Reinforcing system for fixing equipment

Abstract

The utility model provides a reinforcing system used for a fixing device, the fixing device comprises a base forming a U shape, an installation piece of two flanges and a body forming a bottom forming a U shape and two baffles, and a panel is kept between the baffles and the base of the installation piece. The utility model relates to a system for fastening a base of a fixing device (2) and fastening means connecting the base to a mounting, the system comprising at least one reinforcing element having a head which can be inserted into at least one groove formed in the base of the fixing device (2) and into a corresponding groove of a base of the mounting, such that when said head is inserted into the groove and rotated 90 degrees, the head is fastened to the base of the fixing device (2). The body of the reinforcing element is fitted in the base of the mount.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to an industrial field dedicated to utilizing solar energy, in particular to a design for fixing and installing a photovoltaic panel of any size on a rotating shaft of a solar tracker. Background Art

[0002] Photovoltaic panels are known in the field of renewable energy. These panels are responsible for capturing solar energy and converting it into electric current, so they must be oriented towards the sunlight in order to extract the maximum energy. The panels are fixed on the rotation axis of a solar tracker, which is responsible for changing the orientation of the panels.

[0003] Different devices for fixing a photovoltaic panel on the axis of rotation of a solar tracker are known in the prior art. Since the structure of a solar panel comprises a frame with a variable thickness depending on the manufacturer, the general nature of the design of the fixing device has elements of a frame in which the panel is placed and fastening means fixing the panel to the device.

[0004] The Spanish patent with publication number ES2740049B2 relates to a device for fixing photovoltaic modules, adaptable to the modules regardless of their thickness, comprising a body having a bottom and a baffle to contact one face of the frame of the photovoltaic panel, wherein said bottom and baffle form a U-shape, a mounting to contact the other face of the frame of the panel, the mounting having a base and two flanges forming a U-shape, the mounting having a greater width, fastening means inserted in holes passing through the body and the mounting, and a plate to fix it on the axis of rotation of the solar tracker. This fixing device is generally called a "stringer".

[0005] However, in recent years, the design of photovoltaic panels has changed in terms of panel size. In 2020, renewable energy surpassed fossil fuels for the first time. The use of renewable energy is booming across the European Union, and in 2021, the penetration of renewable energy across Europe increased by 30%. Larger solar panels produce more photovoltaic energy than other smaller solar panels, that is, the larger the frame of the panel, the more photovoltaic cells it can include, or the larger the size of these cells will be. And, since cells are responsible for capturing sunlight, the more cells there are or the larger their size, the more energy the panel will be able to produce.

[0006] In summary, due to the current trend of increasing the size and weight of the panels, it is necessary to reinforce the fixing device of the photovoltaic panel in the above patent. Utility Model Content

[0007] The trend in the manufacture of photovoltaic panels aims to increase their physical size and at the same time their weight increases. The load on the solar tracker increases and it is necessary to ensure that the equipment used to fix these panels on the solar tracker remains in proper working order.

[0008] The present invention proposes the design of a reinforcement system to ensure and improve the performance of the fixing device proposed in Spanish patent ES2740049B2, namely the attachment between the mounting attached to the rotation axis of the solar tracker and the stringers.

[0009] The utility model proposes a reinforcement system for a fixing device, wherein the fixing device is used to fix a photovoltaic panel on the rotating axis of a solar tracker, wherein the fixing device includes: a mounting member having a base forming a U shape and two flanges; a body having a bottom forming a U shape and two baffles, and the panel is held between the baffles and the base of the mounting member; and a fastening device connecting the bottom with the mounting member, wherein the reinforcement system includes at least one reinforcement element having a head, and the head can be inserted into at least one groove formed in the bottom of the fixing device and a corresponding groove of the base of the mounting member, so that when the head is inserted into the groove and rotated 90 degrees, the body of the reinforcement element is assembled in the base of the mounting member.

[0010] In one embodiment, in order to fit the body into the mount in the rotated position, the body has a width similar to the inner gap of the U-shape of the mount that secures the device.

[0011] In one embodiment, the head has a similar width to the U-shaped internal gap of the body of the fixation device so that the head fits in the rotated position.

[0012] In one embodiment, the body comprises at least one protrusion corresponding to at least one housing of a flange of the mounting element for fitting the body into the mounting element of the fixing device.

[0013] In one embodiment, the reinforcing element comprises a neck between the head and the body, the neck allowing the component to be rotated into its assembled position.

[0014] In one embodiment, reinforcement elements are placed at each end of the fixation device.

[0015] The reinforcement system comprises a reinforcement element insertable into a fixture and fitted therein to reinforce the fixation of the photovoltaic panel to the rotation axis of the solar tracker. The reinforcement system comprises at least one reinforcement element having a head insertable into at least one slot formed in the bottom of the body of the fixture and insertable into a corresponding slot of the base of the mount of the fixture, such that when the head is inserted into the slot and rotated 90 degrees, the body of the reinforcement element fits in the base of the mount.

