Panel Support Device

Abstract

To provide a panel supporting device which is excellent in safety and suppressing a reduction of operation efficiency in construction.SOLUTION: A panel supporting device used for a frame on which a panel is established has a rail 202 formed in a long size shape, a groove 210 extending in a longer direction of the rail 202 and having an opening 215 on a top face, a piece 301 arranged inside the groove 210, and a support bolt 302 engaged with the piece 301. The groove 210 has a substantially V-shaped first inclination part inclined upward from a center part in a short direction to both ends, and the piece 301 has a substantially V-shaped second inclination part engaged with the first inclination part of the groove 210.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

[0005]

[0001] The present invention relates to a panel support device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in order to fix a solar power generation panel to a pedestal, a panel support device having a structure in which a fixing fitting is fitted between the side edges of the solar power generation panel and between adjacent solar power generation panels, and the fitting is fixed to the pedestal by bolts, nuts, etc. (hereinafter also referred to as "bolts") has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Since a solar power generation panel is mainly installed outdoors, the bolts fixing the fitting to the pedestal may come off the pedestal due to wind pressure. Such a problem often occurs because the range of the portion where the bolts and the pedestal fit together (hereinafter also referred to as the "fitting range") is small. In order to avoid such a problem, for example, it is conceivable to make the attachment structure of the bolts more complicated to increase the fitting range between the bolts and the pedestal. However, if the attachment structure of the bolts is made complicated, it takes time and effort to attach the fitting and the bolts, so the work efficiency decreases. On the other hand, if the attachment structure of the bolts is simplified, the work efficiency is improved, but it is difficult to ensure safety because the bolts are likely to come off the pedestal due to wind pressure.

[0005] The objective of the present invention is to provide a panel support device that offers excellent safety while suppressing a decrease in work efficiency during construction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention is a panel support device used in a frame for installing panels, comprising: a rail formed in an elongated shape; a groove extending in the longitudinal direction of the rail and having an opening on its upper surface; a shim disposed inside the groove; and a support bolt fitted with the shim, wherein the groove has a substantially V-shaped first inclined portion that slopes upward from the center in the short direction toward both ends, and the shim has a substantially V-shaped second inclined portion that engages with the first inclined portion of the groove. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The panel support device according to the present invention offers excellent safety and can suppress a decrease in work efficiency during construction. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of solar power generation unit 1. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the mounting frame 20 for fixing the solar power generation panels 10. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing part of the mounting frame 20 and the solar power generation panel 10. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of rail 202 in a plane parallel to the XZ plane. [Figure 5] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the groove 210 when the piece 301 and the support bolt 302 are housed in the groove 210. [Figure 6A] This is a side view of frame 301. [Figure 6B] This is a plan view of frame 301. [Figure 7] This diagram illustrates the configuration of the support bolt 302 and nut 303. [Figure 8A] This is a side view of the end clamp 304. [Figure 8B] This is a side view of the intermediate clamp 305. [Figure 9A] This diagram illustrates the procedure for fixing the solar power generation panel 10 to the rail 202 using a support 30. [Figure 9B] This diagram illustrates the procedure for fixing the solar power generation panel 10 to the rail 202 using a support 30. [Figure 9C] This diagram illustrates the procedure for fixing the solar power generation panel 10 to the rail 202 using a support 30. [Figure 10] This is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the support member 30A. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following describes embodiments of the panel support device according to the present invention applied to a panel support device for fixing solar power generation panels. The drawings attached to this specification are all schematic diagrams, and for ease of understanding, the shape, scale, and aspect ratio of each part have been changed or exaggerated from the actual object. In addition, hatching indicating the cross-section of members has been omitted in the drawings as appropriate.

[0010] In this specification, terms that specify shape, geometric conditions, and their degree, such as "parallel," "orthogonal," and "direction," include not only the strict meaning of the term but also a range that can be considered approximately parallel, approximately orthogonal, and a range that can be considered roughly in that direction. In this specification, the short side of the solar power generation unit 1 shown in Figure 1 is the X (X1-X2) direction, the long side is the Y (Y1-Y2) direction, and the height direction is the Z (Z1-Z2) direction. Furthermore, each component is described using the above XYZ coordinate system, based on the state in which each component is installed in the solar power generation unit 1. In this specification, "~direction" is also appropriately referred to as "~side."

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the photovoltaic power generation unit 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pedestal 20 for fixing the photovoltaic panel 10. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the pedestal 20 and the photovoltaic panel 10 fixed to the pedestal 20. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in a plane parallel to the X-Z plane of the rail 202. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the rail 202 in which the block 301 and the support bolt 302 are housed in the groove portion 210. In FIG. 5, a virtual state in which the block 301 and the support bolt 302 are not in contact with any of the groove portions 210 is shown.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the photovoltaic power generation unit 1 includes a plurality of photovoltaic panels 10 and a pedestal 20. In the photovoltaic power generation unit 1, the photovoltaic panel 10 is fixed to the pedestal 20 via a support 30 (see FIG. 3). In the present embodiment, the rail 202 of the pedestal 20, the groove portion 210 provided in the rail 202, the block 301 of the support 30, and the support bolt 302 constitute a panel support device.

