WO2013050168A1

WO2013050168A1 - Photovoltaic framework, purlin assembly and connecting element

Info

Publication number: WO2013050168A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/004178
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kai Rothfuchs; Susanne Geis
Original assignee: Juwi R & D Research & Development Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2011-10-06
Filing date: 2012-10-05
Publication date: 2013-04-11
Also published as: DE102011114976A1; DE202012012830U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting element that is suitable for connecting one end of a first purlin in a framework for a photovoltaic and/or solar thermal plant to one end of a second purlin of said frame, the end of said second purlin adjoining the end of the first purlin, wherein a first end and a first end area adjoining this first end and intended for interaction with the first purlin is provided, a second end and a second end area adjoining this second end and intended for interaction with the second purlin is provided, and a support surface in the first end area is provided, the normal of said support surface pointing in the direction of the second end or having a component that points in the direction of the second end.

Description

"Photovoltaic frame, purlin assembly and connector"

The invention relates to a connecting part which is suitable for connecting one end of a first purlin of a frame of a photovoltaic and / or solar thermal system to one end of a second purlin adjoining the end of the first purlin of this frame. Furthermore, the invention relates to a purlin assembly with a first purlin of a frame of a photovoltaic and / or solar thermal system with one end and a second purlin with one end adjacent to the end of the first purlin. Likewise, the invention relates to a frame with at least one photovoltaic module or a solar thermal module.

In the description of the frames of photovoltaic and / or solar plants, it has become common to refer to the structure of a roof truss, the inclined girders as a "binder." On the sloping trusses are comparable to a transverse battens of a roof truss the "purlins "arranged. The purlins are considered to be the crossbars supported by the binders. The use of the term "purlin" is, however, limited in the description to such elements carried by binders.

It has been tried in photovoltaic and / or solar thermal systems to build the frame with as few components and in particular with as few pipes or rods together. This has been an attempt to reduce the time required for building a photovoltaic and / or solar thermal system. This approach has meant that as long as possible rods or tubes were used.

CONFIRMATION COPY However, it has now been shown that the use of long pipes and rods is disadvantageous. On the one hand, it is difficult to handle long bars and pipes on the construction site. On the other hand, it has been shown that manufacturing costs for the tubes, or rods can be saved if these tubes, or rods in a standard size, or in a small number of standard sizes are produced.

This leads to the fact that the frames of photovoltaic and / or solar thermal systems are constructed of rods or tubes, which were composed of several individual rods, or several individual tubes. In order to produce such a composite of several individual rods rod, or such a composite of several individual tubes so that it meets the load requirements of a frame of a photovoltaic and / or solar thermal system, high demands are made on the connection of the end of a single tube or - Staff to put with the adjacent end of the other single tube or rod. Against this background, the invention is based on the object

Propose connecting member, a purlin assembly and a frame with at least one photovoltaic module or a solar thermal module, which allow an alternative connection of one end of a first purlin with one end of a second purlin.

This object is achieved by the connecting component according to claim 1, the purlin assembly according to claim 7 and the frame according to claim 10. Advantageous embodiments are given in the subclaims and the following description.

The connecting component according to the invention is based on the basic idea of providing, in a first end region adjacent to its first end, a supporting surface whose surface normal points in the direction of the second end, or has a component pointing in the direction of the second end. A support surface oriented in this way is suitable for having a contact surface of a first

Pfette cooperate, which in turn is oriented such that its surface normal is aligned substantially opposite to the surface normal of the support surface. The support surface thus aligned and provided in the first end region thus makes it possible to hold the first purlin in a form-fitting or frictionally engaged manner by cooperation of the support surface with the contact surface such that the first purlin can not be moved in a direction away from the second purlin. In order to be able to fulfill this task during its subsequent installation in a purlin assembly, the separately negotiable connection component also has the support surface, which has been aligned as described above, in the first end region. As will be explained in more detail below in connection with the description of the purlin assembly according to the invention, it is possible for the second end region to be connected to the second purlin in a different manner than for the interaction of a support surface with a contact surface. In a preferred embodiment, however, the connection component according to the invention has a support surface provided in the second end region, whose surface normal points in the direction of the first end or whose surface normal has a component pointing in the direction of the first end. Such a formed connecting member allows both the connection of the connecting member with the first purlin and the connection of the

