FRAME OF A MODULE FOR A MODULAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM, MODULE PRODUCED THEREWITH AND MODULAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM

Abstract

A module frame includes two longitudinal, and two transverse, frame elements. A longitudinal cover fold, with two longitudinal cover fold end areas, extends from the first longitudinal frame element. A transverse cover fold has two transverse cover fold end areas. The second longitudinal cover fold, and second transverse cover fold, end areas, form a cover fold end area. The bottom surface of the longitudinal cover fold is the height of the top surface of the second longitudinal frame element. The bottom surface of the transverse cover fold is the height of the top surface of the second transverse frame element. The bottom surface of the first transverse cover fold end area is the height of the top surface of the first longitudinal cover end area, and the bottom surface of the cover fold end area is the height of the top surface of the first transverse cover end area.

Claims

1.-20. (canceled)

21. A frame of a module for a modular photovoltaic system, wherein the frame is composed of a first and a second longitudinal frame element situated opposite to one another and a first and a second transverse frame element situated opposite to one another, wherein the transverse frame elements are connected to the longitudinal frame elements, wherein the longitudinal frame elements and the transverse frame elements are realized as extruded sections or rolled sections, wherein a longitudinal cover fold extends starting from the top surface of the first longitudinal frame element from the frame and wherein a transverse cover fold extends starting from the top surface of the first transverse frame element of the frame, wherein the longitudinal cover fold has a first longitudinal cover fold end area and a second longitudinal cover fold end area, wherein the transverse cover fold has a first transverse cover fold end area and a second transverse cover fold end area, wherein the first longitudinal cover fold end area and the first transverse cover fold end area are realized to be self-supporting and the second longitudinal cover fold end area and the second transverse cover fold end area are inter-connected to a common cover fold end area, wherein the bottom surface of the longitudinal cover fold is at least at the height of the top surface of the second longitudinal frame element and the bottom surface of the transverse cover fold is at least at the height of the top surface of the second transverse frame element, wherein the bottom surface of the self-supporting first transverse cover fold end area is at least at the height of the top surface of the self-supporting first longitudinal cover end area and the bottom surface of the common cover fold end area is at least at the height of the top surface of the self-supporting first transverse cover fold end area.

22. A frame according to claim 21, wherein the longitudinal cover fold extends across the entire length of the first longitudinal frame element and that the transverse cover fold extends across the entire length of the first transverse frame element, wherein the longitudinal cover fold and the transverse cover fold are inter-connected in the common cover fold end area.

23. A frame according to claim 21, wherein there are arranged gaskets at the top surface of the first or second longitudinal frame element or at the bottom surface of the longitudinal cover fold and/or that there are arranged gaskets at the top surface of the first or second transverse frame element or at the bottom surface of the transverse cover fold.

24. A frame according to claim 21, wherein at the top surface of the second longitudinal frame element across the length thereof there are extended at least one groove and/or at least one ridge and that at the bottom surface of the longitudinal cover fold across the length thereof there are extended ridges and/or grooves mirror-inverted to the grooves or ridges, respectively, of the second longitudinal frame element.

25. A frame according to claim 21, wherein at the top surface of the second transverse frame element across the length thereof there is extended at least one groove and/or at least one ridge and that at the bottom surface of the transverse cover fold across the length thereof there are extend ridges and/or grooves mirror-inverted to the grooves or ridges, respectively, of the second transverse frame element.

26. A frame according to claim 21, wherein the longitudinal cover fold is realized to be integral with the first longitudinal frame element and/or that the transverse cover fold is realized to be integral with the first transverse frame element.

27. A frame according to claim 21, wherein there is realized in the external lateral wall of one of the two longitudinal frame elements at least one protrusion and there is realized in the external lateral wall of the other of the two longitudinal frame elements at least one depression or a hole, wherein the protrusion of the one longitudinal frame element is situated opposite to the depression or hole, respectively, of the other longitudinal frame element and that the depression or the hole, respectively, have at least the same dimensions as the protrusion.

