/or form fittingly connected to the module carrier and/or the holding part.
The cable channel, which in particular is significantly shorter than the module carrier, can thus be connected to the module carrier by simple, tool less clipping, in order to prevent an uncontrolled sagging of cables which are needed for the installation of photovoltaic modules.
For mounting the cable channel, at least one protrusion of the lower chord, of the module carrier which has a substantially trapeze-shaped cross section is configured hook shaped, wherein a holding nose on a bottom side of the cable channel engages with the hook and a nose on a topside of the cable channel either engages behind the a border side of the holding part or engages with a projection which is moulded on a bridge of the module carrier. Expediently, the cable channel has a C-shaped cross section and its bottom side holding nose pivotally engages in the hook-shaped protrusion of the bottom chord. During electrical installation, the cable channel which is in particular manufactured as drawn or extruded aluminum part or manufactured from a plastic is first hooked into the hook shaped protrusion of the lower chord of the module carrier with its lower holding nose at the required site, subsequently the electric cables can be supported on the hooked-in cable channel and finally the cable channel with the supported electric cables is pivoted in the direction of the module carrier and the cable channel is clipped in on the top side.
It is understood that the above mentioned features and the features which still have to be explained in the following can not only be used in the respectively described combination but also in other combinations. The scope of the invention is only defined by the claims.

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by way of several exemplary embodiments with reference to the associated drawings. It is shown in

FIG. 1 a side view of a frame with a device according to the invention

FIG. 2 an enlarged perspective partial representation of the detail

II according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 a side view of the representation according to FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 an enlarged perspective partial representation of the detail

II according to FIG. 1, in an alternative embodiment

FIG. 5 a side view of the representation according to FIG. 4

FIG. 6 a plan view on the representation according to FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 a further perspective partial representation according to FIG. 4,

FIG. 8 a side view of the representation according to FIG. 4 in an alternative embodiment,

FIG. 9 a perspective representation of a detail according to FIG. 7,

FIG. 10 a side view of the representation according to FIG. 9

FIG. 11 a side view of a detail according to FIG. 8 and

FIG. 12 a perspective representation of a holding part according to a detail XII according to FIG. 1.

