Connection system and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connection system for mechanically fixing neighbouring or adjacent bodies or modules (2) in a plane, more particularly flat solar modules, which are arranged above a substrate (3). To create a connection system (1) for mechanically fixing neighbouring bodies in a plane with free accessibility to any module for installation and / or deinstallation, the invention proposes that at the edge regions (4) of adjacent modules (2) a recess consisting of in each case two half-spaces (6) arranged flush with one another is provided, in the recess a fixing body (7) with a longitudinal cross-sectional surface (Q) can be rotated into the half-spaces (6) in an engaging manner approximately 90° about an axis (M) perpendicular to a surface normal (N) of the modules (2).

Description

[0001] Connection system and procedure

[0002] The present invention relates to a connection system for the mechanical fixing of adjacently arranged bodies in a plane, in particular of flat solar modules which are arranged above a substrate, and to a method for the mechanical fixing of adjacently arranged bodies in a plane.

[0003] Various approaches to mechanically securing solar modules arranged above a substrate are known from the state of the art. These modules are even designed as road surfaces and are therefore passable by heavy trucks. For such high loads, securing each individual element to a substrate formed as a concrete foundation is known. A less complex approach is securing adjacent bodies arranged in a plane at their adjacent edge areas.

[0004] These solar modules are also designed for the road to withstand the load from heavy vehicles such as trucks. They are laid on gravel, which is not a perfectly flat surface. To still create a smooth, level road surface, the modules are connected to each other up and down perpendicular to the road surface. To do this, these connections must be able to transfer the load from one module to the next. A standard solution is to create an overlap between adjacent solar modules. However, this approach has the disadvantage that the solar modules must be installed in a specific order and orientation relative to adjacent modules.

[0005] This also has the disadvantage that the solar modules must be removed in a specific order. If it's a large road and only one solar module in a central area needs to be replaced, for example, due to a defect, all solar modules in front of it must be removed to gain access to the defective module for replacement.

[0006] It is the object of the present invention to provide a connection system for the mechanical fixing of adjacently arranged bodies in a plane with free accessibility of any module for installation and / or removal as well as a corresponding method.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1 by a connection system for the mechanical fixing of bodies or modules arranged adjacent to one another or adjacent to one another at edge regions, in particular of flat solar modules which are arranged in a plane above a substrate, in that recesses consisting of two half-spaces arranged in alignment with one another are provided at the edge regions of adjacent modules, so that in one of the recesses a fixing body with an elongated cross-sectional area can be rotated by approximately 90° about an axis perpendicular to a surface normal of the modules, engaging in the half-spaces.

[0008] The present invention is based on the knowledge that for effective fixing to prevent up and down movement between two adjacent modules on a not completely flat surface it is sufficient to allow a fixing body to protrude from a recess in the edge region of a module into a corresponding recess in the edge region of the adjacent module. Since the design of a plug-in connection is not possible, at least when a module is released from a fixed, flat assembly, the fixing bodies are rotatably mounted between the recesses and are accessible from one side for a tool in order to be rotated into a position in which the fixing bodies are positioned so as to engage in the adjacent half-spaces. The two half-spaces are then coupled to one another by a fixing body in such a way that they can only move with one another and no longer against one another.The modules are thus connected to each other in upward and downward directions perpendicular to a roadway level.

[0009] Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims. Accordingly, the fixing body can be inserted into the recess formed from two half-spaces of adjacent modules from the outside through an opening. The half-spaces are essentially mirror-symmetrical or point-symmetrical to one another, so that the recess is formed from two halves, and one half-space, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, has end stops for limiting rotation of a fixing body to approximately 90° and / or a locking lug.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixing body is cuboidal or prismatic. It is thus characterized in a plan view by a short and a long side. The short side enables easy installation between two panels. The long side, after being rotated by approximately 90° in the recess, ensures a secure connection between the two panels or modules, in that the long side of the fixing body is positioned so that it engages in both half spaces in the fixing position.

