Carrier structure for solar panels and method of producing such a carrier structure

Abstract

The invention relates to a carrier structure (1) for solar panels. The invention also relates to a carrier (6) for use in a carrier structure (1) according to the invention. The invention then relates to an accessory (3) for use in a carrier structure (1) according to the invention. The invention furthermore relates to an assembly of at least one carrier structure (1) and at least one solar panel. In addition, the invention relates to a method for producing a carrier structure (1) according to the invention.

Claims

1. A carrier structure for solar panels, comprising: at least one carrying frame configured to carry at least a part of at least one solar panel, and at least one accessory which is coupleable to the carrying frame, wherein at least one of the at least one carrying frame and the at least one accessory comprises at least one coupling pin configured to be at least partly received in a complementary receiving space provided in at least one of the at least one accessory or the at least one carrying frame, wherein the coupling pin and/or the receiving space is provided with at least one locking element for locking the accessory and the carrying frame to each other when the coupling pin is being fitted in the receiving space, and wherein the receiving space is provided with at least one locking element being configured to cut into an outer periphery of the coupling pin, and wherein the outer periphery of the coupling pin is made from a softer material than the material from which the locking element is made.

2. The carrier structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving space is provided with at least one resilient locking element which is configured to engage in a clamping manner, in the coupled position, with an external side of the coupling pin.

3. The carrier structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one locking element defines at least a part of an inner periphery of the receiving space.

4. The carrier structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the receiving space is provided with several locking elements which are configured to engage, in the coupled position, with an external side of the coupling pin in a clamping manner, wherein the locking elements together define at least a part of an inner periphery of the receiving space.

5. The carrier structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locking elements together define the entire inner periphery of the receiving space.

6. The carrier structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locking elements are positioned a distance apart.

7. The carrier structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locking elements are distributed substantially evenly over the inner periphery of the receiving space.

8. The carrier structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the inner periphery of the receiving space are smaller than the dimensions of an outer periphery of the coupling pin.

9. The carrier structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one locking element is configured to engage with an inner periphery of the receiving space and/or an outer periphery of the coupling pin, in such a way that, on one side, the locking element and, on the other side, the inner periphery of the receiving space and/or the outer periphery of the coupling pin enclose an angle.

10. The carrier structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inner periphery of the receiving space and/or an outer periphery of the coupling pin is provided with a groove for receiving at least a part of at least one locking element.

11. The carrier structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein the accessory and the carrying frame are configured to be coupled by means of a click-fit connection.

12. The carrier structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accessory is formed by a wind guard.

13. The carrier structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accessory is formed by a cable trough.

14. A carrier structure for solar panels, comprising: at least one carrying frame configured to carry at least a part of at least one solar panel, and at least one accessory which is coupleable to the carrying frame, wherein at least one of the at least one carrying frame and the at least one accessory comprises at least one coupling pin configured to be at least partly received in a complementary receiving space provided in at least one of the at least one accessory or the at least one carrying frame, wherein the coupling pin and/or the receiving space is provided with at least one locking element for locking the accessory and the carrying frame to each other when the coupling pin is being fitted in the receiving space, and wherein the receiving space is provided with at least one locking element being configured to cut into an outer periphery of the coupling pin, and wherein the accessory is provided with several receiving spaces, wherein each receiving space is provided with at least one locking element, and wherein the carrying frame comprises several coupling pins configured to be at least partly received in the respective receiving spaces for mutually locking the accessory with respect to the carrying frame.

15. The carrier structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrying frame comprises at least one carrier for supporting at least a part of at least one solar panel and at least one substantially elongate beam which is coupleable to the carrier at one end.

16. The carrier structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the carrier is provided with at least one coupling pin.

