U.S. patent application number 12/978539 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-30 for frame for solar module.
This patent application is currently assigned to Du Pont Apollo Limited. Invention is credited to Szu-Han Li, Hung-Ming Tseng.
Application Number | 20110155127 12/978539 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44185934 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110155127 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Li; Szu-Han ; et
al. |
June 30, 2011 |
FRAME FOR SOLAR MODULE
Abstract
A frame for solar module to fix a solar panel within is
disclosed. The frame for solar panel includes two first fastening
members arranged at two opposite sides of the solar panel, two
second fastening members arranged at another two opposite sides of
the solar panel, and plural screws to screw the first fastening
members and the second fastening members. Each first fastening
member and each second fastening member includes a supporting
portion for supporting the solar panel, a base portion, a
connecting portion for connecting the supporting portion and the
base portion, and a beam disposed between the supporting portion
and the base portion.
Inventors: |
Li; Szu-Han; (Zhongli City,
TW) ; Tseng; Hung-Ming; (Taipei City, TW) |
Assignee: |
Du Pont Apollo Limited
Pak Shek Kok, N.T.
HK
|
Family ID: |
44185934 |
Appl. No.: |
12/978539 |
Filed: |
December 24, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61291403 |
Dec 31, 2009 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
126/704 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24S 25/20 20180501;
F24S 2025/804 20180501; H02S 30/10 20141201; Y02E 10/47 20130101;
F24S 2025/801 20180501 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/704 |
International
Class: |
F24J 2/46 20060101
F24J002/46 |
Claims
1. A frame for solar module to fix a solar panel within, the frame
comprising: two first fastening members arranged at two opposite
sides of the solar panel; two second fastening members arranged at
another two opposite sides of the solar panel, each first fastening
member and each second fastening member comprising: a supporting
portion for supporting the solar panel; a base portion; a
connecting portion for connecting the supporting portion and the
base portion; and a beam disposed between the supporting portion
and the base portion; and a plurality of screws for screwing the
first fastening members to the second fastening members.
2. The frame for solar module of claim 1, wherein each supporting
portion comprises a groove, and the solar panel is assembled in the
groove.
3. The frame for solar module of claim 1, wherein each supporting
portion of the first fastening member comprises a first flange and
a second flange, and the solar panel is sandwiched between the
first flange and the second flange.
4. The frame for solar module of claim 3, wherein the beams of the
first fastening members connect the second flanges and the base
portions.
5. The frame for solar module of claim 4, wherein each first
fastening member comprises a gasket disposed between the solar
panel and the supporting portion.
6. The frame for solar module of claim 5, wherein each second
flange has a hook for hooking the gasket.
7. The frame for solar module of claim 1, wherein each second
fastening frame comprises a plurality of screwing portions disposed
on the base portion and the supporting portion.
8. The frame for solar module of claim 7, wherein each first
fastening member comprises a plurality of screw holes disposed
corresponding to the screwing portions, and the screws screw the
screwing portions on the screw holes.
9. The frame for solar module of claim 7, wherein the cross-section
shape of each screwing portion is C-shaped.
10. The frame for solar module of claim 7, wherein the screwing
portions are disposed between the beams and the connecting
portions.
11. The frame for solar module of claim 1, wherein a material of
the first fastening members and the second fastening members is
aluminum.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 61/291,403, filed Dec. 31, 2009, which is
herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a solar module. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a frame for solar
module.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] The increasing scarcity and the realization of the
ecological and safety problems associated with non-renewable energy
resources such as coal, petroleum and uranium, have made it
essential that increased use be made of alternate non-depletable
energy resources such as solar energy. Solar energy use has been
limited in the past to special applications due in part to the high
cost of manufacturing devices capable of producing significant
amounts of photovoltaic energy. The improvement in manufacturing
technology for fabricating the solar panel in mass production has
greatly promoted the use of solar energy.
[0006] Significant environmental benefits are also realized from
solar energy production, for example, reduction in air pollution
from burning fossil fuels, reduction in water and land use from
power generation plants, and reduction in the storage of waste
byproducts. Solar energy produces no noise, and has few moving
components.
[0007] The solar module mainly includes a solar panel and a frame
to fix the solar panel within. The efficiency and the reliability
of assembly of the solar module would be decided by the structure
of the frame. Therefore, there is a need to design the frame of the
solar module, which can improve the efficiency and the reliability
of assembly of the solar module.
SUMMARY
[0008] An embodiment of the invention provides a frame for solar
module to fix a solar panel within. The frame for solar panel
includes two first fastening members arranged at two opposite sides
of the solar panel, two second fastening members arranged at
another two opposite sides of the solar panel, and plural screws to
screw the first fastening members and the second fastening members.
Each first fastening member and each second fastening member
includes a supporting portion for supporting the solar panel, a
base portion, a connecting portion for connecting the supporting
portion and the base portion, and a beam disposed between the
supporting portion and the base portion.
[0009] Each supporting portion has a groove, and the solar panel is
assembled in the groove. Each supporting portion of the first
fastening member has a first flange and the second flange. The
solar panel is sandwiched between the first flange and the second
flange. The beams of the first fastening members connect the second
flanges and the base portions. Each first fastening member may
optionally include a gasket disposed between the solar panel and
the supporting portion. Each second flange has a hook for hooking
the gasket. Each second fastening frame includes plural screwing
portions disposed on the base portion and the supporting portion.
Each first fastening member has plural screw holes disposed
corresponding to the screwing portions, and the screws screw the
screwing portions on the screw holes. The cross-section shape of
each screwing portion can be C-shaped. The screwing portions can be
disposed between the beams and the connecting portions. The
material of the first fastening members and the second fastening
members can be aluminum.
