Connectors for modular support platforms

Abstract

A set of connectors for modular support platforms is provided. The connectors are used to aggregate at least two support elements, forming a support platform which can be rearranged by adding new support elements and connectors. The set of connectors is used to form a modular support platform for a solar panel power plant, allowing its installation in water surfaces.

Claims

1. A set of connectors and support elements comprising: a first connector element having a cross shape comprising four first connection ports that connect up to four support elements to form a first support platform, and four lateral reinforcements in between connection ports, wherein: each of the four first connection ports further comprises a first hole configured to position and fix said support elements; each of the lateral reinforcements comprises two connection holes in proximity to each of the four connection ports to link and fix the support elements; and a second connector element comprising a reticulate surface having a rectangular shape and two second connection ports to connect one of the four support elements that form the first support platform with an adjacent support element that form an adjacent support platform, wherein: each of the second connection ports comprises a second hole configured to position and fix said one of the four support elements and the adjacent support element.

2. The set of connectors according to claim 1, wherein the first connector element and the second connector element are of a thermoplastic material.

3. The set of connectors according to claim 1, wherein each of the four connection ports further comprising the first hole on a surface of said first connector element is configured to position and fix said support elements by means of a screw and nut.

4. A modular support platform comprising a plurality of support platforms, each of the plurality of support platforms comprising four support elements connected to the first connector element according to claim 1.

5. The modular support platform according to claim 4, wherein at least two support platforms of the plurality of support platforms are connected by the second connector element.

6. The modular support platform according to claim 4, further comprising at least one additional support element connected to at least one of the support elements of the plurality of support platform by means of the second connector element.

7. The modular support platform according to claim 4, further comprising additional two support elements, wherein said additional support elements are connected to the support elements of the support platform by means of the second connector element.

8. The set of connectors according to claim 1, wherein each of the lateral reinforcements that comprises the two connection holes in proximity to each of the four connection ports link and fix the support elements by means of a screw and a nut.

9. The set of connectors according to claim 1, wherein each of the second connection ports comprising the second hole is configured to position and fix said one of the four support elements and the adjacent support element by means of a screw and a nut.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) For easier understanding of this application, figures are attached in the annex that represent example forms of implementation, which nevertheless are not intended to limit the technique disclosed herein.

(2) FIG. 1: Schematic representation of connector elements 1 and 2, where the reference numbers represent: 5First connector element; 6Second connector element.

(3) FIG. 2: Schematic representation of a modular platform, where the reference numbers represent: 1Modular support platform; 2Support platform; 5First connector element; 6Second connector element.

(4) FIG. 3: Schematic representation of a modular platform, where the reference numbers represent: 1Modular support platform; 2Support platform; 3Solar module; 6Second connector element; 7Support platform for solar module.

(5) FIG. 4: Schematic representation of a floating structure, where the reference numbers represent: 2Support platform 4Support element; 5First connector element 1.

(6) FIG. 5: Schematic showing several examples of combinations of modular support platforms (1).

(7) FIGS. 6a and 6b: Schematic showing several examples of configurations of modular support platforms (1) optimized for the location.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(8) For easier understanding of this application, figures are attached in the annex that represent example forms of implementation which, nevertheless, are not intended to limit the technique disclosed herein.

(9) In a particular embodiment, the set of connectors now developed is used to form a modular support platform for a solar panel power plants, allowing its installation in, but not exclusively, water surfaces. In this embodiment, and considering the scenario where the solar panel power plant is installed in a water surface, the support element is of a floating type.

(10) With the set of connectors now developed is possible to optimize the number and disposition of the flotation elements in order to maximize the number of solar panels in each location. In this context, a modular floating support platform (1) for solar modules can be formed by connecting at least two floating support platforms (7), having each one four floating support elements (4) wherein a solar module (3) is installed. In this configuration, the floating support elements (4) are connected amongst themselves by two different connector elements, first connector element (5) and second connector element (6), promoting an infinite number of combinations, hence the modular characteristic of this system which allows for optimization depending on the location attributes. In fact, the disposition of the floating platform is defined after studying the deployment site, always within a disposition based on an array of structures, as suggested by FIGS. 4 and 5.

(11) The first connector element (5) is used to connect four floatation support elements (4) maximum, forming a floating support platform (2), whilst the second connector element (6) is applied when the connection between only two flotation support elements (4) or between two floating support platforms (2) is required.