28. A frame according to claim 27, wherein the depression is realized as a curved or inclined channel or the hole is realized as a curved or inclined oblong hole and the protrusion tapers towards the free end thereof.

29. A frame according to claim 21, wherein in the external lateral wall of one of the two transverse frame elements there is realized at least one protrusion and in the external wall of the other of the two transverse frame elements there is realized at least one depression or a hole, wherein the protrusion of the one transverse frame element is situated opposite to the depression or the hole, respectively, of the other transverse frame element and the depression or the hole, respectively, has at least the same dimension as the protrusion.

30. A frame according to claim 21, wherein the bottom surfaces of the longitudinal frame elements and of the transverse frame elements are situated in a common plane, which forms a support surface.

31. A frame according to claim 21, wherein the external lateral walls of the longitudinal frame elements and of the transverse frame elements are realized for a side-to-side arrangement of several frames.

32. A frame according to claim 21, wherein the longitudinal frame elements and the transverse frame elements are composed of aluminium or a fibre-reinforced plastic material.

33. A frame according to claim 21, wherein in the self-supporting first end area of the longitudinal cover fold there is realized a recess.

34. A frame according to claim 21, wherein in the self-supporting first end area of the transverse cover fold there is realized a recess.

35. A module for a modular photovoltaic system, comprising a frame according to claim 21 and at least one functional element arranged within the frame, wherein the frame has a holder, at which the functional element is attached in a sealing manner.

36. A module according to claim 35, wherein the holder is realized as ridges, as a U-profile, as a tubular profile, or as a flat sealing surface, in which the functional element is accommodated.

37. A module according to claim 35, wherein the functional element is a photovoltaic element.

38. A module according to claim 35, wherein the functional element is selected from a cover plate, a decorative element, an aeration element, an element having at least one aperture, a window element, a bargeboard element and/or a roof ridge element.

39. A modular photovoltaic system, wherein it may be assembled from a plurality of modules according to claim 35, wherein at least one of the modules has a functional element in the form of a photovoltaic element.

40. A photovoltaic system according to claim 39, wherein the modules may be arranged side-to-side and that the bottom surfaces of the frames of the modules form a support surface.

Description

[0033] The invention is explained in the following in greater detail by way of exemplary embodiments in reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a frame according to the invention in a top view;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a partially cut side view of the frame in the direction of the arrow L of FIG. 1, with view onto the external surface of the first transverse frame element;

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a partially cut side view of the frame in the direction of the arrow K of FIG. 1, with view onto the external surface of the first transverse frame element;

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a partially cut side view of the frame in the direction of the arrow N of FIG. 1, with view onto the external surface of the first longitudinal frame element;

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a partially cut side view of the frame in the direction of the arrow M of FIG. 1, with view onto the external surface of the second longitudinal frame element;

[0039] FIG. 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the frame along the line G-G of FIG. 1, with view onto the internal surface of the first transverse frame element;

[0040] FIG. 7 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the frame along the line H-H of FIG. 1, with view onto the internal surface of the second transverse frame element;

[0041] FIG. 8 shows a partial longitudinal view of the frame along the line F-F of FIG. 1, with view onto the internal surface of the first longitudinal frame element;

[0042] FIG. 9 shows a partial longitudinal view of the frame along the line J-J of FIG. 1 through the first longitudinal frame element;

[0043] FIG. 10 shows a partial longitudinal view of the frame along the line I-I of FIG. 1, with view onto the internal surface of the second longitudinal frame element;

[0044] FIG. 11 shows a detail E of the top views of FIG. 1 and FIG. 12;

[0045] FIG. 12 shows a top view of a modular photovoltaic system according to the invention with four modules each having a frame and a functional element;

[0046] FIG. 13 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the photovoltaic system along the line A-A of FIG. 12;

[0047] FIG. 14 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the photovoltaic system along the line B-B of FIG. 12;

[0048] FIG. 15 shows a partial longitudinal view of the photovoltaic system along the line C-C of FIG. 12; and

[0049] FIG. 16 shows a partial longitudinal view of the photovoltaic system along the line D-D of FIG. 12.

