Frame for a photovoltaic laminate

Abstract

The invention relates to a frame (100) for a photovoltaic laminate comprising a holding portion (110), a fixing portion (120) and an intermediate portion (130). The holding portion (110) is designed to hold the photovoltaic laminate in a first direction (R1) and the fixing portion (120) is designed to fix the frame (100) on a support structure (30), wherein the fixing portion (120) extends in a second direction (R2) up to an edge (122) of the fixing portion, the first direction (R1) and the second direction (R2) being opposite to each other. The intermediate portion (130) connects the holding portion (110) to the fixing portion (120) and the fixing portion (120) comprises at least one edge cutout (125) which constitutes a recess of the edge (122) in order to receive a protrusion (35) in the support structure (30) in order to prevent the frame (100) from sliding on the support structure (30).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a frame for a photovoltaic laminate and a method for fixing the frame. Background Technology

[0002] The photovoltaic (PV) module is secured to a supporting structure via its frame. This structure holds the PV module in place to maximize the utilization of incident light. Ideally, the light incident direction is perpendicular to the light-incident surface of the PV module. On one hand, the fixation of the PV module to the supporting structure aims to maintain stability against loads such as wind and snow loads. On the other hand, the PV module should also be easy to install or replace. For example, situations where individual modules need to be replaced are not uncommon.

[0003] Fixing traditional frames to the supporting structure can only partially meet these requirements, or requires complex installation that takes a considerable amount of time.

[0004] Therefore, a new concept of a frame that can be easily and quickly fixed to a supporting structure is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The frame for photovoltaic laminates according to claim 1 and the corresponding fastening method according to claim 7 solve at least a portion of the above-mentioned problems. The dependent claims relate to other advantageous embodiments of the frame or fastening.

[0006] This invention relates to a frame (photovoltaic module frame) for a photovoltaic laminate. The frame includes a retaining portion, a fixing portion, and a middle portion. The retaining portion is designed to hold the photovoltaic laminate along a first direction. The fixing portion is designed to secure the frame to a support structure, extending in a second direction to the edge of the fixing portion, and the first and second directions are opposite to each other. The middle portion connects the retaining portion to the fixing portion. The fixing portion includes at least one edge cutout (i.e., one or more edge cutouts) forming an opening at the edge to receive protrusions in the support structure, preventing the frame from sliding on the support structure. The photovoltaic laminate, together with the frame and a junction box with connecting cables, constitutes a photovoltaic module.

[0007] For example, the fixed portion extends in a direction parallel to the light incident surface and points away from the central region of the photovoltaic laminate. Within the scope of this disclosure, the horizontal plane extends parallel to the surface of the photovoltaic laminate. The direction perpendicular to it (i.e., the ideal light incident direction) can be defined as the vertical direction.

[0008] According to an embodiment, the edge is the outer edge, that is, the edge with the edge cut is the outermost line that the fixing part extends to the maximum extent in the second direction (e.g., it can be a straight line). Therefore, this edge is not the boundary of a through hole or aperture that may exist in the inner region of the fixing part.

[0009] Alternatively, the edge cutout is a U-shaped notch at the edge into which the protrusion can be inserted laterally. According to an embodiment, the edge cutout is therefore not a hole, but rather an opening on one side (from which insertion can be made).

[0010] Optionally, edge cutouts are formed on opposite sides of the frame for engagement with corresponding protrusions on the support structure, such that lateral displacement of the photovoltaic laminate in all directions parallel to the light incident surface is prevented after the photovoltaic laminate is placed on the support structure and the protrusions are engaged with the corresponding edge cutouts. For example, the frame may have a rectangular shape with two long sides and two short sides, wherein one or more edge cutouts may be formed on each of the two long sides, and the edge cutouts may have a shape for receiving the corresponding protrusions on the support structure.

[0011] Optionally, the support structure includes at least one fastening clip with at least one notch. A ridge may be formed along the fixing portion in the longitudinal direction, configured to be received by the notch of the at least one fastening clip, so as to securely fasten the frame to the support structure by the at least one fastening clip.

[0012] The embodiments also relate to a fastening system for photovoltaic laminates having a frame and support structure as described in this disclosure, the support structure having at least one protrusion configured to engage with an edge cutout for temporarily securing the photovoltaic laminate.

[0013] Optionally, at least one protrusion is formed by an upwardly curved portion of the support structure. For example, the protrusion may be inserted as a locking element into a rectangular edge cutout of the frame.