[0013] The photovoltaic panel 10 is a power generation panel that converts sunlight into electric power. One photovoltaic panel 10 is composed of a plurality of photovoltaic cells and peripheral components. In the photovoltaic power generation unit 1 of the present embodiment, seven photovoltaic panels 10 arranged in the Y direction are installed in two rows in the X direction on the pedestal 20. Hereinafter, the photovoltaic panel 10 is also simply referred to as a "panel".

[0014] The pedestal 20 is a structure for installing the photovoltaic panel 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the pedestal 20 includes a rail support 201 and a rail 202. The rail support 201 is a frame-shaped member for supporting the rail 202. In the pedestal 20 of the present embodiment, three rail supports 201 having different heights are installed along the longitudinal direction (Y direction). Each rail support 201 is installed on an anchor foundation (not shown) provided at the construction site.

[0015] The rails 202 are members that support the solar power generation panels 10 and are formed in an elongated shape. In the mounting frame 20 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, four rails 202 are arranged on the rail support 201 along the shorter direction (X direction). As shown in Figure 3, one solar power generation panel 10 is installed so as to straddle two rails 202 that are aligned in the shorter direction (X direction).

[0016] As shown in Figure 4, the rail 202 comprises a top plate portion 203, side plate portions 204, and bottom plate portion 205, and is configured to have a roughly rectangular tubular cross-section. The rail 202 is made of, for example, aluminum, stainless steel, etc. Both ends of the rail 202 in the longitudinal direction (Y direction) are open. The support bolts 302 (described later) into which the blocks 301 are fitted are inserted from the longitudinal ends of the rail 202. After the solar power generation panel 10 is installed, both ends of the rail 202 may be covered with covers or the like.

[0017] The rail 202 is provided with a groove 210 on the underside (Z2 side) of the top plate 203. The groove 210 is a part that is integrally provided with the top plate 203 and houses the slot 301 and (part of) the support bolt 302 of the support member 30, which will be described later. The groove 210 comprises an upper end portion 211, a side portion 212, a rail inclined portion 213, and a recess 214. The groove 210 has a substantially rectangular cross-section parallel to the XZ plane and extends in the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the rail 202.

[0018] The upper end portion 211 is the part that engages with the frame fitting portion 307 (described later) of the frame 301 housed in the groove portion 210. As shown in Figure 4, the upper end portion 211 protrudes from both ends in the short direction (X direction) of the groove portion 210 toward the center and is configured to be flush with the top plate portion 203. The upper end portion 211 is provided with an opening 215 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the rail 202. The thickness T of the upper end portion 211 (the dimension between the upper end portion 211 and the rail fitting portion 216) is, for example, about 3 to 5 mm, and preferably 4 mm, as will be described later.

[0019] As shown in Figure 5, the opening 215 is the portion where the threaded portion 313 (described later) of the support bolt 302 protrudes when the support bolt 302 (hereinafter also referred to as "the support bolt 301 and the threaded portion 313") into which the support bolt 302 is fitted is housed in the groove 210. The opening width W1 in the short direction (X direction) of the opening 215 is set according to the diameter of the support bolt 302, the size of the gap between the opening 215 and the support bolt 302, the thickness T of the upper end portion 211, etc., as will be described later. When the support bolt 302 and the support bolt 302 are housed in the groove 210, the distance D1 between the side edge of the opening 215 and the outer surface of the support bolt 302 (threaded portion 313) is set to 0.1d ≤ D1 ≤ 0.6d. Hereinafter, d is the diameter of the threaded portion 313 of the support bolt 302.

[0020] When fixing the solar power generation panel 10 to the rail 202 with the support fixture 30, as described later, a nut 303 is fitted onto the support bolt 302 protruding from the end clamp 304, and the nut 303 is tightened to a specified tightening torque (see Figures 9A to 9C). However, after fixing the solar power generation panel 10 to the rail 202, the support bolt 302 and the frame 301 may be pulled upward (Z1 direction) or diagonally upward due to the effects of wind pressure, etc., causing cracks to form at the upper end portion 211. Such problems can be suppressed, for example, by setting the opening width W1 of the opening 215 to 11.5 mm and the thickness T of the upper end portion 211 to 4 mm. Specifically, if the diameter d of the threaded portion 313 of the support bolt 302 is 8 mm, the opening width W1 of the opening 215 can be set to 11.5 mm by setting the distance D1 to 1.75 mm. Furthermore, if the thickness T of the upper end portion 211 is set to 4 mm, the dimension of distance D4 (described later) may be adjusted so that there is an appropriate clearance between the head 312 of the support bolt 302 and the bottom 214a of the recess 214. However, the dimensions of each part described above are just examples, and the dimensions of the opening width W1, the thickness T of the upper end portion 211, etc. in the actual frame that is constructed are not limited to the above numerical examples.