[0050] Initially, there is made reference to the FIGS. 1-10, which show a frame 1 according to the invention of a module for a modular photovoltaic system in various views and sections. The frame 1 is composed of a first and a second longitudinal frame element 2, 3 situated opposite to each other and a first and a second transverse frame element 4, 5 situated opposite to each other. The transverse frame elements 4, 5 are connected at the corners thereof to the longitudinal frame elements 2, 3 such that they form a rectangle. The longitudinal frame elements 2, 3 and the transverse frame elements 4, 5 are realized as extruded sections, in particular made from aluminium or a preferably fibre-reinforced plastic material. Each extruded section has—in a cross-sectional view—a hollow body 6, in this exemplary embodiment a rectangular hollow body 6, which conveys rigidity against bending and twisting to the transverse frame elements 4, 5 and the longitudinal frame elements 2, 3. Starting from the hollow body 6, ridges 7, 8 extend from the top surface thereof and near to the top surface thereof across the length of the longitudinal frame elements 2, 3 and of the transverse frame elements 4, 5 inwards. These ridges 7, 8 are intended to sealingly accommodate functional elements, in particular photovoltaic elements, but also functional elements, which are selected from cover plates, decorative elements, cover plates, aeration elements, elements having at least one aperture, window elements, bargeboard elements and/or roof ridge elements. Starting from the bottom surface of the hollow body 6 of the extruded section, there are extended ridges 9 running across the length of the longitudinal frame element 2, 3 and of the transverse frame elements 4, 5 inwards, which together with the bottom surface of the hollow body of the extruded section form a support surface 10 of the frame 1. The external lateral walls 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a of the longitudinal frame elements 2, 3 and of the transverse frame elements 4, 5 are realized for a side-by-side arrangement of several frames 1.

[0051] Starting from the top surface 2d of the first longitudinal frame element 2, a longitudinal cover fold 22 extends from the frame 1 outwards across the length of the first longitudinal frame element 2. The longitudinal cover fold 22 has a first longitudinal cover fold end area 22a and a second longitudinal cover fold end area 22b. Starting from the top surface 4d of the first transverse frame element 4, a transverse cover fold 42 extends from the frame 1 outwards. The transverse cover fold 42 has a first transverse cover fold end area 42a and a second transverse cover fold end area 42b. The first longitudinal cover fold end area 22a and the first transverse cover fold end area 42a are realized to be self-supporting. The second longitudinal cover fold end area 22b and the second transverse cover fold end area 42b are inter-connected to a common cover fold end area 11, wherein—measured from the support surface 10—the bottom surface 22c of the longitudinal cover fold 22 is at least at the height of the top surface 3d of the second longitudinal frame element 3 and the bottom surface 42c of the transverse cover fold 42 is at least at the height of the top surface 5d of the second transverse frame element 5. The bottom surface 42f of the self-supporting first transverse cover fold end area 42a is at least at the height of the top surface of the self-supporting first longitudinal cover end area 22a. The bottom surface 11a of the common cover fold end area 11 is at least at the height of the top surface 42e of the self-supporting first transverse cover fold end area 42a. The longitudinal cover fold 22 is preferably realized to be integral with the first longitudinal frame element 2. Also preferably, the transverse cover fold 42 is realized to be integral with the first transverse frame element 4. Attachment screws 50 are drawn in the figures as a dotdashed line. The position of the attachments screws 50 in the frames 1 is such that in the assembled position they are covered by frames 1 adjacent to the transverse cover fold 42 and the longitudinal cover fold 22 and are thus not visible. This is advantageous for tightness, optics and costs of the photovoltaic system, as the use of sealing gaskets is not required.

[0052] The connection between the second longitudinal cover fold end area 22b and the second transverse cover fold end area 42b to the common cover fold end area 11 may be realized by means of soldering, bonding, crimping, etc. For this purpose, either the second longitudinal cover fold end area 22b and the second transverse cover fold end area 42b could be trimmed, e.g., mitred, such that the cutting edges of these end areas 22b, 42b are situated side-by-side and are tightly inter-connected by way of bonding, soldering, etc. Or the second longitudinal cover fold end area 22b and the second transverse cover fold end area 42b may be arranged in a superimposed and inter-connected manner.

