Wall fastener for a framed photovoltaic module, photovoltaic module having said wall fastener and method for fastening such photovoltaic modules

Abstract

The invention relates to a double offset wall fastening element (6) for fastening a plurality of photovoltaic modules (1) next to one another on a wall, wherein the wall fastening element (6) has a wall contact surface (8) between two module fastening sections (9, 10). A first module fastening section (9) has an elongate hole as a first fastening opening (12) and a second module fastening section (10) has a keyhole-shaped hole (5) as a second fastening opening (13). Nut holders (19), which are placed on a flange (4) of a frame (3) of the photovoltaic modules (1) are used to fasten screws as connection elements (17) to the frames (3) of the photovoltaic modules (1), with which the photovoltaic modules (1) are fastened to the wall fastening elements (6).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Wall fastener for a framed photovoltaic module, photovoltaic module with the wall fastener and method for fastening such photovoltaic modules

[0003] The invention relates to a wall fastener for a framed photovoltaic module having the features of the preamble of claim 1, a photovoltaic module having the wall fastener having the features of the preamble of claim 12 and a method for fastening such photovoltaic modules having the features of the preamble of claim 14.

[0004] Patent application CN 107 181 447 A discloses a strip-shaped sheet metal strip, angled three times in opposite directions, as a roof fastener for attaching a photovoltaic module to a roof. A base section at one end of the roof fastener has two elongated holes for screwing the roof fastener onto the roof. One end of the roof fastener is bent either as a C-shaped bracket for laterally gripping a frame of the photovoltaic module from the outside or as a U-shaped clamp 2 for attaching to an inward-facing flange of the frame on a rear or underside of the photovoltaic module.

[0005] The object of the invention is to propose a wall fastener for a framed photovoltaic module that facilitates the mounting of multiple photovoltaic modules next to one another on a wall. Furthermore, the invention is directed to the photovoltaic module with the wall fastener attached to its frame and to a method for mounting multiple such photovoltaic modules next to one another on a wall using multiple such wall fasteners.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claims 1, 12 and 14.

[0007] The wall fastener according to the invention is intended for attaching a framed photovoltaic module to a wall, although the invention does not exclude attachments to other, for example, non-vertical surfaces. Optionally, the photovoltaic module can also be attached to the wall or other surface using the wall fastener with a mounting rail or other fastening device.

[0008] The wall fastener according to the invention has a wall contact surface, a first module fastening section with a first fastening opening, and a second module fastening section with a second fastening opening. The wall contact surface rests against the wall or optionally against the mounting rail or other fastening device when the wall fastener is attached to the wall, mounting rail, or other fastening device in a predetermined manner.

[0009] The two module mounting sections are each provided for mounting a photovoltaic module to the wall mount according to the invention, or conversely, for mounting the wall mount to one of the photovoltaic modules. The mounting openings are, for example, round holes, elongated holes, or keyhole-shaped holes.

[0010] Each module fastening section is assigned a module fastening element that can be secured to a hole in a strip-shaped flange of a frame of the respective photovoltaic module. The frame of the photovoltaic module has a profile with an inward-facing flange on a rear side of the photovoltaic module. The rear side of the photovoltaic module faces the wall when the photovoltaic module is attached to the wall in a designated manner. "Inward" means that the flange of the frame of the photovoltaic module is directed toward a center or toward an opposite edge of the photovoltaic module.

[0011] The module fastening elements each comprise a connecting element with a shaft and a head, for example, similar to a screw head, rivet head, or nail head. A right-angled bend at one end of the connecting element's shaft is also possible, for example, as the head. This list is exemplary and not exhaustive.

[0012] The wall contact surface is preferably, but not necessarily, located between the two module fastening sections, which have an offset perpendicular to the wall contact surface that is at least as large as an axial height of the heads of the connecting elements of the two module fastening elements. "Axial height" means a dimension of the heads of the connecting elements in a longitudinal direction of their shanks. The module fastening sections preferably have the same offsets from the wall contact surface and are preferably located in a common plane. Due to their offset from the wall contact surface, the module fastening sections are at a distance from the wall when the wall fastening element of the wall fastener according to the invention is fastened to the wall in the intended manner with its wall contact surface resting against the wall.The spacing of the module fastening sections of the wall fastening element is large enough so that the heads of the connecting elements of the module fastening elements have space between the module fastening sections of the wall fastener and the wall.