To provide connecting member with the second purlin through the cooperation between a support surface and a contact surface. This also offers advantages for the installation of such a connection component in a purlin assembly. Namely, the connecting member may particularly preferably be made symmetrical. As a result, it can be installed quickly because the fitter does not have to pay attention to which end of the connecting member he connects with which purlin.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the support surface provided in the first end region is an end surface of a latching tongue provided in the first end region. As a latching tongue is particularly preferably understood a rod-shaped, in particular preferably designed with a rectangular cross-section component which is firmly connected at one end to form a connection point with a base body and projecting from this connection point on the base of the base body and opposite this connection point a Endface has. Particularly preferably, the connection of the latching tongue to the base body is selected such that the latching tongue is resiliently biased in a basic position, in which it can spring back after deflection from the basic position. Particularly preferably, the latching tongue is punched out of the base material forming the base material and formed into its basic position. The cross section of the latching tongue does not necessarily have to be rectangular, but is particularly preferably rectangular. The length of the latching tongue (the distance between the connection point and the end surface) may be greater than the width of the latching tongue, so that the latching tongue assumes a more pin-like shape. Likewise, the length of the latching tongue may be smaller than its width, for example to produce a particularly large end surface.

The support surface provided according to the invention need not be formed by the end face of a latching tongue. Solutions are also conceivable in which a connecting part produced, for example, from a strip material has an integrally formed shoulder whose surface forms the supporting surface. In a preferred embodiment, a latching tongue is provided which projects in a first direction and provides a further latching tongue projecting in the opposite direction. The use of several, projecting in different directions locking tongues offers, depending on the arrangement of the locking tongues, various advantages. Thus, a connecting part according to the invention can be embodied such that a first latching tongue projects in a first direction relative to a base body of the connecting component and has a support surface in the form of an end region at the end of the latching tongue whose surface normal points in the direction of the second end or whose surface normal is one Component facing toward the second end. The further latching tongue can be designed so that it protrudes from the same base body, but in the opposite direction, so that, for example, the first latching tongue at the top of a base body and the second latching tongue is formed projecting down on the base body. This second latching tongue can then likewise have an end face whose surface normal points in the direction of the second end or whose surface normal has a component which points in the direction of the second end. This makes it possible for the connecting part to cooperate with the latching tongue pointing upwards, for example, with the end of a purlin, into which this end of the connecting component is pushed, while the latching tongue pointing downwards, for example, is connected to a long body, which is likewise in the first

Purlin is inserted.

There are also arrangements of several locking tongues are possible in which two locking tongues next to each other, projecting in the same direction and aligned with respect to the orientation of their end face aligned with a base body can be arranged.

According to a preferred embodiment of the connecting component according to the invention which has already been explained in more detail, a support surface provided in the second end region is provided, whose surface normal points in the direction of the first end or whose surface normal has a component pointing in the direction of the first end. In such an embodiment, a latching tongue may be provided which is disposed in the first end region and which protrudes in a first direction such that its end surface has a surface normal to form a support surface facing toward the second end or has a component that is in Direction to the second end points. In such a

Embodiment may then be provided a second latching tongue which is provided in the second end region and projects in the opposite direction, so that they still project on the same side of the connecting part, with respect to an upper side and a lower side of the connecting part, but so in the opposite direction of the first latching tongue protrudes that its end face a

Supporting surface forms, the surface normal pointing in the direction of the first end or the surface normal has a component pointing in the direction of the first end. Thus, in the first end region and in the second end region of the connection component, a connection possibility to the first or the second purlin is provided, with which a simple connection between the connection component and the first and the second purlin can be produced. The first

End region provided, projecting in the first direction latching tongue cooperates with the first purlin, while the second, provided in the second end region, in the opposite direction projecting latching tongue cooperates with the second purlin. By virtue of its arrangement, the first detent prevents the first purlin from being able to be moved in a direction away from the second purlin when the second purlin is being held. Because of its opposite orientation, the second detent tongue prevents the second purlin from being moved in a direction away from the first purlin when the first purlin is held. The two purlins are therefore firmly connected by the two locking tongues and can not be pulled apart.