[0021] The rail fitting portion 216 is provided on the Z2 side surface of the upper end portion 211. The rail fitting portion 216 is the part that fits with the saddle fitting portion 307 (described later) provided on the saddle 301. The surface of the rail fitting portion 216 has an uneven surface. As will be described later, the uneven surface of the rail fitting portion 216 is formed to interlock with the uneven surface of the saddle fitting portion 307. The uneven surface of the rail fitting portion 216 is formed along the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the rail 202.

[0022] The side portion 212 is the part provided on the Z2 side of the upper end portion 211. As shown in Figure 5, the width (inner width) W2 of the side portion 212 in the short direction is formed such that the distance D2 between the side portion 212 and the projection 309 (described later) of the frame 301 is 1 mm or more and 3 mm or less. For example, if the width W3 between the projections 309 in the short direction of the frame 301 is 26 mm and the distance D2 is 1 mm, then the width W2 of the side portion 212 will be 28 mm. Note that the dimensions of width W3, distance D2, etc. described above are just examples, and the dimensions of width W3, distance D2, etc. in the actual frame that is constructed are not limited to the above numerical examples.

[0023] The rail inclined portion (first inclined portion) 213 is a part provided on the Z2 side of the side portion 212. The rail inclined portion 213 engages with the inclined portion 310 (described later) of the piece 301 when the piece 301 and the support bolt 302 are housed in the groove portion 210. As shown in Figure 5, the rail inclined portion 213 is inclined upward from the center of the groove portion 210 in the short direction (X direction) toward both ends on the X1 side and the X2 side. The rail inclined portion 213 on the X1 side and the rail inclined portion 213 on the X2 side form a roughly V shape with the space between them in between.

[0024] The recess 214 is a portion provided on the Z2 side of the rail inclined portion 213. As shown in Figure 5, the distance D3 from the top plate portion 203 (upper surface) of the groove portion 210 to the bottom portion 214a of the recess 214 is formed such that when the roller 301 and the support bolt 302 are housed in the groove portion 210, the distance D4 between the lower end of the support bolt 302 (head portion 312, described later) and the bottom portion 214a of the groove portion 210 (recess 214) is 2 mm or more and 4 mm or less. As mentioned above, Figure 5 shows a hypothetical state in which the roller inclined portion 310 (described later) of the roller 301 and the rail inclined portion 213 of the groove portion 210 are not in contact. However, the above distance D3 represents the distance in the state in which the roller inclined portion 310 of the roller 301 and the rail inclined portion 213 of the groove portion 210 are in contact, for example, as shown in Figure 9A. Similarly, the distance D4 mentioned above represents the distance when the inclined portion of the frame 301 and the inclined portion 213 of the groove 210 are in contact, as shown in Figure 9A, for example.

[0025] Next, the components of the support 30—the frame 301, support bolt 302, nut 303, and each clamp—will be described. Figure 6A is a side view of the 301. Figure 6B is a top view of the 301. Hereinafter, Figures 6A and 6B will be collectively referred to as "Figure 6". In this specification, the XYZ coordinate system is described based on the position in which the 301 is stored in the groove 210 of the rail 202 (see Figure 5). The saddle 301 is a component housed in the groove 210 (rail 202) together with the support bolt 302 (described later). In the side view shown in Figure 6A, the saddle 301 is approximately convex in the Z2 direction, and in the top view shown in Figure 6B, it is rectangular. The saddle 301 is made of stainless steel, for example. As shown in Figure 6A, the saddle 301 includes a bolt hole 306, a saddle fitting portion 307, an upper edge portion 308, a projection portion 309, a sloping portion 310, and a bottom portion 311.

[0026] The bolt hole 306 is a hole into which the support bolt 302 (described later) is fitted. On the inner circumferential surface of the bolt hole 306, a female thread (not shown) is formed which engages with the male thread 313a (threaded portion 313) of the support bolt 302.

[0027] The roller fitting portion 307 is the part that fits with the rail fitting portion 216 (see Figure 5) of the groove portion 210. The roller fitting portion 307 is provided at both ends of the roller 301 in the short direction (X direction). The Z1 side surface of the roller fitting portion 307 has an uneven shape. The uneven shape of the roller fitting portion 307 is formed so that it interlocks with the uneven shape of the rail fitting portion 216 when the roller fitting portion 307 is fitted with the rail fitting portion 216. That is, when the roller fitting portion 307 is fitted with the rail fitting portion 216, one recess (valley) and the other convex (peak) interlock, and one convex and the other recess interlock. As shown in Figure 6B, the uneven shape of the roller fitting portion 307 is formed along the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the roller 301. When the piece 301 is housed in the groove 210 together with the support bolt 302, the direction in which the uneven shape of the piece fitting portion 307 extends coincides with the direction in which the uneven shape formed on the rail fitting portion 216 extends.