[0013] The fastening openings in the module fastening sections of the wall fastener according to the invention each have a rear grip section for the heads of the connecting elements of the module fastening elements. The rear grip sections are, for example, elongated holes that are at least as wide as the diameter of the shaft of the respective connecting element, such that the shafts of the connecting elements can penetrate the rear grip sections of the fastening openings.And the rear engagement sections of the fastening openings are narrower than the heads of the connecting elements such that the heads cannot penetrate through the rear engagement sections of the fastening openings, but instead engage behind the module fastening sections of the wall fastening element of the wall fastener according to the invention, laterally of the rear engagement sections of the fastening openings in the module fastening sections, when the shanks of the connecting elements pass through the rear engagement sections of the fastening openings. In this way, the module fastening elements can be secured to the module fastening sections of the wall fastening element of the wall fastener according to the invention, at least to prevent them from being pulled out in the longitudinal direction of their shanks.

[0014] The second fastening opening has a widened portion through which the head of the connecting element can be passed, allowing the head of the connecting element to engage in the rear engagement portion of the second fastening opening and the shaft of the connecting element to engage in the rear engagement portion. For example, the widened portion of the second fastening opening has a diameter that is at least as large as a circumference of the head of the connecting element of the second module fastening element.The invention facilitates the fastening of photovoltaic modules to the wall, mounting rail or other fastening devices because the wall fastening element of the wall fastener according to the invention can be fastened to the frame at an edge of a first photovoltaic module, which is subsequently fastened to the wall, mounting rail or other fastening device, after which a second photovoltaic module can be fastened to the wall fastening element now fastened to the wall, mounting rail or other fastening device next to the first photovoltaic module.

[0015] The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention defined in claim 1.

[0016] One embodiment of the invention provides a keyhole-shaped second fastening opening. This refers to a "second fastening opening" that has a circular hole and an elongated hole that is narrower than a diameter of the circular hole and that opens into the circular hole. The circular hole forms the widened portion of the second fastening opening; its diameter is at least as large as the circumference of the head of the connecting element such that the head of the connecting element can pass through the circular hole. The elongated hole opening into the circular hole forms the rear grip portion of the second fastening opening; it is narrower than the diameter of the circumference of the head of the connecting element such that the head of the connecting element cannot pass through, and at least as wide as the diameter of the shank of the connecting element such that the shank of the connecting element can pass through the elongated hole.

[0017] The first fastening opening and / or the rear engagement portion of the second fastening opening are preferably longer than the diameter of the shaft of the connecting element, such that the connecting element and the wall fastener according to the invention can be displaced relative to one another in a longitudinal direction of the fastening opening. As a result, the wall fastener according to the invention has a sliding guide for at least one of the photovoltaic modules attached to it, thereby avoiding mechanical stresses.

[0018] One embodiment of the invention provides nut holders with a nut receptacle, which have a clamp with which the nut holders can be plugged onto the strip-shaped flange of the frame of the photovoltaic modules and preferably clamped onto the flange. The nut holders can be used to arrange nuts on the frame of the photovoltaic modules, into which nuts, for example, screws can be screwed as connecting elements for attaching the photovoltaic modules to the wall fastener or vice versa. The nut receptacles preferably hold the nuts arranged therein in a rotationally fixed manner so that they do not have to be held against rotation when screwing in and tightening a screw. The nut holders are preferably made of plastic, whereas the nuts are preferably made of metal.

[0019] The nut holder clamp is specifically a slotted clamp with a slot that allows the nut holder to be inserted onto the flange of the photovoltaic module frame. The slotted clamp, i.e., the slot, is elastically expandable to adapt to the thickness of the photovoltaic module frame flange and to generate a clamping force with which the slotted clamp clamps onto the flange of the photovoltaic module frame.

[0020] To clamp the nut holder onto the frame flange, the nut holder can also have a spring tab, particularly made of plastic, which is elastically deformed when the nut holder is inserted onto the flange in such a way that it rests against the flange or another point on the frame or photovoltaic module with a preload and holds the nut holder onto the flange of the frame of the photovoltaic module through a frictional force generated by the preload. The spring tab can be provided on the nut holder in addition to the clamp or slotted clamp, or even without a clamp.

[0021] To avoid electrostatic charging, the nut holders are preferably electrically conductive. They can be made of metal or an electrically conductive plastic, for example. A plastic that is inherently electrically insulating can be made electrically conductive, for example, by incorporating metal or graphite particles. Low electrical conductivity is sufficient to prevent electrostatic charging, i.e., different electrical potentials between the frames of the photovoltaic modules and the wall mounting element.