[0053] For a high sealing effect, there may be arranged gaskets 12, 13 at the top surface of the first or second longitudinal frame element 2, 3 or at the bottom surface of the longitudinal cover fold 22. Similarly, at the top surface of the first or second transverse frame element 4, 5 or at the bottom surface of the transverse cover fold 42 there may be arranged gaskets 14.

[0054] In order to seal neighbouring frames 1 against the entry of water, there are formed at the top surface 3d of the second longitudinal frame element 3 across the length thereof two ridges 3c, and at the bottom surface 22c of the longitudinal cover fold 22 across the length thereof there are extend grooves 22d mirror-inverted to the ridges 3c of the second longitudinal element 3. When connecting the neighbouring frames 1, the ridges 3c engage the grooves 22d, thus forming, one the one side, a labyrinth corridor, through which even water driven by wind cannot flow. On the other side, the grooves 22d form discharges for the little water that might have entered this labyrinth corridor.

[0055] It is provided that neighbouring frames 1 may be inter-connected in the form of a matrix composed of columns and rows, wherein the connection is preferably realized by connecting the frames 1 from the right to the left and from the bottom to the top. This means that there is initially arranged the first (lowermost) row from the right to the left, whereupon the second row is then produced from the right to the left, and so on up to the uppermost row. For this purpose, there are formed in the external lateral wall 2a of the first longitudinal frame element 2 two protrusions 2b in the form of pins and in the external lateral wall 3a of the second longitudinal frame element 3 there are formed holes 3b. The protrusions 2b of the first longitudinal frame element 2 are situated opposite to the holes 3b of the second longitudinal frame elements 3, and the holes 3b are at least of the same dimension as the protrusions 2b. Such that the neighbouring frames 1 may also be joined in a shifting motion, if there are situated ridges 3c at the top surface 3d of the second longitudinal frame element and if there are situated grooves 22d at the bottom surface 22c of the longitudinal cover fold 22, there is provided that the holes 3b be realized as curved and/or inclined oblong holes, wherein the height distance x at the beginning and at the end of the oblong hole is at least of the same size as the height of the ridges 3c or the grooves 22d, respectively, (see FIG. 15). In FIG. 10, the hole 3b is, for example, realized as an oblong hole having a bend. This embodiment presents the preferred embodiment. The pin-like protrusion 2b preferably tapers towards the free end thereof in order to facilitate the introduction of the protrusion 2b into the hole 3b.

[0056] In order to have the frames 1 joined in a column of the matrix arrangement, there is formed in the external lateral wall 4a of the first transverse frame element 4 a protrusion 4b in the form of a pin. In the external wall 5a of the second transverse frame element 4 there is further formed a hole 5b. The protrusion 4b of the first transverse frame element 4 is situated opposite to the hole 5b of the second transverse frame element 5. The hole 5b is of at least the same dimension as the protrusion 4b.

[0057] In order to prevent at the common corner of four joined frames 1 the entry of water flowing upwards into the corner, there is formed in the self-supporting first end area 22a of the longitudinal cover fold 22 a recess 22f. In the self-supporting first end area 42a of the transverse cover fold 42 there is further realized a recess 42g, whereby a distance y to be provided (see FIG. 13) for material stretching of the frame 1 may be shifted inwards.

[0058] The features of the frame 1 make it possible to inter-connect frames 1 side-by-side in a matrix arrangement in a support surface 10, thereby ensuring that no water will enter the space between the frames 1. The concept of the frames 1 is based on the fact that the four corner areas of the frame 1 are of different heights such that upon assembly of four frames 1 in two columns and two rows the neighbouring frames 1 will overlap each other in the common corner area of these four frames on four different levels. The lowest level, which more or less represents a reference level, is formed by the top surface 3d of the second longitudinal frame element 3 and the top surface 5d of the second transverse frame element 5, wherein especially the common corner area of the second longitudinal frame element 3 and of the second transverse frame element 5 is of relevance. The second level is defined by the self-supporting first longitudinal cover fold end area 22a, which is at a higher height than the top surface 3d, 5d of the second longitudinal frame element 3 and of the second transverse frame element 5. Above this second level, there is provided as a third level the self-supporting first transverse cover fold end area 42a. The fourth level, which is the highest level, is formed by the common cover fold end area 11. The various levels may be realized by offsetting the respective parts or portions, respectively, of the frame 1.