In a preferred embodiment, a central region provided between the first end region and the second end region is provided with a protruding abutment element which has two opposing abutment surfaces facing away from each other. This embodiment is particularly preferably suitable for inserting the connecting part into tubular purlins and limiting the insertion into the purlin by the stop element in such a way that further insertion is not possible if the end face of the purlin comes into contact with the abutment surface of the stop element. The abutment surface of the second purlin adjacent to the first purlin may be brought into contact with the second abutment surface facing away from the first purlin. This allows the two purlins are well positioned to each other. In a preferred embodiment, the purlins on contact surfaces, which are intended to cooperate with their respective associated support surface of the purlin. By providing a stop element on the connection component, it can be ensured that the connection component is pushed into or onto the end of the purlin so far that the support surface actually interacts with the contact surface. This can be adjusted by the arrangement of the contact surface relative to the end surface of the purlin and by the arrangement of the support surface relative to the abutment surface on the stop element of the connecting member.

In a preferred embodiment, the connection component is made of a strip material. This strip material can be brought into the desired final shape by shaping steps, in particular by bending and also, for example, by punching. It has been found that the inventive

Connecting component particularly easy to be made of a strip material can. Further, forming from a strip material, particularly with the aid of bending individual portions of the strip material relative to other portions of the strip material, provides the ability to bias individual portions of the strip material relative to each other. Such pretensioning makes it particularly well possible to connect the connecting component to the end of a purlin. Thus, the jacket of a tubular purlin, for example, between two oppositely arranged band portions of a connecting member made of strip material may be arranged, wherein the two band sections are biased against each other due to the manufacturing process of bending so that they clamp the jacket of the tubular purlin between them.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the connecting member is made of a strip material, wherein no portion of the connecting member at an angle of more than 120 ° to an adjacent portion of the

Connecting component is executed. The connecting component is thus particularly preferably a simple, longitudinally extending band on which projecting locking tongues can be provided. Such a component with a body which extends substantially straight from the first to the second end can be produced particularly easily. In an alternative embodiment, the connecting member made of a strip material is shaped so that a first portion of the connecting member is disposed at an angle of about 180 ° to the adjacent to it next portion of the connecting member. It is also conceivable that the connecting component is rolled up helically in its end regions.

The purlin assembly according to the invention has a first purlin of a frame of a photovoltaic and / or solar thermal system with one end and a second purlin with one end adjacent to the end of the first purlin. The purlin assembly according to the invention has the connection component according to the invention. In the purlin assembly according to the invention, the support surface provided in the first end region of the connection component cooperates with a contact surface of the first purlin, wherein the contact surface is oriented such that its surface normal is aligned substantially opposite to the surface normal of the support surface. This avoids that the first purlin can be moved in one direction away from the second purlin. Furthermore, it is provided in the purlin assembly according to the invention that the second end portion of the connecting member is connected to the second purlin so that the second end portion can not be moved in the direction from the second end of the connecting part to the first end direction relative to the second purlin. In this way, by means of the interaction of the support surface with the contact surface prevents the first purlin from being moved in one direction away from the second purlin. The joining of the second end portion to the second purlin prevents the second end from being pulled away from the second purlin. This creates a firm bond between the first purlin and the second purlin.

The contact surface of the first purlin may be a surface designed specifically for cooperation with the support surface on the first purlin. Such an embodiment offers the advantage that by providing the contact surface of the contact surface, a shape can be given which is particularly well suited for cooperation with the support surface of the connection component to be used. Furthermore, this embodiment offers the possibility to determine the arrangement of the contact surface on the first purlin and thus determine in which relative position the component must be located relative to the first purlin so that the support surface can interact with the contact surface. However, embodiments are also conceivable in which the purlins are produced from materials into which a projecting latching tongue, for example provided on the connecting component, can act such that the latching tongue locally deforms the surface of the purlin and forms a contact surface cooperating with its supporting surface. Likewise, "contact surface, which is oriented such that its surface normal is aligned substantially opposite the surface normal of the support surface" also understood a friction surface in which the tribologically effective, microscopic partial surfaces of the friction surface are aligned such that their surface normal substantially opposite The interaction between the support surface and the contact surface therefore does not necessarily have to be essentially positive-locking, although this is preferred, but may also be substantially friction-locked The contact surface is when assembling the connecting member with the purlin, for example, by the action of the latching tongue i n the surface of the purlin made.

