FASTENER FOR A PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE FRAME, AND METHOD FOR FASTENING THE LATTER

Abstract

A fastener for photovoltaic module frames on a substructure comprises a mounting body and a locking element. The mounting body comprises a first engaging portion for engaging in the substructure and at least one second engaging portion for engaging in the photovoltaic module frame. The locking element is designed to fix the mounting body to the substructure, so that when the mounting is effected in this way, the photovoltaic module frame is held to the substructure only via the mounting body.

Claims

1. Fastener for photovoltaic module frames on a substructure, wherein the fastener comprises the following: a mounting body having a first engaging portion for engaging the substructure and at least one second engaging portion for engaging the photovoltaic module frame; and a locking element for fixing the mounting body to the substructure, so that when the mounting is effected in this way, the photovoltaic module frame is held to the substructure only via the mounting body.

2. Fastener according to claim 1, wherein the mounting body has a planar portion, and the photovoltaic module frame has a protruding portion extending parallel to a light incidence surface of an installed photovoltaic module, and wherein the at least one second engaging portion comprises a first portion having a first slot and a second portion having a second slot bent from the planar portion of the mounting body, and the first slot and the second slot are formed at different levels with respect to the planar portion to receive and clamp the protruding portion of the photovoltaic module frame when fixed by the locking element.

3. Fastener according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second engaging portion comprises four portions each having a slot formed as a monolithic part in corner regions of the mounting body, of which two slots are configured to grip a first photovoltaic module frame and two further slots are configured to grip a second photovoltaic module frame, and wherein the locking element is configured to form a spacer between the first photovoltaic module frame and the second photovoltaic module frame.

4. Fastener according to claim 1, wherein the mounting body has a through-opening, and the locking element has a bolt and a holding element, wherein the bolt can be guided through the through-opening and the holding element, and wherein the holding element together with the bolt has a T-shape in order to hold the mounting body by locking the through-opening, and wherein the holding element has a smaller extension along a direction of incidence of light than the photovoltaic module frame.

5. Fastener according to claim 4, wherein the holding element comprises a latching mechanism configured to latch into the through-opening or into the substructure to block the photovoltaic module frame from sliding out of the second engaging portion.

6. Fastener according to claim 1, wherein the substructure comprises a recess, in particular a through-opening or a longitudinally extending groove, and the first engaging portion and/or the recess is/are configured to provide an interlocking connection between the substructure and the first engaging portion.

7. Fastener according to claim 6, wherein the mounting body comprises a further first engaging portion, wherein the first engaging portion and the further first engaging portion are configured as T-shaped projections at opposite ends of the mounting body in order to be able to hook both into the recess.

8. Fastener according to claim 1, wherein the mounting body comprises at least one reinforcing section extending from the mounting body in a same direction as the first engaging section.

9. Fastener according to claim 1, wherein the mounting body comprises a planar portion, from which the first engaging portion and the at least one second engaging portion each extend as a projection in opposite directions, wherein after mounting the planar portion constitutes a spacer between the photovoltaic module frame and the substructure.

10. Photovoltaic module with a photovoltaic module frame, a substructure and a fastener according to claim 1, which connects the photovoltaic module frame to the substructure in an interlocking and force-fitting manner.

11. Method for fastening a photovoltaic module frame on a substructure, comprising the following steps: engaging with a first engaging portion in the substructure; engaging with at least a second engaging portion in the photovoltaic module frame; and fixing the mounting body to the substructure with a locking element, so that the photovoltaic module frame is held to the substructure only by the mounting body.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one second engaging portion comprises four portions each having a slot formed as a monolithic part in corner regions of the mounting body, and the step of engaging with the at least one second engaging section comprises the following: engaging with two slots in a first photovoltaic module frame and with two further slots in a second photovoltaic module frame, and the step of fixing the mounting body comprises the following: inserting the locking element between the first photovoltaic module frame and the one second photovoltaic module frame and forming a screw connection so that no component of the fastener protrudes beyond the first and second photovoltaic module frames.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0031] Embodiments of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, which, however, should not be construed as limiting the disclosure to the specific embodiments, but are merely for purposes of explanation and understanding.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a fastener of a photovoltaic module frame on a substructure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows further details of the mounting body used in the fastener according to embodiments.

[0034] FIGS. 3A,3B show a side view and a cross-sectional view through the mounting body.