[0028] The upper edge portion 308 is the part that fits into the opening 215 (see Figure 5) of the groove portion 210. It is desirable that the width W4 (see Figure 5) of the upper edge portion 308 in the short direction be the same as or slightly shorter than the opening width W1 of the opening 215 of the groove portion 210. For example, if the opening width W1 of the opening 215 of the groove portion 210 is 12.5 mm, then the width W4 of the upper edge portion 308 is 10.6 mm. The ends of the upper edge portion 308 in the short direction are inclined surfaces that slope downward from the center to the ends. That is, the upper edge portion 308 is formed to be approximately trapezoidal in side view.

[0029] The projections (position restricting portions) 309 restrict the range of movement of the saddle 301, which is housed in the groove 210, in the short-side direction (X direction). The projections 309 are formed on both sides of the saddle 301 in the short-side direction. The width W3 (see Figure 5) between the projections 309 in the short-side direction of the saddle 301 is formed to match the width W2 (see Figure 5) of the side surface 212 of the groove 210. Specifically, when the saddle 301 is housed in the groove 210, the distance D2 between the projections 309 of the saddle 301 and the side surface 212 of the groove 210 is formed to be between 1 mm and 3 mm. For example, if the width W2 of the side surface 212 of the groove 210 is 28 mm, the width W3 between the projections 309 of the saddle 301 will be 26 mm. In that case, the distance D2 between the projection 309 of the frame 301 and the side surface 212 of the groove 210 is 1 mm.

[0030] The inclined section (second inclined section) 310 and the bottom section 311 are located on the Z2 side of the projection 309. The inclined section 310 engages with the rail inclined section 213 of the groove 210 when the roller 301 is housed in the groove 210 together with the support bolt 302. As shown in Figure 6A, the inclined section 310 is inclined upward from the center of the roller 301 in the short direction (X direction) toward both ends on the X1 and X2 sides. The inclined section 310 on the X1 side and the inclined section 310 on the X2 side form a roughly V shape with the bottom section 311 in between them. It is desirable that the angle at which the inclined section 310 formed on the roller 301 is inclined matches the angle at which the rail inclined section 213 of the groove 210 is inclined, but there may be an angle difference as long as it does not interfere with construction.

[0031] Figure 7 illustrates the configuration of the support bolt 302 and nut 303. The support bolt 302 is a component that is housed in the groove 210 together with the block 301. As shown in Figure 7, the support bolt 302 has a flanged head 312 and a threaded portion 313. A male thread 313a is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the threaded portion 313. The support bolt 302 is a flanged bolt in which the flanged head 312 and the threaded portion 313 are integrated. The nut 303 is a flanged nut. A female thread (not shown) is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the nut 303 that can be fitted with the male thread 313a of the threaded portion 313. Note that in Figure 7, the arrangement of the support bolt 302 and nut 303 indicates the arrangement during panel construction. That is, during panel construction, the support bolt 302 is used with the head 312 on the lower side (Z2 side) and the threaded portion 313 on the upper side (Z1 side). Furthermore, the nut 303 is fitted onto the threaded portion 313 from the upper side (Z1 side) of the support bolt 302.

[0032] Figure 8A is a side view of the end clamp 304. As shown in Figure 8A, the end clamp 304 is a component formed in a roughly L-shape. As shown in Figure 3, the end clamp 304 is used to fix one side edge (or the other side edge on the opposite side) of a panel that is positioned at the end of the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of a plurality of solar power generation panels 10. A hole 314 is formed in the center of the end clamp 304. As shown in Figure 8A, one side edge of the solar power generation panel 10 can be brought into contact with the end clamp 304, and a nut 303 can be fitted onto a support bolt 302 (threaded portion 313) that has passed through the hole 314 and tightened, thereby fixing one side edge of the solar power generation panel 10 to the rail 202.

[0033] Figure 8B is a side view of the intermediate clamp 305. As shown in Figure 8B, the intermediate clamp 305 is a component formed in a substantially concave shape. As shown in Figure 3, the intermediate clamp 305 is used to fix adjacent panels in the longitudinal direction (Y direction) among a plurality of solar power generation panels 10. A hole 315 is formed in the center of the intermediate clamp 305. As shown in Figure 8B, one side edge of solar power generation panel 10A and the other side edge of the adjacent solar power generation panel 10B are brought into contact with the intermediate clamp 305, and a nut 303 is fitted onto a support bolt 302 (threaded portion 313) that passes through the hole 315 and tightened, thereby fixing one side edge of solar power generation panel 10A and the other side edge of solar power generation panel 10B to the rail 202. The end clamp 304 and intermediate clamp 305 described above are made of, for example, aluminum, stainless steel, or the like.

