U.S. patent application number 13/907596 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-05 for fastening device for solar panels.
The applicant listed for this patent is Hilti Aktiengesellschaft. Invention is credited to Lorcan Kemple, Lukas Mundwiler.
Application Number | 20130320166 13/907596 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48520705 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130320166 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kemple; Lorcan ; et
al. |
December 5, 2013 |
FASTENING DEVICE FOR SOLAR PANELS
Abstract
A fastening device for fastening at least one solar panel to an
assembly rail which has a slot bordered by two parallel webs is
disclosed. The fastening device includes a locking element with two
locking hooks which can be inserted under elastic deformation of at
least a part of the locking element into the slot, and which, when
the locking element is relaxed, can then reach behind the webs of
the assembly rail. The fastening device further includes at least
one hold-down element for a solar panel which is connected with the
locking element. At least one interlocking element is provided
which can be inserted into an interlocked position between the two
locking hooks, where the interlocking element prevents the two
locking hooks from coming closer to each other.
Inventors: |
Kemple; Lorcan; (Hard,
AT) ; Mundwiler; Lukas; (Gams, CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hilti Aktiengesellschaft |
Schaan |
|
LI |
|
|
Family ID: |
48520705 |
Appl. No.: |
13/907596 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/220.22 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24S 25/636 20180501;
Y02E 10/47 20130101; F24S 25/634 20180501; F16B 7/187 20130101;
F24S 2025/803 20180501; F16B 2/12 20130101; F24S 2025/807 20180501;
F24S 25/30 20180501; F24S 25/00 20180501 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/220.22 |
International
Class: |
F24J 2/52 20060101
F24J002/52 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 1, 2012 |
DE |
102012209272.2 |
Claims
1. A fastening device for fastening a solar panel to an assembly
rail that has a slot bordered by two parallel webs, comprising: a
locking element with two locking hooks which are introducible under
elastic deformation of at least one part of the locking element
into the slot and which are reachable behind the two parallel webs
when the locking element relaxes; a hold-down element which is
connectable to the locking element; and an interlocking element,
wherein the interlocking element is insertable into an interlocked
position between the two locking hooks such that the interlocking
element prevents the two locking hooks from coming closer to each
other.
2. The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the
interlocking element is disposed on a support plate and wherein the
support plate is supportable on the assembly rail.
3. The fastening device according to claim 2, wherein the support
plate has a recess which, in an operative configuration, surrounds
the locking element.
4. The fastening device according to claim 3, wherein the
interlocking element projects into the recess.
5. The fastening device according to claim 2, wherein the support
plate has a support plane for support on the assembly rail and
wherein the interlocking element projects from the support
plane.
6. The fastening device according to claim 1, further comprising a
second interlocking element and a support plate, wherein the
support plate is axially symmetrical and wherein the interlocking
element and the second interlocking element project on opposite
sides of the support plate from the support plate.
7. The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the
interlocking element is sized such that when it is pushed into the
interlocked position, the interlocking element pushes the two
locking hooks apart.
8. The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the
interlocking element has two webs which define a recess.
9. The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the locking
element has a U-shape and wherein the hold-down element is
connectable to the locking element by a screw.
10. A support construction for a solar panel, comprising: an
assembly rail that has a slot bordered by two parallel webs; and a
fastening device according to claim 1; wherein the two locking
hooks of the locking element reach behind the two webs of the
assembly rail.
11. The support construction according to claim 10, wherein the
interlocking element presses the two locking hooks against the two
parallel webs of the assembly rail when inserted into the
interlocked position and wherein the two locking hooks have a
clearance with the two parallel webs when the interlocking element
is not in the interlocked position.
12. The support construction according to claim 10, wherein the
interlocking element is disposed on a support plate and the support
plate projects beyond the assembly rail on opposite sides.
13. The support construction according to claim 12 in combination
with a solar panel and wherein the solar panel is disposed between
the hold-down element and the support plate.
14. The support construction according to claim 13 wherein the
assembly rail extends parallel to an edge of the solar panel facing
the fastening device.
