Module fixing device

Abstract

A module fixing device is provided for fixing a module and includes at least one clamping member. The at least one clamping member includes a top wall and a bottom wall spaced vertically apart, a connecting wall extending vertically between the top wall and the bottom wall, and an extension wall connecting the bottom wall front to back. The top wall, the bottom wall, and the connecting wall are adapted to cooperate in clamping the module. A dividing line extending front to back and located at the center of the bottom wall in the left-right direction is defined. The bottom wall includes a first wall segment and a second wall segment located on the left and right sides of the dividing line, respectively. The first wall segment forms a first assembly hole that extends vertically through the module. The extension wall is connected front to back to the first wall segment. This invention provides a product with different designs and can be implemented with advantages such as convenient assembly or low production cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a support device, and more particularly to a module fixing device suitable for fixing solar modules. Prior Technology

[0002] Refer to Figures 1 and 2. Solar power generation is one of the important methods of green energy generation. Solar power generation usually requires the installation of a certain number of solar modules 11 (commonly known as solar panels) to generate sufficient power.

[0003] Each of the solar modules 11 includes a solar cell 111 with power generation function and an outer frame 112 surrounding the solar cell 111. Each outer frame 112 includes a top frame wall 113 that clamps and positions the solar cell 111 and a bottom frame wall 114 located below the top frame wall 113.

[0004] Such solar modules 11 are typically deployed in large numbers using a number of module mounting devices 12 and a number of brackets 13. In the following description, one of the module mounting devices 12, one of the brackets 13, and two of the solar modules 11 will be used as examples.

[0005] The module fixing device 12 includes two clamping members 14 for clamping and positioning the solar modules 11 on the bracket 13, and a pressing member 15 for pressing and positioning the solar modules 11 on the bracket 13.

[0006] Each clamping member 14 includes a locking wall 141 for locking onto the side of the bracket 13, and a U-shaped clamping wall 142 integrally connected to the locking wall 141. The openings of the clamping walls 142 face each other. Each clamping wall 142 is inserted into the bottom frame wall 114 of the outer frame 112 of the respective solar module 11 to clamp the outer frame 112.

[0007] The pressing member 15 includes an assembly wall 151 with an upward-opening U-shape and two pressing walls 152 extending in opposite directions from the top of the assembly wall 151. The assembly wall 151 can be locked onto the bracket 13, and the solar modules 11 are pressed and positioned onto the bracket 13 by the cooperation of the pressing walls 152.

[0008] Although the existing module fixing device 12 has the effect of fixing the solar modules 11, there is still a need to provide an alternative to existing products in order to promote healthy competition in the industry. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to improve at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0010] This invention provides a module fixing device suitable for fixing a module, and includes at least one clamping member. The at least one clamping member includes a top wall and a bottom wall spaced vertically apart, a connecting wall extending vertically between the top wall and the bottom wall, and an extension wall connecting the bottom wall front to back. The top wall, the bottom wall, and the connecting wall are adapted to cooperate in clamping the module. A dividing line extending front to back and located centrally in the left-right direction is defined. The bottom wall includes a first wall segment and a second wall segment located on the left and right sides of the dividing line, respectively. The first wall segment forms a first assembly hole that extends vertically through the module. The extension wall is connected front to back to the first wall segment.

[0011] The advantages of this invention are: it provides a design that is different from existing products, which can promote healthy competition in the industry; and in some specific embodiments of this invention, it also has the characteristics of convenient assembly and low production cost. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0012] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an incomplete side view illustrating an existing module fixing device; Figure 2 is an incomplete and partially exploded perspective view illustrating the usage of the existing module fixing device; Figure 3 is an incomplete perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the module fixing device of the present invention assembled on a bracket; Figure 4 is an incomplete exploded perspective view illustrating the assembly relationship between the first embodiment and the bracket; Figure 5 is an incomplete and partially sectional view illustrating the state of the first embodiment assembled on the bracket; Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the two clamping members of this first embodiment; Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating that the clamping components of the first embodiment cooperate to form a second assembly hole. Figure 8 is an incomplete exploded perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the module fixing device of the present invention; and Figure 9 is an incomplete and partially cut cross-sectional view illustrating the state of the second embodiment assembled on the bracket. Implementation

[0013] In the following description, similar or identical components will be represented by the same number.