17. A carrier structure for solar panels, comprising: at least one carrying frame configured to carry at least a part of at least one solar panel, and at least one accessory which is coupleable to the carrying frame, wherein at least one of the at least one carrying frame and the at least one accessory comprises at least one coupling pin configured to be at least partly received in a complementary receiving space provided in at least one of the at least one accessory or the at least one carrying frame, wherein the coupling pin and/or the receiving space is provided with at least one locking element for locking the accessory and the carrying frame to each other when the coupling pin is being fitted in the receiving space, and wherein the receiving space is provided with at least one locking element being configured to cut into an outer periphery of the coupling pin, wherein the carrying frame comprises at least one carrier for supporting at least a part of at least one solar panel and at least one substantially elongate beam which is coupleable to the carrier at one end, and wherein the carrying frame comprises several carriers for supporting at least a part of at least one solar panel, wherein each end of the elongate beam is coupleable to one of the aforementioned carriers.

18. The carrier structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the carrier extends in a upright direction, in particular in a substantially vertical direction.

Description

(1) The invention will be explained with reference to the non-limiting exemplary embodiments illustrated in the following figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a carrier structure according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view of a carrying frame according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side view of an accessory according to the invention,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a detail of the accessory from FIG. 3,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a carrier of a carrying frame from FIG. 2,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an assembly of a carrier structure from FIG. 1 and a solar panel situated on top thereof, and

(8) FIG. 7 shows a detail of the coupling of a carrier structure and an accessory according to the invention.

(9) FIG. 1 shows a carrier structure (1) for solar panels, comprising a carrying frame (2), configured to carry at least a part of at least one solar panel, and an accessory (3) coupled to the carrying frame (2), wherein the carrying frame comprises coupling pins (4) configured to be at least partly received in complementary receiving spaces (5) in the accessory (3).

(10) FIG. 2 shows a carrying frame (2) as illustrated in FIG. 1, without accessory (3). The carrying frame comprises two carriers (6) for supporting at least a part of one solar panel, and an elongate beam (7), wherein each end of the elongate beam is coupled to one of the carriers (6). The carriers (6) are each provided with coupling pins (4), configured to couple the carrying frame (2) to an accessory (3) (see FIG. 3).

(11) FIG. 3 shows an accessory (3) which is coupleable to a carrying frame (2), as illustrated in FIG. 2, for producing a carrier structure according to FIG. 1. The accessory (3) is provided with receiving spaces (5) for receiving coupling pins (4) from the carrying frame (2). The receiving spaces (5) in the accessory (3) are provided with resilient locking elements (8). When the accessory (3) is coupled to the carrying frame (2), the locking elements (8) secure the accessory (3). The locking elements (8) engage with the coupling pins (4) themselves, for example, or with grooves (not shown) in these coupling pins (4).

(12) FIG. 4 shows a detail of the accessory (3) from FIG. 3 and shows in particular the receiving spaces (5) for receiving coupling pins (4) from the carrying frame (2) and the resilient locking elements (8).

(13) FIG. 5 shows a carrier (6) which can be used in a carrying frame (2) according to FIG. 1 or 2. The carrier (6) is provided with coupling pins (4) configured to be at least partly received in receiving spaces (5) in the accessory (3). The carrier is also provided with an optional foot (9) for resting on the surface beneath it.

(14) FIG. 6 shows an assembly of a carrier structure (1) according to the present invention and a solar panel (10). The carrier structure (1) consists of a carrying frame (2), with two beams (7) and four carriers (6). The solar panel (10) is supported by the carriers (6). The carrier structure (1) is also provided with an optional back panel (11).

(15) FIG. 7 shows a detail of the coupling between an accessory (3) and a coupling pin (4) of a carrying frame (2). The coupling pin (4) is received in a receiving space (5) of the accessory (3). The receiving spaces (5) in the accessory (3) are provided with resilient locking elements (8) which secure the accessory (3). The locking elements (8) engage with the coupling pin (4) itself, for example, as a result of which the locking elements (8) sink into the coupling pin (4), or the locking elements (8) engage with pre-formed grooves (not shown) in these coupling pins (4).

(16) It will be clear that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described and illustrated here, but that countless variants which are obvious to a specialist in this field are possible without departing from the scope of the attached claims.

(17) The inventive concepts described above have been illustrated by means of several illustrative embodiments. It is conceivable for individual inventive concepts to be used without also applying the other details of the described example. It is not necessary to elaborate on examples of all conceivable combinations of the above-described inventive concepts, as someone skilled in the art will understand that several inventive concepts can be (re)combined in order to arrive at a specific use.