[0034] Next, we will explain the procedure for fixing the solar power generation panel 10 to the rail 202 (mounting frame 20). Figures 9A to 9C illustrate the procedure for fixing the solar power generation panel 10 to the rail 202 using the support 30. While Figures 9A to 9C illustrate an example of fixing the solar power generation panel 10 to the rail 202 using the end clamp 304, the same procedure can be used when fixing two adjacent solar power generation panels 10 to the rail 202 using the intermediate clamp 305 (see Figure 8B).

[0035] First, as shown in Figure 9A, the support bolt 302 into which the piece 301 is fitted is placed in the groove 210 of the rail 202. When the piece 301 and the support bolt 302 are placed in the groove 210 of the rail 202, the piece inclined portion 310 formed on the piece 301 and the rail inclined portion 213 formed on the groove 210 become engaged. By engaging the piece inclined portion 310 of the piece 301 and the rail inclined portion 213 of the groove 210, the center position of the piece 301 in the short direction (X direction) and the center position of the groove 210 in the short direction can be made to coincide. When fitting the piece 301 and the support bolt 302, it is desirable to screw the piece 301 in until it is in contact with the head 312 of the support bolt 302, and then tighten both to firmly fit the piece 301 and the support bolt 302 together. If the fit between the piece 301 and the support bolt 302 is weak, when the nut 303 is fitted onto the support bolt 302, the support bolt 302 may loosen, causing the nut 303 to spin freely, or the support bolt 302 may become loose after tightening.

[0036] Next, as shown in Figure 9B, the solar power generation panel 10 is installed on the top plate portion 203 of the rail 202. Then, the threaded portion 313 of the support bolt 302 is passed through the hole 314 of the end clamp 304, and the end clamp 304 is attached so that it abuts against one side edge of the solar power generation panel 10. Note that in Figures 9B and 9C (described later), in order to make it easier to understand the fixing of the solar power generation panel 10 by the nut 303 and the end clamp 304, and the state of the piece 301 and support bolt 302 stored in the groove portion 210, the orientation in which the end clamp 304 and the solar power generation panel 10 are installed on the rail 202 is depicted with a planar shift. That is, in Figures 9B and 9C, the orientation in which the end clamp 304 abuts against the solar power generation panel 10 is depicted as the X direction, which is shifted by 90 degrees in plan, rather than the Y direction shown in Figure 3 (the direction in which the actual end clamp 304 faces).

[0037] Next, as shown in Figure 9B, the nut 303 is fitted onto the threaded portion 313 of the support bolt 302 protruding from the hole 314 of the end clamp 304 and tightened. When the nut 303 comes into contact with the end clamp 304 as the nut 303 is tightened, the block 301 and the support bolt 302 are pulled upward (towards Z1) in conjunction with the tightening of the nut 303. Then, by further tightening the nut 303, as shown in Figure 9C (partial enlargement), the uneven shape formed on the block fitting portion 307 of the block 301 and the uneven shape formed on the rail fitting portion 216 of the groove 210 can be fitted together. After this, by further tightening the nut 303 to the specified tightening torque, the solar power generation panel 10 can be fixed to the rail 202 (mounting frame 20).

[0038] The panel support device of this embodiment described above provides, for example, the following effects: According to the panel support device of this embodiment, when the panel 301 and support bolt 302 are placed in the groove 210 of the rail 202, the panel inclined portion 310 formed on the panel 301 and the rail inclined portion 213 formed on the groove 210 engage with each other. When the panel 301 and support bolt 302 are placed in the groove 210 of the rail 202, even if the panel 301 tilts or the center position of the panel 301 in the short direction (X direction) shifts from the center position of the groove 210 in the short direction, the panel 301 and support bolt 302 will slide along the rail inclined portion 213 toward the center position of the groove 210 due to their own weight. Therefore, by placing the panel 301 and support bolt 302 in the groove 210 of the rail 202, the center position of the panel 301 in the short direction and the center position of the groove 210 in the short direction can be easily and more accurately aligned.

[0039] With this configuration, when the frame 301 and support bolt 302 are housed in the groove 210, the position of the frame 301 shifts in the shorter direction, reducing the engagement range between the frame 301 and the groove 210 on one side. This reduces the risk of reduced mounting strength in this area. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the problem of the frame 301 and support bolt 302 coming off the rail 202 together with the clamp (304 / 305) and nut 303 due to wind pressure or the like.

[0040] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 9A to 9C, the panel support device of this embodiment can be installed using almost the same procedure as a general panel support device. Therefore, compared to cases where the bolt mounting structure is complicated, it is possible to suppress the decrease in work efficiency due to an increase in work hours. Therefore, the panel support device of this embodiment not only offers superior safety but also suppresses a decrease in work efficiency during construction.

