U.S. patent application number 13/138171 was filed with the patent office on 2011-11-10 for universal fixing bracket for photovoltaic panels.
Invention is credited to Simone Greganti, Marco Maracci.
Application Number | 20110271611 13/138171 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42340146 |
Filed Date | 2011-11-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110271611 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maracci; Marco ; et
al. |
November 10, 2011 |
UNIVERSAL FIXING BRACKET FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS
Abstract
The present invention relates to a bracket used to fix
photovoltaic panels in horizontal position on the roof,
characterised in that it can be universally used on roofs made with
flat surface and roofs made with notched panels provided with
trapezoidal ribs, including with different cross-section.
Inventors: |
Maracci; Marco; (Polverigi
(AN), IT) ; Greganti; Simone; (Jesi (AN),
IT) |
Family ID: |
42340146 |
Appl. No.: |
13/138171 |
Filed: |
January 15, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
January 15, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2010/050485 |
371 Date: |
July 15, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/173.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02B 10/20 20130101;
F24S 25/615 20180501; H02S 20/24 20141201; Y02E 10/50 20130101;
F24S 25/61 20180501; Y02B 10/12 20130101; F24S 2025/6006 20180501;
Y02B 10/10 20130101; Y02E 10/47 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/173.3 |
International
Class: |
E04D 13/18 20060101
E04D013/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 19, 2009 |
IT |
MC2009U000002 |
Claims
1. Universal fixing bracket for photovoltaic panels, characterised
in that it is provided with a basically cross-shaped box-like body,
formed from the intersection of two rectilinear concave sections
(2, 3), both being provided with trapezoidal cross-section, but
with lateral sides (2a, 3a) with different inclination.
2. Universal bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is
provided with four plates (5) in intermediate position between the
four arms of the cross-shaped box-like body.
3. Universal bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper
horizontal wall of each trapezoidal section (2, 3) is provided with
one or more circular through holes (2b, 3b) to receive fixing
screws.
4. Universal bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inclined
lateral sides (2a, 3a) of each trapezoidal section (2, 3) is
provided with one or more circular through holes (2d, 3d) to
receive fixing screws.
5. Universal bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein it is provided
with pairs of raised edges (2c, 3c) in lateral position on the
upper sides of the trapezoidal sections (2, 3).
6. Universal bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein it is provided
with a circular through hole (4) in the intersection point of the
trapezoidal sections (2, 3), which is exactly crossed by the
threaded stem (10) of a bolt inserted in the hole (4) from down
up.
7. Universal bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein it is provided
with a concave appendix that protrudes in vertical direction in the
intersection point of the trapezoidal sections (2, 3), which is
composed of a lower section (7) shaped as the polygonal head of a
bolt and a basically cylindrical upper section (8), both being
crossed by an axial hole (9) adapted to be penetrated by the
threaded stem of a bolt that is inserted in the appendix from down
up, in such a way that the polygonal head is exactly engaged in the
lower section (7).
8. Universal bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein it is provided
with a gasket (6) made of polyethylene or other intrinsically
elastic materials, which are capable of perfectly adhering to the
internal walls of one of the trapezoidal sections (2, 3).
9. Universal bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein it is made of
moulded plastic materials.
Description
[0001] The present patent application relates to a universal
bracket used to fix photovoltaic panels in horizontal position on
the roof.
[0002] As it is known, the use of photovoltaic panels for energy
saving purposes has considerably increased, with special reference
to warehouses for industrial or handicraft activities.
[0003] In fact, in this type of buildings, roofs are made with
notched panels having a sandwich-like structure, being composed of
a thick supporting layer of polyurethane foam and an upper sheet
metal covering.
[0004] The market currently offers alternative versions of notched
panels that differ in terms of the section used in the metal
covering surface.
[0005] While all notched panels are characterised by the presence
of a plurality of visible raised ribs, which are normally provided
with trapezoidal cross-section, it is also known that said panels
are not manufactured in a "harmonised" version, but in alternative
versions that differ in the section used in the raised ribs.
