MOUNTING CLAMP

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a fastening clamp for fastening a panel, such as a photovoltaic module, to a support with the further features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] There are numerous applications in which plate-shaped components - panels - need to be attached to a support. One of these applications is the attachment of photovoltaic modules to a support structure consisting of several supports. Photovoltaic modules are attached to such supports using fastening clamps. These are arranged laterally to the panel to be attached and serve the purpose of bracing such a panel to the support. For this purpose, such a fastening clamp has a connecting part. The connecting part carries one or more connecting elements for connecting the connecting part and thus the fastening clamp to such a support. The connecting elements can be designed to enclose the upper end of a support on the outside, for example the upper chord of an I-beam.According to another embodiment, the connecting elements are designed so that they can be inserted into a groove following the longitudinal extension of the beam. In both cases, the connecting elements are designed to engage behind the beam with their connecting elements in a claw-like manner. If the connecting part of such a fastening clamp is connected to a beam, the claw-like engagement behind it provides a beam-side clamping abutment.

[0003] In addition to the connecting part, such a fastening clamp has a clamping element. This can be aligned relative to the connecting part in the clamping direction of the fastening clamp and is therefore adjustable. The clamping element comprises a clamping leg with a molded-on clamping extension. The clamping extension serves to engage over the upper lateral edge of a panel placed on the beam and thus forms the panel-side clamping abutment that interacts with the beam-side clamping abutment to fasten such a panel to the beam. To provide the panel-side abutment with the clamping extension, a flat contact is desired. A support leg is also molded onto the clamping leg. This support leg extends in the clamping direction and forms an angle piece with the clamping leg.The support leg serves to support the clamping element against the connecting part, preventing the clamping leg and its clamping extension from tilting when the clamping element is tightened against the connecting part with the clamping extension supported on the top side of the panel. For this purpose, the connecting part has a support abutment on which the support leg of the clamping element rests when the fastening clamp is tightened.

[0004] The clamping device in such a fastening clamp is usually a clamping bolt that interacts with a clamping nut. The clamping bolt penetrates the clamping leg of the clamping element and meshes with an internal thread assigned to the connecting part, which forms the clamping nut.

[0005] A fastening clamp as described above is known, for example, from DE 20 2011 107 843 U1 or EP 3 040 640 B1. In both cases, the support abutment of the connecting part is provided by a row of teeth into which engages a complementary row of teeth formed on the inside of the support leg of the clamping element. By providing such a support abutment and the corresponding support of the support leg thereon, it is possible to adjust the distance between the clamping extension of the clamping element and the connecting part. With such a fastening clamp, photovoltaic modules of different heights (thicknesses) can be attached to a support, whereby the adjustability between the clamping element and the connecting part ensures that the desired spatial position of the clamping element with its clamping extension relative to the top of the photovoltaic module remains in its intended spatial position.As a result of the clamping element being supported by its support leg on the support of the connecting part, tilting of the clamping element is prevented.

[0006] In the fastening clamps mentioned above, the individual components are extruded profile sections. Although the structures described above can be created in this way, if structures are required that do not run in the extrusion direction of a component, either a separate component must be provided for this purpose or these structures must be created through subsequent machining. Furthermore, when assembling such fastening clamps, care must be taken to ensure that the clamping element is arranged correctly in its spatial position due to the shallow engagement depth of the toothing of the support leg in the toothing of the connecting part intended as a clamping abutment. The fastening clamp previously known from DE 202011 107 843 U1 can only be attached to the beam in a single orientation due to its connecting elements encompassing the upper chord of a beam.In addition to the clamping element and the connecting part, the fastening clamp according to EP 3 040 640 B1 has another element, which in this design carries the support abutment. This is an angle piece, the upper leg of which, facing the clamping element, overlaps the connecting part.