15. A fastening device for fastening a solar panel to an assembly
rail, comprising: a locking element with two locking hooks, wherein
the two locking hooks are elastically deformable; a hold-down
element, wherein the hold-down element is connectable to the
locking element; and an interlocking element, wherein, in an
operative configuration, the interlocking element is disposed
between the two locking hooks.
16. The fastening device according to claim 15, wherein the
interlocking element is disposed on a support plate.
17. The fastening device according to claim 16, wherein the support
plate has a recess and wherein, in the operative configuration, the
locking element is disposed through the recess.
18. The fastening device according to claim 15, wherein the two
locking hooks extend from a middle leg of the locking element and
wherein the two locking hooks are elastically deformable with
respect to the middle leg.
19. The fastening device according to claim 15 in combination with
an assembly rail, wherein the two locking hooks, in the operative
configuration, are locked within a slot of the assembly rail.
20. The fastening device according to claim 19 in combination with
a solar panel, wherein the solar panel, in the operative
configuration, is disposed between the hold-down element and the
assembly rail.
Description
[0001] This application claims the priority of German Patent
Document No. DE 10 2012 209 272.2, filed Jun. 1, 2012, the
disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference
herein.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a fastening device for the
fastening of at least one solar panel to an assembly rail which has
a slot bordered by two parallel webs. A fastening device of this
type is equipped with a locking element with two locking hooks
which can be inserted into the slot with the elastic deformation of
at least a portion of the locking element and which can then grab
the webs of the assembly rail from behind with a relaxation of the
locking element, and at least one hold-down element for a solar
panel which is connected with the locking element.
[0003] European Patent Document No. EP 1 767 793 A2 describes
fastening devices for solar panels which can be snapped into the
slot of a profile rail. An additional snap-in system is described
in International Patent Document No. WO 2007/143983 A2.
[0004] The object of the invention is a snap-in fastening device
which can be used in a particularly wide variety of applications
with a particularly high degree of reliability and little effort
and expense.
[0005] A fastening device of the present invention is characterized
in that at least one interlocking element is provided which can be
inserted into an interlocked position between the two locking
hooks, in which the interlocking element prevents the two locking
hooks from coming closer to each other.
[0006] In a fastening device of the invention, a locking element is
provided with two facing locking hooks which can be snapped into
the slot of the assembly rail. For this purpose, the locking hooks
are sized and arranged so that when they are inserted into the
slot, they are temporarily pushed together with the elastic
deformation of the locking element, in particular by the manual
pushing together of the locking elements and/or of the webs of the
assembly rail which exert pressure against the locking hooks. As
soon as the locking lugs of the locking hooks have traveled past
the webs into the interior of the rail, the locking element can
relax once again and the elastic deformation can be reduced again,
at least partly. The locking hooks are thereby moved apart again
until they reach around behind the webs of the assembly rail and
optionally are also in contact with the webs. Because the locking
hooks are designed in a barb-like fashion, the locking element in
this snapped-in position is secured in a form-fitting manner to the
webs of the assembly rail to prevent them from falling or being
pulled out in the direction at a right angle to the longitudinal
extension of the rail and/or at a right angle to the longitudinal
extension of the slot.
[0007] A basic teaching of the invention can be seen in an
interlocking element which, after the locking hooks have been
snapped into the slot of the assembly rail, can be brought into an
interlocked position between the two locking hooks. In this
interlocked position the interlocking element acts as an obstacle
to the two locking hooks being brought any closer to each other or
can completely prevent them from coming closer to each other, so
that it at least makes it more difficult for them to come closer to
each other. However, because it is necessary for the two locking
hooks to come close together to remove the locking hooks from the
slot again, the interlocking element in the interlocked position on
one hand provides protection against an undesirable removal of the
locking element from the assembly rail. On the other hand the
interlocking element can also be designed so that it is oversized,
i.e., wider than the gap between the locking hooks, so that the
interlocking element in the interlocked position pushes the two
locking hooks apart and presses them against the two webs of the
assembly rail. In this case the interlocking element can increase
the friction of the locking hooks against the webs of the assembly
rail and thereby protect the locking element against a displacement
along the slot in the assembly rail.