[0006] It being understood that the ribs provided in the current
models of notched panels basically have the same height, it must be
noted that they differ in the width and inclination of the lateral
sides.
[0007] Moreover, in other cases roofs are still made with
traditional flat surfaces that are not provided with raised
ribs.
[0008] In spite of the specific type of roofing used from time to
time, the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof can be
carried out according to two alternative technologies.
[0009] According to a first technology, a grid of tubular bars is
created on the roofing in order to support and fix the panels.
[0010] According to an alternative technology, a plurality of
sturdy brackets is mounted on the roofing, from which threaded
stems with vertical axis protrude in vertical direction.
[0011] Tubular bars are screwed on the threaded stems to support
the photovoltaic panels.
[0012] According to the latter technology, the borders of two
contiguous photovoltaic panels are arranged, on opposite sides, at
the two sides of each fixing plate, in such a way that the threaded
stem of the latter protrudes in vertical direction in intermediate
position.
[0013] Then, a small plate suitably provided with a through hole is
inserted on the stem, being adapted to be engaged from up down
against the upper surface of the two contiguous photovoltaic
panels, in such a way to prevent their accidental raising.
[0014] The brackets that are currently mounted on perfectly flat
roofs consist in simple plates, preferably provided with a central
deep-drawn section that protrudes in vertical direction, with a
hole in which the threaded stem is inserted from down up.
[0015] In case of roofing made with notched panels, brackets are
mounted "astride" each rib of the panels, in the points of the
panels with maximum thickness and consequently maximum
resistance.
[0016] For this reason the brackets adapted to cooperate with
notched panels are provided with a basically overturned U-shaped
section that allows them to be exactly overlapped on the ribs of
the panel.
[0017] In order to achieve such a condition, the section of each
bracket must perfectly match the section of the corresponding
rib.
[0018] Considering that the market offers at least two versions of
notched panels, one with ribs with higher width and one with ribs
with lower width, it is evident that the brackets must be made in
two different versions, each of them being adapted to adjust to
only one of said types of ribs.
[0019] In view of these premises it appears evident that the
installer of photovoltaic panels must be always provided with three
types of supporting plates, since he may be asked to work
indifferently on roofing with flat surface or notched panels with
very wide ribs or notched panels with not very wide ribs.
[0020] The specific purpose of the present invention is to devise,
for the first time, a universal bracket that is capable of being
conveniently and indifferently fixed on roofs of the three
types.
[0021] It must be said that the bracket of the invention, which is
provided with a basically square shape, has a special concave
cross-shaped structure in which the two arms of the cross consist
of two rectilinear concave sections, with basically trapezoidal
cross-section, provided with different inclination in the lateral
sides and consequently with different width of the internal
cavity.
[0022] In particular, one of these rectilinear concave sections is
provided with a trapezoidal cross-section that allows it to be
perfectly situated "astride" the ribs of the first type of notched
panels used in roofs.
[0023] Likewise, the second of the rectilinear concave sections is
provided with a trapezoidal cross-section that allows it to be
perfectly situated "astride" the ribs of a second type of notched
panels.
[0024] Four plates with central hole are provided at the base of a
similar cross-shaped structure in intermediate position between the
four arms of the cross.
[0025] Moreover, the four "angular" plates, as well as the upper
wall of the two perpendicular arms of the cross-shaped concave
structure, are provided with through holes to allow for the
insertion, from up down, of fixing screws against the corresponding
panels of the roofing.
[0026] In view of the above general description of the invention,
it appears evident that the bracket of the invention can be
correctly fixed on each one of the three types of panels for
roofing.
[0027] In case of perfectly flat roofing, the installation of the
bracket of the invention provides for engaging the bracket on the
roofing in the four angular plates and fixing it with screws
inserted from up down through the holes provided on the plates.
