SOLAR MODULE

Abstract

A solar module having a laminate with two lateral edges, an upper edge and a lower edge. A frame profile extended along a direction of extension is secured on at least one of the lateral and/or upper and/or lower edges of the laminate. The frame profile has in cross-section an outer edge and a U-shaped receiving section with upper and lower U-shaped limbs for receiving one of the laminate edges, and is integrally constructed from a metal strip, which forms the outer edge of the frame profile with an edge plane. The upper U-shaped limb is configured as an upturn of the entire metal strip from the edge plane, and the lower U-shaped limb is configured as metal support sections adjacent in the direction of extension and spaced apart from one another, which metal support sections are bent away from the edge plane as integral parts of the metal strip.

Claims

1. A solar module having a solar module laminate which has two side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge as solar module laminate edges, wherein a frame profile that extends in an extension direction is fixed to at least one of the side edges and/or to the top edge and/or to the bottom edge of the solar module laminate, said frame profile having, in cross section, an outer edge and a U-shaped receiving portion with an upper U-shaped limb and a lower U-shaped limb for receiving one of the solar module laminate edges, wherein the frame profile is constructed integrally from a metal strip which forms the outer edge of the frame profile with an edge plane, wherein the upper U-shaped limb is formed as a folded edge of the entire metal strip out of the edge plane and the lower U-shaped limb is configured as metal supporting portions that are arranged alongside one another in the extension direction and in a manner spaced apart from one another, said metal supporting portions being bent out of the edge plane of the metal strip as integral parts of the metal strip.

2. The solar module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame profile is formed structurally only from the metal strip extending in the edge plane and from portions of the metal strip that are bent out of this edge plane, wherein the bent-out portions are integral parts of the metal strip and end at a distance from the edge plane.

3. The solar module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bent-out portions end without inclusion of cavities.

4. The solar module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bent-out portions are formed only as folded upper and/or lower edges of the metal strip along the entire extension direction of the metal strip and as metal supporting portions that are arranged alongside one another in the extension direction and in a manner spaced apart from one another.

5. The solar module as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the metal supporting portions is configured to be long enough, as seen in the extension direction, for it to be possible for an installer tasked with installation to fit a hand therein.

6. The solar module as claimed in claim 1, wherein two frame profiles are fixed together at a corner of two solar module laminate edges by means of a plug connection, wherein one frame profile has, at its end, a tab which is pulgged into a tab receptacle in the other frame profile.

7. The solar module as claimed in claim 1, wherein two frame profiles are fixed together at a corner of two solar module laminate edges by means of a corner bracket or are each pressed into a common corner bracket.

8. The solar module as claimed in claim 1, wherein two frame profiles are fixed together at a corner of two solar module laminate edges by means of a weld, soldered joint, adhesive bond or screw connection.

9. The solar module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame profile extends integrally along the top edge or along the bottom edge and along at least one of the two side edges of the solar module laminate.

10. The solar module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame profile extends integrally along the top edge, along the bottom edge and along the two side edges of the solar module laminate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Further properties and advantages of the invention are explained in connection with the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures and described by way of example in the following text. In the figures:

[0021] FIGS. 1a and 1b show a hollow-chamber frame profile known from the prior art, which has been formed from a metal sheet;

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a frame profile 2 of a first embodiment of the solar module with its frame profile structure oriented inwardly toward the solar module laminate;

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the frame profile 2 from FIG. 2 with the frame profile structure oriented outwardly away from the solar module laminate;

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a first variant for the corner connection of two frame profiles 2, 3;

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a second variant for the corner connection of two frame profiles 2, 3;

[0026] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a third variant for the corner connection of two frame profiles 2, 3; and

