ADJUSTMENT FITTING AND CARRIER SYSTEM FOR SOLAR PANELS

Abstract

An adjustment fitting for fastening a solar panel carrier rail to a post profile that is anchored to the ground, includes a foot segment, a head segment and an adjustment element. The foot segment has a first mounting flange and includes a fastening portion, which extends away from the mounting flange on one side of the first mounting flange and is used to fasten the foot segment to the post profile. The head segment includes a second mounting flange for bearing the head segment and fastening it to the first mounting flange of the foot segment, which can be inserted into the carrier rail in portions and includes an elongate hole in two side walls that are arranged opposite one another. The adjustment element, which is arranged between the two side walls of the head segment, can be locked in different latching positions on the head segment.

Claims

1. An adjustment fitting for fastening a solar panel carrier rail to a post profile that is anchored to the ground, comprising: a foot segment, comprising a first mounting flange and comprising a fastening portion, which extends away from the mounting flange on one side of the first mounting flange and is used to fasten the foot segment to the post profile; a head segment, comprising a second mounting flange for bearing the head segment and fastening it to the first mounting flange of the foot segment, which can be inserted into the carrier rail portion by portion and comprises an elongate hole in two side walls that are arranged opposite one another; an adjustment element, which is arranged between the two side walls of the head segment, wherein the adjustment element is provided with first latching means on its two end faces, which means interacts with second latching means on the insides of the two side walls of the head segment such that the adjustment element can move in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the head segment, relative to the two side walls, into different latching positions when the adjustment fitting is not mounted, and wherein the adjustment element is provided with a bore, which is aligned with the elongate holes in the head segment, for a fastening means that is used to fasten the head segment to the carrier rail and to lock the adjustment element in its particular latching position on the head segment by means of the compression of the side walls, such that it cannot move.

2. The adjustment fitting according to claim 1, wherein the first latching means and/or the second latching means each comprise corrugations that extend over an entire width (b) of the adjustment element.

3. The adjustment fitting according to claim 2, wherein the corrugations have a rectangular or a square cross section.

4. The adjustment fitting according to claim 1, wherein, in order to connect the head segment to the foot segment, the first mounting flange and the second mounting flange each comprise fastening recesses for fastening means.

5. The adjustment fitting according to claim 4, wherein the fastening recesses in the first mounting flange and/or the fastening recesses in the second mounting flange are each formed as an elongate hole.

6. The adjustment fitting according to claim 1, wherein the fastening portion of the foot segment extends away from the first mounting flange on one side of the first mounting flange.

7. The adjustment fitting according to claim 6, wherein the fastening portion comprises a through-opening in its free end region for a fastening means, which opening extends over an entire width (B) of the first mounting flange.

8. The adjustment fitting according to claim 6, wherein the fastening portion comprises two legs, which are arranged on the first mounting flange and merge, thereby forming the free end region of the fastening portion.

9. The adjustment fitting according to claim 1, wherein the two side walls of the head segment are connected to one another by means of an end wall that is spaced apart from the second mounting flange.

10. The adjustment fitting according to claim 1, wherein the head segment is formed as one piece.

11. The adjustment fitting according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment fitting as a whole is made of metal, being steel or aluminum.

12. The adjustment fitting according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment element comprises a main part and a closure element, each of which delimit part of the circumference of the bore.

13. The adjustment fitting according to claim 12, wherein the main part of the adjustment element comprises a slot in each of its two end faces, which slot is open on one side.

14. The adjustment fitting according to claim 12, wherein the closure element can be inserted into the main part and can be latched inside the main part.

15. A carrier system for one or more solar panels, comprising: a plurality of post profiles, which are anchored to the ground at a spacing from one another; and at least one carrier rail, which is fastened to at least two of the post profiles (16) by means of an adjustment fitting according to claim 1 in each case.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In the drawings:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a side view of a carrier system for solar panels;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a detailed cut-out of the carrier system according to FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the parts of the carrier system according to FIG. 2 that shows an adjustment fitting;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the adjustment fitting in the non-mounted state;

[0029] FIG. 5 shows the adjustment fitting according to FIG. 4 in a partially mounted state;

[0030] FIG. 6 is a view of an adjustment element of the adjustment fitting that shows its corrugated end face;

[0031] FIG. 7 is a cut-out of the longitudinal section of the adjustment element according to FIG. 6;

[0032] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an adjustment fitting;

[0033] FIG. 9 is a front view of the adjustment fitting according to FIG. 8;

[0034] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of an adjustment fitting;

[0035] FIG. 11 is a front view of the adjustment fitting according to FIG. 10;

[0036] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an adjustment fitting in a fourth embodiment, mounted on a post profile;

[0037] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the adjustment fitting according to FIG. 12;

[0038] FIG. 14a is a perspective view of a main part of an adjustment element of the adjustment fitting according to FIGS. 12 and 13;

[0039] FIG. 14b is a side view of the main part in FIG. 14a;

[0040] FIG. 15a is a perspective view of a closure element of the adjustment element of the adjustment fitting according to FIGS. 12 and 13; and

[0041] FIG. 15b is a side view of the closure element in FIG. 15a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a solar panel arrangement 10 comprising a plurality of solar panels 12, which are arranged on a carrier system 14. The solar panels 12 can be in the form of photovoltaic modules or sun collectors. The carrier system 14 comprises a plurality of post profiles 16, which are anchored to the ground. The post profiles 16 can be driven into the ground, embedded in concrete therein or anchored to the ground in some other way. In each case, at least two post profiles 16 are used to support a carrier rail 18, on which the solar panels 12 are held, in this case by means of additional transverse profiles 20 that each rest against at least two carrier rails 18.

