SUPPORT BASEMENT FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS

Abstract

A support basement adapted to support fixedly mounted or extensible and collapsible photovoltaic panels that comprises a plurality of triangular arrays (53) interconnected by tubular members (21) and constructed with links (54, 55) and radially extending tubular members (1). Profile members (24, 30, 84) extending longitudinally along each photovoltaic panel connect the profile frames (37, 39, 69) of the photovoltaic panels to underlying triangular arrays (53) by means of connector assemblies comprising bolts (10) and nuts (12). Adjustable connector assemblies comprising bolts (27) and nuts (29a, 29b) are used to connect bottom links (55) of triangular arrays (53) with profile members (41) based onto ground pillars (51). A retraction mechanism of the photovoltaic panels offering protection from adverse weather conditions and during night periods comprises sequentially connected X-configured assemblies with an elongate screw (72) rotatable within nuts (71) at the ends of a terminal X-configured assembly proximally to the protective housing (86).

Claims

1. Support basement for photovoltaic panels, each photovoltaic panel with a glass faade (38) incorporating photovoltaic cells and housed within a frame assembled with profile members (37, 39, 69), characterized in that it comprises in combination: a plurality of integrated triangular arrays (53), each array comprising links (54, 55) with first tubular members (1) radially extending around the links (54, 55), the array of links (54, 55) and of the radially extending first tubular members (1) defining a single planar structure; profile members (24, 30, 84) extending longitudinally on either side of the photovoltaic panel and adapted to connect said profile members (37, 39, 69) of each photovoltaic panel to an underlying integrated triangular array (53); fixed connector assemblies, each comprising a bolt (10) and a nut (12), said nuts (12) being fixedly mounted within grooves (25, 33, 88) at the bottom of said profile members (24, 30, 84) respectively for connecting profile members (24, 30, 84) to adjacent links (54) of an integrated triangular array (53); profile members (41) adapted to provide support of each one of the plurality of integrated triangular arrays (53) onto the ground; adjustable connector assemblies, each comprising a bolt (27) and a pair of nuts (29a, 29b) with said nut (29a) fixedly mounted within a groove (43) of said profile member (41) and said nut (29b) overlying the nut (29a) screwed along said bolt (27) so as to provide flush seating of a pair of end links (55) and through those links of an integrated triangular array (53) onto the ground; a plurality of second tubular members (21) arranged to connect successive parallel triangular arrays (53), wherein said second tubular members (21) are being mounted within a central bore of the links (54, 55) and fixedly held therein by means of screws (20), said second tubular members (21) perpendicularly oriented with respect to the single plane defined by said integrated triangular arrays (53), wherein the support basement for photovoltaic panels is being alternatively adapted to support fixedly mounted photovoltaic panels within frames constructed with said profile members (37) or (39) or to support extensible and collapsible photovoltaic panels within frames constructed with said profile members (69), whereby it further comprises a retraction mechanism adapted to withdraw the photovoltaic panels within a protective housing (86) during the night or when imposed by adverse weather conditions and re-extend the same at operating condition during day time or following removal of adverse weather conditions.