[0007] Based on this discussed prior art, the invention is therefore based on the object of proposing a fastening clamp which is not only characterized by a small number of individual elements, but is also suitable for being manufactured in a simple and cost-effective manner and which is also suitable for being used more universally in order to be able to be used in different fastening situations.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention by a generic fastening clamp as mentioned above with the further features of claim 1.

[0009] The connecting part of this fastening clamp provides two support abutments with their spaced-apart support surfaces, providing two-point support for the support leg of the clamping element. The support abutment legs are connected to each other by a strip of material. The support abutment legs are part of a leg of the connecting part, to which a clamping abutment leg is formed transversely. The connecting part therefore forms an angle piece with its legs arranged at an angle to one another – the leg carrying the support abutment legs and the clamping abutment leg. The clamping device acts on the clamping abutment leg when the clamping element is clamped to the connecting part. The support surfaces of the two support abutment legs are provided by a contour incorporated into the free, outward-facing end face of the same.Such a connecting part can be manufactured from a sheet metal blank as a stamped and bent part, starting from a blank, typically made of stainless steel. The support surfaces and the support leg are designed so that the support leg of the clamping element is supported on the support surfaces when the clamping element is clamped against the connecting part. The clamping element with its support leg is also preferably a stamped and bent part, preferably made of the same material as the connecting part. To ensure reliable support of the support leg on the support abutment of the connecting part, one embodiment provides for the free end of the support leg, with which it is supported on the support surfaces, to be angled towards the material strip connecting the support abutment legs and thus towards the connecting part.Two-point support is advantageous because, even with manufacturing tolerances, the clamping leg is defined by its support leg and, without having to accept tilting in the support position, is supported on the connecting part when the clamping element is clamped to the connecting part. To ensure transverse fixation of the support leg support to the support abutment of the connecting part, a further development provides for an extension extending the support leg to be formed between the end sections with which the support leg is supported on the end surfaces. This extension then engages in the space between the support abutment legs.

[0010] The leg of the connecting part further carries, at its end facing away from the clamping element, at least one connecting element for connecting the connecting part to a support. Preferably, the at least one first connecting element is located at the relevant end of a support abutment leg. Each support abutment leg expediently carries such a connecting element at its end. If the connecting element is provided by an end section of a support abutment leg, this is preferably provided by contouring the outwardly facing end face of the support abutment leg with regard to its outline geometry, so that this too can be easily manufactured by means of a stamping and bending process. Such a connecting element is typically an outwardly projecting cam or hook, provided for mounting the connecting part to a support having a fastening groove.

[0011] Such a connecting part can also be easily connected to a hollow chamber profile with a slotted hole on its mounting side. To reinforce the outline of such a slot, the slot can have an inwardly directed flange. A support with a mounting groove can have a stiffening leg directed into the mounting groove to reinforce the opening of the mounting groove.

[0012] The connecting part of such a fastening clamp can also be contoured with respect to its support abutment legs on its radially outward-facing end face in such a way that this provides several support surfaces spaced apart from one another in the clamping direction. With such a design, these support surfaces spaced apart in the clamping direction create the possibility that, depending on the thickness of a panel to be fastened to a support, the support leg of the clamping element can be supported on the support abutment of the connecting part in accordance with the thickness of the panel. The clamping direction is the direction in which the clamping element is clamped relative to the connecting part.Such contouring of the support abutment legs does not need to be designed with particularly fine steps, with the purpose of ensuring the most finely structured or almost stepless support of the support leg of the clamping element on the support abutment of the connecting part. This is not necessary with the fastening clamp according to the invention, since the thickness of panels to be fastened to the support is not arbitrary but standardized; in any case, they are only offered in certain thicknesses, particularly when it comes to photovoltaic modules. This aspect is exploited in the fastening clamp according to the invention to create space so that the support leg of the clamping element can engage with its support section relatively deeply into the contour providing the support surfaces, even with support surfaces spaced apart from one another in the clamping direction.These contours are incisions, preferably asymmetrical, so that in a side view, the support abutment legs have a sawtooth-like contour. The flank of such a contour farthest from the clamping abutment leg represents the respective support surface.