[0010] The beams of the first fastening members and the second
fastening members of the invention could highly increase the
bending strength of the frame for the solar module, so that the
thickness of the metal sheet of the first fastening members and the
second fastening members can be reduced. The first fastening
members and the second fastening members are fixed by screws,
thereby the first fastening members and the second fastening
members are fixed firmly and better positioned. The support
portion, the base portion, the connecting portion and the beam of
each first and second fastening member are made integrated. The
first fastening members and the second fastening members are made
of metal, which can provide a grounding interface to the solar
panel.
[0011] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are by examples,
and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate
embodiments of the invention and, together with the description,
serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the
drawings,
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a solar
module utilizing the frame of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross-section diagram of the first fastening
member of the frame in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-section diagram of the second fastening
member of the frame in FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is an oblique diagram of the first fastening member
of the invention; and
[0017] FIG. 5 is an oblique diagram of the second fastening member
of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference
numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to
the same or like parts.
[0019] Refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an
embodiment of a solar module utilizing the frame of the invention.
The solar module 100 includes a solar panel 110 and a frame 120 to
fix the solar panel 110. The solar panel 110 is a rectangle panel.
The frame 120 includes plural fastening members encircled the solar
panel 110 and coupled to each other to fix the solar panel 110
within. The frame 120 has two first fastening members 130 disposed
at two opposite sides of the solar panel 110. The frame 120 has two
second fastening members 140 disposed at other two opposite sides
of the solar panel 110. The solar module 100 further includes
plural screws 150 to screw the first fastening members 130 to the
second fastening members 140.
[0020] Refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a cross-section diagram of the
first fastening member of the frame in FIG. 1. The first fastening
member 130 has a first supporting portion 131, a first base portion
138, and a first connecting portion 136 for connecting the first
supporting portion 131 and the first base portion 138. The first
supporting portion 131 has a first groove 133. The solar panel (not
shown) is assembled in the first groove 133. The first supporting
portion 131 has a first flange 132 and a second flange 134. The
second flange 134 is used to support the solar panel thereon, and
the first flange 132 is used to position the solar panel. The first
groove 133 is formed between the first flange 132 and the second
flange 134. The solar panel is sandwiched between the first flange
132 and the second flange 134.
[0021] The first fastening member 130 has a first beam 135. The
first beam 135 is disposed between the second flange 134 and the
first base portion 138. In this embodiment, the opposite sides of
the first beam 135 connect the second flange 134 and the first base
portion 138 respectively. A cavity 139 is formed between the first
beam 135 and the first connecting portion 136 and between the
second flange 134 and the first base portion 138. The first beam
135 can further support the solar panel and increase the bending
strength of the first fastening member 130.
[0022] The frame for solar module may further include a gasket 160
disposed between the solar panel and the support portion 131 for
cushion. The gasket 160 can be made of an elastic material, such as
a rubber material or a polymer material, which can prevent the
solar panel from damage by directly contacting the first fastening
member 130. The second flange 134 has a hook 137 to hook the gasket
160. The first fastening member 130 can be made of metal sheet. The
first fastening member 130 can be made of aluminum.
[0023] Refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a cross-section diagram of the
second fastening member of the frame in FIG. 1. The second
fastening member 140 includes a second supporting portion 142, a
second base portion 144, and a second connecting portion 146 to
connect the second supporting portion 142 and the second base
portion 144. The second supporting portion 142 has a second groove
143, and the solar panel (not shown) is assembled in the second
groove 143. The second fastening member 140 has a second beam 148
disposed between the second supporting portion 142 and the second
base portion 144. The opposite sides of the second beam 148 connect
the second supporting portion 142 and the second base portion 144
respectively. A cavity 147 is formed between the second beam 148
and the second connecting portion 146. The second beam 148 can
further support the solar panel and increase the bending strength
of the second fastening member 140.
[0024] The second fastening member 140 further includes plural
screwing portions 145. The screwing portions 145 are disposed on
the second supporting portion 142 and the second base portion 144.
The cross-section shape of the screwing portion 145 is a C-shaped.
The screwing portion 145 is arranged between the second beam 148
and the second connecting portion 146. The second fastening member
140 can be made of metal sheet. The material of the second
fastening member 140 can be aluminum.
[0025] Refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 simultaneously. FIG. 4 is an
oblique diagram of the first fastening member of the invention.
FIG. 5 is an oblique diagram of the second fastening member of the
invention. The second fastening member 140 has plural screwing
portions 145 disposed between the second supporting portion 142 and
the second base portion 144. The second beam 148 connects the
second supporting portion 142 and the second base portion 144 to
enhance the bending strength of the second fastening member
140.
[0026] The first fastening member 130 has plural screw holes 170
disposed corresponding to the screwing portions 145 of the second
fastening members 140. The screws 150 in FIG. 1 screw the screwing
portions 145 on the screw holes 170 to screw the first fastening
member 130 to the second fastening member 140.
[0027] The beams of the first fastening members and the second
fastening members of the invention could highly increase the
bending strength of the frame for the solar module, so that the
thickness of the metal sheet of the first fastening members and the
second fastening members can be reduced. The first fastening
members and the second fastening members are fixed by screws,
thereby the first fastening members and the second fastening
members are fixed firmly and better positioned. The support
portion, the base portion, the connecting portion and the beam of
each first and second fastening member are made integrated. The
first fastening members and the second fastening members are made
of metal, which can provide a grounding interface to the solar
panel.
[0028] Although the present invention has been described in
considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof,
other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of
the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the
embodiments contained herein.
[0029] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the
present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the
present invention cover modifications and variations of this
invention provided they fall within the scope of the following
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *