WO2012156790A1

WO2012156790A1 - Element for anchoring to the ground at least one bearing structure

Info

Publication number: WO2012156790A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/000766
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mauro Zenobi
Original assignee: Ack Ventures S.R.L
Priority date: 2011-05-16
Filing date: 2012-04-18
Publication date: 2012-11-22
Also published as: ITMI20110853A1

Abstract

Element (1 ) for anchoring to the ground (100) at least one bearing structure (2), comprising at least one pin (4) provided with at least a first threaded portion (4a) for screwing said anchoring element (1 ) to the ground and at least a second threaded portion (4b) for constraining said at least one bearing structure (2) to said anchoring element, a first (5) and a second nut (6) screwable to said at least a second threaded portion (4b) on opposite sides of said at least one bearing structure (2), characterized in that said first and said second nut (5, 6) are provided with at least one surface of head (5a, 6a), substantially having the shape of spherical cap, couplable by shape, directly or indirectly, to said at least one bearing structure (2) for adjusting the tilt of said at least one bearing structure (2).

Description

"ELEMENT FOR ANCHORING TO THE GROUND AT LEAST ONE

BEARING STRUCTURE"

* * * *

DESCRIPTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an element for anchoring to the ground at least one bearing structure. In particular, such an anchoring element, in conjunction with other like elements, is particularly adapted to be employed for anchoring to the ground at least one photovoltaic panel provided with a bearing structure.

KNOWN PREVIOUS ART

In fact, as it is known, the energy production systems based on the solar energy require the commitment of a ground surface proportional to the energy intended to be collect and transformed. The same occurs, although less popular, for the thermodynamic solar when an assembly of parabolas focuses the sun on a receiver tube passed through by a heat transfer fluid collecting the solar energy in order to generate electric energy, or simply to provide heat. In this instance too the ground surface to be occupied becomes proportional to the quantity of energy to be produced.

This involves that in order to have significant powers from such solar systems a suitable amount of ground has to be occupied and fastening means need to be provided able to support the stresses produced by the above structures, due to the weight thereof or the wind action.

It is known, as well, that there are systems for the fastening to the ground making use of reinforced concrete for the realization of the plinths needed for the creation of the anchorages. These kinds of fastening systems, however, are less and less employed since they are slow to realize and notoriously considered not ecologically sustainable.

Further, systems for fastening the photovoltaic panels to the ground are known comprising a plurality of anchoring elements, for example, of metal screws type large in size which, once screwed to the ground without using concrete, are able to sustain the required stresses. In general such used screws have a threaded portion allowing both the screwing, or fastening, of the screw to the ground, and the fastening of the bearing structure of the photovoltaic panel to the screw itself. In particular, the fastening between the bearing structure and the screw becomes possible due to the known system composed by the couple nut/ lock nut and the fastening top nut. The couple nut/ lock nut is utilized for adjusting the height of the rest point, whereas the top nut is used for blocking the above mentioned bearing structure to the ground screw. Usually two washers are always used, a top and a bottom washer coupled with corresponding flat surfaces present on the bearing structure of the photovoltaic panel, on opposite sides thereof, for the better distribution of stresses between the tightened parts. However the ground screws, just because of being fastened to the ground, notoriously anisotropic material, are never exactly arranged according to the vertical axis and this results in the bearing structure resting on a point rather than on the flat surface of the two opposite washers, making the anchorage critical from a structural point of view.

This causes that a bearing structure, sustained by several ground screw, rests on as many points as the ground screws, rather than resting on flat surfaces able to reduce the concentration of the stresses acting on the structure itself.

The object of the present invention is to realize an anchoring element of the ground screw type that, also if sunk into the ground according to an angle different from zero with respect to the vertical, however provides to the bearing structure of a photovoltaic panel, or of a generic body to be fastened to the ground, a rest able to compensate for the orthogonality mistake of the anchoring element itself and, none the less, realized on a surface rather than a point. Further object is to realize an anchoring element which is simple and allows, however, reducing the time of installation of photovoltaic panels to the ground or, otherwise, of any other body to the ground.

These and other objects are reached by the element for anchoring to the ground at least one bearing structure, comprising at least one pin provided with at least one first threaded portion for screwing said anchoring element to the ground and at least one second threaded portion for constraining said at least one bearing structure to said anchoring element, a first and a second nut screwable to said at least one second threaded portion on opposite sides of said at least one bearing structure, said anchoring element being characterized in that said first and said second nut are provided with at least one surface of head substantially having the shape of spherical cap couplable by shape, directly or indirectly, to said at least one bearing structure for adjusting the tilt of said at least one bearing structure.

Note that hereinafter and in the following with surface having the shape of substantially spherical cap a surface obtained by splitting a sphere by any one plane secant the sphere itself is meant.