[0013] In a design in which a connecting element is formed on each of the two support abutment legs, these are arranged parallel to one another according to one exemplary embodiment in order to achieve secure engagement in a groove of a beam even with a relatively shallow engagement depth. In contrast, the support abutment legs of the leg are arranged at an angle to one another, with the distance increasing radially outwards. In this way, the span and thus the distance between the support surfaces of the two support abutment legs is quite large despite the low use of material, whereby the support leg can still be supported relatively close to a clamping device used as a clamping bolt. In principle, a parallel arrangement of the support abutment legs to one another is of course also possible.

[0014] An angular arrangement of the support abutment legs relative to one another as described above is particularly useful for a fastening clamp design in which the connecting part has two legs of the type described above, which are spaced apart from one another transversely to the clamping direction and connected to one another by the clamping abutment leg of the connecting part. Such a connecting part then has four support abutments arranged at an angle to one another, typically enclosing an angle between 80° and 100°, in particular 90° or approximately 90°. With such a design, the clamping element can be supported with its support leg in four different positions, each on two support abutment legs.In such a design, both legs typically carry connecting elements at their ends, which, due to the spacing of the legs, can be inserted like clips into a groove of a support by utilizing the elasticity of the material.

[0015] A design of the fastening clamp in which the clamping element can be connected to the connecting part in different positions allows this fastening clamp to be designed so that the clamping element has further clamping extensions in addition to the clamping extension opposite its support leg. These extend transversely to the extension of the clamping leg between its support leg and the first clamping extension. Thanks to these two additional clamping extensions, which are opposite one another with respect to the clamping leg, this fastening clamp can also be used as a middle clamp, by means of which two adjacent panels can then be secured together to a support. The clamping leg then projects beyond the top of a panel with each of these additional clamping extensions.When this fastening clamp is used in this way, support of the clamping element by its support leg on the connecting part is neither necessary nor desired. Tilting of the clamping leg during the tensioning of the clamping element against the connecting part is prevented because the clamping element is supported on the panel side by the two opposing clamping extensions. In order to prevent engagement of the support leg in a support abutment of the connecting part when the fastening clamp is used in this way, the contact surfaces with which the two opposing clamping extensions rest on the upper side of each panel are, according to a first embodiment, inclined relative to the plane of the clamping leg, specifically in the direction of the support leg with increasing distance from the clamping leg through which a clamping device engages.

[0016] If, in addition to the clamping effect with which the fastening clamp acts on the top side of the panel with its clamping extensions of the clamping element, a certain form fit is desired, the corner formations of the clamping extensions, which are typically designed with a rectangular outline, can be stamped, whereby the corner facing the connecting part is flared out and forms a press-in claw. When the fastening clamp is tightened to attach a panel, such as a photovoltaic module, to a support, the claws press into the surrounding frame of such a module. This type of fastening is particularly useful if the support with such a module is exposed to vibrations, for example if this device is mounted on a ship.

[0017] A clamping bolt is typically used as the clamping device. This bolt extends through the clamping leg and interacts with a clamping nut assigned to the connecting part as a further component of the clamping device. Such a clamping nut can be molded with the connecting part. In such a case, the connecting leg of the connecting part has a flanged passage into a sleeve, in which an internal thread complementary to the clamping bolt is cut. In another embodiment, the at least one leg of the connecting part molded onto the clamping abutment leg is shaped in its section between the clamping abutment leg and the support abutment legs to form a clamping nut receptacle.According to one design of such a fastening clamp, this part of the leg provides a counter surface against which a standard hexagon nut, acting as a clamping nut, rests with a wrench flat or is arranged only a short distance from it. The clamping nut is therefore arranged in a rotationally fixed manner in the clamping nut receptacle. The clamping nut is held in the clamping nut receptacle by the clamping bolt threaded into it. When the fastening clamp is designed with a connecting part with two legs, both legs typically have such a formation to provide a clamping nut receptacle.