An embodiment is conceivable in which the second end region is connected to the second purlin in a different manner than by frictional engagement or the interaction of a support surface with a contact surface which are aligned as described above. For example, the second end region can be screwed, glued, riveted or connected to one another by the insertion of pins with the second purlin. In a preferred embodiment, however, the second purlin also has a contact surface and has the second end region of the Connecting member on a support surface whose surface normal in the direction of the first end or whose surface normal has a component facing in the direction of the first end. The contact surface provided on the second purlin is oriented in such a way that its surface normal is aligned substantially opposite to the surface normal of the support surface in the second end region of the connecting component. This offers the advantage that the connecting component can be formed symmetrically.

Purlins of a purlin assembly may be single tubes or single rods. The purlin assembly according to the invention may therefore have various embodiments, as the connecting member cooperates at its ends with the purlins. There are embodiments - especially in the use of rods - conceivable in which the end portions of the connecting member interact with outer surfaces of the purlins. But even with purlins with rohrformigem cross-section embodiments are conceivable in which the

End portions of the connecting member cooperate with the outer surface of such a tubular purlin. However, particularly preferred in tubular Pfetten an arrangement is chosen in which the end portions of the connecting member are inserted into the tubular end of the respective purlin and the support surface is formed so that it is connected to one of the

Cooperating inside the tubular Pfette formed contact surface. Further, in tubular purlins embodiments are conceivable in which the end portion of the connecting member is formed so that it can clasp the jacket of the tubular purlin. Particularly preferably, the end region is designed such that it has a first

A portion disposed opposite to an immediately adjacent portion and in which these portions are biased against each other so that they can clamp a jacket of a tubular end of a purlin between them when the first portion on the outer surface and the second portion on the inner surface of the tubular end of the purlin.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and / or the second purlin are formed as a hollow profile at least in the end regions adjoining the ends. Embodiments are conceivable in which the purlin is substantially rod-shaped, but at its end regions a hollow profile, for example tubular, is formed. The purlin can have a round, elliptical, rectangular, trapezoidal cross-section. Likewise, the cross section of individual partial shapes may be composed, for example, in parts of the cross section rectangular and in parts of the cross section semicircular. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second purlins are at least in the end regions adjacent to the ends of hollow sections, particularly preferably continuously tubular, wherein the purlin assembly has a long body whose first end in the end of the first purlin and the second end in the End of the second purlin is arranged. The arrangement of a

Long body, which is inserted into the ends of the purlins, can stabilize the connection between the purlins. The long body can prevent the tilting of the purlins at their ends against each other and thus increase the load of the composite of the individual purlins component. The invention also makes it possible to connect the purlins on the long body with each other without tools must be used. Furthermore, the long body can be formed with a stop and thus allow precise assembly. Likewise, good surface combination can be selected, for example, the purlins made of aluminum and the long body made of aluminum or stainless steel.

In a preferred embodiment, the connection component is connected to the long body. Particularly preferably, the connecting component is formed integrally with the long body. The long body can be, for example, a rod or, for example, a pipe. However, the connection component can also be designed separately from the long body. In this embodiment, the connecting member is either fixedly connected to the long body, for example screwed to this, glued, riveted or otherwise firmly connected to the long body. It is also conceivable that the connection component has a connection mechanism that is comparable to the connection mechanism that the connection component has to be connected to the purlin. It has been described above that in a preferred embodiment, the connection component can have a plurality of latching tongues, wherein a first latching tongue protrudes in a first direction and a further latching tongue can be configured projecting in an opposite direction. This preferred embodiment can be carried out so that a first latching tongue protrudes at the top of a base body of the connecting member and cooperates with the inside of a purlin, while a further latching tongue protrudes on the underside of the connecting member and cooperates with the long body and the connecting member in this way connects to the long body.

The frame according to the invention with at least one photovoltaic module or a solar thermal module has at least one purlin assembly according to the invention.

The invention has been described with reference to purlins. However, the invention is not limited to the joining of purlins. That is why the term "purlin" is used in this In the description of the invention, it is understood that the term "purlin" in this description of the invention both describes purlins but also describes binders.

