Retaining system for installing a photovoltaic module

Abstract

The invention relates to a holding system (1) for mounting a photovoltaic module (6) to a base (8) by means of ground supports (2, 2a, 44, 44a) which comprise a bearing head (4, 4a, 50, 50a), a ground support body (22) and a bearing surface (28, 48) on the bottom side which counteracts a penetration of the ground supports into the base (8), wherein the ground supports (2, 2a, 46, 46a) comprise on their head side a bearing plate (14, 14, 14a, 14a, 54, 54, 54a, 54a) that is disposed at a slanted angle () in relation to the base (8), and wherein the ground supports (2, 2a, 46, 46a) are provided and prepared such that, in the mounted state, the bearing plates (14, 14, 14a, 14a, 54, 54, 54a, 54a) of a ground support pair (2, 2a, 46, 46a) are spaced apart from each other vertically in relation to the base (8) and from each other horizontally in adjustment to the photovoltaic module (6) and that they are aligned with each other at least in essence.

Claims

1. A holding system for mounting photovoltaic modules above a base by means of ground supports which each comprise a bearing head, a ground support body and a base surface on the bottom side which counteracts a penetration of the ground supports into the base, wherein the base surface and the bearing head of each ground support are interlinked via the ground support body, wherein the bearing heads each have an upper surface that faces the photovoltaic modules, wherein the upper surface of each bearing head has two bearing surfaces that are each disposed at a slanted angle () in relation to the base, a first one of the bearing surfaces supports one of the photovoltaic modules and a second one of the bearing surfaces supports another one of the photovoltaic modules, wherein the ground supports are provided and set up such that, in the mounted state, the bearing surfaces of a ground support pair are spaced apart from each other vertically in relation to the base and from each other horizontally in adjustment to the photovoltaic module and that they are aligned with each other at least in essence, wherein the bearing surfaces at the upper surface of the bearing head of a first ground support of the ground support pair each have an upward chamfer with the angle (), such that the bearing surfaces of the bearing head of the first ground support form upwardly directed bearing surfaces that are each angled in opposite directions away from the base, such that one of the photovoltaic modules supported on the first one of the bearing surfaces of the bearing head of the first ground support is angled away from the base in an opposite direction from another one of the photovoltaic modules that is supported on the second one of the bearing surfaces of the bearing head of the first ground support, and wherein the bearing surfaces at the upper surface of the bearing head of a second ground support of the ground support pair each have a downward chamfer with the angle (), such that the bearing surfaces of the bearing head of the second ground support form downwardly directed bearing surfaces that are each angled in opposite directions towards the base, such that one of the photovoltaic modules supported on the first one of the bearing surfaces of the bearing head of the second ground support is angled towards the base in an opposite direction from another one of the photovoltaic modules that is supported on the second one of the bearing surfaces of the bearing head of the second ground support.

2. The holding system according to claim 1, wherein the ground support body is bar- or U-shaped and/or the base surface is disk-shaped having a mandrel that can be driven into the base on the bottom side.

3. The holding system according to claim 2, wherein the edge of the disk-shaped base surface is bent upwards in a vertical direction, such that the disk-shaped base surface has a bowl shape.

4. The holding system according to claim 2, wherein the bar-shaped ground support body comprises an external thread at least in a head-sided partial area, said external thread being aligned with and extending through a central hole in the bearing head, the central hole having an internal thread and being arranged between respectively opposite chamfers of the bearing head.

5. The holding system according to claim 2, wherein the bar-shaped ground support body comprises an external thread at least in a lower partial area, said external thread being aligned with and extending through a central hole in the disk-shaped base surface, the central hole having an internal thread.

6. The holding system according to claim 1, wherein, in the mounted state, the connection sites between the respective bearing surfaces and the respective ground support body of the first ground support and the second ground support of the ground support pair are spaced apart according to the following equation:
a.sub.v2=a.sub.v1+a.sub.h.Math.tan , wherein is the angle of inclination, a.sub.v1 is the relatively short vertical distance of the connection site of the first ground support from the base, a.sub.v2 is the relatively long vertical distance of the connection sites of the second ground support from the base, and a.sub.h is the horizontal spacing between the connection sites of the ground support pair.

7. The holding system according to claim 1, wherein the bearing surfaces are made of an elastic material and are provided and set up to absorb inside the respective bearing head any torsion generated by the ground supports penetrating differently into the base.