[0018] The invention is described below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1: a perspective view in the manner of an exploded view of a fastening clamp according to the invention, Fig. 2: which in Figure 1shown fastening clamp in its assembly from a different perspective, Fig. 3: the fastening clamp of the Figure 2 in the perspective of the exploded view of the Figure 1 , Fig. 4: a view from below of the fastening clamp of the previous figures, Fig. 5: the fastening clamp of the preceding figures in an exemplary application for fastening a photovoltaic module to a support running parallel to the edge of the module, Fig. 6: the fastening clamp of the preceding figures in an exemplary application for fastening a photovoltaic module to a support extending at right angles to the edge of the module, Fig. 7: the fastening clamp of the preceding figures for fastening two adjacent photovoltaic modules to a support, Fig. 8: a side view of the mounting clamp of the Figure 7 in their clamping position and Fig. 9:a fastening clamp according to the invention in a side view according to a further embodiment.

[0019] A fastening clamp 1 is used to fasten a panel, for example a photovoltaic module, to a support. The fastening clamp 1 comprises a support-side connecting part 2, a clamping element 3, and a clamping bolt 4 with a commercially available nut as the clamping nut 5, which can be used to clamp the clamping element 3 against the connecting part 2. The connecting part 2 of the illustrated embodiment has two legs 6, 6.1, which are connected to one another by a clamping abutment leg 7. The legs 6, 6.1 are formed parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another on the clamping abutment leg 7. Both legs 6, 6.1 are mirror-symmetrical to one another with respect to the central longitudinal plane of the connecting part 2 located between the two legs 6, 6.1. In a side view, the connecting part 2 is approximately U-shaped with regard to the spacing between the two legs 6, 6.1.Leg 6 is described in more detail below. The same explanations apply equally to leg 6.1.

[0020] The leg 6 carries two support abutment legs 8, 8.1. These legs 8, 8.1 extend with their flat extension in the clamping direction, i.e., in the direction in which the clamping element 3 is braced against the connecting part 2. Two connecting hooks 9, 9.1 as connecting elements are also part of the leg 6 at its lower end. In the illustrated embodiment, these are part of the respective support abutment leg 8 and 8.1. The two support abutment legs 8, 8.1 are connected to one another by a material strip 10. The material strip 10 is curved with a concave inner side and a convex outer side. This provides space for the engagement of the threaded shaft 11 of the clamping bolt 4. The two connecting hooks 9, 9.1 are arranged parallel to one another in terms of their planar extension. Their upward-facing surface 12, 12.1 serves as an abutment surface when the connecting part 2 is inserted into a fastening groove of a beam. The connecting hooks 9, 9.1 and thus their abutment surfaces 12, 12.1 then engage behind the opening of a fastening groove located in a beam or an opening made therein. The support abutment legs 8, 8.1, on the other hand, are arranged at an angle to one another, specifically in the radially outward direction with increasing distance from one another. The angle enclosed by the two support abutment legs 8, 8.1 is 90° in the illustrated embodiment. Each support abutment leg 8, 8.1 has a contoured design on its radially outward-facing end face to form several support surfaces 13. These are designed as cuts in this end face. The cuts are asymmetrical, with the lower flank of each such cut, which is further spaced from the clamping abutment leg 7, forming a support surface 13.These are designed with a slight inclination in the radial direction inwards in the direction away from the clamping element 3.

[0021] Between the clamping abutment leg 7 and the support abutment legs 8, 8.1, the leg 6 has a formation for providing a clamping nut receptacle 14. The leg section 15 formed on the clamping abutment leg 7 serves with its inner side as a counter surface for a tool engagement surface 16 of the clamping nut 5. The distance between the leg sections 15 of the two legs 6, 6.1 is dimensioned such that the clamping nut 5 can only be inserted into the clamping nut receptacle 14 in a position in which two opposing tool engagement surfaces 16 are arranged approximately parallel to the counter surfaces provided by the leg sections 15.