2. Support basement for photovoltaic panels according to claim 1, characterized in that said link (54) comprises two portions (4, 14) and said link (55) comprises two portions (23, 22), wherein portions (14) and (23) comprise a central hole (15) and portions (4) and (22) comprise a central threaded hole (13), wherein four and six equidistantly spaced semicylindrical recesses (5) are being provided around the circumference of said portions (4, 14) and (22, 23) respectively with a transversely extending projection (6) within each of the recesses (5) provided in said portions (4) and (22), wherein assembling of each of said links (54) and (55) is being performed with the abutment of portions (4, 14) and (22, 23) respectively, the passage of a threaded bolt (18) with a head (16) having a central longitudinal bore (17) and a transverse lateral threaded bore (19) through axially aligned holes (15, 13) and screwing of said threaded bolt (18) into said threaded hole (13) and mutual abutment of said semi-cylindrical recesses (5) of portion (4) with those of portion (14) and of said semicylindrical recesses (5) of portion (22) with those of portion (23) thereby forming four and six cylindrical recesses adapted to receive said first tubular members (1), wherein side holes (2) are provided proximally to each end of each one of said first tubular members (1), said transversely extending projection (6) being introduced in said hole (2) thereby fixedly mounting said four or six first tubular members (1) in the circumference of said links (54) and (55) assembled by portions (4, 14) and (23, 22) respectively, each link (54) being provided with a cavity (7) with a protruding ring (8) at the bottom thereof adapted to receive said bolt (10) connecting one of said integrated triangular arrays with said profile members (24, 30, 84), wherein said bolt (10) is provided with a circumferential recess (9), said circumferential recess (9) being adapted to receive the protruding ring (8), wherein following passage of said bolt (10) through said grooves (25, 33, 88) of said profile members (24, 30, 84) respectively, said bolt (10) is being screwed through rotation thereof by means of a key being applied onto bilaterally provided flat portions (11) of the bolt (10) to advance within said nut (12) mounted within the groove (25, 33, 88) for fixedly connecting the link (54) of the triangular array (53) with the overlying profile member (24, 30, 84) connected with the frame assembled with profile members (37, 39, 69) of the photovoltaic panels and wherein a vertically oriented cylindrical recess of the six recesses adapted to receive said first tubular members (1) in a pair of end links (55) at the bottom of the triangular array (53) is being adapted to receive said adjustable connector assembly with said bolt (27) and nuts (29a, 29b) so that the laterally extending projections (6) being brought in abutment with circumferential grooves (28) of said bolts (27) with the nuts (29a) fixedly mounted within said groove (43) of the profile member (41) and said bolt (27) being advanced longitudinally along said nuts (29b) for connecting and immobilizing at a flush level of said links (55) being located adjacently to the profile member (41) and support of each one of the triangular arrays (53) onto the ground, and wherein each of said second tubular members (21) employed in the connection of successive parallel triangular arrays (53) at a distance corresponding to the width of a photovoltaic panel is being mounted within the central longitudinal bore (17) of the head (16) of the threaded bolt (18) and is being stabilized therein by means of a screw (20) being driven into the transverse lateral threaded bore (19) of the head (16).

3. Support basement for photovoltaic panels according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises pillars (51) for mounting said profile members (41) onto the ground, each pillar (51) with a flat head (52) and a bearing (45) onto the flat head (52), a bolt (44) extending vertically upwardly at the center of said bearing (45), a nut (12) being inserted within a groove (42) of the profile member (41), wherein said bearing (45) is being fixedly connected to said profile member (41) through screwing of said bolt (44) into the nut (12), a pair of retainer frames (48) being provided on either side of the flat head (52), each of the retaining frames (48) being provided with a cavity (50) and with a bore (49) adapted to receive a bolt (47), said flat head (52) being adapted to being firmly retained within said cavities (50) of said retaining frames (48) and said bolt (47) being advanced longitudinally along a threaded bore (46) of the bearing (45) in order to fixedly connect said flat head (52) of said pillar (51) with the bearing (45).

4. Support basement for photovoltaic panels according to claim 1, characterized in that it is being adapted to support fixedly mounted photovoltaic panels within frames constructed with said profile member (37) being mounted onto said profile members (30), said profile member (30) comprising a chamber (34a) and a chamber (31) underlying said chamber (34a) on either side of centrally located said groove (33) adapted to receive the fixed connector assembly comprising said nut (12) and said bolt (10) that is adapted to connect the link (54) with said profile member (30), a pair of profile members (34) being introduced within the chambers (34a) and nuts (12) being inserted within the chambers (31), wherein as underlying screws (32) are being screwed into said nuts (12) said profile members (34) are being pushed upwardly, thereby accordingly pressing upwardly and immobilizing said frame constructed with said profile member (37) of the photovoltaic panel, said profile members (30) being provided with end caps (36) whereupon said photovoltaic panels terminate in an aligned orientation.

5. Support basement for photovoltaic panels according to claim 1, characterized in that it is being adapted to support fixedly mounted photovoltaic panels within frames constructed with said profile member (39) being mounted onto said profile members (24), said profile member (24) comprising a chamber (25a) overlying said groove (25) adapted to receive the fixed connector assembly comprising said nut (12) and said bolt (10) that is adapted to connect the link (54) with said profile member (24), said profile member (39) being provided with laterally extending surface (40) abutting said chamber (25a), a nut (12) being introduced within said chamber (25a) and a bolt (26) being screwed into said nut (12) within said chamber (25a), a head of said bolt (26) abutting said laterally extending surfaces (40) of said profile members (39) of a pair of adjacent photovoltaic panels, whereby as said bolt (26) is being screwed into said nut (12) and pressure is being exerted onto said laterally extending surfaces (40), said profile members (39) are being fixedly connected to said profile member (24).