[0028] The coupling of the plates with the ribs of the notched
panels is favoured by the presence of the concave trapezoidal
sections, after selecting, from time to time, the section that
complies with the specific section of the fixing rib.
[0029] It can be otherwise said that the operator provided with a
bracket of the invention will be able to select the concave
trapezoidal section that adjusts perfectly to the specific section
of the ribs from time to time, by simply rotating the entire
bracket by 90.degree..
[0030] Once a similar "male-female" coupling has been obtained
between the bracket and the rib of the notched panel, they will be
mutually and finally fixed by means of screws with vertical axis
inserted from up down in the through holes provided on the upper
horizontal wall of both trapezoidal sections.
[0031] In order to guarantee the higher fixing stability of the
bracket of the invention, the same bracket can be provided with
additional through holes (always adapted to receive corresponding
screws) also in the lateral inclined sides of the two trapezoidal
sections.
[0032] Of course, the bracket is provided in the centre of the
concave cross-shaped structure with a large through hole from which
the threaded stem of a bolt completely inserted inside it, from
down up, can protrude in vertical direction.
[0033] For purposes of clarity, the description of the invention
continues with reference to the enclosed drawings, which are
intended for purposes of illustration only and not in a limiting
sense, wherein:
[0034] FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of the installation modes of
the bracket of the invention on a roofing with flat surface;
[0035] FIGS. 2 and 3 are axonometric views of the installation
modes of the bracket of the invention on two alternative types of
notched panels, which only differ in the configuration of the
trapezoidal ribs;
[0036] FIG. 4 is the same as the above figures, except for it
refers to an alternative embodiment of the bracket of the
invention;
[0037] FIG. 5 is an axonometric view that shows the bracket of FIG.
4.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the bracket of the invention
(1), which is provided with a basically square shape, has a
cross-shaped box-like body, formed from the intersection of two
rectilinear concave sections (2, 3) provided with a basically
trapezoidal cross-section.
[0039] In actual fact, the first section (2) is provided with
lateral sides (2a) that are stretched more than the lateral sides
(3a) of the second section (3).
[0040] The upper horizontal wall of both sections (2, 3) is
provided with circular through holes (2b, 3b), whereas an
additional circular through hole (4) with larger cross-section is
provided in the intersection point of the sections (2, 3).
[0041] The latter hole is crossed from down up by a corresponding
threaded stem (10) with basically vertical axis, which is actually
adapted to be used to fix the supporting structure of the
photovoltaic panels.
[0042] Four basically square "angular" plates (5) are provided at
the base of the cross-shaped box-like body, in intermediate
position at the four arms of the body, each of them being provided
with a central through hole (5a).
[0043] In particular, FIG. 1 shows the fixing modes of the bracket
of the invention (1) on a roof (S) with perfectly flat surface.
[0044] As mentioned earlier, in such a case, the bracket (1) is
laid on the roof (S) on the angular plates (5)--that act as
supporting feet--before being firmly fixed by means of screws
inserted from up down in the through holes (5a) of the plates (5)
in such a way to be engaged with the roof (S).
[0045] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the bracket of the invention (1) in
combination with two notched panels (P1, P2) that differ in the
cross-section of the ribs (C1, C2).
[0046] The same specimen of bracket of the invention (1) can be
exactly mounted astride either one of the ribs (C1, C2)--with the
necessary interposition of a polyethylene gasket (6)--selecting the
corresponding rectilinear section (2, 3) from time to time.
[0047] Once installation has been carried out as illustrated above,
the coupling is stabilised using screws with vertical axis inserted
from up down in the through holes (2b, 3b) of the sections (2, 3),
in such a way to penetrate inside the polyurethane structure of the
ribs (C1, C2) of the panel (P1, P2).
[0048] Attention is drawn on the fact that the gasket (6) used in
case of notched panels is advantageously provided with double
function.