[0014] A further embodiment relates to a method for securing the frame described in this disclosure to a support structure using protrusions and fastening clips. The method includes: - Provides a framework; - Insert the frame horizontally between the fasteners and the support structure, and insert the protrusion into the edge cutout; and - Secure the frame to the support structure by tightening the fastening clamps.

[0015] "Horizontal insertion" should be understood as a relative translational movement between the frame and the supporting structure with fastening clamps. It should be understood that the frame may remain stationary while the supporting structure moves; or conversely, the supporting structure may remain stationary while the frame moves; or both the frame and the supporting structure may move. Therefore, "insertion" can also be understood as "sliding" or "sliding in." The result is the same in all cases: the frame is positioned between the fastening clamps and the supporting structure.

[0016] It should also be understood that the frame is fixed together with the photovoltaic laminate held by the frame.

[0017] Optionally, the method may therefore further include the following steps: - After the frame (as the first frame) is fixed, the additional support structure, along with additional fasteners, is slid horizontally into the fixed part of the fixed frame, and the additional protrusions of the additional support structure are slid into the edge cutouts. - Secure the frame to the additional support structure by tightening the additional fasteners.

[0018] Therefore, a fixed frame with the held photovoltaic laminate can be horizontally fixed to another supporting structure, and then another frame with another held photovoltaic laminate can be horizontally added. This horizontal addition can be done by sliding or moving, while the already fixed (secured) components remain stationary. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Embodiments of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings; however, these descriptions and drawings should not be construed as limiting the disclosure to the specific embodiments, but are for explanation and understanding only.

[0020] Figure 1 An embodiment of a frame for a photovoltaic laminate is shown.

[0021] Figure 2A and Figure 2B Further details of securing the frame to the support structure according to another embodiment are shown.

[0022] Figure 3 An embodiment of the final fixation of the frame to the supporting structure is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0023] Figure 1 An embodiment of a frame 100 for a photovoltaic laminate is shown. Figure 1 The upper half of the image is a perspective view, and the lower half is a cross-sectional view along section A-A'. Frame 100 includes a retaining portion 110, a fixing portion 120, and an intermediate portion 130. The retaining portion 110 is designed to insert and hold the photovoltaic laminate (…). Figure 1 (Not shown in the image). The photovoltaic laminate then extends in the R1 direction and is held at the edge by the retaining portion 110 shown. The fixing portion 120 is designed to fasten the frame 100 to the supporting structure (…). Figure 1(Not visible in the middle). The fixing portion 120 has an edge 122 with an edge cutout 125 (recess) at a predetermined location. The intermediate portion 130 extends perpendicular to the surface normal of the photovoltaic laminate and connects the retaining portion 110 to the fixing portion 120. The fixing portion 120 extends in a direction R2 opposite to the direction R1 in which the photovoltaic laminate extends. The fixing portion 120 may have an optional ridge 123 for fastening to the support structure (see further description below).

[0024] Figure 2A and Figure 2B Further details of how the frame 100 is aligned on the support structure 30 are shown. The support structure 30 includes one or more protrusions 35 for alignment, which may be formed, for example, by an upwardly curved portion of the support structure 30. For example, the support structure 30 is formed to be at least partially parallel to a track extending from the frame. The protrusions 35 are also formed at predetermined locations corresponding to desired positions of the photovoltaic laminates on the support structure. An edge cutout 125 may be formed, for example, at an edge 122 as a U-shaped notch (e.g., by stamping). Thus, the edge cutout 125 is not a hole or opening in the middle of the frame 100, but simply a recess into which the protrusions 35 of the support structure 30 can be inserted from the side.

[0025] Figure 2B The diagram shows the aligned frame 100 after the protrusion 35 of the support structure 30 has been inserted into the edge cutout 125 by the lateral displacement of the frame 100. After the protrusion 35 is inserted into the edge cutout 125, the frame 100 can no longer move along the support structure 30. The frame 100 can only be pulled out again along the insertion direction R2. According to a further embodiment, an edge cutout 125 can also be provided on the opposite side of the frame 100 (not shown), where the protrusion 35 is also engaged. As a result, the frame 100 can no longer move in any direction on the support structure 30, but can only be removed in the vertical direction.