[0022] One embodiment of the invention provides a tubular collar on the nut holders, which is coaxial with the nut receptacle and acts as an axial spacer for the heads of the connecting elements. It is sufficient if the through holes in the collars open into the nut receptacles in such a way that, for example, a screw can be screwed through the collars into a nut arranged in the nut receptacle. The outer diameter of the collars is no larger than the width of the rear engagement sections of the fastening openings, such that the collars of the nut holders can engage through the rear engagement sections of the fastening openings in the module fastening sections of the wall fastening element. The inner diameter of the collars of the nut holders is at least as large as the diameter of the shanks of the connecting elements, such that the shanks can engage through the collars into the nut receptacles and can be screwed into a nut arranged in the nut receptacle.Axially, the collars are at least as long or as high as the thickness of the module fastening sections of the wall fastening element in an area surrounding the fastening openings, which is covered by the heads of the connecting elements. This ensures that the heads of the connecting elements rest on the collars of the nut holders, allowing the wall fastening element and the photovoltaic modules to remain at least slightly movable relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the fastening openings, even when the connecting elements are tightened. This prevents thermal stresses that could damage the photovoltaic modules.

[0023] For cost-effective production, the wall fastening element in embodiments of the invention is a bent sheet metal part, for example, comprising a multiply bent sheet metal strip or a multiply bent and cut-to-length sheet metal, or a cut-to-length extruded profile. "Cutting to length" means separating the wall fastening element from the longer, multiply bent sheet metal or a longer profile.

[0024] The two module fastening sections are preferably located in a common plane such that the photovoltaic modules attached to the wall fastening element are also located in a common plane. The common plane of the module fastening sections is preferably parallel to the wall contact surface of the wall fastening element and has a distance from the wall contact surface perpendicular to the common plane, which is in particular at least as large as the axial height of the head of the connecting element. This provides sufficient space for the head of the connecting element between the module fastening sections and the wall contact surface.

[0025] One embodiment of the invention provides fastening holes with different diameters in the wall contact surface of the wall fastening element, such that the wall fastening element can be fixed to the wall, mounting rail or other fastening device with screws with different diameters or optionally with a wood or sheet metal screw or a machine screw.

[0026] Claim 12 is directed to a framed photovoltaic module, on one edge of which two wall fasteners, or more precisely, two wall fastening elements, are arranged. The photovoltaic module has a particularly circumferential frame with a strip-shaped flange on the rear side of the photovoltaic module, which protrudes toward the respective opposite edge and has holes for fastening the photovoltaic module. At one edge of the photovoltaic module, a first module fastening section of a wall fastening element of one of the two wall fasteners is fastened by a module fastening element to a hole in the flange of the frame.At the opposite edge, the photovoltaic module is attached to a first module attachment portion of the wall attachment element of the corresponding other wall fastener with a module attachment element, wherein the module attachment element is attached to a hole in the flange of the frame at the opposite edge of the photovoltaic module. In other words, both wall attachment elements are attached to a common side of the photovoltaic module. The wall attachment elements are preferably arranged perpendicular to the edges of the photovoltaic module, i.e., the attachment openings in the module attachment portions of the wall attachment elements extend perpendicular to the edges of the photovoltaic module.Preferably, the wall contact surfaces and / or the module fastening sections, in particular the second module fastening sections, project laterally beyond the edges of the photovoltaic module in such a way that the wall contact surfaces are accessible for fastening the wall fastening elements to the wall, mounting rail or other fastening device and the module fastening sections of the wall fastening elements not fastened to the photovoltaic module are accessible for fastening a further photovoltaic module.

[0027] In particular, nut holders with nuts arranged in their nut receptacles are pushed with their clamps onto the flanges of the frame of the photovoltaic module. The nut holders are arranged such that the holes in the flanges of the frame cover the nut threads of the nuts. The wall fastening elements are fastened to the frame of the photovoltaic module with screws as connecting elements, or conversely the frames are fastened to the wall fastening elements. The screws are passed through the fastening openings in the module fastening sections of the wall fastening elements and through the holes in the flanges of the frame of the photovoltaic module and screwed into the nuts in the nut receptacles of the nut holders. The screw heads of the screws engage behind the module fastening sections of the wall fastening elements on a side facing away from the photovoltaic module, laterally of the engagement sections of the fastening openings.

[0028] For fastening several photovoltaic modules next to one another or one above the other to a wall, mounting rail, or other fastening device, the method according to the invention provides for firstly fastening the first module fastening section(s) of one or more wall fastening elements to the flange of the frame at an edge of a first photovoltaic module. Subsequently, the wall fastening elements are fastened with their wall contact surfaces laterally next to the edge of the photovoltaic module to the wall, mounting rail, or other fastening device, and then a second photovoltaic module, with the module fastening element plugged onto the flange of its frame, is fastened to the second module fastening section(s) of the wall fastening element(s) at an edge facing the first photovoltaic module.