[0008] In particular, it thereby becomes possible to achieve a
pre-assembled state in which, although the locking element is
snapped into the slot, the locking element, however, can move
relatively easily along the slot on account of a clearance between
the locking hooks and the webs of the assembly rail. Only when the
interlocking element is brought into the interlocked position are
the locking hooks pressed against the webs and thereby secured to
prevent a longitudinal displacement.
[0009] It is particularly preferable if a support plate is
provided, preferably for at least indirect support and in
particular for direct support on the assembly rail, and if the
interlocking element is located on the support plate. By
integration into a plate of this type, the interlocking element can
be positioned particularly easily and securely by the
assembler.
[0010] It is also advantageous if the support plate has at least
one recess, in particular a notch or a hole, which surrounds the
locking element, in particular when the interlocking element is in
the interlocked position. This measure can further increase
reliability. That is because the walls of the recess can form a
stop which can restrict a movement of the support plate relative to
the locking element and thus a moment of the interlocking element
relative to the locking hooks, and can consequently prevent the
interlocking element from accidentally falling out or being pulled
out of the interlocked position. A notch, as the term is used here,
means in particular a recess which is open toward the edge of the
plate, while a hole can mean a recess which has a closed circular
wall and/or is surrounded in a circular manner by the support
plate. The hole can advantageously have a polygonal cross-section,
in particular a rectangular cross-section and advantageously a
square cross-section, which can simplify the positioning. The
locking element can also be introduced into the recess of the
support plate even before the insertion of the locking element into
the assembly rail, as a result of which, for example, it can be
made captive.
[0011] It is particularly advantageous if the interlocking element
projects into the recess. This measure results in a particularly
compact and reliable construction.
[0012] An additional advantageous configuration is one in which the
interlocking element, in the interlocked position, projects between
the two webs of the assembly rail. In this position the
interlocking element can secure the locking hooks particularly
effectively and can optionally press against the webs. In
particular under these conditions it can be advantageous if the
support plate has a support plane for at least the indirect
contact, and preferably direct contact, against the assembly rail,
in particular against the webs of the assembly rail, and if the
interlocking element projects from the support plane. The
interlocking element preferably runs at and up to an obtuse angle
to the support plane and/or projects at an obtuse angle from the
support plate, which can, among other things, facilitate insertion.
The angle is preferably between 170.degree. and 110.degree..
[0013] It is further advantageous if the support plate has two
interlocking elements which project from the support plate on
opposite sides of the support plate. This measure can further
increase reliability, because the support plate can be installed in
two orientations with no loss of functionality. In other words, it
does not matter whether the assembler puts the plate in contact
with the assembly rail by means of its upper side or by means of
its lower side. In particular, the support plate can be axially
symmetrical, which can further improve reliability, whereby the
axial symmetry is preferred with reference to an axis of symmetry
which runs parallel to the support plane and/or at a right angle to
the longitudinal direction of the rail.
[0014] In another development, the interlocking element is
oversized, so that when it is inserted into the interlocked
position, it presses the locking hooks apart. In this case, the
interlocking element can also advantageously be used to secure the
locking element against displacement in the longitudinal direction
of the slot, because the interlocking element, on account of its
being oversized, can press the locking hooks laterally outward
against the webs of the assembly rail.
[0015] It is also expedient that the interlocking element has two
webs, between which a recess is formed. With this measure, the
spring action of the interlocking elements can be adjusted and thus
reliability can be further improved.
[0016] The locking element is preferably in the shape of a U, in
particular in mirror symmetry. When it is in the shape of a U, the
locking element has two side legs and one center leg which connects
the side legs. The two side legs are advantageously formed by the
locking hooks.