[0041] In the panel support device of this embodiment, the groove 210 of the rail 202 is formed such that when the support bolt 302 with the piece 301 fitted into it is stored in the groove 210, the distance D4 between the lower end of the support bolt 302 and the bottom 214a of the recess 214 is 2 mm or more and 4 mm or less (see Figure 5). With this configuration, if the distance D4 between the lower end of the support bolt 302 with the piece 301 fitted into it and the bottom 214a of the recess 214 is less than the lower limit (2 mm), the support bolt 302 with the piece 301 fitted into it cannot be stored in the groove 210 of the rail 202, or even if it can be stored, contact between the lower end of the support bolt 302 and the bottom 214a of the recess 214 will cause significant resistance when storing it. Therefore, if the above symptoms occur, the operator can determine that the piece 301 and the support bolt 302 are not properly fitted together. Therefore, in the panel support device of this embodiment, it is possible to prevent construction errors in which workers attach the panel to the rail 202 when the frame 301 and the support bolt 302 are not properly fitted together.

[0042] Furthermore, if the worker inserts the piece 301 into the support bolt 302 in the wrong direction, that is, if the bottom 311 of the piece 301 (see Figure 6A) is on the Z1 side when inserting it into the support bolt 302, even if the piece 301 and the support bolt 302 are properly fitted together, the piece fitting portion 307 and the rail inclined portion 213 of the groove portion 210 will interfere with each other, preventing the piece 301 and the support bolt 302 from being stored in the groove portion 210. Therefore, assembly errors between the piece 301 and the support bolt 302 can be prevented.

[0043] In the panel support device of this embodiment, the distance D2 between the projection 309 of the frame 301 and the side surface 212 of the groove 210 is formed to be between 1 mm and 3 mm (see Figure 5). Therefore, when the support bolt 302 into which the frame 301 is fitted is housed in the groove 210 of the rail 202, the position of the frame 301 in the short direction (X direction) is prevented from shifting beyond the upper limit (3 mm). As described above, the panel support device of this embodiment has a configuration in which the inclined surfaces of the inclined portion 310 formed on the frame 301 and the inclined portion 213 formed on the groove 210 engage with each other, and a configuration in which the distance D2 between the projection 309 of the frame 301 and the side surface 212 of the groove 210 is 1 mm or more and 3 mm or less. Therefore, when the frame 301 and the support bolt 302 are housed in the groove 210 of the rail 202, the center position in the short direction of the frame 301 and the center position in the short direction of the groove 210 can be more reliably aligned.

[0044] It is also conceivable to have a configuration in which the protrusions 309 are not provided on both sides of the 301 in the short direction (X direction), but rather both sides are extended outwards. However, if both sides of the 301 in the short direction are extended outwards, even if the above distance D2 is between 1 mm and 3 mm, when the 301 is inserted into the groove 210, if the 301 is shifted in the short direction, the contact resistance between one side of the 301 in the short direction and the side portion 212 of the groove 210 will increase. Therefore, it will take time to move the 301 to the desired position in the groove 210. However, as in this embodiment, when projections 309 are provided on both sides of the saddle 301 in the short direction (X direction), even if the saddle 301 shifts in the short direction, the contact resistance between the projections 309 formed on the saddle 301 and the side surface 212 of the groove 210 is small, allowing the saddle 301 to move smoothly to the desired position in the groove 210.

[0045] In the panel support device of this embodiment, the distance D2 between the projection 309 of the frame 301 and the side surface 212 of the groove 210 is formed to be between 1 mm and 3 mm (see Figure 5). Therefore, the width W3 between the projections 309 in the short direction of the frame 301 can be brought closer to the width W2 in the short direction of the side surface 212 of the groove 210. With this configuration, the fitting range between the frame fitting portion 307 and the rail fitting portion 216 can be increased, and thus the coupling force between the frame fitting portion 307 and the rail fitting portion 216 can be increased.

[0046] In the panel support device of this embodiment, the support bolt 302 into which the piece 301 is fitted is housed in the groove 210 such that the head 312 is on the lower side (Z2 side) and the threaded portion 313 is on the upper side (Z1 side) (see Figure 5). With this configuration, the free rotation of the piece 301 fitted to the support bolt 302 inside the groove 210 is suppressed, so that the solar power generation panel 10 and the clamp (304 / 305) can be securely fixed by tightening the nut 303 from the upper side (Z1 side).

[0047] Conventional panel support devices often employ a configuration in which a nut is stored on the rail side, and a support bolt is inserted from above and fitted into the nut. However, in such a configuration, when the support bolt is turned for tightening, the nut tends to spin freely inside the rail, which may prevent the solar power generation panel and clamp from being secured with sufficient tightening torque. In contrast, in the panel support device of the present embodiment, the nut 301 and the support bolt 302 are housed in the groove 210 in a fitted state (see Figure 5). With this configuration, since the nut 301 is not directly fitted into the nut 303, the nut 301 is less likely to spin freely when the nut 303 is turned for tightening. Therefore, the solar power generation panel 10 and the clamp (304 / 305) can be securely fixed with sufficient tightening torque.