[0027] FIG. 7 shows schematic illustrations of particularly preferred configurations of the solar module with a frame profile 2 that extends integrally along two, three or four solar module laminate edges.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIGS. 1a and 1b show a hollow-chamber frame profile known from the prior art, which has been formed from a metal sheet. This solar module frame profile has already been described in the introduction. Reference is made to this description here.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a frame profile 2 of a first embodiment of the solar module with its frame profile structure oriented inwardly toward the solar module laminate. The frame profile 2 extends in an extension direction E and is formed from a simple metal sheet. The upper edge of the metal sheet is folded through substantially 90 degrees out of the plane of the metal sheet, as seen in the extension direction E, and forms an upper U-shaped limb. The lower edge of the metal sheet is likewise folded substantially parallel to the upper U-shaped limb 22 in the extension direction E and forms the lower limb 25. Between the upper U-shaped limb 22 and the lower limb 25, the metal sheet of the frame profile 2 extends in the plane of the metal sheet. Out of this plane in the extension direction E, alongside one another but spaced apart from one another, three tab-like metal supporting portions 23a, 23b, 23c have been bent out of the plane of the metal sheet through substantially 90 degrees substantially parallel to the upper U-shaped limb 22. These three metal supporting portions 23a, 23b, 23c form, with further metal supporting portions that are not shown, the lower U-shaped limb 23 of a U-shaped receiving portion 21, which engages around the solar module laminate 1 (indicated only by dashed lines here for the sake of clarity) with one of its solar module laminate edges.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the frame profile 2 from FIG. 2 with the frame profile structure oriented outwardly away from the solar module laminate 1. The regular opening behavior, caused by the regularly spaced-apart arrangement of metal supporting portions 23a, 23b, 23c, of the frame profile outer edge 20 promotes in particular the rear ventilation of the solar module laminate plate. Furthermore, the openings can also be configured regionally in a larger manner such that mechanical engagement for transport and installation of the solar module is ensured.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a first variant for the corner connection of two frame profiles 2, 3. The two frame profiles 2, 3 are formed in the extension direction E, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0032] Formed at the end of one frame profile 2 is a tab 24, which extends from the upper U-shaped limb 22 to the lower limb 25 and has been bent out of the plane of the outer edge 20. In a manner corresponding to the tab 24, a tab receptacle 34 in the form of a slit is located in the other frame profile 3, said tab receptacle 34 extending from the upper U-shaped limb 22 to the lower limb 25. When the two frame profiles are joined together, the tab 24 is plugged into the tab receptacle 34 and can be additionally fixed by fastening means such as rivets, screws or adhesives and solders, for example.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a second variant for the corner connection of two frame profiles 2, 3. In contrast to the first variant shown in FIG. 4, in this case an additional component in the form of a corner connector 4 is provided. The corner connector 4 is configured as an angle plate with two limbs and is fastened with in each case one of its limbs to the frame profiles 2, 3 to be joined together. To this end, too, all types of form- and/or force-fitting connecting means are suitable.

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a third variant for the corner connection of two frame profiles 2, 3. Here too, as in the second variant in FIG. 5, a corner connector 5 is used. However, this corner connector 5 is of more complex construction compared with the variant in FIG. 5. It is in this case a corner connector 5 known from the prior art, which allows the end portions of the two frame profiles 2, 3 to be pressed into the corner connector 5.

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of particularly preferred configurations of the solar module with a frame profile 2 which extends integrally along two, three or four solar module laminate edges. The corner regions, emphasized by circles, of the frame profile 2 are illustrated in an enlarged manner. It is apparent from the enlarged illustration that the frame profile 2 is formed integrally in these corner regions. The angle is realized by corresponding bending of the frame profile 2. The frame profile 2 is provided, in these corner regions, with recesses in the upper U-shaped limb 22 and the lower limb 25, such that when the frame profile 2 is bent at right angles, the corresponding limbs do not tilt into one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0036] 1 Solar module laminate [0037] 2 Frame profile

[0038] 20 Outer edge

[0039] 21 U-shaped receiving portion

[0040] 22 Upper U-shaped limb

[0041] 23a, 23b, 23c Metal supporting portions

[0042] 23 Lower U-shaped limb

[0043] 24 Tab

[0044] 25 Lower limb [0045] 3 Frame profile

[0046] 34 Tab receptacle [0047] 4 Corner bracket [0048] 5 Corner bracket