[0035] FIGS. 4A,4 show further details of a frictional connection formed between the mounting body and the photovoltaic module frame according to embodiments.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a schematic flow diagram for fastening a photovoltaic module frame on a substructure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate the procedure for fastening the photovoltaic module on the substructure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a fastener of a photovoltaic module frame 30 on a substructure 50, wherein the photovoltaic module frame 30a holds a photovoltaic module 70a. The fastener comprises a mounting body 100 and a locking element 200. The mounting body 100 comprises one or more first engaging portions 110 and second engaging portion 120 (or at least one second engaging portion). The first engaging portions 110 engage the substructure 50 in a longitudinally formed recess 52. The second engaging portion 120 engage in a projection or protruding portion 32a of the photovoltaic module frame 30a. The protruding portion 32a extends parallel to a light incidence surface of the photovoltaic module 70 (opposite the substructure 50). The locking element 200 comprises a holding element 220 and a bolt 210 (with an optionally latching mechanism 222, e.g. with a click profile) and is located between two adjacent photovoltaic modules 70 after mounting. The locking element 200 fixes the mounting body 100 on the substructure 50 by means of the bolt 210, which can engage in a thread or a nut for this purpose, for example. FIG. 1 also shows an adjacent photovoltaic module 70b, which can be fixed to the substructure 50 using the same mounting body 100 (again via a projection 32b in the frame 30b).

[0039] FIG. 2 shows further details of the mounting body 100. Thus, the mounting body 100 comprises a plate-shaped planar portion 105 from which the first engaging portions 110 and second engaging portion 120 extend as projections in opposite directions. The first engaging portions 110 extend from the planar portion 105 in a vertically downwardly pointing direction (i.e. towards the substructure 50, see FIG. 1), while the second engaging portion 120 point vertically upwardly (i.e. away from the substructure 50) and are formed as bent portions at corner regions of the planar portion 105.

[0040] In the embodiment shown, the second engaging portion 120 comprise four protrusions extending vertically upwardly at the corner regions of the planar portion 105 and each having a slot 121, 122, . . . , i.e. a first slot 121 at a first corner, a second slot 122 at a second corner, a third slot 123 at a third corner and a fourth slot 124 at a fourth corner. The slots 121, . . . thereby point along the longitudinal extent of the planar portion 105 and are configured to each other to receive the protruding portion 32 of the photovoltaic module frame 30 (see FIG. 1). In addition, the planar portion 105 comprises a through-opening 130 configured to receive the locking element 200.

[0041] FIG. 3A shows a side view and FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view through the mounting body 100. From the side view it can be seen that the slots 121, . . . define a first level L1 and a second level L2 with respect to the planar portion 105, i.e. the slots at the first/second level L1, L2 are at different heights above the planar portion 105.

[0042] In addition, it can be seen in the side view of FIG. 3A that a further first engaging portion 112 is formed, which can also engage in the substructure 50. In addition, the mounting body 100 comprises protruding reinforcing sections 140 that extend in the same direction as the first engaging portions 110, 112. The reinforcing sections 140 provide a better hold on the substructure 50 and serve to stabilize the mounting, as this prevents the mounting body 100 from bending. Thus, the fastener can also withstand high loads (such as during storms).

[0043] The mounting body 100 shown can be used to fix two photovoltaic module frames 30a, 30b, each with two slots (see FIG. 1). The first slot 121 and the second slot 122 fix the first photovoltaic module frame 30a and the third slot 123 and the fourth slot 124 fix the second photovoltaic module frame 30b, wherein the first and fourth slots 121, 124 are at the first level L1 and the second and third slots 122, 123 are at the second level L2.

[0044] FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view through the mounting body 100. The cross-sectional view extends perpendicular to the orientation of the substructure 50, which in FIG. 3B is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. It can be seen directly from the cross-sectional view that the first level L1 (for the first and fourth slots 121, 124) is higher than the second level L2 on the right-hand side (i.e. for the second and third slots 122, 123). This has the technical effect that an inserted photovoltaic module frame 30 is canted with the protruding portion 32 and then clamped when the locking element 200 is mounted.

[0045] FIGS. 4A,4B show further details of this force-fitting connection by clamping. In FIG. 4A, it is first shown that due to the different levels L1 and L2, the protruding portion 32 of the photovoltaic module frame is tilted relative to the mounting body 100 and/or the mounting body 100 is tilted relative to the substructure 50. In the embodiment shown, the recess 52 is formed as a cavity-shaped broadening in the substructure 50 into which the first engaging portion 110 is inserted. The first engaging portion 110 has a clearance relative to the recess 52 (i.e. is configured to be slightly smaller) to allow tilting of the mounting body 100.