[0048] In the panel support device of this embodiment, the rail fitting portion 216 of the groove 210 and the frame fitting portion 307 of the frame 301 each have a recessed or recessed shape. With this configuration, as shown in Figure 9C, when the nut 303 is fitted onto the threaded portion 313 of the support bolt 302 protruding from the hole 314 of the end clamp 304 and tightened, the recessed or recessed shape formed on the frame fitting portion 307 of the frame 301 and the recessed or recessed shape formed on the rail fitting portion 216 of the groove 210 fit together, as shown in the partially enlarged view of Figure 9C. In this way, the recessed or recessed shapes of the frame fitting portion 307 of the frame 301 and the rail fitting portion 216 of the groove 210 fit together, which suppresses problems such as the frame 301 rotating or shifting due to vibration. Furthermore, by fitting together the respective protrusions and indentations, the frame fitting portion 307 of the frame 301 can be securely engaged by the rail fitting portion 216 of the groove portion 210.

[0049] In the panel support device of this embodiment, the opening width W1 in the short direction of the opening 215 is formed such that when the frame 301 and the support bolt 302 are housed in the groove 210, the distance D1 between the side edge of the opening 215 and the outer surface of the support bolt 302 is in the range of 0.1d ≤ D1 ≤ 0.6d with respect to the diameter d of the support bolt 302 (see Figure 5). As a result, the fitting range between the frame fitting portion 307 of the frame 301 and the rail fitting portion 216 of the groove 210 is increased, and the coupling force between the frame fitting portion 307 and the rail fitting portion 216 can be increased.

[0050] In the panel support device of this embodiment, the frame 301 has an upper edge portion 308 (see Figure 5) that fits into the opening 215 of the groove portion 210. Therefore, when the nut 303 is tightened from the state shown in Figure 9B, and the frame 301 and support bolt 302 are pulled upward, the upper edge portion 308 of the frame 301 and the opening 215 of the groove portion 210 fit together, as shown in Figure 9C. With this configuration, even if the center position of the frame 301 in the short direction and the center position of the groove portion 210 in the short direction are misaligned, when the frame 301 and support bolt 302 are pulled upward, the upper edge portion 308 of the frame 301 and the opening 215 of the groove portion 210 fit together, making it possible to align the center position of the frame 301 in the short direction with the center position of the groove portion 210 in the short direction.

[0051] Furthermore, the upper edge 308 of the frame 301 is formed to be approximately trapezoidal in side view (see Figure 6A). With this configuration, when the frame 301 and support bolt 302 are pulled upward while the center position of the frame 301 in the short direction and the center position of the groove 210 in the short direction are slightly misaligned, one end (inclined surface) of the upper edge 308 of the frame 301 moves upward while sliding against the opening 215 of the groove 210. As a result, the frame 301 and support bolt 302 can be pulled upward more smoothly.

[0052] Next, other embodiments of the support 30 will be described. Figure 10 illustrates another embodiment of the support member 30A. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the rail 202 in which the roller 301, support bolt 302, and washer 316 are housed in the groove 210, and corresponds to Figure 5. Similar to Figure 5, Figure 10 also shows a hypothetical state in which the roller 301 and support bolt 302 are not in contact with any part of the groove 210. In Figure 10, parts that perform the same function as in the embodiments described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted as appropriate.

[0053] The support member 30A shown in Figure 10 is equipped with a washer 316 between the support bolt 302 and the slot 301. The washer 316 is, for example, a disc spring washer. When not installed, the disc spring washer is a roughly conical washer with a round hole in the center through which the support bolt 302 (threaded portion 313) passes. The washer 316 is inserted into the support bolt 302 with the peaks facing the head 312. By inserting the washer 316 into the threaded portion 313 of the support bolt 302 and then fitting the slot 301 and tightening it, the support bolt 302, slot 301 and washer 316 can be integrated. By sandwiching the washer 316 between the support bolt 302 and the slot 301, the elastic force (reaction force) and frictional resistance of the washer 316 act between the support bolt 302 and the slot 301. Therefore, loosening that occurs between the support bolt 302 and the slot 301 after installation can be suppressed. When a washer 316 is provided between the support bolt 302 and the slot 301, it is preferable to set the distance D4 to, for example, about 4 mm so that there is an appropriate clearance between the head 312 of the support bolt 302 and the bottom 214a of the recess 214.

[0054] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes are possible, as shown in the modified forms described later, and these are also included within the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the effects described in the embodiments are merely a list of the most preferred effects resulting from the present invention and are not limited to those described in the embodiments. The embodiments described above and the modified forms described later can be used in combination as appropriate, but a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0055] (Transformed form) In this embodiment, a nut (flanged nut) 303 was described as an example of a member that engages with the support bolt 302, but it is not limited to this. The member that engages with the support bolt 302 may be a combination of a nut and a washer, or a double nut. It may also be a nut with a loosening prevention function, such as a disc spring nut.