[0017] The hold-down element can preferably be fastened to the
locking element by a screw. The hold-down element advantageously
has a pass-through opening through which the screw is inserted. In
particular, the screw can be screwed to the locking element,
preferably by the middle leg of the locking element.
[0018] The invention also relates to a support construction for
solar panels with an assembly rail which has a slot which is
bordered by two preferably parallel webs, and a fastening device of
the invention, advantageously in a configuration in which the
locking hooks of the fastening device reach behind the two webs of
the assembly rail, in which the locking hooks are therefore snapped
in place, and particularly preferably in a configuration in which
the interlocking element is inserted into the interlocked position
between the two locking hooks and prevents the two locking hooks
from coming closer together.
[0019] As a result, the advantages described in relation with the
fastening device can be achieved in a support construction.
[0020] In one preferred development, the interlocking element
presses the two locking hooks against the webs of the assembly
rail, when it is inserted into the interlocked position, and/or the
two locking hooks have some clearance with respect to the webs when
the interlocking element is outside the interlocked position. In
this configuration, a pre-assembly status can be achieved, as long
as the interlocking element is still outside the interlocked
position. That is because, in that case, there is a clearance
between the snapped-in locking hooks and the webs, so that in the
pre-assembly state it at least becomes more difficult for the
snapped-in locking element to fall out of the slot, although in
this state the locking element can still be pushed essentially
freely lengthwise in the slot. Only when the interlocking element
is moved into the interlocked position is an interlocked state
achieved in which the interlocking element presses the locking
hooks laterally against the webs, and in which the locking hooks
are therefore secured against the webs positively or non-positively
to prevent movement in the longitudinal direction of the slot.
[0021] In the pre-assembly state, the interlocking element can be
located in particular in a head area of the locking element, in
which the two locking hooks are at a comparatively large distance
from each other. From here, the interlocking element, which is
already inside the locking element, can be moved in a direction at
a right angle to the longitudinal extension of the rail and/or at a
right angle to the longitudinal extension of the slot, toward the
rail into the interlocked position.
[0022] It is further preferable if the support plate projects
beyond the assembly rail on at least one side, in particular on
opposite sides, and advantageously at a right angle to the
longitudinal direction of the assembly rail and/or of its slot. In
this case, the support plate can also make the contact surface for
the solar panels larger. The assembly rails can thereby be
manufactured with a particularly small cross-section and therefore
economically.
[0023] At least one solar panel and preferably two solar panels is
or are preferably located between the hold-down element and the
support plate. The support plate can in this case also be used in
clamping at least one solar panel in position, which can reduce the
amount of material required. At least one solar panel is
expediently clamped between the hold-down element and the support
plate.
[0024] The fastening device of the invention is suitable in
particular for arrangements in which the assembly rail extends
parallel to one edge that faces the fastening device of the solar
panel when it is held by the fastening device. Because with such an
arrangement only the relatively small transverse dimension extends,
if at all, under the solar panels and not the relatively large
longitudinal dimension of the assembly rail, the contact surface of
the panels on the assembly rail can be made significantly larger
with a support plate of the type of the invention.
[0025] The invention is explained in greater detail below with
reference to advantageous exemplary embodiments which are
illustrated schematically in the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support construction of
the invention with a fastening device and an interlocking element
in the interlocked position, where only one solar panel is shown
for the sake of simplicity;
[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates the support construction from FIG. 1 with
the interlocking element in the interlocked position, in
cross-section;
[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates the support construction from FIG. 1 with
the interlocking element in the interlocked position in
longitudinal section, where one-half of the hold-down element is
not shown for the sake of simplicity;
[0029] FIG. 4 shows the locking element of the fastening device
from FIG. 1 in perspective;
[0030] FIG. 5 shows the support plate of the fastening device from
FIG. 1 in perspective;
[0031] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the support construction
from FIG. 1 during assembly, to illustrate the pre-assembly
state;
[0032] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the support construction
from FIG. 1 during assembly to illustrate the interlocked condition
with the interlocking element in the interlocked position; and
[0033] FIG. 8 is a partial view in perspective of the support
construction from FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] The Figures show an exemplary embodiment of a support
construction of the present invention with a fastening device of
the invention. The support construction has an assembly rail 1, in
which a slot 10 is made that runs longitudinally in the assembly
rail 1 and is bordered by two webs 11 and 12 which run along the
assembly rail. The assembly rail can be in particular extruded
and/or can have a constant cross-section along its longitudinal
extension.