The invention has been understood in the context of a frame for a photovoltaic module or a solar thermal module. In this case, a photovoltaic module is understood as any module that can generate electricity from light. A solar thermal module is understood as meaning a module with which a fluid can be heated by means of sunlight. The term "solar thermal module" is also understood to mean components of a system by means of which a fluid can be heated by the action of sunlight Therefore, the frame with at least one solar thermal module is also understood to mean a frame with a mirror which is used in a system in which a fluid is heated by means of sunlight Open space, as well as for example for installations on carports.

The connection component according to the invention is particularly preferably made of metal. Most preferably, the connecting part is made of an extruded aluminum alloy or stainless steel. However, the connection component according to the invention can also be made of plastic or other materials. The invention will be explained with reference to drawings showing only exemplary embodiments. Show:

A first embodiment of the connecting component according to the invention in a perspective view; a side view of the connecting member according to the invention according to Figure 1; a perspective view of a purlin assembly with the arrangement of the components at a time of assembly of the purlin assembly, wherein the purlin assembly shown here uses a connecting member in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2; Fig. 4: an alternative design of an inventive

Connecting components in a schematic, cut Side view of the mounting position in an alternative design with a purlin assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 5: another alternative design of an inventive

Connecting components in a schematic, cut

Side view of the mounting position in a further alternative design with a purlin assembly according to the invention;

6 shows a further alternative design of a component according to the invention in a schematic side view;

Fig. 7: a further alternative design of an inventive

Connecting component in a schematic, sectional side view of the mounting position in a further alternative design with a purlin assembly according to the invention;

8, 9, 10, 11: a perspective view, a side view, a

Top view and a front view of a purlin assembly with the arrangement of the components at a time of assembly of the purlin assembly, wherein the purlin assembly shown here uses a connecting member in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 and

12, 13, 14, 15: a perspective view, a side view, a

Top view and a frontal view of an alternative design of a purlin assembly with the assembly of the components at a time of assembly of the purlin assembly, wherein the purlin assembly shown here uses a connecting member in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2.

The connecting component 1 according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is suitable, as can be seen in FIG. 3, for one end of a first purlin 2 of a frame of a photovoltaic and / or solar thermal system, not shown, having one end of a second purlin 3 to connect this frame. As can be seen for example from the alternative design shown in Figure 4, the first purlin 2 and the second purlin 3 are arranged such that the end of the first purlin 2 is disposed adjacent to the end of the second purlin 3. The term "adjacent" is not to be understood as meaning that the end of the first purlin 2 must necessarily abut the end of the second purlin 3. As in the example of FIG

4, a gap may remain between the two ends. The connecting component 1 according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 has a first end 4 and a first end region 5 adjoining this first end and intended for interaction with the first purlin 2. Furthermore, the connection component according to the invention has a second end 6 and a second end region 7 adjoining this second end and intended for interaction with the second purlin 3. In the first end region 5, a support surface is provided in the form of an end surface 8 of a first latching tongue 9, whose surface normal has a component pointing in the direction of the second end 6. The surface normal of the end face 8 of the latching tongue 9 points at an angle of approximately 20 ° to the line connecting the first end 4 to the second end 6. Thus, the surface normal has a first component which points in the direction of the second end, namely parallel to the line connecting the first end 4 to the second end 6. Likewise, the surface normal has a in the direction perpendicular to this the first end 4 with the second end 6 connecting line component.

In the end region 5, a further latching tongue 10 is provided, which is formed comparable to the latching tongue 9. In the second end region 7, a support surface 12 is provided in the form of an end face 11 of a latching tongue 12, the surface normal of which has a component pointing in the direction of the first end 4. In the end region 7, a second latching tongue 13 is further provided, which is formed of the latching tongue 12 comparable.

In the case of the connecting component 1 according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, between the first end region 5 and the second one

End region 7, a central region 14 is provided. In the middle region 14, a projecting stop element 15 is provided which provides a first stop surface 16 and a second second stop surface 17 pointing away from the first stop surface 16. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the respective end face of the purlin 2, or of the purlin 3, can abut against the respective abutment surface 16, 17 assigned to it.

Figures 1 and 2 show that the first end portion 5 and the second end portion 7 are arcuate. By this arcuate shape, the latching tongue 9, and the latching tongue 12 is biased in a direction perpendicular to the line connecting the first end 4 to the first end 6. That can be the clamping between the

Increase the inner surface of the purlin 2, or the purlin 3 and an inserted into the end region of the purlins 2 and 3 long body 18.