8. The holding system according to claim 1, wherein the bottom side of the base surface is provided with an anti-slip structure and/or that a loading weight is provided on the base surfaces.

9. The holding system according to claim 1, wherein each bearing surface of the bearing heads is provided with a threaded hole for receiving a module clamp and with a centering pin which faces upwards and is provided and set up to engage a congruent recess in a frame of the photovoltaic module in the mounted state.

10. The holding system according to claim 1, wherein the distance (a.sub.v1, a.sub.v2) between the base surface and the bearing head is within a range from 30 cm to 100 cm.

11. The holding system according to claim 1, wherein the bearing surfaces of each bearing head comprise a holding structure which is provided and set up to gear with a complementary counter structure on the bottom side of the photovoltaic module in the mounted state.

12. The holding system according to claim 1, wherein the bearing surfaces of each bearing head are provided and set up to hold the photovoltaic modules by gluing or clamping.

13. The holding system according to claim 1, wherein the bearing surfaces of each bearing head comprise a pad in at least one corner region wherein the size of the bearing surfaces are dimensioned such that, in the mounted state, the pad is disposed completely underneath a mounted photovoltaic module.

14. A photovoltaic plant comprising a multitude of photovoltaic modules and comprising a holding system according to claim 1, wherein first ground supports and second ground supports of multiple ground support pairs each form a multitude of rows that extend in parallel to each other, and wherein a row of second ground supports is arranged between two rows of first ground supports.

15. The photovoltaic plant according to claim 14, wherein the rows of the first ground supports are staggered in relation to the rows of the second ground supports such that, when the photovoltaic modules except photovoltaic modules on the edge sides are mounted, each photovoltaic module is attached to a total of three bearing heads.

16. The holding system according to claim 1, wherein the distance (a.sub.v1, a.sub.v2) between the base surface and the bearing head is within a range between 40 cm and 80 cm.

17. The holding system according to claim 1, wherein the distance (a.sub.v1, a.sub.v2) between the base surface and the bearing head is between 50 cm and 60 cm.

18. The holding system according to claim 1, wherein the bearing heads are directly connected to the ground supports, respectively.

19. The holding system according to claim 1, wherein the bearing head of the first ground support is v-shaped due to the upwardly directed bearing surfaces, and wherein the bearing head of the second ground support is upside-down v-shaped due to the downwardly directed bearing surfaces.

Description

(1) Below, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be illustrated in more detail by means of a drawing. In the drawing,

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first arrangement of photovoltaic modules on a multitude of pairs of ground supports;

(3) FIG. 1a is a top view of the arrangement according to FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second arrangement of photovoltaic modules on a multitude of pairs of ground supports;

(5) FIG. 2a is a top view of the arrangement according to FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 3 shows the upper region of a first ground support of a pair;

(7) FIG. 4 shows the upper region of a second ground support of a pair;

(8) FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the lower region of a ground support in a first embodiment;

(9) FIG. 6 is a view according to FIG. 5, showing a second embodiment of the lower region of a ground support;

(10) FIG. 7 is a view according to FIG. 5, showing a third embodiment of the lower region of a ground support;

(11) FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an isolated mounted photovoltaic module on a base;

(12) FIG. 9 is a top view of a bearing plate with pads;

(13) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an arrangement of photovoltaic modules according to FIG. 1 on a multitude of carrier systems;

(14) FIG. 10a is a sectional view of a first ground support according to FIG. 10;

(15) FIG. 10b is a sectional view of a second ground support according to FIG. 10; and

(16) FIG. 11 shows an arrangement of an auxiliary mounting pin on a bearing plate.

(17) Parts and sizes corresponding to each other are provided with equal reference symbols in all of the figures.

(18) FIG. 1 shows a holding device (holding system) 1 for a photovoltaic plant. In FIGS. 1 and 1a, first and second ground supports 2 and 2a, respectively, are called a pair. Each ground support 2, 2a comprises a bearing plate 4, 4a for photovoltaic modules (PV modules) 6. The PV modules 6 are provided with a frame (not shown) on their edge sides. The ground supports 2, 2a are mounted on a base 8 such that their associated bearing plates 4, 4a are disposed at different levels and the PV modules 6 are aligned in relation to the base 8 at a desired angle .