The support structure for solar modules 19 is formed by multiple adjacently arranged vertical supports 1, a slanted carrier 2 and a strut 3 which is fastened on the support 1 and on the slanted carrier 2, wherein the supports 1 are anchored in the ground, in particular by frames. Each support forms with the slanted carrier 2 which is assigned to the support and with the strut 3 substantially a triangular joint. Extending over several of the slanted carriers 2 which are oriented spaced apart and are arranged rafter like in the framework are module carriers 4 which are fastened purlin like parallel to one another and spaced apart on the slanted carriers 2. Each of the tube shaped module carriers 4 has a square shaped, in particular trapeze shaped cross section, and includes a lower chord 5 which rests on the slanted carrier 2, and from which two bridges 6 extend at an angle, which connect the lower chord 5 to an upper chord 7 extending in parallel to the lower chord so that on both sides of the module carrier 4 and extending along the longitudinal axis of the module carrier 4 projections 8 are formed in the region of the upper chord and protrusions 9 are formed in the region of the lower chord 5.
On one side of the module carrier, the top side projections 8 are formed in the manner of a tongue which has a radially shaped thickening 10 on its end side, and on the other side in the manner of a box profile 11 with a wall 12 which extends perpendicular to the upper chord 7, and which leads into a setback 13 which extends parallel to the upper chord 7, which setback 13 in turn leads into the associated bridge 6 of the module carrier 4. The protrusions 9 in the region of the lower chord 5 are configured as C-shaped hooks 14, 15.
In order to fasten the cables which are needed for the electrical installation of the solar modules 19 on the module carrier 4, a cable channel 16 is provided, which in a first embodiment has a substantially C-shaped cross section and has a clip nose 17 on its bottom side which faces the lower chord 5 as well as on its top side which faces the upper chord 7, wherein the bottom side clip nose 17 engages with the C-shaped hook 14 of the protrusion 9 of the lower chord 5 and the top side clip nose 17 engages with a projection 25 which is moulded on the bridge 6 of the module carrier 4 for fixing the cable channel 16 on the module carrier 4. Of course, the cable channel 16 can also be configured so that its top side clip nose 17 engages with a holding part 18 for force and/or form fitting fastening of the solar module 19, so that the cable channel 16 is arranged on the module carrier 4.
In an alternative embodiment, the cable channel 16 also has a substantially C-shaped cross section and in a concrete arrangement has a bottom 20, from which on one hand a rear wall 21 and on the other hand a holding wall 22 extend at a right angle, wherein in the region of the bottom 20 which faces the holding wall 22, a holding nose 23 is provided which is engaged in the C-shaped hook 14 of the protrusion 9 of the lower chord 5. Adjoining the rear wall 21 at an obtuse angle is a cover wall 24, which on its free end is provided with a topside clip nose 17, which engages with the projection 25 which moulded on the bridge 6 of the module carrier 4.
During mounting, the cable channel 16 is engaged on its bottom side with its holding nose 23 or its clip nose 17 in the C-shaped hook 14 of the protrusion 9 of the lower chord 5 and the top side clip nose 17 does not engage with the projection 25. The cables which are to be laid are inserted into the cable channel 16 for example in the region of the bottom 20 between the rear wall 21 and the holding wall 22, subsequently the cable channel 16 is pivoted about the connection which is formed by the holding nose 23 or respectively, the clip nose 17 and the C-shaped hook 14 of the protrusion 9 and the top side clip nose 17 is brought in engagement with the projection 25. Thus, the cables are securely held on the module carrier 4.
The holding part 18 which is fixed force fittingly and form fittingly on the upper chord 7 of the module carrier 4 serves substantially for fastening the solar module 19 on the support structure, which holding part 18 includes a base bridge 26 which on its top side serves for supporting the solar modules 19 and from whose bottom side a hook 27 and a clip arm 28 extend spaced apart. The hook 27 of the holding part 18 overlaps the radially shaped thickening 10 of the projection 8 of the upper chord 7 on one side of the module carrier 4 and the clip arm 28 extends along the wall 12 and engages behind the setback 13 of the projection 8 of the upper chord 7 on the other side of the module carrier 4. On the top side approximately in the middle of the holding part 18 two spaced apart legs 29, 30 extend perpendicularly from the top side of the base bridge 26, wherein a first leg 30 has a clip nose 31, which is provided for fastening a clip plate 32. The second leg 29 of the holding part 18 extends vertically further than the first leg 30 and has a groove 33 for insertion of a side edge of the clip plate 32. Further, a pre-tensioning bridge 34 is provided on the second leg 29 of the holding part 18, which pre-tensioning bridge 34 extends in the direction of the first leg 30 and whose free front edge slightly extends over the top edge of the first leg. For forming a receiving groove 35 for the solar module 19, a bridge 36 extends from the second leg 29 of the holding part 18, which bridge extends over the base bridge 26. On the side which is opposite the receiving groove 35 the solar module 19 which rests on the base bridge 26 of the holding module 18 is held by the clip plate 32 which is fastened to the holding part 18. For fastening rubber profiles 37 which border the edges of the solar modules in the region of the holding part 18, the holding part 18 is provided with indentations 38.
The clip plate 32 is provided on one hand with a hook shaped engagement element 39, which engages in the groove 33 of the second leg 29 and on the other hand has an elastic clip arm 40 which engages with the clip nose 31 of the first leg 30 of the holding part 18.
During mounting, the holding parts 18 are connected at a predetermined distance to the module carriers 4 which are oriented parallel to one another. The solar modules 19 are fist inserted with their edges into the receiving grooves 35 of the holding parts 18 of a module carrier 4, which receiving grooves 35 are provided with the rubber profiles 37, and placed on base bridges 26 of holding parts 18 of a neighboring module carrier 4 which base bridges 26 also carry rubber profiles 37. Subsequently, the clip plate 32 is inserted with its engagement element 39 into the groove 33 of the second leg 29 of the holding part 18 and with a pivoting movement of the elastic clip arm 40 of the clip plate 32 brought into latching engagement with the clip nose 31 of the first leg 30 of the holding part 18, so that the solar module 19 is fastened between the base bridge 26 of the holding part 18 and the clip plate 32.
In order to fasten solar modules 19 on a border side, it is possible to configure the holding part 18 in an alternative manner, namely on one hand so that it only has a receiving groove 35 and on the other hand that as shown in FIG. 12 no receiving groove but only an end side support for the solar module 19 is provided, on which it can be fastened with the clip plate 32 in the described manner. Of course, the base bridge 26 can again be provided with the indentation 38 for a rubber profile 37.