6. Support basement for photovoltaic panels according to claim 1, characterized in that it is being adapted to support extensible and collapsible photovoltaic panels within frames constructed with said profile members (69) being arranged to slide onto said profile members (84), said profile member (84) comprising chambers (88a) on either side of centrally located said groove (88) adapted to receive the fixed connector assembly comprising said nut (12) and said bolt (10) that is adapted to connect the link (54) with said profile member (84), each chamber (88a) being provided with a vertically upwardly extending member (85) extending along the profile (84), wherein said profile member (84) extends upwardly past said centrally located groove (88) in a columnar member (84a) and a rectangular member (84b) on top of said columnar member (84a), said columnar member (84a) having a width that corresponds to the width of said groove (88) and said rectangular member (84b) having a width that corresponds to the overall width of the central groove (88) together with said chambers (88a) on either side thereof, said retraction mechanism of said extensible and collapsing photovoltaic panels (69) comprising a plurality of X-configured assemblies, each one of said X-configured assemblies being connected to one panel of said plurality of photovoltaic panels (69), each one of said X-configured assemblies comprising a pair of arms (56) pivotally connected with a shaft (66) at the middle thereof and provided with rolling wheels (67) mounted along said shaft (66) and with a pair of threaded bores (64) on either side of said shaft (66), said threaded bores (64) being brought in abutment with a pair of holes (70) provided at either end of each one of said photovoltaic panels (69), whereby bolts (65) are being employed to fixedly connect each side of each one of said photovoltaic panels (69) with one of said X-configured assemblies, said rolling wheels (67) being provided with a central groove (68) that is adapted to slide onto said vertically upwardly extending members (85), whereby said rolling wheels (67) are accommodated in between said chambers (88a) on either side of said centrally located groove (88) and said rectangular member (84b), wherein an upper end of said profile (84) is provided with a pair of opposing holes (83) at the side walls of the central columnar member (84a), an elongate screw (72) with a clockwise and a counterclockwise trapezoidal threading being mounted in between a pair of rotatable nuts (71) provided at the ends of said arms (56) of one of said plurality of X-configured assemblies located proximally to said protective housing (86), a bearing (73) being mounted at the middle of said elongate screw (72), a first portion (73a) of said bearing being provided with an array of holes (74), said first portion (73a) abutting an inner wall of said protective housing (86) with said holes (74) thereof being aligned with a correspondingly spaced array of holes (87) of said protective housing (86), whereby clamping bolts passing through aligned holes (74-87) fixedly connect said bearing (73) with the protective housing (86), a second portion (73b) of said bearing (73) being provided with a through hole (82), said second portion (73b) being introduced within said columnar member (84a) at the end of said profile member (84), whereby said through hole (82) is being aligned with said opposing holes (83) of the columnar member (84a) and a shaft (83a) passing through the aligned holes (82-83) fixedly connects said bearing (73) with said profile member (84), a lower end of said elongate screw (72) being provided with a wheel (78), said wheel (78) being provided with a pair of recesses with a toothed configuration (79), a pair of timing belts (80) being provided with a toothed configuration that corresponds to the toothed configuration of said pair of recesses (79) are arranged to pass through said pair of recesses with a toothed configuration (79) and transfer a rotational motion produced by a motor (81) to at least a pair of adjacent elongate screws (72), whereby said elongate screws (72) are being rotated in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction thereby retracting within said protective housing (86) or extending outwardly in an operating condition said extensible and collapsible photovoltaic panels (69).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The invention will be best understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 shows in perspective the support basement of the invention comprising an integrated triangular array assembled with a plurality of tubular members joined and a set of links, the triangular array being connected to a profile member that is connected to the profile frame of a photovoltaic panel.

[0012] FIG. 2 shows a frontal view of a bolt and nut connector assembly used to connect a profile member that is being connected to the profile frame of a photovoltaic panel according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0013] FIG. 2a shows a sectional view of the profile member of FIG. 2.

[0014] FIG. 2b shows a sectional view of the profile frame of a photovoltaic panel shown in FIG. 2.

[0015] FIG. 3 shows in perspective the bolt and nut connector assembly used to connect a profile member that is being connected to the profile frame of a photovoltaic panel according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 3a shows a sectional view of the profile member of FIG. 3.