The purlin assembly shown in Figure 3 with a first purlin 2 and a second purlin 3 shows that the first purlin 2 and the second purlin 3 are formed as hollow sections (tubes) and that a long body 18 is provided, the first end in the end of the first purlin 2 and the second end is arranged in the end of the second purlin 3. It can be seen that the long body 18 has a recess on its surface, in which the connecting member 1 can be inserted. Furthermore, the connecting component 1 has two spring-loaded tongues 19 and 20 which can engage in recesses in the long body 18 and can firmly connect the invented component 1 according to the invention to the long body 18. FIG. 3 shows the purlin assembly according to the invention in a state in which one end of the long body 18 has already been inserted into the end of the second purlin 3 and the end face of the second purlin 3 bears against the abutment surface 16 of the stop element 15 facing it. In the representation of Figure 3 is not apparent that the end face 1 1 of the latching tongue 12 forms a support surface which cooperates with a contact surface on the inner surface of the second purlin 3. This contact surface is formed by the end surface 1 1 minimally deforming the inner surface of the second purlin 3, or minimal contact surfaces are formed by the roughness of the inner surface of the second purlin 3, with which the support surface of the second end portion of the connecting member 1 according to the invention cooperates.

The state shown in Figure 3 shows how the first purlin 2 is pushed onto the long body 18. The locking tongues 9 and 10 arranged in the first end region 5 can still be seen in the illustrations of FIG. These are, as soon as the first purlin 2 is completely pushed onto the long body 18, so that their end face cooperates with the stop surface 17 of the stop element 15 facing it, interacting with the inner surface of the purlin 2 in such a way that the first purlin does not proceed in one direction can be moved by the second purlin.

The embodiment of the connecting component 30 according to the invention shown in FIG. 4 has a first end 31 and a first end region 32 adjoining this first end 31 and intended for interaction with the first purlin 2. Likewise, the connecting component 30 according to the invention has a second end 33 and a second end region adjoining the second end 33

34, which is intended for interactions with the second purlin 3. A catch tongue

35 is provided in the first end portion 32 so that an end surface of this latching tongue 35 forms a support surface whose surface normal has a component facing toward the second end. Likewise, in the second end region 34, a latching tongue 36 is provided, the end surface of which forms a support surface whose surface normal has a component pointing in the direction of the first end 31. The connecting component 30 shown in FIG. 4 has further sections. Adjacent to the first in section 32, another section 37 is provided. This portion 37 has been brought into a position by bending the connecting material made of band material that it is opposite to the end portion 32 and is biased to the jacket of the

End of the tubular purlin 2 between them and the end portion 32 can clamp. A comparable portion 38 is formed opposite the end portion 34. These end portions are thus arranged such that a first portion of the connecting member (the end portion 32, and the end portion 34) at an angle of approximately 180 ° to the adjoining him next portion of

Connecting component is arranged

A central region 39 has latching tongues 40, 41, which can cooperate with the long body 18 and can connect the connecting component 30 firmly to the long body.

In the embodiment of the connecting component 50 shown in FIG. 5, a first end 51 and a double-layered first end region 52 adjoining the first end 51 are provided, which is provided for interaction with the first purlin 2. Furthermore, the connecting component 50 shown in FIG. 5 has a second end 53 with a likewise double-layered second end region 54 adjoining the second end 53 and intended for interaction with the second purlin 3. In the first end region 52, a latching tongue 55 is provided, the end face of which forms a support surface whose surface normal has a component pointing in the direction of the second end 53. Furthermore, in the second

End region 54, a latching tongue 56 is provided, the end face of which forms a support surface whose surface normal has a component pointing in the direction of the first end 51. Between the first end portion 52 and the second end portion 54 is a

Center area 57 is provided. At this central region 57 stop member 58 and 59 are provided. The stop members 58 and 59 carry resiliently formed end pieces 60 and 61, the locking tongues 62 and 63 which can cooperate with the long body 18 to connect the connecting member 50 fixed to the long body 18.