[0043] According to FIGS. 2 and 3, the post profiles 16 and the carrier rails 18 each have a U-shaped cross section or a substantially U-shaped cross section. The post profiles 16 and the carrier rails 18 can in particular be formed as top hat profiles. The carrier rails 18 are arranged inclined with respect to the horizontal H and can be arranged at a work angle α of, for example, 20° with respect to the horizontal H (FIG. 1). Of course, in practice the angle α is selected such that the solar panel 12 is oriented with respect to the sun in the given manner in each case.

[0044] In order to fasten the carrier rails 18 to the respective post profiles 16, an adjustment fitting 22 is used in each case. According to FIGS. 3 to 5, the adjustment fitting 22 is made up of several parts. According to the exploded view shown in FIG. 3 of the carrier system 14, the adjustment fitting 22 comprises a foot segment 24, which is to be fastened to the post profile 16, a head segment 26, which is to be fastened to the carrier rail 18, and an adjustment element 28.

[0045] The foot segment 24 comprises a first mounting flange 30 and a fastening portion 32, which extends away from the mounting flange 30 on one side of the mounting flange 30. The fastening portion 32 can comprise two legs 34, which are spaced apart from one another, are arranged on the first mounting flange 30, converge in the direction of the free end 36 of the fastening portion 32 and merge to form a free end region 38 of the fastening portion 32. In its free end region 38, the fastening portion 32 is provided with a single through-opening 40 for a fastening means 42, in this case a screw. A nut 44 is used to secure the screw. The through-opening 40 (FIG. 4) advantageously extends over the entire width B of the first mounting flange 30 of the foot segment 24. By means of the single through-opening 40, the foot segment 24 can be hingedly fastened to the post profile 16, i.e. such that it can swivel about the swivel axis S (cf. FIG. 1). The foot segment 24 of the adjustment fitting 22 is formed as one piece and can in particular be made of metal, preferably steel or aluminum.

[0046] The head segment 26 comprises a second mounting flange 46 for bearing the head segment 26 and fastening it to the first mounting flange 30 of the foot segment 24. The two mounting flanges 30, 46 are each designed having fastening recesses 48, 50 for receiving a fastening means 42 in each case, in this case a screw. The fastening recesses 48, 50 in the mounting flanges 30, 46 of the foot segment 24 and/or the head segment 26 are each preferably formed as elongate holes so as to be able to fasten the head segment 26 and the foot segment 24 to one another in different movement positions relative to one another. As a result, positional tolerances of the particular post profile 16 (FIG. 1) relative to the carrier rail 18 can be compensated for.

[0047] The head segment 26 can be introduced into the respectively assigned carrier rail 18 in portions in the direction of its longitudinal axis 52 (FIG. 3) and transversely to the longitudinal extension of said rail.

[0048] In this case, the head segment 26 comprises two side walls 54 that are arranged opposite one another. The side walls 54 extend away from the second mounting flange 46 and are arranged on the second mounting flange 46 so as to extend in parallel with one another. In this case, the side walls 54 are connected to one another by means of an end wall 56 of the head segment 26 that is spaced apart from the second mounting flange 46. The two side walls 54 of the head portion 26 are each provided with an elongate hole 58. The head segment 26 is formed as one piece and can be made in particular of metal, preferably steel or aluminum.

[0049] The adjustment element 28 is arranged between the two side walls 54 of the head segment 26. The adjustment element 28 is provided with a bore 60. The bore 60 receives a fastening means 42, in this case a screw, which is used to fasten the head segment 26 to the particular carrier rail 18. The bore 60 extends through the adjustment element 28 along the body axis of the adjustment element 28, which axis is denoted by 62. It should be noted that the elongate holes 58 in the two side walls 54 of the head segment 26 are aligned with the bore 60 in the direction of the body axis 62 of the adjustment element 28. In order to use as little material as possible, the adjustment element according to FIG. 4 can also be provided with a through-recess 64, which extends through the adjustment element 28, transversely to the body axis 62 of the adjustment element 28.

[0050] FIG. 6 is a perspective view that has been free-form selected of the adjustment element 28. The adjustment element 28 comprises first latching means 68 in the form of corrugations on its two end faces 66 that face away from one another. In this case, the corrugations extend over the entire width b (cf. FIG. 4) of the adjustment element 28. The first latching means 68 interacts with second latching means 70 on the insides 72 (FIG. 5) of the two side walls 54 of the head segment 26 such that the adjustment element 28 can move in the direction of the longitudinal axis 52 of the head segment 26, relative to the two side walls 54, into different latching positions when the adjustment fitting 10 is not mounted. As a result, the functional height 74 of the adjustment fitting 10, which corresponds to the particular spacing between the bore 60 and the through-opening 40 in the foot segment 24 of the adjustment fitting 10, can be adapted in order to fasten the carrier rail 18 to the post profile 16.