[0017] FIG. 3b shows a sectional view of the profile frame of a photovoltaic panel shown in FIG. 3.

[0018] FIG. 3c shows in perspective along with the arrangement of FIG. 3 an illustrative embodiment of an end cap that is employed to seal a terminal end of the profile member of FIG. 3.

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a frontal perspective view of a bottom link of the triangular array of FIG. 1 connected to a profile member adapted to provide support of the triangular array onto the ground in combination with an underlying pillar and bearing arrangement.

[0020] FIG. 4a shows a sectional view of the profile member of FIG. 4.

[0021] FIG. 5 shows a perspective exploded view of a first type of link employed in the assembly of a triangular array together with the radially extending tubular members and a central connector means thereof. A connector bolt and nut assembly used to connect the link with an overlying profile member is also depicted.

[0022] FIG. 6 shows a perspective exploded view of a second type of link employed in the assembly of a triangular array together with the radially extending tubular members and a central connector means thereof.

[0023] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the assembled link of FIG. 5.

[0024] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the assembled link of FIG. 6.

[0025] FIG. 9 shows a side perspective view of the support basement of the invention adapted to support photovoltaic panels fixedly mounted thereupon.

[0026] FIG. 10 shows a rear perspective view of the support basement of the invention adapted to support photovoltaic panels fixedly mounted thereupon.

[0027] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the support basement of the invention to adapt to support extensible and collapsible photovoltaic panels with the photovoltaic panels in a fully developed condition outside of the protective housing.

[0028] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the support basement of the invention of

[0029] FIG. 11 with the photovoltaic panels in a fully retracted condition stored within the protective housing.

[0030] FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of an X-configured assembly with a pair of arms connected with a shaft at the middle thereof, a rolling wheel being further mounted onto the shaft and a washer and snap ring provided at the end thereof.

[0031] FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of a pair of the X-configured assemblies of FIG. 13 being brought for connection with corresponding photovoltaic panels.

[0032] FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the retraction mechanism adapted to provide retraction of the X-configured assemblies and accordingly of the panels connected thereupon and storage thereof in a protective housing when necessary.

[0033] FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of the profile used to connect the support basement of the invention with a bearing located at the center of an elongate screw member of the retraction mechanism shown in FIG. 15.

[0034] FIG. 16a shows a sectional view of the profile of FIG. 16 that is used to connect the support basement of the invention with the retraction mechanism of the extensible/collapsible photovoltaic panels.

[0035] FIG. 17 shows a side perspective view of an assembly of extensible/collapsible photovoltaic panels and of the X-configured assemblies thereof in a retracted condition prior to their introduction in the protective housing.

[0036] FIG. 18 shows a sectional view of the profile of FIG. 16 with a pair of X-configured assemblies and the wheels adapted to slide the same on both sides thereof.

[0037] FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of the arrangement of X-configured assemblies with the elongate screw of the retraction mechanism adapted to rotate within nuts provided at the top and bottom of the X-configured assembly proximate to the protective housing and with the underlying wheel that provides rotational motion to timing belts that pass through channels thereof.

[0038] FIG. 20 shows a perspective view of a specially designed working bench arranged to provide handy assembly of the triangular arrays of the support basement of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] The invention will be hereinafter described by reference to the illustrative embodiments presented in the accompanying drawings.

[0040] The figures show a support basement of the invention with fixed or retractable and extendable photovoltaic panels that may be stored within a protective housing 86. The support basement is configured as a triangular array that is assembled rapidly with links 54, 55, each link comprising a plurality of radially extending tubular members, wherein the links and tubular members define a planar structure.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 1 a typical integrated triangular array 53 of the invention is composed of thirteen tubular members 1, a series of four links 54 lined longitudinally below a profile member 24 and four links 55 underlying the links 54. Eight special bolts 16 are employed to connect each of the links 54 and 55. Profile members 41 shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 4a are used to provide support of each one of the plurality of integrated triangular arrays 53 onto the ground. Adjustable connector assemblies shown in FIG. 1 underlying the triangular assembly and in FIG. 4 connected to a bottom link 55 of the triangular array are used to connect the triangular arrays with the ground based profile members 41. Each one of these adjustable connector assemblies comprises a bolt 27 and a pair of nuts 29a, 29b with nut 29a fixedly mounted within a groove 43 of profile member 41, whilst nut 29b overlies nut 29a and is being screwed along the bolt 27 so as to provide flush seating of a pair of end links 55 of the triangular array 53 and through those links of the entire integrated triangular array 53 onto the ground. The bolt 27 is being screwed through rotation thereof by means of a key being applied onto bilaterally provided flat portions 27a thereof. As shown in FIG. 1 each one of the upper series of four links 54 of the triangular array 53 is connected to the overlying profile member 24 by means of a fixed connector assembly comprising a bolt 10 and a nut 12. The triangular array of the invention is designed so that when based on the intended location, it may automatically align the photovoltaic panels mounted thereupon at a preferred inclination of 30, such inclination being considered an ideal inclination to ensure maximal exposure to solar radiation and productivity of the photovoltaic cells. The length of tubular members 1 determines the total size of the desired structure. A number of integrated triangular arrays 53 are supported together lined in parallel arrays at a desired horizontal distance that is determined by the width of the panels and the subsequently necessary length of tubular members 21, which are employed to connect adjacent triangular arrays 53.