In practice, due to the fact that said first and said second nut are both screwable to the pin and coupled, directly or indirectly, to said bearing structure by the surface substantially having the shape of spherical cup, it is possible not only to correct any orthogonality mistake of any anchoring element with respect to the ground, exploiting the spherical cap surface of the two nuts as rest surface, but also finely adjusting the height of the bearing structure with respect to the ground. Such a solution allows, further, to install said bearing structures, preferably adapted to sustain photovoltaic panels, in highly easy and fast way and by using existing techniques and equipments. Further, said anchoring element comprises a lock nut screwable to said at least a second threaded portion of said at least one pin, below said second nut, to block said second nut in position. This avoids that said second nut can axially slide during the used of said anchoring element. In addition, such a lock nut allows, in any case, the axial sliding along said second threaded portion of the second nut and, thus, the height adjustment of said bearing structure.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, said surfaces of head of said first and second nut are couplable by shape to respective seats with a spherical cap shape obtained in a hole of said at least one bearing structure. In substance, the rest surfaces between the anchoring element and the bearing structure have the shape of spherical cap and, thus, the load of the structure, acting on the blocking element, is divided on a surface rather than a point, as in the known art. Such an embodiment is adapted to correct for small orthogonality mistakes of the anchoring element with respect to the ground.

In accordance with a second alternative embodiment of the invention, said anchoring element comprises, as well, a first and a second leveling ring each provided with a first coupling surface substantially having a spherical cap shape and couplable by shape to the surface of head of said first and said second nut, respectively, and with a second coupling surface, substantially flat, couplable on opposite sides of said at least one bearing structure to corresponding flat surfaces of said at least one supporting frame. Therefore, in this embodiment the rest surfaces between each anchoring element and said at least one structure is flat, differently from the preceding case wherein such a rest surface is a spherical cap, or a portion thereof. Such an alternative embodiment can be used for both small and large orthogonality mistakes of the anchoring element with respect to the ground. In effect, the two leveling rings, during the installation of the bearing structure, can also slightly slide on the two coupling flat surfaces present on the structure, also remaining not perfectly concentric one to another, however ensuring the contact, on one side, with the surfaces of head having the shape of spherical cap of the two nuts and, on the other side, with the flat surfaces of the bearing structure. Finally, said at least a first and a second threaded portion of said at least one pin are provided with distinct - pitch thread. In practice, said at least one first threaded portion is provided with coarse-pitch thread, for coarse adjustments of the height of the structure, whereas said at least one second threaded portion is provided with fine-pitch thread for fine adjustments of the height of the bearing structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For purposes of illustrations and not limitative, more particular preferred embodiments of the present invention will be now provided with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

figure 1 is a side view of an anchoring element according to the invention;

figure 2 is a side view of an anchoring element in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Referring particularly to these figures, with numeral 1 an anchoring element according to the invention is shown.

In figure 1 , a generic element (1 ) for anchoring to the ground for the bearing structure 2 of a photovoltaic panel (her not shown) is shown. According to such an embodiment such an anchoring element 1 comprises a pin 4 provided with a first threaded portion 4a for the screwing of said anchoring element 1 to the ground 100 and a second threaded portion 4b for constraining said bearing structure 2 to said anchoring element 1 , and a first 5 and second nut 6 screwable to said second threaded portion 4b from opposite sides of said bearing portion 2. According to the invention, said first 5 and said second nut 6 are provided with a surface of head 5a, 6a, substantially having the shape of spherical cap couplable by shape directly to said structure 2 for adjusting the tilt of said bearing structure 2, in such a way to compensate for possible orthogonality mistakes of said anchoring element 1 , when it is sunk in, or screwed to the ground.

Note that in the embodiment described in figure 1 , said anchoring element 1 comprises a lock nut 7 screwable to said second threaded portion 4b of said pin 4, below said second nut 6, for blocking said second nut 6 in stable position. Further, said surfaces of head 5a, 6a of said first 5 and second nut 6 are coupled by shape to respective seats 8 substantially having the shape of spherical cap obtained in a hole 30 of said bearing structure 2. Obviously said hole 30 is crossed by said pin 4.