The embodiment of a connecting component 70 according to the invention shown in FIG. 6 shows a first end 71 with an end region 72 adjoining this first end 71 and intended for interaction with the first purlin 2. Furthermore, the connecting component 70 has a second end 73 and a second end region 74 adjoining this second end 73. In the end region 72 a first latching tongue 75 is provided, the end face of which forms a section surface whose surface normal has a component pointing in the direction of the second end 73. In the second end region 74, a further latching tongue 76 is provided, the end face of which forms a section surface whose surface normal has a component pointing in the direction of the first end 71.

The end region 72 is double-layered and has a further latching tongue 77, which is provided for intern action with a long body 18. Also, the second end portion 74 is formed double-layered and has a further latching tongue 78, which is also provided for interaction with the elongated body 18.

FIG. 7 shows two connecting components 90 of a further embodiment of the connecting component according to the invention. The connecting member 90 has a first end 91 with an end portion 92 adjacent to this first end 91 and provided for interaction with the first purlin 2. Furthermore, the connecting component 90 has a second end 93 and a second end region 94 adjoining this second end 93. Provided in the end region 92 is a first latching tongue 95, the end surface of which forms a sectional surface whose surface normal has a component that points in the direction of the second end 93 points. In the second end region 94, a further latching tongue 96 is provided, the end face of which forms a section surface whose surface normal has a component pointing in the direction of the first end 91. As can be seen from FIG. 7, the end region 92 is wound in the form of a spiral. This worm shape makes it possible to clamp the end region 92 in the gap between the long body 18 and the purlin 2 or the purlin 3 without inwardly facing locking tongues.

FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11 show an alternative embodiment with regard to the cross-sectional geometries of the first purlin 2 and the second purlin 3 and with regard to the cross-sectional geometry of the long body 18. For reasons of clarity, the first purlin 2 is not shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11. The plan view according to FIG. 10 and the front view according to FIG. 11 show that a connecting component 1 can be arranged on both sides of the long body 18.

FIGS. 12, 13, 14 and 15 show an alternative embodiment with regard to the cross-sectional geometries of the first purlin 2 and the second purlin 3 and with regard to the cross-sectional geometry of the long body 18. For reasons of clarity, the first purlin 2 is not shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11. The side view according to FIG. 13 and the front view according to FIG. 15 show that a connecting component 1 can be arranged on both sides of the long body 18.

Claims

"Claims"

Connecting component, which is adapted to connect one end of a first purlin of a frame of a photovoltaic and / or solar thermal system with one end of a second, with its end adjacent to the end of the first purlin purlins of this frame, characterized by

a first end and a first adjacent to this first end

End portion intended for interaction with the first purlin, a second end and a second end adjacent to this second end

End area, which is intended to interact with the second purlin, provided in the first end region support surface whose

Surface normal in the direction of the second end has or

Surface normal has a component which is in the direction of the second

End points.

Connecting component according to claim 1, characterized by a support surface provided in the second end region, whose surface normal points in the direction of the first end or whose surface normal has a component pointing in the direction of the first end.

Connecting component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support surface provided in the first end region is an end face of a latching tongue provided in the first end region.

Connecting component according to claim 3, characterized in that the latching tongue protrudes in a first direction and that a further latching tongue is provided, which projects in the opposite direction.

Connecting component according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by a provided between the first end portion and the second end portion central region with a protruding stop member having two opposing, mutually away facing abutment surfaces.

Connecting component according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is made of a strip material.

A purlin assembly comprising a first purlin of a frame of a photovoltaic and / or solar thermal system having an end and a second purlin having an end adjacent the end of the first purlin, characterized by a connection component according to any one of claims 1 to 6 arranged in such a way in that the support surface provided in the first end region of the connection component is provided with a Contact surface of the first purlin cooperates, which is oriented such that its surface normal is substantially opposite to the surface normal of the support surface, and that the second end portion is connected to the second purlin, that the second end portion is not in that of the second end of the connecting part can be moved to the first end facing direction relative to the second purlin.

8. purlin assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the first and the second purlin are formed at least in the adjacent end portions at their ends as hollow sections and that a long body is provided, the first end in the end of the first purlin and the second end in the end of the second purlin is arranged.

9. purlin assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the connecting member is connected to the long body.

10. Frame with at least one photovoltaic module or a solar thermal module, characterized by a purlin assembly according to one of claims 7 to 9.