[0014] Referring to Figures 3, 4, and 5, a first embodiment of the module fixing device of the present invention is suitable for fixing a plurality of modules 2 onto a plurality of supports 3 extending along the front and rear. In the following description, two of the modules 2 and one support 3 will be used as examples.

[0015] Referring to Figures 4, 5, and 6, each module 2 is a solar module commonly known as a solar panel. Each module 2 includes a solar cell 21 that can convert sunlight into electrical energy, and an outer frame 22 that surrounds the solar cell 21.

[0016] The solar cell 21 includes, for example, a silicon wafer, adhesive backing, and a backing plate. The outer frame 22 includes a top frame wall 221 for holding the solar cell 21, a bottom frame wall 222 located below the top frame wall 221, and a side frame wall 223 connecting the top frame wall 221 and the bottom frame wall 222. The top frame wall 221, the bottom frame wall 222, and the side frame wall 223 cooperate to define a module thickness T1.

[0017] Each of the brackets 3 includes two first assembly slots 31 with openings facing upwards and downwards respectively, and two second assembly slots 32 with openings facing left and right respectively. The length direction of each of the first assembly slots 31 and the second assembly slots 32 is in the same direction as the front-back direction.

[0018] The module fixing device includes two clamping members 4 for clamping the modules 2 respectively, and a connecting member 5 located between the clamping members 4 for joining the clamping members 4 together. Since the clamping members 4 have the same structure and differ only in that they are arranged in a point-symmetrical manner and their orientations are different, the following description will mainly focus on one of the clamping members 4 as an example.

[0019] Referring to Figures 4, 6, and 7, the clamping member 4 includes a top wall 41 and a bottom wall 42 spaced apart vertically, a connecting wall 43 extending vertically between the top wall 41 and the bottom wall 42, and an extension wall 44 connected to the bottom wall 42 from front to back.

[0020] The top wall 41 extends horizontally. The length direction of the top wall 41 is the same as the left-right direction. The width direction of the top wall 41 is the same as the front-back direction.

[0021] The bottom wall 42 extends horizontally. The length of the bottom wall 42 is in the same direction as the left-right direction. The length of the bottom wall 42 is greater than the width of the support 3 in the left-right direction. The width of the bottom wall 42 is in the same direction as the front-back direction, and the width of the bottom wall 42 in the front-back direction is greater than the width of the top wall 41 in the front-back direction. A dividing line L1 is defined at the center of the bottom wall 42 in the left-right direction. The bottom wall 42 includes a first wall segment 421 and a second wall segment 422 located on the left and right sides of the dividing line L1.

[0022] The first wall segment 421 and the second wall segment 422 are integrally connected to each other, and the size of each of the first wall segment 421 and the second wall segment 422 is half the size of the bottom wall 42. The first wall segment 421 forms a through first assembly hole 423. The first assembly hole 423 is an elongated oval hole extending front to back and is located on one side of the dividing line L1, and is eccentrically located on the bottom wall 42.

[0023] The connecting wall 43 is integrally connected to one long side of the top wall 41 and one long side of the bottom wall 42, and the connecting wall 43 is perpendicular to the top wall 41 and the bottom wall 42. The connecting wall 43, the top wall 41, and the bottom wall 42 cooperate to define a clamping space S1 suitable for accommodating the outer frame 22 of the module 2. The openings of the clamping spaces S1 of the clamping members 4 are opposite to each other. The space thickness T2 of each clamping space S1 is equal to the module thickness T1 of the outer frame 22, so the connecting wall 43, the top wall 41, and the bottom wall 42 are suitable for cooperating to clamp the module 2. In other embodiments of the invention, the space thickness T2 may also be slightly smaller than the module thickness T1 of the solar module 2, so that each clamping member 4 can tightly clamp each individual solar module 2.

[0024] The extension wall 44 and the bottom wall 42 are arranged in an L-shape to cooperate with each other. The extension wall 44 and the first assembly hole 423 are located on the same side of the left and right sides of the dividing line L1. The length D1 of one wall portion of the extension wall 44 in the left and right direction is equal to half of the extension length D2 of the bottom wall 42 in the left and right direction. The extension wall 44 includes a transversely extending wall body 441 and two protruding ribs 442 located on the wall body 441.