[0029] The features and combinations of features, embodiments and configurations of the invention mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or drawn in a figure can be used not only in the respective combination specified or drawn, but also in principle any other combinations or individually. Embodiments of the invention are possible which do not have all the features of a dependent claim. Individual features of a claim can also be replaced by other disclosed features or combinations of features. Embodiments of the invention which do not have all the features of the embodiment(s), but basically any part of the identified features of an embodiment, optionally in combination with one, several or all features of one or more further embodiments, are possible.

[0030] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing. Figure 1 shows a perspective exploded view of a rear side of edge cutouts of two photovoltaic modules according to the invention with a wall fastener according to the invention;

[0031] Figure 2 is an assembly drawing of the photovoltaic modules with the wall fastener from Figure 1;

[0032] Figure 3 shows a first wall fastening element according to the invention in the same perspective as Figures 1 and 2; and

[0033] Figure 4 shows a final wall fastening element according to the invention in the same perspective as Figures 1 to 3.

[0034] Figures 1 and 2 show two edge cutouts on mutually facing edges of two photovoltaic modules 1 according to the invention and a wall fastener 2 according to the invention for fastening the photovoltaic modules 1 externally, for example, to a wall of a building (not shown) or to a mounting rail or other fastening device (not shown) that is or will be fastened - in particular horizontally - to the outside of the wall. The rear side refers to a side of the photovoltaic modules 1 facing the wall. It is opposite a front side of the photovoltaic modules 1, which generates an electrical voltage when illuminated by sunlight or other light.

[0035] The photovoltaic modules 1 are—in the exemplary embodiment—rectangular and framed, i.e., they have a surrounding frame 3. The frame 3 has a profile with a flange 4 located a short distance from the rear of the photovoltaic modules 1, which protrudes inward on the frame 3, i.e., toward an opposite edge of the photovoltaic module 1. The flange 4 of the frame 3 of the photovoltaic modules 1 has holes 5.

[0036] The wall fastener 2 has a wall fastening element 6 and a module fastening element 7 for each photovoltaic module 1.

[0037] In the exemplary embodiment, the wall fastening element 6 comprises a U-shaped sheet metal strip, with legs of the U being bent outwards such that the wall fastening element 6 has sections parallel to a yoke of the U in a common plane parallel to the yoke. An outer side of the yoke of the U forms a wall contact surface 8, and the outwardly bent sections of the legs of the U form module fastening sections 9, 10 of the

[0038] Wall fastening element 6. Another production of the wall fastening element 6, for example as an extruded profile, is possible.

[0039] In the yoke of the II, i.e., in the wall contact surface 8, the wall fastening element 6 of the wall fastener 1 according to the invention has fastening holes 11 for fastening the wall fastening element 6 to the wall, mounting rail, or other fastening device using one or more through-hole screws. The fastening holes 11 have different diameters for screws with different diameters or for fastening optionally with a machine screw or a wood or sheet metal screw. In the illustrated and described embodiment of the invention, the wall contact surface 8 of the wall fastening element 6 has one fastening hole 11 with a larger diameter in a center and two fastening holes 11 with a smaller diameter on either side of the central fastening hole 11.

[0040] A first of the two module fastening sections 9 of the wall fastening element 6 of the wall fastener 2 according to the invention has an elongated hole as the first fastening opening 12 of the wall fastening element 6 for fastening the photovoltaic module 1 to the wall fastening element 6 or, conversely, for fastening the wall fastening element 6 to the photovoltaic module 1. The elongated hole forming the first fastening opening 12 extends in a transverse center of the first module fastening section 9 in a longitudinal direction of the wall fastening element 6.

[0041] A second module fastening section 10 of the wall fastening element 6 of the wall fastener 2 according to the invention has a keyhole-shaped second fastening opening 13 for fastening the photovoltaic module 1 to the wall fastening element 6 or, conversely, for fastening the wall fastening element 6 to the photovoltaic module 1. The second fastening opening 13 has a circular hole and an elongated hole that opens into the circular hole. The elongated hole extends in a transverse center of the second module fastening section 10 in a longitudinal direction of the wall fastening element 6.

[0042] The elongated holes of the two fastening openings 12, 13 form rear grip sections 14 of the fastening openings 12, 13 for a head 16 of a connecting element 17 of the module fastening elements 7 and the circular hole of the second fastening opening 13 forms an expansion 15 for a passage of the head 16 of the connecting element 17.

[0043] In the exemplary embodiment, the connecting elements 17 of the module fastening elements 7 are screws with a screw head as head 16 and a screw shaft, which can generally be understood as shaft 18 of the connecting elements 17. The invention does not exclude other connecting elements 17.

[0044] Each module fastening element 7 has a nut holder 19 with a nut receptacle 20 for a nut and a clamp 21 for clamping the nut holder 19 to the flange 4 of the frame 3 of a photovoltaic module 1.