[0016] Preferably, it is made of a semi-flat element, preferably made of metal, comprising a head in the form of a truncated semi-ellipse, attached to a neck having a width less than that of the head, which in turn is attached to a body which will have a width similar to the U-shaped internal gap formed by the flange and the base of the mounting of the stringer. The body of the reinforcement has projections on both sides of its bottom part, which protrude beyond the width of the body of the reinforcement. Likewise, the width of the head is similar to the U-shaped internal gap in the body of the stringer.

[0017] The head will be inserted through a slot that will be made in the center of the base of the stringer. This slot will be made to correspond to the size of the head of the reinforcement. The head of the reinforcement will protrude from a slot of equal size in the bottom of the body of the "stringer", and when the fixing device has been fixed, the stringer will be attached to the base of the mounting; while the head is located in the upper and inner part of the U-shape of the body of the stringer, the neck is placed in the slot, and the body of the reinforcement is placed in the bottom part of the base of the mounting for the stringer, after which a 90 degree rotation is made so that the protrusions of the body rub against the flange of the base until they are inserted into the housing in the form of a slot, thus further fixing the stringer.

[0018] Since the stringers have a pair of fastening elements or screws placed in the center to anchor and tighten the panel, the proposed reinforcement is placed at the end of the stringer, that is to say until the rest of the stringer is properly fastened and tightened with the photovoltaic panel. Once they are properly fastened, a safety closure is performed at both ends of the mounting with the reinforcement inserted and rotated to secure the assembly.

[0019] Preferably, the reinforcement system is made of metal and as it rotates it exerts a slight pressure or deformation on the flange of the mounting until the protrusion finds the housing to be inserted, providing anti-rotation security to the reinforcement system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] To supplement the description and help better understand the technical features of the reinforcement system as the object of the present invention, a set of drawings is attached, in which the following contents are drawn for illustrative and non-limiting purposes:

[0021] Figure 1 A perspective view of a reinforcing element (or reinforcing member for short) which is the object of the present invention is shown;

[0022] Figure 2 A bottom perspective view of the fixing device is shown, with grooves applied to the base and flange of the mounting to enable the connection with the reinforcement. The grooves applied to the bottom of the body of the stringer are not visible, but in the fixed and fastened mode of use, the grooves of the base of the mounting and the bottom of the stringer overlap as one;

[0023] Figure 3 A bottom perspective view of the fixture is shown with the reinforcement inserted but without achieving a closed 90 degree rotation;

[0024] Figure 4 A cross section of a fixing device with a reinforcement system coupled thereto is shown; the cross section is taken along the central axis of the slot, and it can be seen that the head and the protrusion of the reinforcement system are fully inserted into the slot;

[0025] Figure 5 A bottom perspective view of the fixing device is shown with the reinforcement system fully coupled and the lateral protrusions fixed in the grooves in the flange of the base of the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The invention requires a reinforcement system (1) for a fixture (2) that fixes a photovoltaic panel (3) on the axis of rotation of a solar tracker. As described above, the reinforcement system (1) is preferably applied to the fixture (2) or stringer of patent ES2740049B2, placing two reinforcement elements for each stringer, one at each end. The photovoltaic panel (3) is inserted between the baffle (212) of the body of the stringer (2) and the base (221) of the mounting (22).

[0027] like Figure 1 As shown, the reinforcement system or simply reinforcement (1) is made of a semi-flat component (preferably made of metal) comprising three parts. The upper part, called the head (11), has the shape of a truncated semi-ellipse, connected to a central part, called the neck (12), which in turn is attached to a lower part, called the body (13).

[0028] The head of the reinforcement (11) is inserted through a groove (223) formed in the bottom part of the base (221) of the mounting for the beam (2) and exits through a groove (213) of the body (21) of the beam. When the beam is finally fixed to the photovoltaic panel (3), these grooves (213, 223) must coincide to ensure easy insertion of the reinforcement (1). Figure 2 In the figure, the correct position angle for inserting the reinforcing element (1) into these grooves can be observed.

[0029] The neck (12) of the reinforcement has a height similar to the sum of the widths of each part of the stringer (2), both the bottom (211) of the body (21) and the base (221) of the mounting (22), so that when the head (11) is inserted through the two slots (213, 223) and is completely outside the slots, the body (13) of the reinforcement, at its top part, is in contact with the U-shaped inner wall of the base (221) of the mounting. In order to explain the meaning of the term "similar" used above to mark the dimensions of the neck (12) of the reinforcement system (1), it is important to emphasize that the fixing device or stringer (2) is configured to be able to adapt to photovoltaic panels of different thicknesses, so the bottom (211) and the base (221) of the stringer will be in contact or not. Therefore, the reinforcement (1) will be manufactured with a neck length adapted to the thickness of the frame of the photovoltaic panel used in the installation used by the customer.