[0022] An opening 17 is provided in the clamping abutment leg 7, through which the threaded shaft 11 of the clamping bolt 4 is passed. The contour geometry of the opening 17 is circular.

[0023] The connecting part 2 of the illustrated embodiment is made as a stamped and bent part from a sheet steel plate, preferably from a stainless steel alloy.

[0024] The clamping element 3, like the connecting part 2, is a stamped and bent part made of a stainless steel alloy. The clamping element 3 has a clamping leg 18 and a support leg 19 formed at an angle thereto. An opening 20 is formed in the clamping leg 18 for the passage of the threaded shaft 11 of the clamping bolt 4. In the illustrated embodiment, three clamping extensions 21, 22, 22.1 are formed integrally on the clamping leg 18. The clamping extension 21 is formed on the clamping leg 18 on its side opposite the support leg 19. The clamping extensions 21, 22, 22.1 project beyond the outer surface of the connecting part 2 and, when the fastening clamp 1 is used to clamp a panel to a support, grip over the top of the panel, for example, the frame of a photovoltaic module.The projection of the clamping extension 21 of the clamping element 3 over the outer boundary of the connecting part 2 can be seen from the perspective view of the fastening clamp 1 in . Figure 2 clearly visible. The same applies to the clamping extensions 22 and 22.1. The clamping extension 21 is inclined relative to the plane of the clamping leg 18 in the direction of the panel to be clamped. The clamping extension 21 has a rectangular outline geometry. Its free corner areas are, as can be seen particularly clearly in Figure 2 can be seen, stamped to provide claws 23 pointing downwards and thus in the direction of the connecting part 2. The clamping leg 18 is also stiffened in the transition to its clamping extensions 21, 22, 22.1 by a bead 24 stamped therein.

[0025] The two additional clamping extensions 22, 22.1 are arranged opposite one another with respect to the clamping leg 18 through which the clamping bolt 4 extends and overlap the connecting part 2 in the transverse direction to the direction in which the clamping extension 21 overlaps the connecting part 2. The clamping extensions 22, 22.1 are fundamentally designed in the same way as the clamping extension 21. The clamping extensions 22, 22.1, like the clamping extension 21, have a contact surface area 25, 25.1 on their underside, with which they rest against the upper side of a panel for clamping.

[0026] A special feature of the clamping extensions 22, 22.1 is that the contact surface areas 25, 25.1 are not aligned parallel to the plane of the clamping leg 18, but are inclined relative to the plane of the clamping leg 18, namely in the direction of the supporting leg 19 (see Figure 2). This increases the distance of the contact surface 25, 25.1 in this direction from the plane of the clamping leg 18. The contact surface of the clamping extension 21, however, runs parallel to the plane of the clamping leg 18.

[0027] The support leg 19 extends in the clamping direction. A bead 26 incorporated therein serves to stiffen this section. The lower end section of the support leg 19 is angled toward the connecting part 2 or toward the material strip 10 connecting the support abutment legs 8, 8.1. This section represents the support section 27 of the support leg 19, the free end of which is supported by the clamping extension 21 to support the clamping element 3 on the clamping abutment provided by the connecting part 2 via the support surfaces 13 when the fastening clamp is used to clamp a panel. Figure 2shows the support arrangement of the support leg 19 with its support section 27 on the lowermost support surface 13 of the support abutment leg 8 and a support surface of a support abutment leg of the other leg 6.1. If a panel of greater thickness is to be clamped to a beam using the fastening clamp 1, the support section 27 is engaged with the support abutment of the connecting part 2 on one of the support surface pairs spaced apart from it in the clamping direction.

[0028] Figure 3 shows the fastening clamp 1 in the perspective of the Figure 1 during assembly. The arrangement of the clamping nut 5 within the clamping nut receptacle 14 is clearly visible. The threaded shaft 11 of the clamping bolt 2 passes through the opening 20 of the clamping leg 18 of the clamping element 3, the opening 17 of the clamping abutment leg 7, and meshes with the clamping nut 5.

[0029] The alignment of the support abutment legs 8, 8.1 and the connecting hooks 9, 9.1 of leg 6 and the connecting hooks and the support abutment legs of the second leg 6.1 are shown in the bottom view of the fastening clamp 1 in Figure 4 This particularly applies to the angular arrangement to one another. Furthermore, the spatial position of the connecting hooks 9, 9.1 and their parallel alignment are clearly visible. The connecting hooks 9, 9.1 have a bevel on the underside. This serves the purpose of facilitating the insertion of these connecting hooks 9, 9.1, which serve as connecting elements, together with those of the second leg 6.1, into a groove or opening of a beam. The bottom view of the Figure 4further makes it clear that the distance between the two legs 6, 6.1 with their curved material strips 10, 10.1 is dimensioned such that the threaded shaft 11 of the clamping bolt 4 rests on the inside against the material strips 10, 10.1. The fastening clamp 1 is connected to a beam by inserting its fastening elements - here: the connecting hooks 9, 9.1 of the two support abutment legs 8, 8.1 of each leg 6, 6.1 - into a groove or an opening in a state of the clamp in which the clamping bolt 4 is not yet in its clamping position, but for example only dips into the clamping nut 5 with its threaded base. The two legs 6, 6.1 then have the necessary material elasticity so that they can be inserted like clips into a groove or opening of a beam by reducing their distance in the area of ​​their connecting elements, so that the hook sections then form the groove or opening.Reach behind the opening edge areas of the beam. By screwing the threaded shaft 11 between the material strips 10, 10.1, the engagement of the connecting hooks 9, 9.1 is secured and thus the connection to a beam.

[0030] A first panel fastening option using the fastening clamp 1 is shown in Figure 5 shown. The connecting hooks 9, 9.1 as well as those of the other leg of its connecting part 2 are inserted into a mounting groove 28 of a support 29, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a hollow chamber profile. The clamping extension 21 engages over the edge of a panel 30 to be clamped to the support 29. The panel 30 is a photovoltaic module. The fastening clamp 1 is located in the Figure 2clamping position shown. Along the longitudinal extent of the panel 30, the panel is fastened to the support 29, which runs parallel to the edge of the photovoltaic module, by means of a plurality of fastening clamps 1 arranged laterally thereto. Due to the previously described possibility of connecting the connecting part 2 of the fastening clamp 1 to such a support 29 by inserting its connecting elements into a groove or opening, it is not necessary to insert the fastening clamps 1 laterally into the support. Consequently, the panel can also be easily installed if such a mounting channel 28 is closed at the front or elsewhere.

[0031] Figure 6 shows the fastening of panel 30 to support 29, which, in the position shown, runs not parallel to the edge of panel 30 but perpendicular to it. A secure fastening of panel 30 to support 29 is ensured even with such a support configuration.