[0056] In another embodiment shown in Figure 10, an example was described in which a disc spring washer was used as the washer 316, but the washer 316 may be, for example, a spring washer. Also, if the head 312 of the support bolt 302 is small relative to the bottom 311 of the block 301 (see Figure 6A), a flat washer (plate washer) may be used as the washer 316. A flat washer does not generate elastic force (reaction force) or frictional resistance when tightened, but if the head 312 of the support bolt 302 is small relative to the bottom 311 of the block 301, providing a flat washer between the support bolt 302 and the block 301 makes the contact area between the support bolt 302 and the block 301 (the area in which stress due to tightening acts) wider, which is effective in suppressing loosening that occurs between the support bolt 302 and the block 301. Also, the number of washers 316 is not limited to one, but may be multiple. Furthermore, instead of using a washer 316, the head 312 of the support bolt 302 may be shaped to have a loosening prevention function (for example, the same shape as a disc spring nut).

[0057] In the embodiment, as shown in Figure 5 or Figure 9C, an example was described in which the uneven shape of the rail fitting portion 216 of the groove portion 210 and the uneven shape of the frame fitting portion 307 of the frame 301 were both wave-shaped, but the embodiment is not limited to this. The uneven shape may be, for example, triangular, square, sawtooth, etc.

[0058] In this embodiment, the end clamp 304 (see Figure 8A) may be attached after the solar power generation panel 10 has been temporarily placed on the rail 202, or the solar power generation panel 10 may be installed on the rail 202 after the support bolt 302 has been passed through the hole 314 of the end clamp 304.

[0059] In this embodiment, the intermediate clamp 305 (see Figure 8B) may be attached after temporarily placing the solar panels 10A and 10B on the rail 202, or, depending on the panel installation order, the support bolts 302 may be passed through the holes 315 of the intermediate clamp 305 before the solar panels 10A and 10B are installed on the rail 202.

[0060] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, an example has been described in which seven solar power generation panels 10 are installed in two rows on a mounting frame 20, but the embodiment is not limited to this. The number of solar power generation panels 10 installed on the mounting frame 20 may be one, or it may be 15 or more, which is more than the configuration in Figure 1. Furthermore, in the mounting frame 20 shown in Figure 1, by increasing the number of rails 202 arranged in the X direction, the stress acting from the solar power generation panels 10 to the mounting frame 20 due to wind pressure can be distributed.

[0061] In the embodiments described, an example of applying the panel support device according to the present invention to a panel support device for fixing solar power generation panels was explained, but the invention is not limited to this. The panel support device according to the present invention can also be applied to fixing soundproof panels, windproof panels, privacy panels, and partitions, for example. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1. Solar power generation unit 10, 10A, 10B solar power panels 20 mounting units 30 Supports 202 rails 210 groove 211 Upper end 212 Side part 213 Rail inclined section 214 recess 214a bottom 215 Opening 216 Rail fitting section 301 frames 302 Support bolts 303 Nut 307 Frame fitting section 308 Upper edge 309 Protrusion 310-frame inclined section 312 Head 313 Screw part 316 Washer

Claims

1. A panel support device used in a stand for installing a panel, A rail formed in an elongated shape; a groove portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the rail and having an opening on its upper surface; a piece disposed inside the groove; a support bolt fitted with the link; Equipped with The groove portion has a first inclined portion having a substantially V-shape inclined upward from a central portion in a lateral direction toward both end portions, The panel support device includes a second inclined portion having a substantially V-shape that engages with the first inclined portion of the groove.

2. the groove has an upper end that abuts against both ends of the piece in the short-side direction, 2. The panel support device according to claim 1, wherein the upper end and both end portions of the piece where the upper end abuts are formed with recessed and projecting shapes that fit together.

3. A panel support device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein when the block with the support bolt fitted thereto is stored in the groove, the distance D1 between the side edge of the opening of the rail and the outer surface of the support bolt is in the range of 0.1d≦D1≦0.6d, where d is the diameter of the support bolt.

4. 4. The panel support device according to claim 1, further comprising a position restricting portion that restricts the range of movement of the piece in the lateral direction of the groove when the piece is stored in the groove.

5. 5. The panel support device according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of the piece is provided with an upper edge that fits into the opening of the groove.

6. A panel support device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when the block with the support bolt fitted thereto is stored in the groove, the distance between the lower end of the support bolt and the bottom of the groove is 2 mm or more and 4 mm or less.

7. 7. The panel support device according to claim 1, further comprising a washer between the support bolt and the block.

8. 8. The support device of claim 7, wherein the washer is a Belleville washer.

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