[0011] The fixing body has, in particular, two outer surfaces which represent outer surface sections of a cylinder. An opening, which is assigned to the respective fixing body and leads to the space between the adjacent modules, has a surface shape which corresponds to that of the fixing body. This type of guidance facilitates the insertion of the fixing body through the opening into the recess. In a preferred development of the invention, the fixing body of a connecting system according to the invention is designed to be accessible via a channel on a freely accessible surface of the adjacent edge regions of the adjacent modules for exerting a torque.

[0012] In an advantageous development of the invention, the fixing body has a recess designed for the engagement of a tool. After the fixing body has been inserted into the recess, the tool exerts a torque on the fixing body. In one embodiment, the recess in the fixing body has a keyhole-shaped contour for a secure and captive temporary connection between the tool and the fixing body.

[0013] Advantageously, the recess in the fixing body is shaped to form a bayonet connection with the tool. This allows the fixing body to be securely fixed to the tool and, like a plug, can not only be inserted into the recess between two modules through the opening and rotated, but can also be pulled out of the recess after releasing the fastening of both adjacent module parts.

[0014] A connecting system according to the invention is preferably constructed and shaped in such a way that the fixing body has a guide opposite a recess for the engagement of a tool. In one embodiment, this guide is in the form of a pivot pin; alternatively or additionally, an external guide is provided on the fixing body, which can be in the form of a projection. Recesses adapted to the above-mentioned types of guides are provided in the half-spaces of the modules. As a result, the fixing body is better secured against tilting in the recess in the edge regions of the modules. This also makes it easier for the tool to rotate the fixing body in the recess. A limitation or...a stop is formed up to which the fixing body must be pushed in in order to ensure safe and permanently reliable fixing .

[0015] In a preferred development of the invention, a securing piece is provided that can be inserted over the fixing body rotated into a fixing position and, in particular, inserted through the opening into the recess. In an advantageous embodiment, a clamping fixation of the securing piece on or above the fixing body is provided. Alternatively, in one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the individual securing pieces, with their functionality for securing the position of the respective fixing bodies arranged in predetermined fixing positions, are to be integrated in one piece by protrusions on a cover lip covering the channel between the adjacent modules.

[0016] As a further solution to the above-mentioned problem, a method for fixing adjacently arranged bodies or modules in a surface using a device according to the invention according to one or more of the above-mentioned features is proposed, in which two modules are laid loosely over a substrate directly adjacent to one another, the method being advantageously characterized in that a fixing body with an elongated cross-sectional area is inserted or plugged through an opening into an adapted recess which is arranged mirror-symmetrically or point-symmetrically at the edge regions of the adjacent modules, and then one fixing body in each case is rotated in the recess by approximately 90° about an axis parallel to a surface normal of the modules.

[0017] The features listed above create a robust connection system consisting of just a few individual parts that can be operated quickly and safely with minimal tooling. Visual checks are possible to ensure that the adjacent modules are properly secured, as are functional checks using securing elements that can only be mechanically placed and sufficiently secured on or over securing bodies in a position with properly secured fixings. Examples of this are also described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0018] Further features and advantages of embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments based on the drawings. In these, a schematic representation shows:

[0019] Figure 1: a perspective view of two solar modules which are mechanically fixed to one another at an adjacent edge area by several connection systems;

[0020] Figure 2 : a perspective view of two progressively cut-out solar modules in the view of Figure 1 ;

[0021] Figure 3 : a partially sectioned perspective enlarged view III of edge regions of the two solar modules of Figure 2 ;

[0022] Figures 4a - 4c: perspective and partially sectioned representations of a fixing body and an associated recess of the embodiment A of a connecting system;

[0023] Figures 5a - 5d: perspective and partially sectioned representations of a recess of the embodiment A of a connecting system;

[0024] Figures 6a and 6b: perspective and partially sectioned representations of a fixing body of embodiment B of a connecting system;

[0025] Figures 7a to 7c :

[0026] Partial steps for producing a connection system 1 according to embodiment B in perspective and partially sectioned representation;

[0027] Figures 8a to 8d: perspective and partially sectioned representations of a recess of the embodiment B of a connecting system;

[0028] Figures 9a and 9b: a sketched process of disassembly of a connection system according to embodiment B;

[0029] Figures 10a and 10b: enlarged sections from Figure 3 to illustrate a progressive assembly of an embodiment of a connection system according to embodiment B at an edge region; Figure 11: a partially sectioned and enlarged perspective view XI of edge regions of the two solar modules of Figures 2 and

[0030] Figures 12a - 12e: perspective and partially sectioned representations of a further embodiment of a cover lip.

[0031] The same reference numerals are used for the same elements or method steps throughout the various illustrations. Without limiting the invention, only one use of a device for the mechanically highly resilient fixing of flat solar modules with a uniform hexagonal edge shape is shown and described below. The solar modules are arranged adjacent to one another on a base that is generally not completely flat. However, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that adaptation to any three-dimensionally shaped bases is possible in the same way, even using triangular bodies in the manner of a finite element mesh, in order to achieve coverage with a predetermined surface shape. The bodies or modules themselves can also have a non-flat surface, as long as edge regions are formed towards adjacent bodies, at which edge regions these bodies are in contact with one another.

[0032] Figure 1 shows two exemplary embodiments of a connecting system 1 for the mechanical fixing of adjacent or juxtaposed bodies, a perspective view of two solar modules 2. The solar modules 2 are arranged in a plane on a base 3 and mechanically fixed to one another at an adjacent edge region 4. For this purpose, openings 5 ​​are provided at regular intervals on the edge regions 4 of the two adjacent modules 2 shown. Each of these openings 5 ​​merges into a recess which is formed from two half-spaces 6 which are arranged in alignment with one another at the adjacent edge regions 4 of the modules 2. Furthermore, the half-spaces 6 are essentially mirror-symmetrical or here point-symmetrical, as will be shown and described in detailed figures.A fixing body 7 provided with an elongated cross-sectional area Q is arranged through the opening 5 to form a connecting system 1 in the recess formed from two half-spaces 6 and can be rotated by approximately 90°.

[0033] Figure 1 shows a mixture of exemplary embodiments A, B of a connecting system 1 for fixing two modules 2, which will be described separately. In both cases, the fixing bodies 7 can be rotated by approximately 90° about an axis M parallel to a surface normal N of the modules 2 in the respective recess formed from two half-spaces 6, as indicated in Figure 1 using a tool W. For this purpose, the fixing bodies 7 are cuboid-shaped or prismatic and have two outer surfaces which represent outer surface sections of a cylinder. The fixing bodies 7 are therefore easily rotatably mounted in the respective recesses with maximum space utilization.

[0034] In both illustrated embodiments A, B of the connection system 1, the fixing bodies can each be inserted from a free outer space through the opening 5 into the recess in the manner of a plug. Each of the openings 5 ​​corresponds to a cross-sectional area Q of an associated fixing body 7. The fixing body 7 uses its outer contour to position the adjacent solar modules 2 relative to one another and thus allows the solar modules 2 to be positioned more easily. In both exemplary embodiments A, B, the respective recess is formed from two essentially point-symmetrically shaped half-spaces 6 of adjacent modules 2, and the half-spaces 6 have end stops 8, shown in more detail below on an enlarged scale, for limiting rotation of a fixing body to approx.90° in the cavity, as well as locking lugs (not shown here) which serve to fix the fixing body 7 in a locked position. The fixing body 7 now engages with its longer side in the half-spaces 6 of the directly adjacent solar modules 2, coupling the force and position.

[0035] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a sequence of the two embodiments of connection systems 1 is used in a pattern ABA. Of course, only one of the embodiments A or B of the connection system can be used.

[0036] 1 at all edge areas 4 of the adjacent modules

[0037] 2 can be used to ensure secure fixation.

[0038] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of two progressively cut-out solar modules 2 with an approximately hexagonal basic structure in the view of Figure 1. In addition to a cover layer 9, which in the case of the solar modules 2 shown here includes a mechanically highly resilient protective layer and underlying functional elements in the form of, for example, solar cells and LED elements, heat pads for electrically heating the modules 2 against snow and ice, as well as sensors for pressure and temperature, etc., cover lips 10 made of an elastomer material have been removed in two edge regions 4, which cover lips 10 fill and close a channel 11 between the cover layers 9 of adjacent modules 2 flush with these cover layers 9. The module 2 arranged on the left has been reduced to a solid chassis 12, on the edge regions 4 of which the half-spaces 6 are formed, depending on the embodiment A or B of the respective connection systems 1.The chassis 12 can be made of plastic or aluminum; however, to compensate for unevenness of the substrate 3, it is preferred to manufacture the chassis 12 from an elastomer or rubber-elastic plastic. Furthermore, this chassis provides a central receptacle 13 for electronics, which, in actual use, is connected to adjacent modules 2 via a channel 14 for power and data lines.

[0039] From the right-hand module 2, apart from the fixing body 7 corresponding to the exemplary embodiments A or B of the respective connection systems 1, only the heat sink 15 made of mirror-inverted stacked aluminum corrugated sheets for dissipating heat from the solar cells arranged above it and four of the six cover lips 10 inserted as dirt protection for the connection systems 1 below it have been removed. The stacked aluminum corrugated sheets serve, on the one hand, to dissipate heat from the electronics arranged flat above it and thus, in particular, increase the efficiency of solar cells. The heat sinks 15 also reduce the tendency for hot spots to form by dissipating heat from highly heated components or regions of the electronics.This increases the average service life of electronic components due to the rapid increase in the probability of failure that comes with temperature, without the electrical components used having to be deliberately oversized to take account of the higher temperatures in the event of high loads. There is also no need to provide component redundancy, so that not only costs but also installation space are saved. A further function of the heat sinks 15 is that they are very pressure-stable and can therefore withstand high loads due to contact forces. The mechanically highly resilient protective layer with underlying functional elements is supported mechanically on the heat sinks 15 instead of the respective chassis 12 when subjected to load, e.g. by a vehicle rolling over the solar modules.

[0040] Figure 3 shows a partially sectioned perspective view III of edge regions 4 of the two solar modules 2 of Figure 1 with the cover lip 10 and the cover layer 9 of the module 2 removed. Here, the arrangement of the embodiments A, B of the connection systems 1 with their corresponding half-spaces 6 in the edge regions 4 is more clearly visible.

[0041] 4a - 4c show perspective and partially sectioned views of a fixing body 7 of embodiment A of the connecting system 1 with an associated recess. Fig. 4a shows that the fixing body 7 is prismatic, has a shorter and a longer side and two outer surfaces 16 which represent outer surface sections of a cylinder. An opening designed as a bayonet recess 17 or base in the fixing body 7 and shaped approximately like a keyhole on a free outer surface represents a counterpart to the tool W in order to be able to form a simple, quickly produced and also quickly released mechanical plug-and-turn fixing under the keyhole in two quarter-circle recesses for transmitting linear forces and a torque.This allows for secure insertion and fixing, as well as release and withdrawal of a respective fixing body 7 through the interaction of the bayonet recess 17 and tool W. The longitudinal section of Figure 4b shows a specific internal structure of the fixing body 7, which can be manufactured as an injection-molded part from a plastic or metal.

[0042] An assembly and locking process is possible with the

[0043] Arrows connected sub-steps in Figure 4c indicated: The

[0044] Fixing body 7 with elongated cross-sectional area Q is inserted or plugged through the opening 5 into the recess which is made up of half-spaces 6 at edge regions 4 of the chassis 12 of two adjacent modules 2 and is arranged point-symmetrically to one another. The tool W is then inserted into the recess 17 of the fixing body 7 and pressed in until it is fully inserted and an end position is reached. The tool W is then rotated in the recess of the half-spaces 6 by the tool W by approximately 90° about the axis M parallel to a surface normal N of the modules 2. The tool W can also have been inserted beforehand as an aid when inserting the fixing body 7 into the bayonet opening 17. In any case, the tool W is rotated by approximately - 90 ° in the recess 17 of the fixing body 7 and can be pulled out of the fixing body 7 .This connection system 1 thus creates a mechanically sufficiently strong fixation of two modules to one another, which is mechanically reinforced by adjacent connection systems 1.

[0045] A guide 18 in the form of a pin or ring is formed on the fixing body 7 opposite the bayonet recess 17, as can be seen in Figures 4a, 4b. The sequence of Figures 5a - 5d represents perspective and partially sectioned views of a half-space 6 of a recess of exemplary embodiment A of the connecting system 1. Here, the shoulder 8 can be seen as an end stop for the fixing body 7 in the half-space 6 of the recess in Figures 5b - 5c. Furthermore, the half-space 6 of the recess of exemplary embodiment A has a recess 19 into which the guide 18 of the fixing body 7 in the form of a pin or ring rotatably engages. This recess also acts as an end stop when the fixing body 7 is inserted into the recess of the half-spaces 6.In this simple design, the fixing body 7 is thus guided in the recess by the outer surfaces 16 and the guide 18 so that it can rotate until a predetermined position is reached.

[0046] Figures 6a and 6b show a perspective and a sectional view of a fixing body 7 of exemplary embodiment B of the connecting system 1. This fixing body 7 is significantly larger than the fixing body 7 previously described for exemplary embodiment A and of comparatively simpler design. In addition, this fixing body 7 is characterized in that it is mirror-symmetrical about two axes, the second axis being perpendicular to the central axis M. Instead of a guide 18 of the fixing body 7 in the form of a pin or ring, projections 20 are provided here as external guides of the fixing body 7. Due to the symmetry shown above, four external guides are provided on the fixing body 7 of the exemplary embodiment B.

[0047] Figures 7a to 7c show partial steps for producing the connection system 1 according to embodiment B in a perspective and partially sectioned view. According to Figure 7a, the insertion of the fixing body through the opening 6 into the half-spaces 6 takes place as described above for Figure 4c. After the removal of the tool W, a securing piece 21 is now inserted into the opening 5, as indicated in Figure 7b. The securing piece 21 has a clamping groove 22 which encompasses the fixing body 7 in its locked position. At the same time, the securing piece 21 fills the opening 5 flat, so that no twisting of the securing piece 21 in the opening 5 and thus also no twisting of the fixing body 7 in the recess is possible.

[0048] Figures 8a to 8d are perspective and partially sectioned views of a recess in edge regions 4 of two chassis 12 of the connecting system 1 according to exemplary embodiment B. The views have been selected analogously to the sequence of images in Figures 4a to 4d. A direct comparison of the dimensions of the half-spaces 6 of the two exemplary embodiments A, B makes it clear that in exemplary embodiment B, the half-space 6 is appropriately enlarged corresponding to a wider fixing body 7. As a recess 19 in the half-space 6 for the guide 18 in the recess, a type of rotary ring is provided on the recess 6, in which the projections 20 on the fixing body 7 are displaceably or rotatably engaged. Again, a shoulder 8 serves as an end stop for the rotary movement of the fixing body 7.

[0049] Figures 9a and 9b show a sketch of the disassembly process for a type B connection system. As shown in a sectional view in Figure 7c, the securing piece 21 above the clamping groove 22 also includes a bayonet receptacle 17, which makes it easier to insert the securing piece 21 using the tool W, even when the clamping is established between the clamping groove 22 and the fixing body 7, which has already been rotated into the locked position. In any case, the bayonet receptacle 17 in the securing piece 21 and the fixing body 7 makes it easy and safe to release the connection system 1 according to embodiment B. Fixing and releasing the tool in the bayonet receptacle 17 for all of the elements described above always follows the same simple pattern: fixing by turning by approx. 90° and releasing by turning by approx. 90 ° in the opposite direction .No other tools are required other than this robust and simply constructed tool W.