[0035] The support construction also has a fastening device 2, with
which two neighboring solar panels 4 and 4' are fastened to the
assembly rail 1. The fastening device 2 has a locking element 20
with two neighboring locking hooks 21 and 22, which are connected
by a middle leg 23. The locking hooks 21 and 22 and the middle leg
23 thereby form a U-shaped cross-section. At the end of the first
locking hook 21 there is a first locking lug 25, which projects
outwardly from the first locking hook 21 on the side of the first
locking hook 21 which faces away from the second locking hook 22.
On the end of the second locking hook 22 there is a second locking
lug 26, which projects from the second locking hook 22 on the side
of the second locking hook 22 which faces away from the first
locking hook 21 (see, for example, FIG. 4). As illustrated in FIG.
2, these barb-like locking lugs 25 and 26 reach behind the webs 11
and 12, respectively, of the assembly rail 1 when the locking
element 20 is snapped into the slot 10.
[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 4 in particular, the locking hooks 21
and 22 also have a stop web 27 and 28, respectively. The stop webs
27, 28 limit the insertion of the locking element 20 into the slot
10, because they stand up on the webs 11 and 12 of the assembly
rail 1. As further illustrated in FIG. 4, the two locking hooks 21
and 22 are at a greater distance from each other in a head area 31
than in a locking area 32, whereby the head area 31 is located
between the locking area 32 and the middle leg 23, the locking area
32 is located closer to the locking lugs 25, 26 than the head area
31, and the head area 31 is closer to the middle web 23 than the
locking area 32.
[0037] The fastening device 2 also has a support plate 40 which is
illustrated in particular in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, the
support plate 40 has an approximately rectangular base section, and
in particular a square base section. The support plate 40 has, in
the center, a recess 49 in the shape of a hole, with a rectangular,
in particular square, base section. The locking element 20 can go
through this recess 49.
[0038] On the support plate 40, a first interlocking element 41 is
provided which projects from the edge of the recess 49 into the
projection of the recess 49. As illustrated in particular in FIGS.
2 and 3, this interlocking element 41 can be moved into an
interlocked position, in which the interlocking element 41 prevents
the two locking hooks 21 and 22 from coming closer together, in
particular their locking lugs 25 and 26 from coming closer
together, and in which the interlocking element 41 presses the two
locking hooks 21 and 22 against the webs 11 and 12, respectively,
of the slot 10. In the interlocked position, the interlocking
element is located in the narrow securing area 32, and for a
particularly high application force, preferably between the webs 11
and 12 of the assembly rail 1.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 5 in particular, the interlocking element
41 is in the shape of a U with a first web 43 as a stop on one of
the locking hooks and a second web 44 as a stop on the other
locking hook, where between the two webs 43 and 44 there is a
recess 45. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 in particular, the
support plate 40 has a support plane 48 which is in contact on the
outside with the assembly rail 1, in particular with its webs 11
and 12, when the interlocking element 41 is in the interlocked
position. As illustrated in FIG. 3 in particular, the interlocking
element 41 is at an angle from the support surface 40 projecting
from this support plane 48.
[0040] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 in particular, the support
plate 40, in addition to the first interlocking element 41, also
has an additional interlocking element 42 which is located on an
opposite side of the recess 49 and which projects from the support
plate 40 on a flat side opposite the support plane 48. The second
interlocking element 42, analogous to the first interlocking
element 41, has two webs and a central recess. The support plate 40
is essentially symmetrical, in particular axially symmetrical,
preferably with reference to an axis which runs parallel to the
support plane 48.