[0025] The wall body 441 is integrally connected to the first wall segment 421 of the bottom wall 42. The wall body 441 defines the length D1 of the wall portion, and the width direction of the wall body 441 is in the same direction as the front-to-back direction. A semi-circular semi-hole groove 443 is formed at one end of the wall body 441 near the dividing line L1. The semi-hole groove 443 of each clamping member 4 can cooperate with the semi-hole groove 443 of another clamping member 4 to form a second assembly hole 444 that runs vertically through the wall.

[0026] Since in this first embodiment, the length D1 of each of the extended walls 44 is equal to half the extension length D2 of the bottom wall 42, when the clamping members 4 are spliced ​​together in a point-symmetrical manner, the second assembly hole 444 is located on the dividing line L1, or the dividing line L1 passes through the second assembly hole 444, or the second assembly hole 444 is aligned with the center of each of the bottom walls 42 and aligned with the first assembly holes 423 in the left-right direction.

[0027] The protruding ribs 442 are spaced apart from each other. Each protruding rib 442 is elongated, and its length is in the same direction as the left and right directions. The length of each protruding rib 442 is equal to the length of the wall 441.

[0028] Referring to Figures 4, 5, and 7, the connecting member 5 is used to connect the extending walls 44 of the clamping members 4 together. The length direction of the connecting member 5 is the same as the left-right direction, the width direction is the same as the front-back direction, and it is the same length as the bottom walls 42. The connecting member 5 includes a connecting wall 51 extending in the left-right length direction, and limiting walls 52 extending downward from the front and back opposite sides of the connecting wall 51.

[0029] The connecting wall 51 has a third assembly hole 53 that is centrally located in the left-right direction and extends vertically. The third assembly hole 53 is located on the second assembly hole 444. The connecting wall 51 abuts against the protruding ribs 442 of the clamping members 4. When the clamping members 4 are engaged symmetrically with each other, the third assembly hole 53 is also located on the dividing line L1 and is spaced apart from the first assembly holes 423 in the left-right direction.

[0030] Each of the limiting walls 52 abuts against one of the front and rear sides of a particular protruding rib 442. In this way, the coupling 5 can limit the extension walls 44 in the upper, front and rear directions through the coupling wall 51 and the limiting walls 52.

[0031] In this first embodiment, two first bolts 611 are first inserted into the first assembly holes 423 of the clamping members 4, and then each of the two first nuts 612 is used to screw each module 2 to the bottom wall 42 of the respective clamping member 4. Next, a second bolt 621 is slid into the first assembly groove 31 of the bracket 3, and the clamping members 4 are arranged in a point-symmetrical manner, so that the half-hole groove 443 of each clamping member 4 mates with the half-hole groove 443 of another clamping member 4 to form the second assembly hole 444. Then, the second assembly hole 444 is aligned with the first assembly groove 31 of the bracket 3 with its opening facing upward, so that the second bolt 621 is inserted into the second assembly hole 444. The clamping members 4 are arranged such that the extended walls 44 abut against each other in the left-right direction and the point of symmetry is located in the second assembly hole 444.

[0032] Finally, the connector 5 is placed on the extension wall 44 with the third assembly hole 53 and the second assembly hole 444 aligned vertically, and the second bolt 621 is inserted into the third assembly hole 53. Then, a second nut 622 is used to lock the connector 5 on the extension wall 44 with the second bolt 621, thus completing the assembly.

[0033] After assembly, since the length of the bottom wall 42 of each clamping member 4 in the left-right direction is greater than the width of the bracket 3 in the left-right direction, each first wall segment 421 and each first assembly hole 423 will protrude from the bracket 3 in the left-right direction.

[0034] The first feature of this first embodiment is that the first assembly holes 423 of the clamping members 4, the second assembly hole 444 formed by the clamping members 4 in cooperation, and the third assembly hole 53 of the connecting member 5 are all through holes from top to bottom. Therefore, they can be assembled along the same top-bottom direction. Compared with existing products that require assembly from both the top-bottom and left-right directions, this first embodiment has the characteristic of being easy to assemble.

[0035] The second feature of this first embodiment is that the structures of the clamping parts 4 are the same, and they are only arranged and assembled together in different orientations during assembly. Since the clamping parts 4 can be manufactured using the same mold, they have the characteristic of low production cost.

