DEVICE FOR CONNECTING THE END OF A SHEET LATCH TO AN ANCHORAGE

Abstract

A connection device (100) for the end of a stay (201, 202) to an anchor, the device (100) comprising a first flange (10) having a connecting element for attaching said first flange (10) to the end of the stay (201, 202), a second flange (20) having a connecting element for attaching the second flange (20) to an anchor, a first and a second connecting rod (301, 302) for connecting the first flange (10) to the second flange (20), said first flange (10) and second flange (20) respectively comprising a first and a second connecting means for attaching the respective ends of the first and second connecting rod (301, 302), the first and second connecting means of the second flange (20) being provided with a ball joint. (See Figure 3 in the abstract.)

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR CONNECTING THE END OF A KEEPING BEAM TO AN ANCHORAGE Scope of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for connecting the end of a guy wire to an anchor. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for connecting the guy wire of a structure, equipped with solar panels, to an anchor present in the ground. State of the art

[0002] In the state of the art, it is known to use support cables or guy wires to tension a suitable structure to support a set of solar panels.

[0003] These support cables or guy wires are fixed between the upper ends of the vertical construction elements of the structure and anchors present in the ground, at the location where the structure is positioned.

[0004] According to the prior art, anchors, such as micropiles fixed in the ground, are used. Generally, concrete blocks or concrete slabs are used to ensure the connection between the anchor fixed in the ground and the end of the guy wire. These concrete blocks, due to their size and shape, provide intermediate elements that allow for tolerances between a theoretical positioning of the anchors in the ground and the actual position of said anchors in the ground after installation.

[0005] In practice, this means that a concrete block is placed above an anchor, and that a fixing element is fixed in the concrete block in a suitable position allowing the end of the guy wire to be fixed.

[0006] The function of the concrete blocks is to allow the structure to attach to the foundations to transmit the forces, while accepting a slight tolerance in positioning.

[0007] However, the use of concrete foundations comes with a number of disadvantages, including, among others: - concrete blocks can hide defects in anchor positioning; - the concrete structures artificialize a significant ground surface; - The concrete blocks are very visible and can give the impression of larger concrete foundations than they actually are. - the concrete foundations have a significant impact on the structure's carbon footprint, and - The complexity of implementation and the drying time of the concrete masses is a constraint for the construction site. Object of the invention

[0008] In view of the above observations, one of the objectives of the present invention is to propose an alternative method of fixing the ends of support cables or stays, which avoids the use of the aforementioned concrete blocks to tie the anchors.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a device for connecting the end of a stay to an anchor, the connecting device comprising: - a first flange equipped with a connecting element for attaching said first flange to the end of the stay, - a second flange equipped with a connecting element to fix the second flange to the anchor, - a first and a second connecting rod to link the first flange to the second flange,

[0010] wherein the first flange and the second flange respectively comprise a first and a second connection means for fixing the respective ends of the first and second connecting rod, the first and second connection means of the second flange comprising a ball joint.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, said ball joint of the first and second means of connection of the second flange comprises an assembly consisting of a female ball joint and a male ball joint.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second flange includes adjustment means for adjusting the position of the first and second connection means for connecting the first and second connecting rods to the second flanges.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the adjustment means for adjusting the position of the first and second connection means for the second flange include fixing openings to allow the first and second connection means to be fixed at a selected position along the longitudinal direction of said fixing openings.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first flange is essentially longitudinal in shape, the connecting element for attaching the first flange to the end of the stay being positioned between the first and second connecting means for attaching the first and second connecting rod.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second flange is essentially longitudinal in shape, the connecting element for attaching the second flange to the anchor being positioned between the first and second means of connection for the fixing of the first and second connecting rod.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first and second means of connection of the first flange are provided with a ball joint.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the connecting element for fixing the second flange to an anchor is specifically adapted to fix the second flange to the end of a micropile. Brief description of the drawings

[0018] The purpose, object and features of the invention will become clearer upon reading the following description made with reference to the figures in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] shows a perspective view of part of the structure of a power plant Photovoltaic panels stretched by a set of guy wires according to prior art.