[0046] The fixation by means of the locking elements 200 presses the mounting body 100 onto the substructure 50. The force F exerted in the process (see FIG. 4B) leads to the clamping of the protruding portion 32 in the slots 121, . . . , 124 of the mounting body 100 (not shown in FIG. 5B). As a result, the photovoltaic module frame can no longer be displaced relative to the mounting body 100.

[0047] FIG. 5 schematically shows a flow diagram for a method of fastening a photovoltaic module frame 30 to a substructure 50. The method comprises the steps of: [0048] engaging S110 with a first engaging portion 110 in the substructure 50; [0049] engaging S120 with at least a second engaging portion 120 in the photovoltaic module frame 30; and [0050] fixing S130 the mounting body 100 to the substructure 50 with a locking element 200, so that the photovoltaic module frame 30 is held to the substructure 50 only by the mounting body 100.

[0051] FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate further optional process steps when mounting the photovoltaic module 70 via the mounting of the photovoltaic module frame 30 on the substructure 50.

[0052] In a first step (see FIG. 6A), the mounting body 100 can be placed on the substructure 50 or inserted into the recess 52 (e.g. from one side) with the first engaging portion(s) 110. In addition, the first photovoltaic module 70a is inserted with its frame 30a between the second engaging portions 120. A rough positioning of the mounting body 100 on the substructure 50 is performed.

[0053] In the next step (see FIG. 6B), the photovoltaic module 70 with the frame 30 can be displaced to the left until the protruding portion 32 engages in the first slot 121 and the second slot 122 and is held there. Depending on the circumstances, the mounting body 100 can also be shifted to the right accordingly, with the second engaging portions 120 engaging the protruding portion 32.

[0054] In the next step (see FIG. 6C), the second, adjacent photovoltaic module 70b can be inserted with the frame 30b in the same way. There too, the second photovoltaic module 70b can be displaced until the protruding portion 32b of the second photovoltaic module frame 30b engages in the third slot 123 and the fourth slot 124.

[0055] In the last step shown (see FIG. 6D), the photovoltaic module frames 30a, 30b can be fixed to the substructure 50 by the locking element 200. For this purpose, the locking element 200 is inserted between the neighboring photovoltaic module frames 30a, 30b. The locking element 200 can engage via the exemplary latching mechanism 222 of the holding element 220 in the through-opening 130 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) and be fixed there. Subsequently, the bolt 210 can be inserted into the opening and mounted in the substructure 50 using a nut or other thread.

[0056] As a result, the photovoltaic module frames 30a, 30b of two adjacent photovoltaic modules 70a, 70b are attached to the substructure 50 via only one mounting body 100 using the locking element 200.

[0057] An advantage of embodiments is that the fastener provides an interlocking connection together with a force-fitting connection, wherein the interlocking connection is effected by the first and second engaging portions 110, 120 and the force-fitting connection is effected by the clamping of the protruding portion 32a, 32b in the photovoltaic module frames 30a, 30b in slots 121, 122. For this purpose, the slots 121 . . . 124 are formed at different levels or Levels L1, L2 (see FIG. 4).

[0058] This offers the further advantage that reliable mounting with only one mounting body 100 is possible for adjacent photovoltaic module frames 30a, 30b without the need to form openings, holes or cuts in the photovoltaic module frames 30, as would be required, for example, by conventional screw connections to the substructure 50. The openings, holes or cuts would have the disadvantage of being a potential source of damage (e.g. due to cracks, corrosion or the like). Embodiments avoid this.

[0059] It is understood that all the functions described above can be optionally designed as method steps. It is also understood that the order in which they are mentioned does not necessarily imply an order in which the method steps are carried out. The steps can also be carried out in a different order.

[0060] The features of the invention disclosed in the description, the claims and the Figures may be essential for the realization of the invention either individually or in any combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0061] 30 photovoltaic module frame [0062] 32 protruding portion (projection) [0063] 50 substructure [0064] 52 recess (groove, recess, slot) [0065] 70 photovoltaic module [0066] 100 mounting body [0067] 105 planar portion (section) [0068] 110,112 first engaging portion(s) [0069] 120 at least a second engaging portion [0070] 121, 122, . . . slots [0071] 130 through-opening [0072] 140 reinforcement section [0073] 200 locking element [0074] 210 bolt or screw element [0075] 220 holding element (holding section) [0076] 222 latching mechanism [0077] L1, L2 different levels