[0030] The length of the slot (213, 223) corresponds to the width of the head (11) of the reinforcement, while the width of the slot is similar to or slightly greater than the distance between the opposite vertices of the neck (12) of the reinforcement to allow it to rotate 90 degrees and prevent the head from falling out of the slot, thereby achieving closure. Once the head of the reinforcement is inserted, the top portion of the body (13) contacts the base of the mounting piece of the fixing device.

[0031] On each side of the body of the reinforcement and at the bottom there are projections (131) which are slightly larger than the width of the U-shaped inner wall of the base (221) of the mounting piece so that they are inserted into a housing (224) positioned on the flange (222) of the mounting piece. Since the reinforcement piece is preferably made of metal, when force is applied to it to rotate it, the projections (131) exert force on the flange (222) to slightly deform / open it, causing it to move out of the way as required until these projections (131) find the housing (224) into which they are to be inserted, thus providing anti-rotation security to the reinforcement system (1).

[0032] The body (13) of the reinforcement has a width similar to (slightly smaller than) the U-shaped internal gap of the beam mounting (22), so that it can also apply pressure to ensure the safety of the reinforcement, and at the same time the protrusion (131) has no gap in the shell (224) and is completely inserted into the shell.

[0033] In order to make the grooves (213, 223) on the bottom (211) and the base (221) of the beam (2), it is first necessary to ensure that the beam (2) is fixed and tightened to the installed photovoltaic panel, so as to ensure that the grooves coincide and overlap as one, so that the head (11) of the reinforcement system (1) can easily enter from one groove (223) and exit from the other groove (213). The housing (224) of the flange (222) will be aligned with the groove (223) of the base (221), that is, the distance from each groove to the edge of the end of the beam will be the same.

[0034] The reinforcement system (1) is not placed / secured until the entire fixture (2) is properly secured and tightened to the photovoltaic panel (3). Once properly secured, a secure closure is performed at both ends of the stringer, with the reinforcement system inserted and rotated to secure the entire assembly. Figure 5 The stringer (2) is shown with the reinforcement element (1) already placed and in its closed position.

[0035] Figure 4 A cross section is shown taken at the end of the stringer and exactly at the central part of the slot (213, 223) where the head (11) of the reinforcement (1) enters; from this view it can be seen that the reinforcement is already in the closed position, with the lateral protrusion (131) fully inserted into the housing (224) of the flange (224) of the mounting (222) of the stringer (2).

[0036] The reinforcement is preferably a solid piece of metal which may be cut from a plate or sheet, using a laser or hydraulic press to make the cutouts in the contour of the reinforcement.

[0037] According to the above, a reinforcement system is provided, which comprises two closing and safety elements placed respectively at the ends of a fixing device for fixing the frame of a photovoltaic panel on the rotation axis of a solar tracker. This system improves the stability of the solar tracker during rotation by ensuring that the attachment between the parts of the panel is maintained.

Claims

1. A reinforcement system for a fixing device (2) for fixing a photovoltaic panel on a rotation axis of a solar tracker, wherein: The fixing device (2) comprises: a mounting member (22) having a base (221) forming a U-shape and two flanges (222); a body having a bottom (211) forming a U-shape and two baffles (212), wherein the panel (3) is held between the baffles (212) and the base (221) of the mounting member (22); and a fastening device connecting the bottom (211) to the mounting member (22), characterized in that the reinforcement system comprises at least one having a head The reinforcing element (1) has a head (11), the head (11) being capable of being inserted into at least one groove (213) formed in the bottom (211) of the fixing device (2) and a corresponding groove (223) of the base (221) of the mounting member (22), so that when the head (11) is inserted into the groove (213, 223) and rotated 90 degrees, the body (13) of the reinforcing element (1) is assembled in the base (221) of the mounting member (22).

2. The reinforcement system for fixing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: In order to fit the body (13) into the mounting member (22) in the rotated position, the body (13) has a width similar to the U-shaped inner gap of the mounting member (22) of the fixing device (2).

3. The reinforcement system for fixing equipment according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The head (11) has a width similar to the U-shaped inner gap of the body of the fixing device (2), so that the head (11) is assembled in the rotated position.

4. The reinforcement system for fixing equipment according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The body (13) comprises at least one protrusion (131), and the protrusion (131) corresponds to at least one shell (224) of the flange (222) of the mounting member (22), and is used for assembling the body (13) into the mounting member (22) of the fixing device (2).

5. The reinforcement system for fixing equipment according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The reinforcing element comprises a neck (12) between the head (11) and the body (13), the neck (12) allowing the component to be rotated into its assembled position.

6. The reinforcement system for fixing equipment according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The reinforcing element (1) is placed at each end of the fixing device (2).

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