[0020] [Fig.2] represents a schematic top view of part of a photovoltaic power plant, tensioned by a set of guy wires according to the prior art,

[0021] [Fig.3] shows a first perspective view of a connection device according to the present invention, allowing a guy wire to be connected to an anchor fixed in the ground, said connection device being itself connected to the upper end of a micropile,

[0022] [Fig.4] represents a second perspective view of the device according to [Fig.3],

[0023] [Fig.5] shows a cross-section of an embodiment of a second flange of the connection device according to Figures 3 and 4,

[0024] [Fig.6] shows the attachment of the second flange to the stay, and

[0025] [Fig.7] shows, in a partial cross-sectional view, the assembly of the stay, the rods threaded, flanged and micropile.

[0026] Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of part of the structure of a photovoltaic power plant 200 supported by a set of guy wires 201, 202. The photovoltaic power plant 200 according to Fig. 1 is known in the prior art.

[0027] The photovoltaic power plant 200 is provided with poles 203, 204, 205, 206 positioned in a vertical direction, each of them being supported by a micropile (or a driven pile) 253, 254, 255, 256. The poles 203, 204, 205, 206 support, near the upper end of the poles 203, 204, 205, 206, the opposite ends of the cables 210, 211, 212, 213.

[0028] The cables 210, 211, 212, 213 carry support structures 215, 216, 217, 218, 219. These support structures 215, 216, 217, 218, 219 are used for the purpose of fixing the photovoltaic panels 220 to the cables 210, 211, 212, 213.

[0029] Fig. 1 shows that each of the supporting structures 215, 216, 217, 218, 219 is, respectively, connected to an upper cable 210, 212 and to a lower cable 211, 213.

[0030] According to the prior art, the support structures 215, 216, 217, 218, 219 are connected, in a fixed orientation, to the cables 210, 211, 212, 213. The photovoltaic panels 220 are attached to said support structures 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, which are equipped to change the tilt of the photovoltaic panels 220. This change in tilt is made possible by the presence of electric motors operated by means of a control system. The details of these specific parts of the solar power plant are not part of the present invention and will not be described in detail.

[0031] Since the 220 photovoltaic panels can be oriented in relation to the sun, this allows their use to be optimized throughout the day and throughout the year, and also optimizes electricity production.

[0032] For the sake of clarity, it is understood that in [Fig.1], only a small part of the photovoltaic power plant 200 has been represented. The number of poles 203, 204, 205, 206 can be multiplied in order to be able to fix, respectively, a greater number of cables 210, 211, 212, 213, a greater number of support structures 215, 216, 217, 218, 219 and a greater number of photovoltaic panels 220 on the photovoltaic power plant 200.

[0033] The 200 photovoltaic power plant, illustrated in [Fig. 1], is known from the prior art. The details of the construction of the power plant are, for example, described in detail in French patent application FR 3,133,502.

[0034] The structure of the photovoltaic power plant 200 has the advantage of being equipped with photovoltaic panels 220 that can be fixed at a certain distance from the ground. This means that the soil under the photovoltaic panels 220 can be used for agriculture.

[0035] The construction of the known photovoltaic power plant 200 makes it possible to obtain a relatively lightweight and low-cost structure, while limiting the number of vertical elements that could constitute obstacles during the use of the land under the solar panels. In the absence of vertical elements, agricultural machinery can move freely under all the solar panels 220.

[0036] As shown in [Fig. 1], the structure of the known photovoltaic power plant 200 is completed by support cables or guy wires 201, 202. These guy wires are used to exert tension on the upper end of the poles 203, 204 positioned outside the photovoltaic power plant 200. The guy wires 201, 202, shown in [Fig. 1], are essentially positioned in line with the cables 210, 211, 212. and 213 which support the load-bearing structures 215, 216, 217, 218, 219 and the photovoltaic panels 220.

[0037] The presence of the guy wires 201, 202 prevents the poles 203, 204 from bending under the combined weight of the cables 210, 211, 212, 213, the supporting structures 215, 216, 217, 218, 219 and the photovoltaic panels 220. In addition, the presence of the guy wires 201, 202 allows the use of lighter and less rigid vertical poles in the structure of the photovoltaic power plant 200.

[0038] According to the example illustrated in [Fig. 1], the stays 201, 202 are connected to anchoring means fixed in the ground. These anchoring means are provided with an anchor 230, 231 fixed in the ground. Also according to this example, the anchors 230, 231 are in the form of micropiles driven into the ground. A concrete block 240, 241 is placed at the upper end of the anchors 230, 231.

[0039] The end of the stays 201, 202 is fixed respectively to the concrete blocks 240, 241.