[0045] The nut receptacle 20 has a cavity in which the nut, which is not visible in the drawing, is held in a rotationally fixed manner. In the exemplary embodiment, the nut is a metal hexagon nut, and the nut receptacle 20 of the nut holder 19 has a cavity with a hexagonal cross-section corresponding to the hexagon nut.

[0046] In the exemplary embodiment, the clamp 21 of the nut holder 19 is an elastically expandable slotted clamp, the slot 22 of which is located in a radial plane of the nut receptacle 20. "Radial plane" means that an axis of the nut arranged in the nut receptacle 20 passes vertically through the slot 22 of the slotted clamp, with the slot 22 being located outside the nut receptacle 20.

[0047] With its slot, the clamp 21 of the nut holder 19, designed as a slotted clamp, can be plugged onto the flange 4 of the frame 3 of one of the photovoltaic modules 1. Due to its elasticity, the slotted clamp can be plugged onto flanges 4 of different thicknesses. When plugged onto the flange 3, the clamp 21 expands elastically and thus clamps onto the flange 3 of the frame 4 of the photovoltaic module 1.

[0048] The nut holder 19 is preferably made of plastic. In the slot 22 of the clamp 21, the nut holder 19 has a spring tab 23, which rests with preload against the flange 4 of the frame 3 of the photovoltaic module 1 when the clamp 21 is plugged onto the flange 4. The preload of the spring tab 23 creates friction that holds the clamp 21 on the flange 4 and thus the nut holder 19 on the frame 3 of the photovoltaic module 1. The nut holders 19 have a through-hole 24 that penetrates their clamp 21 and the nut receptacle 20 - the latter axially. The clamp 21 is plugged onto the flange 4 of the frame 3 of a photovoltaic module 1 such that the through-hole 24 of the nut holder 19 is aligned with one of the holes 5 in the flange 4 of the frame 3 of a photovoltaic module 1.The screw forming the connecting element 17 of the module fastening element 7 is then inserted through the through-hole 24 of the nut holder 19 and through the hole 5 in the flange 4 of the frame 3 of the photovoltaic module 1 and screwed into the nut arranged in the nut receptacle 20 of the nut holder 19, which is not visible in the drawing. By tightening the screw, the clamp 21 of the nut holder 19 is tightened and clamped onto the flange 4 of the frame 3 of the photovoltaic module 1, thereby securing the nut holder 19 and the screw forming the connecting element 17 of the module fastening elements 7 to the frame 3 of the photovoltaic module 1.

[0049] On a side of their clamp 21 facing away from the nut receptacle 20, the nut holders 19 have a tubular collar 25 surrounding the through hole 24 as an axial spacer for the head 16 of the connecting element 17. The collar 25 is at least as high, and in the exemplary embodiment slightly higher, than the thickness of the module fastening sections 9, 10 of the wall fastening element 6, whereby the module fastening elements 7 with their nut holders 19 do not clamp to the module fastening sections 9, 10 of the wall fastening element 6, but are displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the fastening openings 12, 13 even when the screws forming the connecting elements 17 are tightened.

[0050] The collar 25 is not wider and in the exemplary embodiment somewhat narrower than the elongated holes, i.e. the rear grip sections 14 of the fastening openings 12, 13 in the module fastening sections 9, 10 of the wall fastening element 6 such that the collar 25 can be inserted into the rear grip sections 14.

[0051] The nut holder 19 is made of a plastic that is electrically conductive due to embedded metal particles, preventing electrostatic charging of the frame 3 of the photovoltaic module 1. This means that the electrical conductivity of the plastic of the nut holder 19 is so great that a difference in electrical potentials between the wall fastening element 6 and the frame 3 of the photovoltaic module 1 is avoided. As described above, the two module fastening sections 9, 10 of the wall fastening element 6 of the wall fastener 2 according to the invention are located in a common plane parallel to the wall contact surface 8.The distance between the common plane of the module fastening sections 9, 10 and the wall contact surface 8 of the wall fastening element 6, perpendicular to the common plane, is at least as large, and in the exemplary embodiment somewhat larger, than the height of the heads 16 of the screws forming the connecting elements 17 of the module fastening elements 7 in the axial direction of their shafts 18. Thus, in a fastened state, there is sufficient distance between the photovoltaic modules 1 and a wall (not shown) to which they are fastened, for the heads 16 of the connecting elements 17.