[0036] In other embodiments of the invention, the extension wall 44 of one of the clamping members 4 can be designed such that its wall length D1 is greater than half the extension length D2 of the bottom wall 42, while the wall length D1 of the extension wall 44 of the other clamping member 4 can be correspondingly designed such that it is less than half the extension length D2 of the bottom wall 42. In this way, although the extension walls 44 of the two clamping members 4 used together have different lengths, they can still be used in a matching manner.

[0037] Referring to Figures 7 and 8, a second embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first embodiment, except that this second embodiment is applicable to clamping a single module 2. This second embodiment includes only one clamping member 4. The length D1 of the extension wall 44 of the clamping member 4 is not less than (specifically equal to) the extension length D2 of the bottom wall 42. The bottom wall 42, the extension wall 44, and the connecting member 5 have the same length in the left-right direction, and the connecting member 5 can be directly screwed onto the extension wall 44.

[0038] In summary, the advantages of the module fixing device of the present invention are: the present invention provides an alternative to existing products, which can promote healthy competition in the industry, and in some specific embodiments of the present invention, it also has the characteristics of convenient assembly and low production cost.

[0039] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Furthermore, any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application and the patent specification of the present invention should also be covered by the scope of the patent application of the present invention.

[0040] 2: Module 21: Solar Panel 22: Outer frame 221: Top frame wall 222: Bottom frame wall 223: Side frame wall 3: Bracket 31: First assembly slot 32: Second assembly slot 4: Clamping components 41: Top Wall 42: Bottom wall 421: First wall segment 422: Second wall segment 423: First assembly hole 43: Connecting wall 44: Extended Wall 441: Wall 442: Prominent Rib 443: Half-hole groove 444: Second assembly hole 5: Connecting parts 51: Bonding wall 52: Limiting wall 53: Third assembly hole 611: First bolt 612: First nut 621: Second bolt 622: Second nut D1: Wall length D2: Extension Length L1: Separator line S1: Clamping space T1: Module thickness T2: Space Thickness

Claims

1. A module fixing device, suitable for fixing a module, comprising: at least one clamping member, including a top wall and a bottom wall spaced vertically apart, a connecting wall extending vertically between the top wall and the bottom wall, and an extension wall connecting the bottom wall front to back, the top wall, the bottom wall and the connecting wall being adapted to cooperate in clamping the module, the connecting wall connecting one long side of the top wall and one long side of the bottom wall, defining a dividing line extending front to back and located at the center of the bottom wall in the left-right direction, the bottom wall including a first wall segment and a second wall segment located on the left and right sides of the dividing line, the first wall segment forming a first assembly hole extending vertically, and the extension wall being connected to the first wall segment front to back.

2. The module fixing device as described in claim 1, wherein, The extended wall has a half-hole groove formed at one end near the dividing line.

3. The module fixing device as described in claim 2, wherein, The length of one portion of the extended wall in the left-right direction is equal to half the length of one extension of the bottom wall in the left-right direction.

4. The module fixing device as claimed in claim 3, comprising two clamping members, the clamping members having the same structure and being arranged symmetrically to each other, the half-holes of the clamping members cooperating to form a second assembly hole that extends vertically.

5. The module fixing device as claimed in claim 2, comprising two clamping members, wherein the length of one portion of the extension wall of one clamping member in the left-right direction is greater than half the length of one extension of the bottom wall in the left-right direction, and the length of the extension wall of the other clamping member is less than half the length of the extension of the bottom wall, wherein the half-holes of the clamping members cooperate to form a second assembly hole that extends vertically.

6. The module fixing device as claimed in claim 4 or 5 further includes a coupling for joining the extended walls of the clamping members together, the coupling forming a third assembly hole that extends vertically and is located above the second assembly hole.

7. The module fixing device as described in claim 6, wherein, Each of these extended walls has several protruding ribs that extend laterally and are spaced apart front to back.

8. The module fixing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein, The connector includes a transversely extending connecting wall that abuts against the ribs, and two limiting walls that extend downward from opposite sides of the connecting wall and abut against the ribs.

9. The module fixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The length of one wall portion of the extension wall in the left-right direction is not less than the length of one extension of the bottom wall in the left-right direction. The extension wall forms a second assembly hole that runs vertically through the wall. The module fixing device also includes a connector disposed on the extension wall. The connector forms a third assembly hole that runs vertically through the wall and is located above the second assembly hole.

10. The module fixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The top wall, the bottom wall, and the extension wall work together to define a clamping space, the thickness of which is not greater than the thickness of the module.

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