[0040] The concrete blocks 240, 241 form intermediate connection means between the anchors 230, 231 on the one hand and the stays 201, 202 on the other. According to the prior art, concrete blocks are often used for this purpose.

[0041] However, the use of the concrete blocks 240, 241 is accompanied by a number of disadvantages, including: - concrete blocks can hide defects in anchor positioning; - the concrete structures artificialize a significant ground surface; - The concrete blocks are very visible and can give the impression of larger concrete foundations than they actually are. - the concrete foundations have a significant impact on the structure's carbon footprint, and - The complexity of implementation and the drying time of the concrete masses is a constraint for the construction site.

[0042] Figure 2 shows a schematic top view of part of the solar power plant 200 as shown in Figure 1. Reference number 201 indicates the position of the first guy wire attached to the concrete block 240. Figure 2 shows that the guy wire 201 is aligned with the cables 210, 211 to which the photovoltaic panels 220 are connected. This means that the guy wire 201 exerts tension on the upper end of the pole 203 in the opposite direction to the force exerted on the pole 203 by the cables 210, 211, the supporting structures (not shown in detail in Figure 2), and the photovoltaic panels 220.

[0043] In [Fig.2], the reference number 202 is used to refer to the intended position of the second support cable 202. The reference number 240 refers to the intended position of the concrete block 240 relative to the post 204.

[0044] In the example in [Fig. 2], reference number 202' indicates the actual position of the second stay 202. The second support cable is not correctly aligned with the post 204 due to a slightly incorrect positioning of the concrete block to which the second support cable is attached. In the example in [Fig. 2], the slightly misaligned concrete block is indicated by reference number 241'.

[0045] Figure 2 clearly shows that the second guy wire 202' exerts a certain transverse force on the upper part of the pole 204 due to the misalignment or misalignment of the second guy wire 202' with respect to the pole 204. This transverse force is schematically indicated by an arrow with reference numeral 292. The presence of the aforementioned transverse force 292 on one or more poles 204 of the photovoltaic power plant 200 can lead to the misalignment of a set of poles. This can cause a malfunction of the systems used to change the orientation of the photovoltaic panels 220. Furthermore, the transverse force 292 can cause mechanical failure of the structure of the photovoltaic power plant 200.

[0046] Furthermore, during use and due to the misalignment of the support cable assembly 202' and the connected concrete block 241', forces are exerted on said assembly 202', 241' in a direction different from that for which the assembly was designed. Over time, this misalignment of forces can lead to mechanical failure of the connection between the guy wire 202' and the concrete block 241'.

[0047] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a connection device, for connecting the end of a guy wire 201, 202 to an anchorage such as a micropile 230, 231, in which the form and function of said connection device can avoid at least one or more of the disadvantages described above related to the use of concrete blocks 240, 241.

[0048] Figure 3 shows a first perspective view of a connection device 100 according to the present invention. According to the example illustrated in Figure 3, the connection device 100 is used to connect the end of the guy wire 201 to the anchorage in the form of a micropile 230.

[0049] The connection device 100 is provided with a first flange, or upper flange 10 adapted to be fixed to the end of the stay 201. This first flange 10 is essentially longitudinal in shape, as can be seen in figures 3 and 4. The shape of the first flange may be other than longitudinal.

[0050] The end of the cable 201 is fixed to the center of the first flange 10. According to the example illustrated in [Fig. 3], the end of the stay 201 is provided with a threaded portion 250. Said threaded portion 250 of the stay 201 is fixed to the first flange 10 by means of a washer 11 and two nuts 251. Optionally, a force sensor 259 may be present between the washer 11 and the nuts 251.

[0051] The connection device 100 is also provided with a second flange 20, or lower flange. This second flange 20 is intended to be fixed to the upper end of the micropile 230. The second flange 20 has a shape similar to the first flange 10, that is to say, essentially longitudinal. This can be seen in Figures 3 and 4 and in Figures 6 and 7. The shape of the second flange 20 may be other than longitudinal.

[0052] The second flange 20 is connected to the micropile 230 by the central part of said second flange 20.

[0053] The first flange 10 and the second flange 20 are mutually connected by means of connecting rods, such as a first threaded rod 301 and a second threaded rod 302. The presence of said threaded rods 301, 302 allows the user to make adjustments of the distance between the terminal part of the cable stay 201 and the micropile 230.