[0052] To attach several photovoltaic modules 1 next to each other on a wall, the invention provides for two or more nut holders 19 with their clamps 21 to be inserted onto the flange 4 of the frame 3 of the photovoltaic modules 1 at the vertical edges of the photovoltaic modules 1, such that the through holes 24 of the nut holders 19 are aligned with the holes 5 in the flange 4 of the frame 3 of the photovoltaic modules 1. Subsequently, a screw – in the exemplary embodiment, a screw as a connecting element 17 – is inserted through the through hole 24 of the nut holder 19 and the holes 5 in the flange 4 of the frame 3 and screwed into the nuts (not visible in the drawing) in the nut receptacles 20 of the nut holders 19. The heads 16 of the screws are located on the rear of the photovoltaic modules 1.The collars 25 of the nut holders 19 ensure that the heads 16 of the screws have a distance from the flanges 4 of the frames 3 of the photovoltaic modules 1 that is at least as large and, in the exemplary embodiment, slightly larger than the thickness of the module fastening sections 9, 10 of the module fastening elements 7.

[0053] At a common vertical edge of the photovoltaic modules 1, wall fastening elements 6 are arranged on the frames 3 of the photovoltaic modules 1 using the screws forming the connecting elements 17. Specifically, the first module fastening sections 9, which have the elongated holes as first fastening openings 12, are arranged with the screws on the one common vertical edge of the photovoltaic modules 1 or, in other words, on a respective common side of the photovoltaic modules 1 on the frames 3 of the photovoltaic modules 1, such that the wall fastening elements 6 and thus the second module fastening sections 10 protrude or project laterally perpendicular to the vertical edge of the photovoltaic modules 1.The wall contact surfaces 8 and the second module fastening sections 10 of the wall fastening elements 6 are located laterally next to one vertical edge of the photovoltaic modules 1, whereby they are accessible from the front sides of the photovoltaic modules 1.

[0054] With one or more wall fastening elements 6 and a nut holder 19 for each wall fastening element 6, with which the wall fastening elements 6 are attached to the frame of a photovoltaic module 1, a photovoltaic module 1 forms a photovoltaic module 1 according to the invention.

[0055] In addition, as many wall fastening elements 6 are screwed vertically one above the other to the wall with their wall contact surfaces 8 resting against the wall as there are nut holders 19 on an edge of the photovoltaic modules 1 on the flange 4 of the frame 3 of the photovoltaic modules 1. The wall fastening elements 6 on the wall have the same distance from each other as the nut holders 19 on the frame 3 of the photovoltaic modules 1. The wall fastening elements 6 are screwed horizontally to the wall, i.e. the module fastening sections 9, 10 or the fastening openings 12, 13 are aligned horizontally.

[0056] Module fastening sections 9, 10 have a distance from the wall that corresponds to the distance of the module fastening sections 9, 10 from the wall contact surface 8 of the wall fastening elements 6 perpendicular to the common plane of the module fastening sections 9, 10. The distance of the

[0057] Module fastening sections 9, 10 of the wall fastening elements 6 are at least as large and in the exemplary embodiment slightly larger than the heads 16 of the screws forming the connecting elements 17.

[0058] A photovoltaic module 1 is now fastened to the wall by passing the heads 16 of the screws forming the connecting elements 17, on the edge of the photovoltaic module 1 on which no wall fastening elements 6 are arranged, through the circular holes forming the widened portions 15 of the keyhole-shaped second fastening openings 13 in the second module fastening sections 10 of the wall fastening elements 6 of the wall fastening elements 6 screwed to the wall, in such a way that the shafts 18 of the connecting elements 17 pass through the second fastening openings 13. The photovoltaic module 1 is then displaced horizontally in such a way that the shafts 18 of the connecting elements 17 pass through the elongated holes forming the rear engagement sections 14 of the second, keyhole-shaped fastening openings 13, and the heads 16 engage behind the elongated holes.One vertical edge of the photovoltaic module 1 is attached to the wall with the wall fastening elements 6.

[0059] Subsequently, the wall fastening elements 6, which have been arranged on the opposite edge of the first photovoltaic module 1, are screwed to the wall with their wall contact surfaces 8 resting against the wall.

[0060] A further photovoltaic module 1 is then - as described above for the one photovoltaic module 1 - fastened to the second module fastening sections 10 of the wall fastening elements 6, which have previously been arranged on the one vertical edge on the frame 3 of the one photovoltaic module 1 and screwed to the wall.

[0061] In the manner described according to the invention, any number of photovoltaic modules 1 can be attached to the wall next to one another.