(19) In the exemplary embodiment shown, the bearing plate 4 of the first ground support 2 is disposed at a lower level above the base 8, i.e. at a shorter vertical distance from the base 8 than the bearing plate 4a of the second ground support 2a. The angle does not serve to adjust a favorable inclination of the PV modules 6 in relation to the sun but is supposed to ensure that the modules 6 are self-cleaned by rain and, if necessary, a snow layer slips off. The different heights at which the bearing plates 4, 4a can be disposed after mounting can, for example, be achieved by driving the ground support 2 to a depth that is different from that of the ground support 2a.

(20) In this first embodiment, the respective bearing plate 4, 4a each supports four corners of four photovoltaic modules 6 that are arranged against each other at their corners. In a relatively large array or a correspondingly large PV plant comprising a multitude of hundreds of PV modules 6, this then results in a multitude of rows of first ground supports 2 (denoted by a first arrow 10) which alternate with rows of second ground supports 2a (denoted by a second arrow 10a). The ground supports 2, 2a disposed in the respective row 10, 10a are disposed directly opposite the ground supports 2, 2a of the neighboring row 10, 10a. This non-staggered arrangement of ground supports 2, 2a can be relatively clearly seen from FIG. 1a. In FIG. 1a, only one photovoltaic module 6 and one ground support pair 2, 2a are provided with reference symbols by way of example.

(21) FIGS. 2 and 2a show a similar arrangement with the difference that the bearing plates 4a of the second ground supports 2a are not applied to the corners of the supported photovoltaic modules 6 but to the center of the framed edge. Therein, the second ground supports 2a are those with the bearing plate 4a at a higher level. The first ground supports 2 the bearing plates 4 of which are arranged on the lower level are positioned at the corners of the photovoltaic modules 6 in analogy with FIG. 1. This, therefore, results in a three-point support for each photovoltaic module 6, which is accompanied by a mechanical load on the corners of the glass disks of the photovoltaic modules 6 if, e.g., a snow load is unevenly distributed, wherein said mechanical load is free from tension to a large extent.

(22) This, in turn, results in two types of rows 10, 10a of first and second ground supports 2, 2a, respectively, with chamfers in different directions (as illustrated in more detail below by means of FIGS. 3 and 4), which extend in parallel to each other. Contrary to the arrangement according to FIG. 1, the ground supports 2 at the same point in a row 10 are not disposed opposite the ground supports 2a of the neighboring row 10a. This means that there is an offset V which essentially corresponds to half the width of a photovoltaic module 6.

(23) FIG. 3 shows the upper region of the first ground support 2 with its bearing plate 4. The bearing plate 4 comprises two chamfers 12, 12 which form two supporting surfaces 14, 14 in the bearing plate 4. The chamfers 12, 12 are directed upwards, i.e. the bearing surfaces 14, 14 also face upwards, preferably at the angle in relation to the horizontal, which defines the desired inclination of the photovoltaic modules 6 in relation to the base 8.

(24) The bearing plate 4 of the ground support 2 shown is designed for supporting one corner each of four adjacent photovoltaic modules 6, the two rear ones of which are plotted here. For their attachment, there are two module clamps 16 which each assume the task of clamping two photovoltaic modules 6. Each module clamp 16 comprises a hole (not visible) in its ground or bottom, through which a screw 18 or a threaded pin can be securely connected to the bearing surface 14 in order to fix the module clamp 16 in position on the bearing surface 14, 14. To achieve this attachment, the bearing plate 4 is preferably provided with two riveting nuts one of which is each approximately arranged in the center of the respective bearing surface 14, 14. It is also possible to provide a hole with an internal thread in the stead of the riveting nuts, wherein the screw 18 can be screwed and braced into said hole.

(25) To fix each photovoltaic module 6 in position on the ground support 2, two centering pins 20 are provided. Four of the total of eight centering pins 20 are not visible in FIG. 3 because they are hidden by the photovoltaic modules 6 which are shown in their already mounted state. The four visible centering pins 20 are provided for the two front photovoltaic modules 6 which must still be mounted.

(26) The first ground supports 2 each comprise a bar 22 which can be a threaded bar or can be provided with an external thread 24 at least in its upper region. Two nuts 26, 26 are provided on the external thread 24, wherein the first nut 26 is arranged below the bearing plate 4 and secures the latter such that it cannot slip down. Along with the lower nut 26, the upper nut 26 braces the bearing plate 4 securely to the bar 22.