[0054] The lower ends of the first and second threaded rods 301, 302 are connected by means of an assembly of a female ball joint 310 and a male ball joint 311. The lower end of the threaded rods 301, 302 is provided with a thread enabling the threaded rods to be fixed to this assembly 310, 311. The use of the assembly of a female ball joint 310 and a male ball joint 311 is illustrated in [Fig. 5].

[0055] Figure 4 shows a second perspective view of the connection device 100 according to the invention. Figure 5 shows the upper part of the second flange 20 directed towards the first flange 10.

[0056] Figure 4 clearly shows that the second flange 20 is provided with oblong mounting openings 21, 22, each adapted to receive the aforementioned assembly of a female ball joint 310 and a male ball joint 311. The shape of the mounting openings may be other than oblong. For example, instead of a single oblong opening, the second flange 20 may comprise a series of adjacent openings, each opening representing a mounting position for the threaded rods 301, 302.

[0057] Fig. 5 represents a cross-section of an embodiment of the second flange 20, to show its functionality, and the connection of the first threaded rod 301 in the first oblong fixing opening 21 of said second flange 20.

[0058] Figure 5 shows the attachment of the female ball joint 310 to the second flange 20, using fastening means 312, 313. The assembly consists of the first threaded rod 301, the female ball joint 310, and the male ball joint 311 are secured using a nut and locknut 314, 315. The female ball joint 310 has a concave lower opening providing a seat for the male ball joint 311. Thanks to their complementary concave / convex shapes, the female ball joint 310 and the male ball joint 311 provide sufficient flexibility to orient the connecting cable 301 relative to the second flange 20. This orientational flexibility allows the assembly of the first flange 10, the second flange 20, and the connecting rods 301, 302 to compensate for any misalignment in the position and orientation of the end of the guy wire 201 and the micropile 230.

[0059] According to the example illustrated in [Fig.6], the micropile 230 is inclined at an angle of 45° to the vertical. The second flange is screwed onto the top of the micropile, using a thread present both inside the second flange 20 and outside the micropile 230.

[0060] Fig. 7 shows the assembly, according to a partially cross-sectional view, of a guy wire 201, threaded rods (only the threaded rod 301 is shown on Fig. 7), the first flange 10, the second flange 20 and the micropile 230.

[0061] Fig. 7 shows that the stay 201 is perfectly aligned perpendicularly with respect to the second flange 20, thanks to the presence of the connection device 100 according to the invention.

[0062] Fig. 7 shows that the adjustability provided by the connection device 100 allows alignment of the tension force exerted by the stay 201 on the second flange 20, thus avoiding undesirable tensions exerted by the stay 201 on the structure intended to be supported by the stay 201.

Claims

Demands

1. Connection device (100) for the end of a stay (201, 202) to an anchor, the connection device (100) comprising: - a first flange (10) having a connecting element for fixing said first flange (10) to the end of the stay (201, 202), - a second flange (20) having a connecting element for fixing the second flange (20) to the anchor, - a first and a second connecting rod (301, 302) for connecting the first flange (10) to the second flange (20), in which the first flange (10) and the second flange (20) respectively comprise a first and a second connecting means for fixing the respective ends of the first and second connecting rod (301, 302), the first and second connecting means of the second flange comprising a ball joint.

2. Connection device (100) according to claim 1, wherein said ball joint of the first and second connection means of the second flange (20) comprises an assembly consisting of a female ball joint (310) and a male ball joint (311).

3. Connection device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second flange (20) includes adjustment means for adjusting the position of the first and second connection means for connecting the first and second connecting rods (301, 302) to the second flange (20).

4. Connection device (100) according to claim 3, wherein the adjustment means for adjusting the position of the first and second connection means for the second flange (20) comprise fixing openings (21, 22) to allow the first and second connection means to be fixed at a selected position along the longitudinal direction of said fixing openings (21, 22).

5. A connection device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first flange (10) is essentially longitudinal in shape, the connection element for attaching the first flange (10) to the end of the stay (201, 202) being positioned between the first and second connection means for fixing the first and second connecting rod (301, 302).

6. Connection device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second flange (20) is essentially longitudinal in shape, the connection element for attaching the second flange (20) to the anchorage being positioned between the first and second connection means for attaching the first and second connecting rod (301, 302).

7. Connection device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second connection means of the first flange (10) are provided with a ball joint.

8. Connection device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection element for fixing the second flange (20) to an anchor is specifically adapted to fix the second flange (20) to the end of a micropile (230, 231).

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