[0062] For a first and a last of the photovoltaic modules 1 mounted side by side on the wall, the invention provides special wall fastening elements 26, 27, which are shown in Figures 3 and 4. However, the first and last photovoltaic modules 1 can also be attached to the wall using the wall fastening element 6 described above and shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0063] The first wall fastening element 26 shown in Figure 3, like the wall fastening element 6, has a second module fastening section 10 with a second fastening opening 13 and two wall contact surfaces 8 instead of just one on both sides of the second module fastening section 10. The two wall contact surfaces 8 are located in a plane which, as in Figures 1 and 2, is parallel to the second module fastening section 10 and offset perpendicular to the second module fastening section 10. The wall contact surfaces 8, which have fastening holes 11 for screwing to the wall on both sides of the second module fastening section 10, allow the first wall fastening element 26 to be screwed securely to the wall against twisting.

[0064] The second fastening opening 13 in the second module fastening section 10 of the first wall fastening element 26 is keyhole-shaped and has a rear grip section 14 and a widened portion 15. In contrast to Figures 1 and 2, the first wall fastening element 26 has only the second module fastening section 10 and no first module fastening section 9. To fasten the first photovoltaic module 1 to the wall, two or more first wall fastening elements 26 are screwed to the wall at a distance one above the other.Subsequently, the first photovoltaic module 1, on the frame 3 of which two or more nut holders 19 with screwed-in screws as connecting elements 17 are attached to one edge, is fastened to the two first wall fastening elements 26 as described above by passing heads 16 of the connecting elements 17 through the widened portions 15 of the second fastening openings 13 of the first wall fastening elements 26 screwed to the wall and then displacing the photovoltaic module 1 in such a way that the shafts 18 of the connecting elements 17 reach through the rear grip section 14 of the second fastening openings 13 and the heads 16 of the connecting elements 17 engage behind the second module fastening sections 10 laterally next to the rear grip sections 14 of the second fastening openings 13.

[0065] An opposite edge of the first photovoltaic module 1 is then, as described above, fastened to the wall with two wall fastening elements 6 which have been fastened to the frame 3 at the opposite edge of the first photovoltaic module 1 before the first photovoltaic module 1 was fastened to the first wall fastening elements 26.

[0066] The last wall fastening element 27 shown in Figure 4, like the wall fastening element 6 from Figures 1 and 2, has a wall contact surface 8 with fastening holes 11 for screwing to the wall and a first module fastening section 9 offset perpendicularly to the wall contact surface 8 with a first fastening opening 12. A second module fastening section 10 is missing.

[0067] To secure a last photovoltaic module 1 mounted side by side on the wall, two or more nut holders 19 with screwed-in screws as connecting elements 17 are attached to the frame 3 at two opposite edges of the last photovoltaic module 1. Two or more last wall fastening elements 27 are attached to one edge of the last photovoltaic module 1 instead of the wall fastening element 6 shown in Figures 1 and 2, whereby, as described, fastening is also possible with the wall fastening elements 6.

[0068] The last photovoltaic module 1 is now attached with the connecting elements 17 at one edge, as described above, to the second module attachment sections 10 of the wall attachment elements 6 of a photovoltaic module 1 last attached to the wall with the wall attachment elements 6. Subsequently, the wall contact surfaces 8 of the last wall attachment elements 27, which were previously attached to the frame 3 at the opposite edge of the last photovoltaic module 1, are screwed to the wall.

[0069] List of reference symbols

[0070] Wall fastener for a framed photovoltaic module, photovoltaic module with the wall fastener and method for mounting such photovoltaic modules a distance

[0071] 1 photovoltaic module

[0072] 2 wall fasteners

[0073] 3 frames

[0074] 4 Flange

[0075] 5 holes

[0076] 6 Wall mounting element

[0077] 7 Module fastening element

[0078] 8 Wall contact surface

[0079] 9 first module mounting section

[0080] 10 second module mounting section

[0081] 11 Mounting hole

[0082] 12 first mounting hole

[0083] 13 second mounting hole

[0084] 14 Rear grip section

[0085] 15 Widening

[0086] 16 heads

[0087] 17 Connecting element

[0088] 18 shaft

[0089] 19 Nut holder

[0090] 20 nut holder

[0091] 21 Terminal

[0092] 22 slot

[0093] 23 Spring tab

[0094] 24 Through hole collar first wall fixing element last wall fixing element

Claims

Claims 1. Wall fastener (2) for a framed photovoltaic module (1), comprising a wall fastening element (6) which can be secured to a wall, a mounting rail or another fastening device, wherein the wall fastening element (6) has a wall contact surface (8), a first module fastening section (9) with a first fastening opening (12) and a second module fastening section (10) with a second fastening opening (13), characterized in that the wall fastener (2) has a module fastening element (7) for the first fastening opening (12) and a module fastening element (7) for the second fastening opening (13), which can each be secured to a hole (5) in a strip-shaped flange (4) of a frame (3) of the photovoltaic module (1) and which each have a connecting element (17) with a shaft (18) and a head (16), such that a distance (a) of the module fastening sections (9,10) of the wall fastening element (6) from the wall contact surface (8) perpendicular to the wall contact surface (8) is each at least as large as an axial height of the respective heads (16) of the connecting elements (17), and that the fastening openings (12, 13) in the module fastening sections (9, 10) of the wall fastening element (6) each have a rear grip section (14) for the head (16) of the respective connecting element (17), which are at least as wide as the shaft (18) and narrower than the head (16) of the connecting element (17), and wherein the second fastening opening (13) has a widening (15) through which the head (16) of the connecting element (17) of the second module fastening element (7) can be passed.