[0059] A modular photovoltaic system 100 according to the invention having modules 60, 70, 80, 90, which each comprise a frame 1 and functional elements 61, 71, 81, 91, is in the following explained by way of the FIGS. 12 and 16 to illustrate the concept of a water-tight overlapping of the modules 60, 70, 80, 90 by means of the frames 1 thereof. As far as frame parts are depicted in the FIGS. 12 to 16 and indicated via a reference, there is additionally made reference to the depictions of the FIGS. 1 to 11 and referred to the explanations of these frame parts given above in order to avoid any repetitions, wherein the same references will designate the same parts. The functional elements 61, 71, 81, 91 of the modules 60, 70, 80, 90 are attached in holders, which are composed of the interior ridges 7, 8 of the frames 1. In combination with the hollow body 6 of the extruded section, from which the frames 1 are made, this results in a U-profile enclosing the edges of the functional elements 61, 71, 81, 91. The functional elements 61, 71, 81, 91 are, on the one hand-side, photovoltaic elements, they may, however, also be selected from a cover plate, a decorative element, an aeration element, an element having at least one aperture, a bargeboard element and/or a roof ridge element.

[0060] The photovoltaic system 100 depicted as example in the FIGS. 12 to 16 comprises four modules 60, 70, 80, 90. The photovoltaic system 100 is assembled by initially placing the first module 60 on a base such as a roof subconstruction and then mounting it. Then the second module 70 is arranged above the first module 60 such that the second transverse frame element 5 of the first module 60 and the first transverse frame element 4 of the second module 70 are situated side-by-side and the transverse cover fold 42 of the second module 70 covers the second transverse frame element 5 of the first module 60. For a secure connection, the protrusion 4b of the first transverse frame element 4 of the second module 70, which is realized as a pin, engages the hole 5b of the second transverse frame element 5 of the first module 60. Next, the third module 80 is introduced into the photovoltaic system 100 by arranging it next to the first module 60 (in FIG. 12 left to the first module 60) such that the second longitudinal frame element 3 of the first module 60 is situated side-by-side next to the first longitudinal frame element 2 of the third module 80 and such that the protrusions 2b (pins) of the external lateral wall 2a of the first longitudinal frame element 2 of the third module 80 engage the oblong holes 3b in the external lateral wall 3a of the second longitudinal frame element 3 and the longitudinal cover fold 22 of the third module 80 covers the second longitudinal frame element 3 of the first module 60. Then the third module 80 is shifted downwards into its final position, in which the ridges 3c engage at the top surface 3d of the second longitudinal frame element 3 of the first module 60 the grooves 22d formed at the bottom surface 22c of the longitudinal cover fold 22 of the third module 80. Finally, the fourth module 90 is arranged next to the second module 70 and above the third module 80 and, similarly to the second and third module 70, 80 described above, shifted such that the longitudinal cover fold 22 of the fourth module 90 in its final position covers the second longitudinal frame element 3 of the second module 70 and the transverse cover fold 42 of the fourth module 90 covers the second transverse frame element 5 of the third module 70. As is best visible in FIGS. 13 and 15, portions of all four modules 60, 70, 80, 90 are superimposed in the common corner area of the four modules 60, 70, 80, 90. Due to the configuration of the frames 1, however, also this common corner area of the four modules 60, 70, 80, 90 is impermeable against the entry of water. FIG. 13 shows at the very bottom the module 60 (in the drawing to the left). There are visible the second longitudinal frame element 3 thereof and the external lateral wall 3a of the second longitudinal frame element 3 as well as the ridges 3c situated on the top surface 3d of the second longitudinal frame element 3. To the right of the module 60, there is arranged the module 80. There is visible the first longitudinal frame element 2 thereof with the external lateral wall 2a thereof and the longitudinal cover fold 22 with grooves 22d at the bottom surface 22c thereof. The longitudinal cover fold 22 of the module 80 covers the longitudinal frame element 3 of the module 60. On the left side of FIG. 13, there is visible of the module 70 the transverse cover fold 42, the self-supporting first transverse cover fold end area 42a of which covers the longitudinal cover fold 22 of the module 80. On the right side of FIG. 13, there is visible of the module 90 the common cover fold end area 11, which covers the self-supporting first transverse cover fold end area 42a of the module 70. Distances for material stretching are indicated by the arrows y. In the manner described above it is possible to assemble modular photovoltaic systems 100 of any size. With these photovoltaic systems 100 it is also essential that the modules 60, 70, 80, 90 may be arranged side-by-side and the bottom surfaces of the frames 1 of the modules 60, 70, 80, 90 form a support surface 10 on a roof subconstruction. In this way, contrary to prior art, there may be avoided a “roof tile arrangement”, wherein one module with its bottom surface is partially superimposed on the other one.