(27) FIG. 4 shows a type of the second ground support 2a which is to be provided for arrangement in the center of the framed edge of the photovoltaic module 6. Equal parts are provided with an additional a to indicate that this is the second ground support 2a. The second ground support 2a is the one the bearing plate 4a of which is disposed at a higher level than the bearing plate 4 of the first round supports 2. In contrast to the ground support 2 shown in FIG. 3, the chamfers 12a, 12a of the second ground support 2a are, accordingly, directed downwards at the angle . The bearing surfaces 14a and 14a formed by the chamfers 12a, 12a, therefore, face down towards the complementary bearing surfaces 14, 14 of the first ground support 2, with the result that all bearing surfaces 14, 14a which hold the same photovoltaic module 6 are disposed in a common plane.

(28) A corresponding centering pin 20 is likewise provided in the bearing plates 4a of the second ground support 2a in order to hold the photovoltaic module 6 in an aligned position. For reasons of mass production, the module clamps 16 are the same ones as those for the four-corner attachment according to FIG. 3. To save costs, it can, where necessary, be appropriate to omit the unused web which otherwise serves to brace a further module 6, because said web is not required in case of the central position of the clamp 16 at the edge of the module that is shown here.

(29) As a result, the bearing plate 4 associated with the first ground support 2 of the pair is provided with two mutually opposite bearing surfaces 14, 14 that are chamfered upwards, and the bearing plate 4a of the second ground support 2a of the pair is provided with two mutually opposite bearing surfaces 14a, 14a that are chamfered downwards.

(30) FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment of the type of attachment of the ground supports 2, 2a in the base. The figure only shows the lower region of the ground support 2, 2a with the lower part of the bar 22, 22a, this being indicated by an intersecting line. Here as well, a partial section is provided with an external thread 24, unless the bar 22 as a whole is a threaded bar. A disk 28 is screwed onto the external thread 24, said disk 28 comprising for this purpose a central hole with an internal thread that is complementary to the external thread 24 of the bar region. The free length of the bar 22 disposed above the disk 28 is defined by the vertical position of the disk 28. This automatically determines the level of the upper external thread 24 to which the bearing plates 4, 4a are attached. If the level is supposed to be lower, the bar 22 must only be driven down deeper into the base 8. The end of the bar 22 is formed by a point or a mandrel 30 which makes driving it down easier.

(31) FIG. 6 shows a variant in which, in the stead of (or in addition to) the mandrel 30, the bottom side of the disk 28 is provided with an anti-slip structure, such as, for example, by means of a multitude of spikes 32. In order to reach a contact pressure that is higher than that reached by the own weight of the ground support 2, 2a with the load of the photovoltaic module 6, it may be appropriate to place an additional loading weight 34 on the top side of the disk 28.

(32) FIG. 7 shows a further alternative embodiment. In this embodiment, the disk 28 is bent upwards at its edges in the way of a bowl, whereby a tiltable bearing of the holding system 1 is implemented. The external thread 24 of the bar 22 engages a central hole of the disk 28 and is screwed to a holding nut 36 at its end on the bottom side, i.e. on the bottom side of the disk. To achieve an operationally safe hold, a counter nut 38 is screwed to the external thread 24 on the top side of the disk, with the result that the disk 28 is retained to the bar 22 by means of the holding nut 36 and the counter nut 38 in a force-fit manner.

(33) FIG. 8 illustrates the geometrical relationship between the angle of inclination , the relatively short vertical distance a.sub.v1 of the connection site of the first ground support 2 from the base 8, the relatively long vertical distance a.sub.v2 of the connection site of the second ground support 2a from the base 8, and the horizontal spacing a.sub.h between the connection sites of the ground support pair. On the one hand, the ground supports 2, 2a of the rows 10, 10a are dimensioned in their horizontal spacing a.sub.h and, on the other hand, in their vertical levels a.sub.v1 and a.sub.v2 such that the following equation applies: a.sub.v2=a.sub.v1+a.sub.h.Math.tan .

(34) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the bearing plates 4, 4a are provided with a saw-teeth-like holding contour 40, 40a which, in the mounted state, engages a complementary counter contour 42, 42a on the bottom side of a mounted photovoltaic module 6 and thereby implement an anti-slip hold.