2. Wall fastener (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second fastening opening (13) in the second module fastening section (10) of the wall fastening element (6) is keyhole-shaped.

3. Wall fastener (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first fastening opening (12) and / or the second fastening opening (13) is longer than a diameter of the shaft (18) of the connecting element (17).

4. Wall fastener (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module fastening elements (7) each have a nut holder (19) with a nut receptacle (20) for a nut and each have a clamp (21) for clamping to the strip-shaped flange (4) of the frame (3) of the photovoltaic module (1).

5. Wall fastener (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that the clamp (21) of the nut holder (19) is an elastically expandable slotted clamp.

6. Wall fastener (2) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the clamp (21) of the nut holder (19) has a spring tab (23) for clamping onto the flange (4) of the frame (3) of the photovoltaic module (1).

7. Wall fastener (2) according to one or more of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the nut holders (19) are electrically conductive, in particular comprise an electrically conductive plastic.

8. Wall fastener (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nut holder (19) has a tubular collar (25) coaxial with the nut receptacle (20), and in that an outer diameter or a width of the collar (25) is not greater than a width of the rear grip section (14) of the fastening opening (12, 13) in the module fastening section (9, 10) of the wall fastening element (6), an inner diameter of the collar (25) is at least as large as a diameter of the shaft (18) of the connecting element (17) and an axial height of the collar (25) is at least as large as the module fastening section (9, 10) of the wall fastening element (6) is thick.

9. Wall fastener (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wall fastening element (6) is a bent sheet metal part or an extruded profile.

10. Wall fastener (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first module fastening section (9) and the second module fastening section (10) are arranged in a common plane parallel to the wall contact surface (8) of the wall fastening element (6), the distance (a) of which from the wall contact surface (8) perpendicular to the plane is at least as large as the axial height of the head (16) of the connecting element (17).

11. Wall fastener (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wall contact surface (8) of the wall fastening element (6) has fastening holes (11) with different diameters.

12. A framed photovoltaic module (1) with two wall fasteners (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the photovoltaic module (1) comprises a frame (3) with a flange (4) with holes (5) on opposite edges of the photovoltaic module (1), characterized in that the first module fastening section (9) of a wall fastening element (6) of one of the two wall fasteners (2) is fastened with a module fastening element (7) to a hole (5) in the strip-shaped flange (4) of the frame (3) of the photovoltaic module (1), and in that the photovoltaic module (1) is fastened with a module fastening element (7) to a hole (5) in the strip-shaped flange (4) of the frame (3) on an opposite edge of the photovoltaic module (1) to the first module fastening section (9) of the corresponding other wall fastener (2) on its wall fastening element (6),wherein the respective second module fastening sections (10) of the two wall fasteners (2) are oriented in particular at a right angle away from the strip-shaped flange (4) and the photovoltaic module (1).

13. Framed photovoltaic module (1) with two wall fasteners (2) according to claim 12 and nut holders (19) according to one or more of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the clamps (21) of the nut holders (19) are plugged onto the flanges (4) of the frame (3) of the photovoltaic module (1), that a nut is arranged in each of the nut receptacles (20) of the nut holders (19), into which screws are screwed as connecting elements (17), the shanks (18) of which engage through the rear engagement sections (14) of the fastening openings (12, 13) in the module fastening sections (9, 10) of the wall fastening elements (6) and the heads (16) of which engage behind the module fastening sections (9, 10) of the wall fastening elements (6) on a rear side facing away from the photovoltaic module (1).

14. A method for fastening framed photovoltaic modules (1) according to claim 12 or 13 in a row next to one another on a wall, mounting rail or other fastening device, characterized in that a first module fastening section (9) of a wall fastening element (6) is fastened to the flange (4) of the frame (3) of a photovoltaic module (1), that the wall fastening element (6) is then fastened to the wall, mounting rail or other fastening device, and that a further photovoltaic module (1) is then fastened with the flange (4) of its frame (3) to the second module fastening section (10) of the wall fastening element (6).

Images