In figure 2 a second embodiment of the invention in shown. In such an embodiment the anchoring element 1 comprises, as well, a first 9 and a second 10 leveling ring each provided with a first coupling surface 9a, 10a substantially having the shape of spherical cap and couplable by shape to the surface of head 5a, 6a substantially having the shape of spherical cap of said first 5 and said second nut 6, respectively, and with a second coupling surface 9b, 10b, substantially flat, couplable from opposite sides of the structure 2, to corresponding flat surfaces 2a, 2b of said structure 2. According to such an embodiment, thus, the two surfaces of head 5a and 6a are not directly coupled with the bearing structure 2, but indirectly via said first 9 and said second 10 leveling ring. In practice, during the installation, before the definitive tightening of the first nut 5, the second nut 6 and the lock nut 7 the tilt of the structure 2 can be slightly modified, by also slightly sliding said leveling rings 9 and 10 on the bearing structure 2, and thereby compensating the orthogonality mistake of the anchoring element 3, when it is sunk in, or screwed to the ground 00. In this way, the two leveling rings 9 and 10 can also be arranged non concentrically one to another and, thus, with respect to the hole 30, however the two surfaces of head 5a and 6a of the two nuts 5 and 6 remain coupled with the coupling surfaces 9a, 10a, substantially having the shape of spherical cap, present on the two leveling rings 9a and 10a, for a part of the common surface having the shape of a spherical cap.

In addition, due to the presence of the two leveling rings 9, 10 the load of the bearing structure 2 acting on each anchoring element 3 comprised in the fastening system (herein not shown) is distributed on the coupling flat surface 10b, rather than on a single point. This allows to make the fastening of the structure 2 to the ground 100 more reliable. Further, the presence of the lock nut 7 allows to adjust in height the bearing structure 2 of the photovoltaic panel, in conjunction with blocking the second nut 6 in stable position.

Further, in both the above described embodiments the first 4a and second threaded portion 4b have distinct pitch threads. In particular, the first threaded portion 4a is provided with coarse pitch thread, in such a way to coarse adjust the height of the bearing structure 2, whereas the second threaded portion 4b is provided with fine-pitch thread, in such a way to fine adjust the height of the bearing structure 2 from the ground.

Finally, said anchoring element comprises an abutting portion 80 which is disposed between said first coarse pitch thread 4a, and said second fine- pitch thread 4b, in such a way that it is possible to set the greatest depth with respect to which to sink, or screw, the anchoring element 1 to the ground. It has to be observed that, although herein two embodiments are shown, wherein the surfaces of head 5a and 6a, having the shape of spherical cap, of said first 5 and said second nut 6, are convex, whereas the seats 8 having the shape of spherical cap obtained in said hole 30 as well as the coupling surfaces 9a and 10a, also having the shape of spherical cap, of said first 9 and said second leveling ring 10, are concave, nevertheless embodiments wherein the surfaces of head 5a and 6a having substantially the shape of spherical cap of said first 5 and said second nut 6 are concave, whereas the seats 8 substantially having the shape of spherical cap obtained in said hole 30, as well as the coupling surfaces 9a and 10a also having substantially the shape of spherical cap of said first 9 and said second leveling ring 10, are convex, still fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. Element (1) for anchoring to the ground (100) at least one bearing structure (2), comprising at least one pin (4) provided with at least a first threaded portion (4a) for screwing said anchoring element (1 ) to the ground and at least a second threaded portion (4b) for constraining said at least one bearing structure (2) to said anchoring element, a first (5) and a second nut (6) screwable to said at least a second threaded portion (4b) on opposite sides of said at least one bearing structure (2), characterized in that said first and said second nut (5, 6) are provided with at least one surface of head (5a, 6a), substantially having the shape of spherical cap, couplable by shape, directly or indirectly, to said at least one bearing structure (2) for adjusting the tilt of said at least one bearing structure (2).

2. Element (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising a lock nut (7) screwable to said at least a second threaded portion (4b) of said at least one pin (4), below said second nut (6), to block said second nut (6) in position.

3. Element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said surfaces of head (5a, 6a) of said first (5) and second (6) nut are couplable by shape directly to respective seats (8) with a substantially spherical cap shape obtained in a hole (30) of said at least one bearing structure (2).

4. Element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising, as well, a first (9) and a second (10) leveling ring each provided with a first coupling surface (9a, 10a) substantially having a spherical cap shape and couplable by shape to the surface of head (5a, 6a) of said first (5) and said second (6) nut, respectively, and with a second coupling surface (9b, 10b), substantially flat, couplable on opposite sides of said at least one bearing structure (2) to corresponding flat surfaces (2a, 2b) of said at least one supporting frame (2).

5. Element (1 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least a first (4a) and a second (4b) threaded portion of said at least one pin (4) are provided with distinct - pitch thread.

6. Element (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said at least a first threaded portion (4a) is provided with coarse - pitch thread and said a second threaded portion (4b) is provided with a fine - pitch thread.

7. Element (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising an abutting portion (80) disposed between said at least a first thread (4a) and said at least a second thread (4b).

8. System for fastening to the ground at least one supporting structure (2), characterized by comprising one or more of said anchoring elements (1 ) according to one or more of claims from 1 to 7.