[0042] FIGS. 5, 7 and FIGS. 6, 8 correspondingly show exploded and assembled views of the links 54 and 55 respectively employed in the construction of the triangular array 53 of the invention. Link 54 comprises two portions 4, 14 and link 55 similarly comprises two portions 23, 22. A central hole 15 is provided in portion 14 of link 54 and in portion 23 of link 55, whereas a central threaded hole 13 is provided in portion 4 and 22 of links 54 and 55 respectively. Link 54 comprises four and link 55 comprises six equidistantly spaced semi-cylindrical recesses 5 around the circumference of portions 4, 14 and portions 22, 23 respectively. The recesses 5 provided in portions 4 and 22 are provided with a transversely extending projection 6, The assembly of each of the links 54 and 55 is being performed with the abutment of portions 4, 14 and portions 22, 23 respectively, the passage of a threaded bolt 18 with a head 16 having a central longitudinal bore 17 and a transverse lateral threaded bore 19 through the axially aligned holes 15, 13 and screwing of this threaded bolt 18 into the threaded hole 13 and the mutual abutment of the semi-cylindrical recesses 5 of portion 4 with those of portion 14 and mutual abutment of the semi-cylindrical recesses 5 of portion 22 with those of portion 23 thereby forming four and six cylindrical recesses adapted to receive the radially extending tubular members 1.

[0043] Each one of the tubular members 1 is provided with a side hole 2 proximally to both ends thereof, whereby the abovementioned transversely extending projection 6 in the recesses 5 of portions 4 and 22 of links 54 and 55 respectively is being introduced in this hole 2 thereby fixedly mounting the tubular member in a recess provided in the circumference of the links 54 and 55 assembled by portions 4, 14 and 23, 22 respectively. Each tubular member 1 is further internally provided with a small raise 3 which provides a guiding reference for drilling the abovementioned holes 2 in an appropriate device. Each link 54 is provided with a cavity 7 with a protruding ring 8 at the bottom thereof adapted to receive the abovementioned bolt 10 that connects the integrated triangular array with the overlying profile member that is connected to the profile frame of the photovoltaic panels. As shown in FIG. 2 this bolt 10 is provided with a circumferential recess 9, which is being adapted to receive the protruding ring 8. Following introduction of bolt 10 in a groove of the profile member that connects the triangular array 53 with the profile frame of the photovoltaic panels, bolt 10 is being screwed through rotation thereof by means of a key being applied onto bilaterally provided flat portions 11, thereby advancing within the nut 12 mounted within the abovementioned groove for fixedly connecting the link 54 of the triangular array 53 with the overlying profile member connected with the frame of the photovoltaic panels. A vertically oriented cylindrical recess of the six recesses adapted to receive tubular members 1 in a pair of end links 55 at the bottom of the triangular array 53 is being adapted to receive the adjustable connector assembly with the bolt 27 and nuts 29a, 29b so that the laterally extending projections 6 are being brought in abutment with the circumferential grooves 28 of bolts 27 with the nuts 29a fixedly mounted within the abovementioned groove 43 of the profile member 41. The bolt 27 is being advanced longitudinally along nut 29b for connecting and immobilizing at a flush level the links 55, which are located adjacently to the profile member 41 and support the triangular array 53 onto the ground.

[0044] A plurality of tubular members 21 is employed in the connection of successive parallel triangular arrays 53 at a distance corresponding to the width of a photovoltaic panel. Each tubular member 21 is being mounted within the central longitudinal bore 17 of the head 16 of the threaded bolt 18 and is being stabilized therein by means of a screw 20 being driven into the transverse lateral threaded bore 19 of the head 16.