[0050] Figures 10a and 10b show enlarged sections from Figure 3 to illustrate the progressive assembly of an embodiment B of a connection system 1 at an edge region 4. In Figure 10a, in addition to half-spaces 6, two connection systems 1 of the embodiment A can also be seen in their fixing positions. In addition, a half-space 6 and a connection system 1 of the embodiment B are also shown in a fixing position. In Figure 10b, the fixing body 7 is additionally secured in its locked position by a plugged-on securing piece 21 against any loosening by twisting.

[0051] Figure 11 shows, in a partially sectioned perspective view XI of edge regions 4 of the two solar modules 2 from Figure 2, the very simple and robustly designed tool W for assembling and disassembling the connection system 1, as described above and only indicated here by a 90° arrow. The openings 5 ​​provided at the bottom of the channel 11 between cover layers 9 of adjacent modules 2, see Figure 10a, are protected from environmental influences by a cover lip 10, which, as an element made of a rubber-elastic elastomer, also serves to provide longitudinal and transverse compensation between the solar modules 2. For this purpose, these cover lips 10, consisting of an elastomer, are inserted into the respective channels 11 and fastened by fixing elements, only indicated here, in the bayonet recesses 17 of the fixing bodies 7 of the first exemplary embodiment A to prevent them from shifting, slipping out or falling out.For this purpose, screws can be used, as well as fixing elements with a bayonet mount comparable to that of the fixing bodies 7 and the locking pieces 21 for actuation by the tool W .

[0052] The illustrations in Figures 12a - 12c show a perspective representation and views of a further exemplary embodiment of a cover lip 10 which, in an installed position, covers the channel 11 between cover layers 9 of adjacent modules 2 and covers the channel 14 for power and data lines running between the modules 2. The cover lip 10 has a grooved free surface 0, see also Figure 12b. In deviation from the representation of the cover lip 10, which is T-shaped in cross section, etc. in Figure 2, not only are recesses for securing the position of the cover lip 10 by screwing it to fixing bodies 7 in modified bayonet receptacles 17 of the connection system 1 according to exemplary embodiment A through recesses in the cover lip 10 provided. Rather, securing pieces 21 of the embodiment B and corresponding securing pieces 23 for connection systems 1 of the embodiment A are also provided with a clamping groove 22.Both types of securing pieces 21, 23 are integrally formed as protrusions 24 on the rubber-elastomer cover lip 10 as anti-twist devices for the respective fixing bodies 7. This reduces the number of individual parts that must be handled separately and inserted into the respective locations, which also saves time when installing or removing a module 2.

[0053] The front view of Figure 12c shows a cover lip 10 which is now essentially Y-shaped. The protuberances 24 are of different depths to form the securing pieces 21, 23, as also shown in Figure 12d in a side view with an indication of recesses 25 for fixing by screwing. Figure 12e supplements the illustration with a view from below. This again illustrates that in this exemplary embodiment, recesses 25 for fixing by screwing the cover lip 10 are only provided between the comparatively small and narrow securing pieces 23. Clamping by the securing pieces 21 is considered sufficient, so that additional screwing is not required at these locations. List of reference symbols

[0054] Connection system Body / module Subsurface Edge area of ​​the adjacent modules 2 Opening to a recess consisting of two similarly designed and point-symmetrically arranged half-spaces 6 Half-space