List of reference signs

1.	Support
2.	Slanted carrier
3.	Strut
4.	Module carrier
5.	Lower chord
6.	Bridge
7.	Upper chord
8.	Projection
9.	Protrusion
10.	Thickening
11.	Box profile
12.	Wall
13.	Setback
14.	Hook
15.	Hook
16.	Cable channel
17.	Clip nose
18.	Holding part
19.	Solar module
20.	Bottom
21.	Rear wall
22.	Holding wall
23.	Holding nose
24.	Cover wall
25.	Projection
26.	Base bridge
27.	Hook
28.	Clip arm
29.	Second leg
30.	First leg
31.	Clip nose
32.	Clip plate
33.	Groove
34.	Pre-tensioning bridge
35.	Receiving groove
36.	Bridge
37.	Rubber profile
38.	Indentation
39.	Engagement element
40.	Clip arm

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A device for fastening at least one solar module, comprising:

at least one module carrier; and

at least one holding part arranged on the at least one carrier module, said holding part being configured for supporting at least one solar module and for force fitting and/or form fitting fastening of the solar module to the at least one module carrier.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the solar module is constructed as a photovoltaic module.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the holding part is configured for supporting a solar module on each of two opposite sides of the module carrier.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the module carrier is configured tubular and has an upper chord, and wherein the holding part is force fittingly and/or form fittingly fixed on the upper chord.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the module carrier has a square cross section.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the module carrier has a trapeze shaped cross section.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the upper chord is connected to a lower chord of the module carrier via bridges, wherein the module carrier has projections extending on both sides of the module carrier and along a longitudinal axis of the module carrier in a region of the upper chord for attachment of the holding part, and protrusions extending on said both sides along the longitudinal axis in a region of the lower chord, and wherein at least one of the protrusions is configured for fixing the module carrier on at least one slanted support of a frame.

22. The device of claim 15, wherein the holding part has a base bridge, said base bridge having a top side and a bottom side, said top side being configured for supporting at least one solar module, wherein a first hook and a clip arm extend in spaced apart relationship with one another from the bottom side for fixing the holding part on the projections in the region of the upper chord.

23. The device of claim 15, further comprising a clip plate in engaging relationship with a top side of the holding part, said clip plate being configured for securing the solar module on the base bridge.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the holding part has two legs, said two legs being spaced apart from one another and extending from the top side of the base bridge, wherein at least a first one of the two legs has a clip nose which is oriented in a direction of a second one of the two legs for fastening the clip plate.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the second leg extends further from the top side of the base bridge than the first leg, said second leg being provided with at least one groove for receiving a side edge of the clip plate.

26. The device of claim 24, wherein the second leg has a pre-tensioning bridge which extends in a direction of the first leg, and wherein a free front edge of the pre-tensioning bridge slightly extends over a top edge of the first leg.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the side edge is an edge of a longitudinal side of the clip plate, said longitudinal side having a hook shaped engagement element and an elastic clip arm, wherein the engagement element engages in the at least one groove of the second leg, wherein the elastic clip arm engages with the clip nose of the first leg, and wherein the clip plate extends over the first leg and a support region of the base bridge adjoining the first leg for fixing a border side the solar module.

28. The device of claim 24, wherein the second leg has a bridge, said bridge extending from the second leg over the base bridge to form a receiving groove for receiving the solar module.

29. The device of claim 22, wherein at least the base bridge of the holding part has indentations for fastening a rubber profile.

30. A device for fastening at least one solar module, comprising:

at least one module carrier;

at least one holding part arranged on the at least one carrier module, said holding part being configured for force fitting and/or form fitting fastening of the solar module to the at least one module carrier; and

a cable channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the module carrier and being force fittingly and/or form fittingly connected to the module carrier and/or the holding part.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the module carrier is configured tubular and has a substantially trapeze shaped cross section, wherein the module carrier has an upper chord and a lower chord, said upper and lower chord being connected to one another via bridges, wherein the module carrier has projections extending on both sides of the module carrier and along a longitudinal axis of the module carrier in a region of the upper chord for attachment of the holding part, and protrusions extending on said both sides along the longitudinal axis in a region of the lower chord, and wherein at least one of the protrusions is configured for fixing the module carrier on at least one slanted support of a frame, wherein the holding part has a base bridge, said base bridge having a top side and a bottom side, said top side being configured for supporting at least one solar module, wherein a first hook and a clip arm extend in spaced apart relationship with one another from the bottom side for fixing the holding part on the projections in the region of the upper chord, wherein another projection is formed on one of the bridges which connect the upper chord to the lower chord, wherein at least one of the protrusions which extend in the region of the lower chord is configured as a second hook, wherein a bottom side of the cable channel has a holding nose or a clip nose, said holding nose or clip nose engaging with the second hook, wherein a top side of the cable channel has a nose, said nose engaging behind an edge of the first hook of the holding part or engaging with the other projection.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the nose is configured as a clip nose.

33. The device of claim 31, wherein the cable channel has a C-shaped cross section, and wherein the holding nose pivotally engages in the hook shaped protrusion in the region of the lower chord.