Rack, especially for photovoltaic modules

Abstract

A rack, especially for photovoltaic modules, consists of a rounded, shaped guide, on which a main frame is fitted via at least three bearing-fitted grips, with an upper frame being attached to the top of the main frame in at least two support points, the upper frame being further connected to the main frame via linear actuators. The main frame is based on the guide by means of track rollers, whose number is equal to the number of support points, and at least two anchoring elements are located on the outer perimeter of the guide, the anchoring elements arranged in at least two points within an angular distance not smaller than 15 degrees from each other. A driving chain is anchored in a non-stationary fashion on anchoring elements to the guide, from the outer side of the guide and in the lower part of the guide, and a driving mechanism is attached to the main frame, the driving mechanism consisting of a driving toothed element, connected to a motor, and of tension rollers.

Claims

1. A rack, especially for photovoltaic modules, having a frame and a base, wherein the rack consists of a rounded, shaped guide (1) on which a main frame (3) is fitted via at least three bearing-fitted grips (2), with an upper frame (4) being attached to the top of the main frame in at least two support points (5), the upper frame being further connected to the main frame (3) via linear actuators (6), with the main frame (3) being based on the guide (1) by means of track rollers (7), whose number is equal to the number of bearing-fitted grips, and at least two anchoring elements (8) are located on the outer perimeter of the guide (1), the anchoring elements arranged in at least two points within an angular distance not smaller than 15 degrees from each other, and furthermore, a driving chain (9) is anchored in a non-stationary fashion on the anchoring elements (8) to the guide (1), from the outer side of the guide and in the lower part of the guide, with a driving mechanism (10) being attached to the main frame (3), the driving mechanism consisting of a driving toothed element (11), connected to a motor (12), and of tension rollers (13), through which the driving chain (9) is drawn, and the track roller (7) is located in a housing (14), on which the main frame (3) rests, and furthermore, a shaft (15) is located in the axis of each track roller (7), with a grip (16) with a fixing roller (17) being attached on the shaft, the fixing roller based on the upper inner part of the guide (1), wherein the shaft (15) is seated at both its ends movably by means of linear bearings (18).

2. The rack according to claim 1, wherein the guide (1) is made of sectionally bent profiles.

3. The rack according to claim 2, wherein the guide (1) is made of channel bars.

4. The rack according to claim 2, wherein the guide (1) is made of a set of angle bars.

5. The rack according to claim 1, wherein the upper frame (3) is reinforced with additional bars.

6. The rack according to claim 1, wherein the shaft (15) is seated at both its ends fixedly by means of a stationary mounting (19) and movably by means of a movable mounting (20).

Description

(1) The subject matter of the invention is shown in the drawing, wherein

(2) FIG. 1 shows a general view of a rack with three support points of the main frame,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a portion of a guide with a driving system,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a guide with a driving system,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a portion of a driving chain anchored on the anchoring element,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a view of an element with the track roller in a version with a movable shaft,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a view of an element with a track roller in the version with a fixed shaft,

(8) FIG. 7 shows the operational range of the element shown in FIG. 5,

(9) FIG. 8 shows the operational range of the element shown in FIG. 6,

(10) FIG. 9 shows elements of a guide made of channel bars,

(11) FIG. 10 shows elements of a guide made of angle bars,

(12) FIG. 11 shows a rack with four support points of the main frame,

(13) FIG. 12 shows a rack with four support points with additional reinforcement.

EXAMPLE 1

(14) A rack for photovoltaic modules consists of a rounded, shaped modular guide 1 made of sectionally bent profiles in the shape of channel bars, with a main frame 3 being fitted via at least three bearing-fitted grips 2 on the guide 1, with an upper frame 4 being attached to the main frame 3 in two support points 5. The upper frame 4 is further connected to the main frame 3 via linear actuators 6. Two anchoring elements 8 are located on the outer perimeter of the guide 1, the anchoring elements 8 being arranged in two points, within an angular distance of 180 degrees from each other. A driving chain 9 is anchored in a non-stationary fashion on anchoring elements 8 to the guide 1, from the outer side of the guide and in the lower part of the guide. A driving mechanism 10 is attached to the main frame 3, the driving mechanism 10 consisting of a driving toothed element 11, coupled to a motor 12, and of two tension rollers 13, through which the driving chain 9 is drawn. A track roller 7 is located in a housing 14, on which the main frame 3 rests, and furthermore, a shaft 15 is located in the axis of each track roller 7, with a grip 16 being attached on the shaft 15, the grip 16 with a fixing roller 17 abutting the upper inner part of the guide 1. The shaft 15 is seated at both its ends movably by means of linear bearings 18, which enables axial sliding of the entire set together with the shaft 15 in relation to the housing 14, thus remedying the deficiencies in the shape of the guide 1.

(15) Such a method of anchoring the driving chain 9 eliminates the limitation on the rotational movement of the rack, which means that performing multiple rotations in the vertical axis is possible.

(16) The driving chain 9, drawn through the driving toothed element 11 of the driving mechanism 10, ensures that the entire construction can rotate full range around the vertical axis. By means of the tension rollers 13, the driving mechanism 10 ensures appropriate tension of the driving chain 9 in operation, thus remedying the change in length dependent on the ambient temperature. Where the photovoltaic modules are fitted on the upper frame 4, the angle of rotation of the main frame 3 is adjusted to the current position of the Sun in relation to the east-west direction.

(17) The upper frame 4 is attached horizontally on the top of the main frame 3 bearing fitted support points 5, such that it is possible to regulate its deviation in the horizontal axis by means of the linear actuators 6. When the photovoltaic modules are fitted, the inclination angle of the upper frame 4 depends on the height of the Sun above the horizon.

(18) The upper frame 4 may be reinforced with additional bars depending on the planned rack loading. It is possible to reduce the weight of the entire set while maintaining its load-bearing capacity by using profiles made of light metals or composites.

(19) The construction of the rack enables significant optimisation of logistics costs, especially when the construction is assembled in places of difficult accessibility.

(20) Depending on the method of connecting elements, it is possible to completely eliminate specialised tools.

EXAMPLE 2

(21) A rack is of an identical structure as in example 1 but its guide 1 is made of sectionally bent profiles in the shape of angle bars and has four bearing-fitted grips 2 of the main frame 3 and the shaft 15 is seated at its both ends fixedly by means of a stationary mounting 19 and movably by means of a movable mounting 20. The movable mounting 20 together with the track roller 7 and the fixing roller 17 slide axially over the guide 1 and remedy the deficiencies in its shape.