[0032] The clamping extensions 22, 22.1 of the fastening clamp 1 serve the purpose of ensuring that the fastening clamp 1 can be used not only as a side end clamp, as in the Figures 5 and 6 shown, but also as a middle clamp. Such use of the fastening clamp 1 is shown in Figure 7shown. As a center clamp, the clamping element 3, each with a clamping extension 22 or 22.1, engages over the edge of a panel 30, 30.1. In this way, both panels 30, 30.1 are fastened or clamped to the support 29 with a single fastening clamp 1 at a fastening point. When the fastening clamp 1 is used in this way, the engagement of the support leg 19 with its support section 27 in a support abutment of the connecting part 2 is not required. Finally, tilting of the clamping element 3 is already prevented by the fact that its two opposing clamping extensions 22, 22.1 are each supported on the upper side of a panel 30, 30.1 of the same thickness (height). When the fastening clamp 1 is used in this way, the inclined contact surfaces 25, 25.1 of the clamping extensions 22, 22.1 come into play. Since these are located on the surface of the adjacent panel 30 or 30.1, the support leg 19 with its support section 27 is moved outwards away from the support abutment provided by the support abutment legs 8, 8.1 with their support surfaces 13. Therefore, the intended clamping of the two panels 30, 30.1 with the fastening clamp 1 is not blocked by an inadvertent engagement of the support section 27 of the clamping element 3 in the support abutment provided by the connecting part 2. Figure 8 shows a side view of the fastening clamp 1 with the hidden panel 30.1. The non-engaged position of the support leg 19 with its support section 27 in the support abutment of the connecting part 2 is clearly visible.

[0033] Figure 9shows another fastening clamp 1.1. With the exception of the clamping nut, this is constructed exactly like the fastening clamp 1 in the previous figures. The relevant explanations therefore apply equally to the fastening clamp 1.1. The clamping bolt 4.1 meshes with its threaded shaft 11.1 not with a separate clamping nut as in the embodiment of the previous figures, but rather with a sleeve-like flange 31 of a sleeve-like passage of the clamping abutment leg 7.1 of the connecting part 2.1, into which an internal thread is cut. Thus, in this embodiment, the threaded sleeve 31 represents the clamping nut that interacts with the clamping bolt 4.1.

[0034] The invention is described using exemplary embodiments. Without departing from the scope of the applicable claims, numerous further possibilities for implementing it will become apparent to a person skilled in the art without the need for further explanation within the scope of these statements. List of reference symbols 1, 1.1 Mounting clamp 31 threaded sleeve 2, 2.1 connecting part 3 clamping element 4 clamping bolt 5 clamping nut 6, 6.1 leg 7, 7.1 Clamping abutment leg 8, 8.1 Support abutment leg 9, 9.1 connecting hook 10, 10.1 material strips 11, 11.1 threaded shaft 12, 12.1 Abutment area 13 Support surface 14 Clamping nut holder 15 thigh section 16 Tool contact surface 17 breakthrough 18 clamping leg 19 Support leg 20 breakthrough 21 clamping process 22,22.1 clamping process 23 Press-in claw 24 bead 25, 25.1 Contact surface area 26 bead 27 Support section 28 Mounting groove 29 carrier 30, 30.1 panel

Claims

1. A fastening clamp for fastening a panel (30, 30.1), for example a photovoltaic module, to a support (29), said fastening clamp (1, 1.1) comprising - a connecting part (2, 2.1) with a connecting member (9, 9.1) for connecting the fastening clamp (1) to the support (29) for forming a clamping abutment on the support side and with a supporting abutment, - a clamping element (3), which can be set up with respect to the connecting part (2), having a clamping leg (18) having a clamping extension (21) for bearing against a panel (30) to be fastened and having a supporting leg (19) for supporting the clamping element (3) on the supporting abutment of the connecting part (2), the clamping extension (21) being arranged opposite the supporting leg (19), and - a clamping device (4, 5) with a clamping means (4), which passes through the clamping leg (18) and is supported thereon, for setting the clamping element (3) with the connecting part (2) characterized in that the supporting abutment of the connecting part (2) comprises at least two supporting abutment legs (8, 8.1) spaced apart from one another by supporting surfaces (13) in the transverse direction to the clamping action direction, wherein the supporting surfaces (13) are provided by a contour of the outwardly pointing end face of the supporting abutment legs (8, 8.1) and on which supporting surfaces (13) the supporting leg (19) of the clamping element (3) is supported when the clamping element (3) is clamped to the connecting part (2) when the clamping extension (21) acts on a panel (30), in that the supporting abutment legs (8, 8.1) of the connecting part (2) are connected to one another by a strip of material following the longitudinal extension thereof (10, 10.1) and are part of a leg (6, 6.1) of the connecting part (2) which extends in the clamping action direction and which leg (6, 6.1) forms an angle piece with a clamping abutment leg (7, 7.1) which is arranged transversely thereto and on which the clamping means (4, 5) acts when the clamping element (3) is clamped to the connecting part (2), and in that the leg (6) carries at least one first connecting element (9) in its end section pointing away from the clamping abutment leg (7).