(35) FIG. 9 is a top view of the bearing plates 4, 4a in an embodiment with four pads 44 which are each arranged in a corner region of the essentially square bearing plate 4, 4a. The pads 44 are designed as a soft and elastic plastic cushion. This relieves the corners of a mounted photovoltaic module 6 if forces act on the surface of the photovoltaic module, for example, during assembly or maintenance.

(36) FIGS. 10, 10a and 10b show a third example arrangement wherein the ground supports 2, 2a are not designed in the form of bars 22 but with metal carrier systems 46, 46a. The carrier systems 46, 46a are formed from a loading trough 48 that rests on the base 8 and is essentially U-shaped and a bearing beam 50, 50a turned by 90 in relation thereto.

(37) The loading trough 48 rests on the base 8 with its horizontal U-leg andas can be seen from FIGS. 10a and 10bis adapted and set up to receive a loading weight 34. The vertical U-legs of the elongated loading trough 48 are aligned vertically in relation to the rows 10, 10a.

(38) In essence, the bearing beams 50, 50a are also U-shaped, wherein the horizontal U-legs are designed in the way of the bearing plates 4, 4a. The vertical U-legs of the bearing beams 50, 50a are aligned vertically in relation to the loading troughs 48, i.e. essentially in parallel with the rows 10, 10a. The vertical U-legs of the bearing beams 50, 50a rest on those of the loading troughs 48 and are connected to each other by means of a welded seam.

(39) The horizontal U-leg of the bearing beam 48 disposed at a lower level comprises two chamfers 52, 52 which form two bearing surfaces 54, 54 of the bearing beam 50. The chamfers 52, 52 are directed upwards, i.e. the bearing surfaces 54, 54 also face upwards, preferably at the angle in relation to the horizontal, which defines the desired inclination of the photovoltaic modules 6 in relation to the base 8. In contrast to the ground support 2 shown in FIG. 10a, the chamfers 52a, 52a of the second ground support 50a are, accordingly, directed downwards at the angle . The bearing surfaces 54a and 54a formed by the chamfers 52a, 52a, therefore, face down towards the complementary bearing surfaces 54, 54 of the bearing beam 50 of the first ground support 2, with the result that all bearing surfaces 54, 54a which hold the same photovoltaic module 6 are disposed in a common plane.

(40) FIG. 11 is a top view of the bearing plate 4 according to FIG. 3 and of the corner regions of two photovoltaic modules (PV modules) 6 that are shown in parts with their hatched glass surfaces 55. In the edge region of the PV module 6, the respective glass surface 55 is partially covered by a module frame 56 of the respective PV module 6. Mounting pins 58 which, starting from the chamfers 12, 12 of the bearing plate 4, extend upwards in vertical direction are provided in the vicinity of the bearing surfaces 14, 14 of the bearing plate 4. Preferably, two auxiliary mounting pins 58 are provided for each chamfer 12, 12 or, rather, for each bearing surface 14 and 14, respectively. It is also possible to provide further auxiliary mounting pins 60 which are then, preferably, also positioned in the corner region of the PV module 6, however, outside the module frame 56 on the respective bearing surface 14, 14.

(41) The auxiliary mounting pins 58 comprise a vertical length of approx. 3 mm to 8 mm projecting beyond the chamfer 12, 12. They are, preferably, provided with a sharp upper edge which allows catching with the lower edge of the module frame 56 in a reliable manner, in order to ensure that the latter cannot slide across the auxiliary mounting pin 58. The auxiliary mounting pins 58 are arranged such that they can abut against the inner edge of the module frame 56. In the shown case of corner mounting of the PV modules 6, the auxiliary mounting pins 58 are disposed inside the module frame 56 in the corner region of the respective glass surface 55.

(42) When a photovoltaic array is mounted, the PV modules 6 are initially deposited on the bearing plates 4, 4a either individually or in groups, from which they cannot slip off due to the auxiliary mounting pins 58, 60 and on which they can slip only a little, if at all. Subsequently, the individual PV modules 6 are aligned and fixed in position by means of the module clamps 16.

(43) The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments described above. In fact, persons skilled in the art can also derive other variants of the invention based thereon, without leaving the subject matter of the invention. Furthermore, all individual features described in connection with the various exemplary embodiments can, in particular, also be combined in another manner without leaving the subject matter of the invention.