[0026] Figure 3 An embodiment of the final fixation of the frame 100 to the support structure 30 is shown. Fixation is achieved by fastening clips 31, 32, which engage with the fixing portion 120 and provide a clamping force pressing the fixing portion 120 onto the support structure 30. According to an embodiment, the fastening clips 31, 32 include one or more recesses 33 into which the ridge 123 of the fastening portion 120 engages (see also...). Figure 1 The fastening clips 31 and 32 can be connected to the support structure 30, for example, by threaded bolts, with the fastening clips 31 and 32 or the support structure 30 having threaded openings, or by using corresponding nuts. In this way, vertical movement of the frame 100 is also prevented.

[0027] The fixing process of frame 100 can be performed, for example, in such a manner that the fastening clips 31, 32 are loosely fastened to the support structure 30, and frame 100 is inserted between the fastening clips 32 and the support structure 30 with its fixing portion 120, while moving parallel to the edge 122 until the protrusion 35 engages in the edge cutout 125, and the notch 33 simultaneously engages with the ridge 123. These steps can also be performed simultaneously. Thereafter, the fastening clips 31, 32 can be tightened (e.g., with bolts).

[0028] The advantage provided by this embodiment is that the photovoltaic module frame 100 is first aligned using locking devices (edge ​​notches 125 and protrusions 35), and then the frame 100 is secured to the support structure 30 using fastening clips 31 and 32. The fastening clips 31 and 32 can be securely screwed onto the support structure 30, for example, via threaded connections, and provide sufficient clamping force to firmly secure the frame 100 to the support structure 30.

[0029] The features of the invention disclosed in the specification, claims and drawings may exist individually or in any combination, which are important for the implementation of the invention.

[0030] List of reference numerals 30 Supporting structures; 31, 32 Fastening clips; 33 notches; 35 protrusions; 100 frames; 110 retains part; 120 fixed part; 122 The edge of the fixed part; 123 ridges; 125 edge cut (recess); 130 (middle section); R1 and R2 are perpendicular to the opposite horizontal direction of the frame.

Claims

1. A frame (100) for a photovoltaic laminate, the frame (100) comprising: A retaining portion (110) is used to retain the photovoltaic laminate along a first direction (R1); A fixing portion (120) for securing the frame (100) to the support structure (30), the fixing portion (120) extending along a second direction (R2) to the edge (122) of the fixing portion (120), the first direction (R1) and the second direction (R2) being opposite to each other; and The middle portion (130) connects the retaining portion (110) to the fixing portion (120). The fixing portion (120) has at least one edge cut (125), which is a recess of the edge (122), and the edge cut (125) is configured to receive a protrusion (35) on the support structure (30) so that the frame (100) cannot slide on the support structure (30).

2. The frame (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The edge cut (125) is a U-shaped notch in the edge (122), and the protrusion (35) can be inserted laterally into the U-shaped notch.

3. The frame (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, Edge cutouts (125) are formed on opposite sides of the frame (100), each edge cutout (125) being engaged in a corresponding protrusion (35) on the support structure (30) such that after the photovoltaic laminate is placed on the support structure (30) and the protrusion (35) is engaged in the corresponding edge cutout (125), lateral displacement of the photovoltaic laminate in all directions parallel to the light incident surface is prevented.

4. The framework (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The support structure (30) has at least one fastening clip (31, 32) with a notch (33), and wherein a longitudinally extending ridge (123) is formed along the fixing portion (120) for engaging into the notch (33) of the at least one fastening clip (31, 32), and the frame (100) can be fixed to the support structure (30) by the at least one fastening clip (31, 32).

5. A fastening system for photovoltaic modules, comprising: Frame (100) according to any one of the preceding claims. as well as A support structure (30) having at least one protrusion (35) configured to engage in the edge cutout (125) to temporarily secure the photovoltaic laminate.

6. The fastening system according to claim 5, wherein, The at least one protrusion (35) is formed by the upwardly curved portion of the support structure (30).

7. A method for securing a frame (100) according to claim 1 to a support structure (30) having protrusions (35) and fastening clips (31, 32), the method comprising: Provide the framework (100); The frame (100) is horizontally inserted between the fastening clips (31, 32) and the support structure (30), and the protrusion (35) is inserted into the edge cut (125); as well as The frame (100) is secured to the support structure (30) by tightening the fastening clips (31, 32).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, The execution steps include the following: After the frame (100) is fixed, the additional support structure, together with the additional fasteners, is slid horizontally into the fixed portion (120) of the fixed frame (100), and the additional protrusions are slid into the edge cutouts (125). The frame (100) is secured to the additional support structure by tightening the additional fasteners.

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