2. The fastening clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping abutment leg (7, 7.1) of the connecting part (2.1) has a passage which is provided with an internal thread and the internal thread of which meshes with a threaded shank (11, 11.1) of a clamping bolt (4) inserted as clamping means.

3. The fastening clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting part (2) has, between its clamping abutment leg (7) and its supporting abutment legs (8, 8.1), a clamping-nut receptacle (14) through a shaping of the at least one leg (6, 6.1), in which clamping-nut receptacle (14) a clamping nut (5) inserted therein is received in a rotationally fixed manner.

4. The fastening clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the supporting surfaces (13) of the supporting abutment legs (8, 8.1) are inclined in the radial direction inwards away from the clamping element (3).

5. The fastening clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the supporting abutment legs (8, 8.1) each have a plurality of supporting surfaces (13) spaced apart from one another in the clamping-action direction.

6. The fastening clamp according to claim 5, characterized in that the supporting surfaces (13) are provided by the flank, which is closer to the at least one connecting element (9, 9.1), of a toothing which is introduced into the supporting abutment legs (8, 8.1).

7. The fastening clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the connecting part (2) comprises two supporting abutment legs (8, 8.1) which are arranged at an angle to one another.

8. The fastening clamp according to claim 7, characterized in that the angle enclosed by the supporting abutment legs (8, 8.1) is between 80° and 110°, in particular 90° or approximately 90°.

9. The fastening clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the connecting part (2, 2.1) has, in the transverse direction to the clamping-action direction, a second leg (6.1) which is spaced apart from the leg (6) as first leg (6) and is connected to the first leg (6) by the clamping abutment leg (7, 7.1) and carries at least one further connecting element.

10. The fastening clamp according to claim 9, characterized in that the second leg (6.1) is designed to be mirror-symmetrical with respect to the virtual central longitudinal plane located between the legs (6, 6.1) relative to the first leg (6).

11. The fastening clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the connecting part (2, 2.1) is designed as a stamped and bent part.

12. The fastening clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the clamping leg (18) has two further clamping extensions (22, 22.1) for providing clamping abutments on the panel side which interact with the clamping abutment on the support side, wherein the two further clamping extensions (22, 22.1) are integrally formed on mutually opposite sides of the clamping leg (18) in the transverse direction to the first clamping extension (21).

13. The fastening clamp according to claim 12, characterized in that the distance of the contact surfaces (25, 25.1), with which the two further clamping extensions (22, 22.1) act on a panel, increases from the clamping leg (18) in the direction of the supporting leg (19).

14. The fastening clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the supporting leg (19) of the clamping element (3) has, as end section, a supporting portion (27) which is bent in the direction of the connecting part (2) and, with the free end of which pointing away from the clamping leg (3) it is supported on the supporting surfaces (13) of two supporting abutment legs which are spaced apart from one another.

15. The fastening clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the supporting leg (19) and / or clamping leg (18) are stiffened with its at least one clamping extension (21, 22, 22.1) by at least one respective bead-like embossing (24, 26) and / or by a folded edge.

16. The fastening clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the at least one clamping extension (21, 22, 22.1) has, in its corner regions which engage over the edge of a panel (30, 30.1), a respective corner stamping, pointing in the direction of the connecting part (2), for providing a pressed claw (23).