[0045] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the profile member 41 with the triangular array 53 mounted thereupon is supported by pillars 51. FIG. 4 shows connection of the profile member 41 with the triangular array 53 mounted thereupon with a pillar 51 that is mounted onto the ground, Each pillar 51 comprises a flat head 52 and a bearing 45 onto the flat head 52, a bolt 44 extending vertically upwardly at the center of the bearing 45, a nut 12 being inserted within a groove 42 of the profile member 41. The bearing 45 is being fixedly connected to profile member 41 through screwing of the bolt 44 into the nut 12. A pair of retainer frames 48 is provided on either side of the flat head 52, each of the retaining frames 48 being provided with a cavity 50 and with a bore 49 adapted to receive a bolt 47. The flat head 52 is adapted to being firmly retained within cavities 50 of the retaining frames 48 and bolt 47 is being advanced longitudinally along a threaded bore 46 of the bearing 45 in order to fixedly connect the flat head 52 of pillar 51 with the bearing 45.

[0046] In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention the triangular array of the support basement for photovoltaic panels is being adapted to support fixedly mounted photovoltaic panels within frames constructed with a profile member 37 shown in FIG. 3b being mounted onto a profile member 30 (FIG. 3). Profile member 30 comprises a chamber 34a and a chamber 31 underlying chamber 34a on either side of centrally located groove 33 adapted to receive the fixed connector assembly comprising the abovementioned nut 12 and bolt 10 that is adapted to connect the link 54 with the profile member 30. A pair of profile members 34 is being introduced within the chambers 34a and nuts 12 are being inserted within the chambers 31, wherein as underlying screws 32 are being screwed into nuts 12, the profile members 34 are being pushed upwardly, thereby accordingly pressing upwardly and immobilizing the frame constructed with the profile member 37 of the photovoltaic panel. As shown in FIG. 3c, the profile members 30 are provided with end caps 36, an end cap 36 being provided with holes 36a that are brought in alignment with receiving recesses 35a of the profile member 30 when the end cap 36 is mounted at a terminal end thereof, screws 35 passing through holes 36a and coincident recesses 35a being employed to securely fix the end cap 36 onto the profile member 30. In this manner the photovoltaic panels advantageously terminate in an aligned orientation.

[0047] In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention the triangular array of the support basement for photovoltaic panels is being adapted to support fixedly mounted photovoltaic panels within frames constructed with a profile member 39 (FIG. 2b) being mounted onto a profile member 24 (FIG. 2a). The profile member 24 comprises a chamber 25a overlying a groove 25 thereof that is adapted to receive the fixed connector assembly comprising the nut 12 and bolt 10 that connects a link 54 with the profile member 24. The profile member 39 is advantageously provided with a laterally extending surface 40 that lies above and abuts chamber 25a, wherein a nut 12 being introduced within chamber 25a and a bolt 26 is being screwed into this nut 12 within the chamber 25a as a head of the bolt 26 abuts the abovementioned laterally extending surfaces 40 of profile members 39 of a pair of adjacent photovoltaic panels, whereby as the bolt 26 is being screwed into nut 12 and pressure is being exerted onto the laterally extending surfaces 40, profile members 39 are being fixedly connected to the profile member 24.

[0048] In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention the triangular array of the support basement for photovoltaic panels is being adapted to support extensible and collapsible photovoltaic panels within frames constructed with profile members 69, which are being arranged to slide onto profile members 84 shown in FIGS. 16 and 16a. The profile member 84 comprises chambers 88a on either side of a centrally located groove 88 that is adapted to receive the fixed connector assembly comprising the nut 12 and bolt 10 that is used to connect the link 54 with the profile member 84. Each chamber 88a is provided with a vertically upwardly extending member 85 extending along the profile 84, wherein profile member 84 extends upwardly past the centrally located groove 88 in a columnar member 84a and a rectangular member 84b on top of the columnar member 84a. The columnar member 84a has a width that approximately corresponds to the width of groove 88 including the side walls thereof, whereas the rectangular member 84b has a width that corresponds to the overall width of the central groove 88 together with the chambers 88a provided at the sides thereof.