[0051] When the head portion 26 is mounted on the carrier rail 18, the adjustment element 28 can be clamped between the two side walls 54 of the head segment 26, transversely to the longitudinal axis of the head segment 26, i.e. in the direction of the body axis 62 of the adjustment element 28, by means of the fastening means 42 that is formed as a bolt and an associated nut 44. As a result, the adjustment element 28, which is in latching engagement with the side walls 54 at both ends, can be immovably clamped between the two side walls, i.e. locked on the head segment 26 in its particular latching position such that it cannot move in the direction of the longitudinal axis 52 of the head segment 26.

[0052] FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section of a cut-out of the adjustment element 28. The first latching means 68 of one end face 66 of the adjustment element 28 are clearly visible. The individual corrugations can each have a uniform corrugation height h and a uniform corrugation length l. The corrugation height h and the corrugation length l can in particular be 1 mm. The corrugations are preferably evenly spaced apart. The corrugation spacing a is selected to be larger than the corrugation height h in this case in order to prevent the adjustment element 28 getting clamped between the side walls 54 of the head segment 26 (FIG. 5). The first latching means 68 of the adjustment element 28 and the second latching means 70 of the side walls 54 preferably have a matching geometric structure and matching dimensions.

[0053] The above-mentioned adjustment fitting 22 is inexpensive to produce and allows carrier rails 18 for solar panels 12 to be mounted to anchored post profiles in an overall simpler manner.

[0054] FIGS. 8 and 9 show an alternative embodiment of an adjustment fitting 22. The embodiment of the adjustment fitting 22 substantially corresponds to the embodiment of the adjustment fitting 22 according to FIGS. 3 to 5. Side walls 54 of a head segment 26 are, however, only connected to the bottom of the head segment 26 by means of a second mounting flange 46, and not by means of an end wall on the upper side (cf. FIG. 5: end wall 56).

[0055] FIGS. 10 and 11 show another alternative embodiment of an adjustment fitting 22, the embodiment of which substantially corresponds to the embodiment of the adjustment fitting 22 according to FIGS. 8 and 9. However, the side walls 54 of a head segment 26 are at a greater spacing from one another than in the head segment 26 according to FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0056] Both the adjustment fitting 22 according to FIGS. 8 and 9 and the adjustment fitting 22 according to FIGS. 10 and 11 comprise tapered mounting flanges 30, 46 in the region between the side walls 54 such that the adjustment fitting 22 is particularly lightweight, but nevertheless stable.

[0057] FIG. 12 shows a fourth embodiment of an adjustment fitting 22 that is mounted on a post profile 16. The adjustment fitting 22 corresponds to the adjustment fitting 22 according to FIGS. 10 and 11 with respect to its foot segment 24 and its head segment 26. However, in this case the adjustment fitting 22 comprises a two-part adjustment element 28. The adjustment element 28 comprises a main part 76 and a closure element 78. The closure element 78 is inserted into the main part 76. A fastening means 42, in this case a screw, projects through the side walls 54 of the head segment 26 and the adjustment element 28.

[0058] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the adjustment fitting according to FIG. 12. The main part 76 of the adjustment element is in the form of a hollow extruded profile in this case. Slots 80 are made in both end faces 66 of the main part 76, which slots are open on one side. Each of the slots 80 comprise a closed end 82, in this case approximately in the center of the end faces 66. The closure element 78 comprises a front part 84, which is concave in this case. In the mounted state (cf. FIG. 12), the closure element 76 is inserted into the slots 80 in the main part 76. In this case, the front part 84 of the closure element 78 faces the closed end 82 of the slots 80. Together, the closed end 82 of the slots 80 in the main part 76 and the front part 84 of the closure element 78 delimit a bore (cf. FIGS. 4 and 6, reference sign 60 in each figure) through which the fastening means 42 passes. A first circumferential portion of the bore 60 is delimited by the closed end 82 of the slots 80 in this case. A second circumferential portion of the bore 60 is delimited by the front part 84 of the closure element 78.

[0059] FIGS. 14a and 14b are an enlarged perspective view and a side view, respectively, of the main part 76. It can be seen that each of the slots 82 comprise indentations 86.

[0060] FIGS. 15a and 15b are an enlarged perspective view and a side view, respectively, of the closure element 78. The closure element 78 comprises bulges 88 on the upper and lower side in each case. In the mounted state of the adjustment element 22 (cf. FIG. 12), the bulges 88 of the closure element 78 engage in the indentations 86 in the slots 80 in the main part 76. The closure element 78 is latched to the main part 76 in this manner.

[0061] The front part 84 of the closure element 78 is concave in this case. When the closure element 78 is inserted into the main part 76, the bore 60 for receiving the fastening means 42 is delimited by the closed ends 82 of the slots 80 together with the front part 84. The front part 84 of the closure element 78 is indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 14b.