REFERENCE NUMBERS LIST

[0061] 1 frame

[0062] 2 first longitudinal frame element

[0063] 2a external lateral wall of the first longitudinal frame element

[0064] 2b protrusion (pin) in the external lateral wall of the first longitudinal frame element

[0065] 2d top surface of the first longitudinal frame element

[0066] 2e bottom surface of the first longitudinal frame element

[0067] 3 second longitudinal frame element

[0068] 3a external lateral wall of the second longitudinal frame element

[0069] 3b hole (oblong hole, inclined or curved) in the external lateral wall of the second longitudinal frame element

[0070] 3c ridge at the top surface of the second longitudinal frame element

[0071] 3d top surface of the second longitudinal frame element

[0072] 3e bottom surface of the second longitudinal frame element

[0073] 4 first transverse frame element

[0074] 4a external lateral wall of the first transverse frame element

[0075] 4b protrusion (pin) in the external lateral wall of the first transverse frame element

[0076] 4d top surface of the first transverse frame element

[0077] 4e bottom surface of the first transverse frame element

[0078] 5 second transverse frame element

[0079] 5a external lateral wall of the second transverse frame element

[0080] 5b hole in the external lateral wall of the second transverse frame element

[0081] 5d top surface of the second transverse frame element

[0082] 5e bottom surface of the second transverse frame element

[0083] 6 hollow body of the extruded section

[0084] 7,8,9 interior ridges of the extruded section

[0085] 10 support surface of the frame

[0086] 11 common cover fold end area

[0087] 11a bottom surface of the common cover fold end area

[0088] 12 gasket at the bottom surface of the longitudinal cover fold

[0089] 13 gasket at the top surface of the second longitudinal frame element

[0090] 14 gasket at the bottom surface of the transverse cover fold

[0091] 22 longitudinal cover fold

[0092] 22a first longitudinal cover fold end area (self-supporting)

[0093] 22b second longitudinal cover fold end area

[0094] 22c bottom surface of the longitudinal cover fold

[0095] 22d groove at the bottom surface of the longitudinal cover fold

[0096] 22e top surface of the first longitudinal cover fold end area

[0097] 22f recess in the self-supporting first end area of the longitudinal cover fold

[0098] 42 transverse cover fold

[0099] 42a first transverse cover fold end area (self-supporting)

[0100] 42b second transverse cover fold end area

[0101] 42c bottom surface of the transverse cover fold

[0102] 42e top surface of the first transverse cover fold end area

[0103] 42f bottom surface of the first transverse cover fold end area

[0104] 42g recess in the self-supporting first end area of the transverse cover fold

[0105] 50 attachment screw

[0106] 60 photovoltaic module

[0107] 61 functional element

[0108] 70 photovoltaic module

[0109] 71 functional element

[0110] 80 photovoltaic module

[0111] 81 functional element

[0112] 90 photovoltaic module

[0113] 91 functional element

[0114] 100 modular photovoltaic system

[0115] x height difference

[0116] y distance