[0055] Fixing body

[0056] End stop / shoulder in the half-space 6 of the recess to prevent further twisting of a fixing body 7 Upper cover layer of the module 2 with functional elements 0 Cover lip 1 Channel between cover layers 9 of adjacent modules 2 2 Chassis of a module 2 3 Central receptacle for electronics 4 Channel for power and data lines to adjacent modules 2 5 Heat sink 6 Shell surface of the fixing body 7 7 Bayonet receptacle 8 Guide of the fixing body 7 in the form of a pin or ring 9 Recess in the half-space 6 for the guide 18 in the recess (hole or rotating ring on the recess 6) 0 Projection on the fixing body 7 for engagement in a recess 19 in the half-space 6 1 Securing piece of the embodiment B 2 Clamping groove 3 Securing piece of the embodiment A 4 Protrusion on the rubber-elastomer cover lip 10 5 recess for fixing by screwing

[0057] A first embodiment example of a connection system 1 B second embodiment example of a connection system 1 M axis perpendicular to the surface normal N of the modules 2 N surface normal of a module 2 0 grooved free surface of the cover lip 10 Q fixing body cross-sectional area / shape of the opening 5 W tool with at least one button for connection in an opening in the manner of a bayonet lock

Claims

Claims Connection system (1) for the mechanical fixing of bodies or modules (2) arranged adjacent to one another or adjacent to one another at edge regions (4) in a plane, in particular of flat solar modules which are arranged above a substrate (3), characterized in that a recess consisting of two half-spaces (6) arranged in alignment with one another is provided at the edge regions (4) of adjacent modules (2), so that in the recess a fixing body (7) with an elongated cross-sectional area (Q) can be rotated by approximately 90° about an axis (M) perpendicular to a surface normal (N) of the modules (2), engaging in the half-spaces (6).Connection system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fixing body (7) can be inserted from the outside through an opening (5) into the recess in the manner of a plug, wherein the recess is formed from two substantially point-symmetrically or mirror-symmetrically shaped half-spaces (6) of adjacent modules (2), and one half-space (6) in particular has an end stop (8) for limiting rotation of a fixing body to approximately 90° and / or a locking lug. Connection system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing body (7) is cuboid-shaped or prismatic, has a shorter and a longer side, and preferably has two lateral surfaces (16) that represent lateral surface sections of a cylinder. Connecting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing body (7) is designed to be accessible via a channel (11) on a freely accessible surface of the adjoining edge regions (4) of the neighboring modules (2) for exerting a torque. Connecting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing body (7) has a recess (17) designed for the engagement of a tool (W). Connecting system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the recess (17) in the fixing body (7) has a keyhole-shaped contour. Connecting system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the recess (17) in the fixing body (7) is shaped to form a bayonet connection with the tool (W).Connecting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing body (7) has a recess (17) for engaging a tool (W) and a guide (18) opposite it. Connecting system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the guide (18) is designed in the form of a pivot pin. Connecting system according to claim 8, characterized in that the fixing body (7) has an external guide, which is formed in particular by a projection (20). Connecting system according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that correspondingly shaped recesses (19) are provided in the half-spaces (6) of the modules (2) of the guide (18). Connecting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing body (7) is mirror-symmetrical about two axes. Connecting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a securing piece (21, 23) is provided that can be inserted over the fixing body (7) rotated into a fixing position in the recess of the two half-spaces (6) between the two modules (2). Connecting system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the securing piece (21, 23) can be inserted into the recess and / or is designed to form a clamping fixation on or above the fixing body (7), in particular by means of a clamping groove (22).Method for the mechanical fixing of adjacently arranged bodies or modules in a surface, in which two modules are directly adjacent to each other above a substrate. (3) are laid loosely, characterized in that a fixing body (7) with an elongated cross-sectional area (Q) is inserted or inserted through an opening (5) into a recess consisting of two half-spaces (6) arranged in alignment with one another, which at edge areas (4) the adjacent modules (2) are arranged mirror-symmetrically or point-symmetrically, and then each fixing body (7) is rotated in the recess by approximately 90° about an axis (M) parallel to a surface normal (N) of the modules (2).

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