[0049] On one hand, it prevents water infiltration towards the
polyurethane internal structure of a panel (P1, P2) through the
holes made on the ribs (C1, C2) during the installation of the
fixing screws of the bracket (1).
[0050] On the other hand, because of the intrinsic elasticity of
the polyethylene structure, the gasket (6) favours the ideal
coupling of the two trapezoidal sections (2, 3) of the bracket (1)
also on ribs of notched panels with not perfectly compatible
cross-section.
[0051] It is certainly true that the specific shape given to the
trapezoidal sections (2, 3) has been provided according to the two
most popular types of notched panels for roofing.
[0052] Nevertheless, the market offers other versions of notched
panels, which differ in the specific configuration of the
trapezoidal cross-section of the ribs.
[0053] In these cases, the shape of the ribs would not be perfectly
compatible with the shape of the trapezoidal sections (2, 3) of the
bracket of the invention (1).
[0054] In such a case, the interposition of the gasket (6) is
especially useful to offset the morphological differences between
the cross-section of a rib of a notched panel and the section of
one of the trapezoidal sections (2, 3) of the bracket (1) and
consequently eliminate any possible "clearance" between them.
[0055] Upon the installation of the fixing screws, the gasket (6)
is compressed tightly between the rib (C1, C2) of the notched panel
and the trapezoidal section (2, 3) of the bracket (1), it being
evident that such a compression will have higher or lower values
according to the specific morphological difference between the
cross-section of the rib and the cross-section of the trapezoidal
section.
[0056] FIGS. 4 and 5 show an alternative version of the bracket of
the invention (11) which is preferably made of moulded plastic
materials.
[0057] The first peculiarity consists in the fact that the upper
walls of the trapezoidal sections (2, 3) are bordered by raised
edges (2c, 3c) on both sides.
[0058] Another peculiarity of this embodiment of the bracket of the
invention (11) consists in the fact that it is provided with
through holes (2d, 3d) for the insertion of fixing screws also on
the inclined lateral sides (2a, 3a) of the two trapezoidal sections
(2, 3).
[0059] Additionally, a concave appendix protruding in vertical
direction is provided in the intersection point of the two
trapezoidal sections (2, 3), which comprises a lower section (7)
shaped as the polygonal head of a bolt and a basically cylindrical
upper section (8), both being crossed by a hole with vertical axis
(9).
[0060] The hole (9) is crossed from down up by the threaded stem
(10) of a bolt, the head of which is exactly engaged--without
possibility of rotating freely--into the polygonal lower section
(7) of the appendix.
[0061] In this way, the head of the bolt creates no impediment on
the lower side of the bracket (11), whereas the threaded stem (10)
protrudes in vertical direction and is advantageously used to fix
two contiguous photovoltaic panels (F).
[0062] Reference is made to FIG. 4, in which the threaded stem (10)
is positioned between the borders of two contiguous photovoltaic
panels (F) laid on opposite sides on the same specimen of bracket
of the invention (11) exactly on the raised edges (2c, 3c).
[0063] In such a case a moulded plate (12) is inserted along the
stem (10) from up down, which is positioned on the borders of the
two contiguous photovoltaic panels (F) and firmly fixed in such a
position by means of a fixing nut (13).
[0064] It must be said that the latter version of the bracket of
the invention (11) is preferably made of moulded plastic materials,
just like the plate (12) used to fix the photovoltaic panels (F)
with metal structure.
[0065] When the latter panels (F) are laid on the raised edges (2c,
3c) of the bracket of the invention (11), they are prevented from
getting in direct contact against the metal head of the fixing
screws inserted from up down in the holes (2b, 3b) provided on the
trapezoidal sections (2, 3).
[0066] This is to say that the presence of the raised edges (2c,
3c) allows for obtaining electrical insulation between the
photovoltaic panels (F) and the fixing screws, which is useful to
prevent the occurrence of stray currents, when the bracket (11) is
moulded from non-conductive material, such as plastics.
* * * * *