[0049] A retraction mechanism is employed to effect retraction of the photovoltaic panels within a protective housing 86 during the night and upon emergence of adverse weather conditions. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention this retraction mechanism comprises a plurality of a sequential arrangement of X-configured assemblies, each one of these X-configured assemblies comprising a pair of arms 56 with a centrally located hole 57, the arms 56 being pivotally connected with a shaft 66 at the middle thereof and provided with rolling wheels 67 mounted along the shaft 66 provided with an end recess receiving a washer 63 and snap ring 62 at the end thereof. Each arm 56 of an X-configured assembly is provided with an end groove 59 with a bore 58 at both ends thereof, such groove 59 being adapted to receive a shaft 60 provided with a circumferential end recess 61 to be securely held by means of a washer 63 and a snap ring 62. Shafts 60 are thereby adapted to provide connection of adjacent arms 56 in each pair of consecutive X-configured assemblies. Each arm 56 is further provided with a pair of threaded bores 64 on either side of shaft 66. The threaded bores 64 are being brought in abutment with a pair of holes 70 provided at each end of each one of the profile frame members 69 of the photovoltaic panels and bolts 65 are being employed to fixedly connect each side of each one of the photovoltaic panels 69 with one X-configured assembly. The rolling wheels 67 are provided with a central groove 68 that is adapted to slide onto the vertically upwardly extending members 85 of profile member 84, whereby the rolling wheels 67 are accommodated in between the chambers 88a on either side of the centrally located groove 88 and the rectangular member 84b of profile member 84.

[0050] An upper end of profile member 84 is provided with a pair of opposing holes 83 at the side walls of the central columnar member 84a. An elongate screw 72 with a clockwise and a counterclockwise trapezoidal threading is mounted in between a pair of rotatable nuts 71 provided at the ends of the arms 56 of the X-configured assembly located proximally to the protective housing 86. A bearing 73 is mounted at the middle of the elongate screw 72 and a first portion 73a of this bearing 73 is provided with an array of holes 74. The abovementioned first portion 73a of bearing 73 abuts an inner wall of the protective housing 86 with the holes 74 thereof being aligned with a correspondingly spaced array of holes 87 of the protective housing 86. Accordingly, clamping bolts passing through the aligned holes 74 and 87 fixedly connect bearing 73 with the protective housing 86. A second portion 73b of bearing 73 is provided with a through hole 82 and is being introduced within the columnar member 84a at the end of the profile member 84, whereby the through hole 82 is being aligned with the opposing holes 83 of the columnar member 84a and a shaft 83a passing through the aligned holes 82-83 fixedly connects bearing 73 with the profile member 84.

[0051] A lower end of the elongate screw 72 has a hexagonal configuration 75 and is provided with a centrally located threaded hole 76 adapted to receive a bolt 77 whereupon a wheel 78 is being supported. The wheel 78 is provided with a pair of recesses with a toothed configuration 79, whereby a pair of timing belts 80 being provided with a toothed configuration that corresponds to the toothed configuration of the abovementioned pair of recesses 79 are arranged to pass through the pair of recesses with a toothed configuration 79 and transfer a rotational motion produced by a motor 81 to at least a pair of adjacent elongate screws 72, whereby the elongate screws 72 are rotated in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction thereby retracting within the protective housing 86 or extending outwardly thereof in an operating condition the sequential arrangement of X-configured assemblies and accordingly of the extensible and collapsible photovoltaic panels with the frame profile member 69 carried thereupon.

[0052] The construction of the support basement of the invention requires appropriate dies for manufacturing the profile members required. An illustrative recommended appropriate material for the construction of such profile members would be aluminium 6061. The bolt 16 employed to connect mating portions of links 54, 55 can be constructed by a hexagonal profile with a hole in the center thereof so as to allow passage of tubular member 21. Processing in an automatic lathe thereafter easily produces the required threading. The construction of the pair of arms 56 of the X-configured assemblies can be effected through a casting mold process for mass production of these components. The bolts 10, 27 and 72 as well as the nuts 71 can be manufactured from stainless steel in an automatic lathe.

[0053] A working bench 89 is shown in FIG. 20 that is considered appropriate for fast assembling of the triangular arrays. The working bench 89 is provided with appropriately located axes within which are being inserted the bolts 16 and the portions 4 and 22 of links 54 and 55 respectively, thereby resulting in a safe and easy assembling of parts even by non skilled staff. The storage and protective housing 86 can be manufactured from an aluminium foil, which will be formed and internally welded, will be performed laterally.