[0041] The fastening device 2 also has a screw 55 and a hold-down
element 50, whereby the screw 55 runs through the hold-down element
50 and the head of the screw 55 secures the hold-down element 50 on
the screw 55. The screw 55 is screwed into the locking element 20,
in particular into the middle leg 23 of the locking element 20. The
screw 55 is preferably free to rotate in the hold-down element
50.
[0042] The installation of the fastening device 2 on the assembly
rail 1 is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. First the locking element
20 is introduced into the support plate 40 and the locking element
20, together with the support plate 40 as illustrated in FIG. 6, is
snapped into the slot 10 of the assembly rail 1. The support plate
40 is thereby still in a pre-assembly position in which the two
interlocking elements 41 and 42 are in the head region 31, where
the two locking hooks 21 and 22 are at a relatively large distance
from each other. Thus the locking hooks 21 and 22 in the
pre-assembly position are still not being acted on by the
interlocking elements 41 and 42. Because the locking hooks 21 and
22 are designed so that there is a certain clearance between them
and the webs 11 and 12, the assembler can at this point in the
assembly process still move the locking element 20 relatively
freely along the assembly rail 1.
[0043] As soon as the locking element 20 is in the desired final
position, the assembler pushes the support plate 40 downward onto
the assembly rail 1 into the position illustrated in FIG. 7. In
this interlocked position the interlocking element 41 is brought
into its interlocked position in the securing area 32 as
illustrated in FIG. 2. In this position, the locking hooks 21 and
22 are pressed by the interlocking element 41 against the webs 11
and 12, so that the locking element 20 is secured against an
unintentional or accidental displacement along the assembly rail 1.
If it is still necessary to displace the locking element 20, the
assembler may lift the support plate 40 back into the pre-assembly
position illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0044] When the locking element 20 is in the correct position on
the assembly rail 1, the solar panels 4 and 4', which can in
particular be photovoltaic panels, are placed on the support plate
40, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Then the hold-down element 50
is fastened to the locking element 20 with the screw 55, and by
tightening the screw 55 the solar panels 4 and 4' are clamped
between the hold-down element 50 on one side and the assembly rail
1 with the support plate 40 on the other side, and are thereby
fastened to the assembly rail 1. Because the solar panels 4 and 4'
are now pressing against the support plate 40, the support plate 40
can no longer return to the pre-assembly position illustrated in
FIG. 6 without the application of an external force; in other
words, there is a self-securing mechanism.
[0045] Because the support plate 40, as shown particularly clearly
in FIG. 2, projects in the transverse direction beyond the assembly
rail 1, the contact surface available for the solar panels 4 and 4'
is not determined by the width of the rail, and the assembly rail 1
can be made correspondingly narrow and economical. The locking
element 20 also acts as a spacer for the neighboring solar panels 4
and 4', which limits the amount by which the neighboring solar
panels 4 and 4' on the support plate 40 can approach each other, so
that the hold-down element 50 can be installed from above in the
areas between the two solar panels 4 and 4'.
[0046] Because the support plate 40 has two interlocking elements
41 and 42 which are located on opposite sides of the support plate
40 and because the support plate 40 is preferably axially
symmetrical, the support plate has no pronounced top or bottom
side, and the assembler can consequently not install the support
plate 40 upside-down.
[0047] The interlocking elements 41 and 42 are deliberately
slightly weakened on account of their shape, although preferably
not necessarily on account of their recesses 45. Therefore the
interlocking elements 41 and 42 can be bent slightly when the
combined tolerances of the locking element 20, the slot 10 and the
support plate 40 narrow the gap between the locking hooks 21 and 22
in the securing area 32. At the end of the securing area 32 which
faces the head area 31, the distance between the locking hooks 21
and 22 can decrease as the distance from the head area 31 increases
(e.g., from 6.4 mm to 6 mm in FIG. 8), so that there is a secure
interlock even in the presence of manufacturing tolerances.
[0048] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to
illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since
modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit
and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the
art, the invention should be construed to include everything within
the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *