Photovoltaic panel

Abstract

To reduce the weight of a support structure for supporting and fixing a photovoltaic power generation panel 1 on an installation surface R as much as possible.SOLUTION: The photovoltaic power generation panel is held apart from the installation surface by columnar members 3 and 4 having an upper end part connected to the edge and a lower end part abutting on the installation surface at a plurality of positions of the edge. The columnar member has an upper end connection part 31 fixed to an edge of the photovoltaic power generation panel at an upper end part, a lower end connection part 35 fixed to an installation surface at a lower end part, and a columnar leg part 33 extending between the upper end connection part and the lower end connection part. The connection pin holes 31p and 35p bored in at least one of the upper end connection portion and the lower end connection portion may be aligned with the leg portion pin holes 33p and 33q bored in one of the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the columnar leg portion connected thereto, and the pin members 32 and 37 may be inserted into the aligned pin holes to connect at least one of the upper end connection portion and the lower end connection portion to the corresponding upper end portion or lower end portion of the columnar leg portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a solar power generation panel to be installed on the roof of a building or other installation surface, and more particularly to a solar power generation panel having a support structure for supporting and fixing it on the installation surface. [Background technology]

[0002] As solar power generation becomes more widespread, solar panels are being installed in a variety of locations, and various support structures for supporting such solar panels on various installation surfaces have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which a frame holding the outer edge of a solar cell panel is fixed to vertical beams arranged on a roof surface. Patent Document 2 proposes a structure in which a lower beam is placed across multiple supports arranged side by side on a flat roof, an upper beam is arranged perpendicular to the lower beam, and a solar cell panel is attached to the upper beam. Patent Document 3 proposes a structure in which a solar cell panel is fixed to two rod-shaped support racks extending parallel to each other on the installation surface via a frame that surrounds the edge of the solar cell panel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-090251 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2020-165233 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2019-143306 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When placing a solar panel on an installation surface such as a roof, it is common to extend a beam-like member over the installation surface and secure the back or edge of the solar panel to the beam-like member, as described above. However, using a beam-like member to support and secure the solar panel increases its weight. When the installation surface is a roof or other surface with a limited installable weight, the solar panel cannot be installed if the total weight of the solar panel, including the beam-like member, exceeds the limit. In particular, when the beam-like member supporting the solar panel is locally supported and secured at several support points on the installation surface, the beam-like member must be thick enough to withstand the maximum bending moment generated between the support points when it is subjected to a vertical load, which tends to increase the weight of the beam-like member. Thus, a structure that is as lightweight as possible and does not use beam-like members as a support and securing structure for solar panels would be advantageous, as it would increase the area in which solar panels can be installed.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, a main object of the present invention is to reduce the weight as much as possible of a support structure for supporting and fixing a solar power generation panel on an installation surface. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the present invention, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a solar power generation panel having columnar members at multiple points on its edge, the columnar members having upper ends connected to the edge and lower ends abutting the installation surface, and extending in an approximately vertical direction, and the solar power generation panel is held at a distance from the installation surface by the columnar members.

[0007] In the above, the "photovoltaic panel" may be, but is not limited to, a generally rectangular, flat panel portion configured with a plurality of generally rectangular solar cells arranged vertically or horizontally on a plate-shaped panel member. The "installation surface" may typically be the roof of any building or the ground. The columnar members connect the installation surface and the edge of the photovoltaic panel to maintain the panel portion at a distance from the installation surface, and may be arranged at appropriate intervals along the periphery of the photovoltaic panel. For example, in the case of a rectangular photovoltaic panel, columnar members may be arranged at approximately equal intervals between both ends of opposing edges, as shown in the drawings below, to stably support the panel portion. Note that the heights of the columnar members arranged on one edge and the other edge may be different to maintain the panel portion at an angle relative to the installation surface (usually, the heights of the columnar members arranged on each edge are equal to each other).

[0008] As described above, in a configuration in which a solar panel is directly supported by a plurality of columnar members extending in an approximately vertical direction, each columnar member holds the solar panel with only a simple axial force in the vertical direction, connecting the edge of the panel portion to the installation surface in an approximately straight line. Therefore, compared to the beam-like members that extend approximately horizontally along the panel surface and required a thickness to resist bending moments, as was used in conventional support structures for solar panels, the support structure is simplified and less mass is required for the structure, resulting in weight reduction and improved structural efficiency.

[0009] In the case of a configuration in which a solar panel is supported and fixed by a plurality of columnar members as described above, a process of connecting the upper and lower ends of each columnar member to the edge of the solar panel and the installation surface is required, which increases the amount of work required to install the solar panel, and makes the work particularly tedious when screws, welding, or the like are used for all of the connection points. Therefore, in order to reduce the amount of work required to install the solar panel, in one aspect of the present invention, the solar panel is The columnar member has an upper end connection portion fixed to the edge of the solar panel at the upper end, a lower end connection portion fixed to the installation surface at the lower end, and a columnar leg portion extending between the upper end connection portion and the lower end connection portion, A connection portion pin hole drilled in at least one of the upper end connection portion and the lower end connection portion may be aligned with a leg pin hole drilled in one of the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the columnar leg portion connected to at least one of the upper end connection portion and the lower end connection portion, and a pin member may be inserted into these aligned leg pin holes and connection portion pin holes to connect at least one of the upper end connection portion and the lower end connection portion to the corresponding upper end portion or lower end portion of the columnar leg. Note that a configuration in which a pin member is inserted into the aligned connection portion pin hole and leg pin hole may be adopted in both the upper end connection portion and the lower end connection portion.

[0010] That is, in the configuration of the above aspect, screw fastening or the like may be used to fix the upper end connection portion at the upper end of each columnar member to the edge of the solar panel and to fix the lower end connection portion at the lower end to the installation surface, but the connection between the upper end portion of the columnar leg of the columnar member and the upper end connection portion or the connection between the lower end portion of the columnar leg and the lower end connection portion is achieved by inserting a pin member into a pin hole drilled in each columnar member. With this configuration, where the pin member is inserted into the pin hole, troublesome work such as fastening a screw or the like is not required, thereby reducing the amount of work when installing the solar panel.

[0011] When the pin members are inserted into the pin holes to connect the upper end portions of the columnar legs of the columnar members to the upper end connection portions and the lower end portions of the columnar legs to the lower end connection portions as described above, the structure may be configured so that the upper and lower pin members of each columnar member extend in different directions. With this configuration, even if a force about the axis of one of the upper and lower pin members acts on the columnar leg, the axial direction of the other pin member is different, so that the columnar leg does not pivot about its axis. Therefore, the angle between the columnar leg and the installation surface or panel surface fixed by the other pin member is maintained, and this state is maintained at multiple points along the edge of the panel. Therefore, the multiple columnar members do not collapse all at once, and the solar power generation panel is maintained separated from the installation surface.

[0012] Furthermore, when a pin member is inserted into a pin hole to connect the upper end portion of the columnar leg of the columnar member to the upper end connection portion or the lower end portion of the columnar leg to the lower end connection portion as described above, the pin members at the upper ends or lower ends of two columnar members arranged at opposite locations on opposite edges of the solar panel may extend in different directions. With this configuration, even if a force about the axis of the pin member acts on the columnar leg on one of the opposite edges of the panel, the axial direction of the pin member on the other edge is different, so that the columnar leg on the other edge does not pivot about the axis of the pin member. Therefore, the angle between the installation surface or panel surface fixed by the other pin member and the columnar leg is maintained, and this state is maintained at multiple points along the edge of the panel. Therefore, the multiple columnar members do not fall all at once, and the solar panel is maintained separated from the installation surface.

[0013] That is, as described above, by making the extending directions of the pin members different at the top and bottom of each columnar leg and at the columnar legs of two columnar members arranged at opposing locations on opposing edges of the panel, the solar panel is stably maintained at a distance from the installation surface. Note that in the embodiment of the above configuration, the extending direction of the pin members at the upper end of each columnar member may be aligned with the edge direction of the solar panel, the extending direction of the pin members at the lower end of each columnar member may intersect the edge direction of the solar panel, and the extending directions of the pin members at the lower ends of two columnar members arranged on opposing edges may intersect each other.

[0014] Furthermore, when a configuration is adopted in which pin members are inserted into pin holes to connect the upper end portions of the columnar legs of the columnar members to the upper end connection portion and to connect the lower end portions of the columnar legs to the lower end connection portion, the axial diameter of the upper pin members may be smaller than the diameter of the pin holes through which they are inserted, and the pin members may be displaceable radially within the pin holes. With this configuration, the length between the upper and lower ends of the columnar members and the spacing between adjacent columnar members are displaceable within the range in which the pin members can be displaced radially within the pin holes, which is advantageous because it is possible to absorb dimensional changes due to unevenness of the installation surface or thermal expansion of the solar panel or the installation surface within the displaceable range of the length or spacing.

[0015] In the above configuration, the edges of the solar panel may be made of an aluminum frame, etc. Each part of the columnar member may be made of any steel plate material, steel pipe material, etc. that is commonly used in this field and has excellent rust resistance. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] Thus, in the above-mentioned configuration, the main load acting on the solar panel is a vertical load, and increasing the number of columnar members leads to a simple axial force and a reduction in the axial force due to distribution according to the number of columnar members, thereby simplifying the structure. According to the above-mentioned configuration, since the support structure for supporting and fixing the solar panel on the installation surface does not use beam-like members as in the past, it is expected that the weight will be reduced and the area in which the solar panel can be installed will be wider.

[0017] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1(A) is a schematic perspective view of a solar panel having a support structure according to this embodiment, with the panel portion partially cut away. FIG. 1(B) is a schematic perspective view of a columnar member of the solar panel according to this embodiment. FIG. 1(C) is a schematic plan view of the columnar member of the solar panel according to this embodiment, with the upper surface of the upper end connection portion at the upper end omitted. FIG. 1(D) is a schematic perspective view showing the upper end connection portion, columnar leg portion, and lower connection portion of the columnar member according to this embodiment in exploded form. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the solar power generation panel according to this embodiment, with the panel portion drawn in a see-through manner. [Figure 3] Fig. 3(A) is a schematic perspective view of a columnar member of a solar panel according to this embodiment, depicting the trajectory of the upper end when the columnar leg is tilted. Fig. 3(B) is a schematic perspective view of columnar members arranged on opposite edges of a solar panel according to this embodiment, depicting the trajectory of the upper end when each columnar leg is tilted. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of another aspect of the solar power generation panel according to this embodiment, with the panel portion drawn in a see-through manner. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the solar power generation panel according to this embodiment, illustrating the width of irregularities on the installation surface that can be absorbed by the columnar members. [Explanation of symbols]

[0019] 1...Solar power generation panel, 2...Panel section, 3, 4...Columnar member, 3u...Upper end of columnar member, 3l...Lower end of columnar member, 31...Upper end connection section, 31a...Upper surface of upper end connection section, 31b, c...Side surface of upper end connection section, 31p...Upper end connection section pin hole, 32, 37...Pin member, 34...Installation surface adhesive section, 34a...Protruding section of adhesive section, 35...Lower end connection section, 35a...Bottom surface of lower end connection section, 35b, c...Side surface of lower end connection section, 35p...Lower end connection section pin hole, 36...Screw, R...Installation surface BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0020] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to some preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like parts.

[0021] Solar panel configuration 1(A), in the solar power generation panel 1 according to this embodiment, pillar-shaped members 3 and 4 are arranged at appropriate intervals along the peripheral edge 2a of the panel unit 2, which is made up of parallel arrays of rectangular, flat solar cells, and which maintain the panel unit 2 at a distance from the installation surface R. The installation surface R may typically be the roof of a building or the ground. The surface direction of the panel unit 2 may be inclined at any angle θ with respect to the installation surface R, and therefore the pillar-shaped member 3 attached to one of the opposing edges of the panel unit 2 and the pillar-shaped member 4 attached to the other may have different vertical heights.

[0022] As described above, in the configuration in which the columnar members 3, 4 are arranged at multiple locations on the outer periphery of the panel portion 2a and are held at a distance from the installation surface R, the vertical load acting primarily from the panel portion 2a is transmitted as a vertical axial force to each of the columnar members 3, 4, eliminating the need for increased rigidity to resist bending moments as with conventional beam-like members. Furthermore, since the load of the panel portion 2a is distributed by providing multiple columnar members 3, 4 as shown, each columnar member 3, 4 can be formed to be relatively lightweight. Therefore, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the structural efficiency of the support structure for the solar panel 1 is improved, and the solar panel 1 is made lighter and its structure is simplified. Therefore, it is expected that the solar panel 1 will be installable in a wider area, for example, in places where solar panels could not be installed until now due to weight restrictions.

[0023] Columnar member configuration In a configuration in which the columnar members 3, 4 are installed at multiple locations around the periphery of the panel portion 2a, as in the present embodiment, if all of the fixing is performed by fastening with screws, welding, etc., the amount of work required for installation increases. Therefore, in this embodiment, as described below, a configuration of the columnar members 3, 4 is provided that does not use screws, welding, etc. to fix the elements of the columnar members 3, 4, and can be installed with simpler work.

[0024] 1(B) and 1(C), each columnar member 3 has, as its upper end 3u, an upper end connection portion 31 fixed to the periphery of the panel portion 2a, and as its lower end 3l, a lower end connection portion 35 fixed to a protruding portion 34a of an installation surface adhesive portion 34 fixed or adhered to the installation surface R, and columnar legs 33 connected to the upper end connection portion 31 and the lower end connection portion 35 and extending approximately vertically therebetween. In this configuration, the upper surface 31a of the upper end connection portion 31 may be fixed to the periphery of the panel portion 2a in any manner, such as by screwing. The bottom surface 35a of the lower end connecting portion 35 may be fixed to the protruding portion 34a of the installation surface adhesive portion 34 in any manner using screws 36 or the like, and the installation surface adhesive portion 34 may be adhered to the installation surface R using an adhesive or the like if the installation surface R is the roof surface of a building, a paved ground, a waterproof sheet surface, or the like, or may be fixed by any other method. The columnar member 4 also has a similar configuration (the same applies hereinafter).

[0025] 1(B) to 1(D), the connection between the upper end connection portion 31 and the upper end of the columnar leg portion 33, and the connection between the lower end connection portion 35 and the lower end of the columnar leg portion 33 may be achieved by inserting columnar or tubular pin members 32, 37 into pin holes provided in the respective portions. More specifically, at the upper end of the columnar leg portion 33, pin holes 31p drilled in side surfaces 31b, c extending substantially vertically downward from both sides of the upper surface 31a of the upper end connection portion 31 are aligned with pin hole 33p drilled substantially perpendicularly in the axial direction at the upper end of the columnar leg 33, and pin member 32 is inserted therethrough to connect the upper end connection portion 31 and the upper end of the columnar leg portion 33. Furthermore, at the lower end of the columnar leg 33, pin holes 35p drilled in side surfaces 35b, c extending substantially vertically upward from both sides of the bottom surface 35a of the lower end connection portion 35 align with pin hole 33q drilled substantially vertically in the axial direction at the upper end of the columnar leg 33, and pin members 37 are inserted into these holes to connect the lower end connection portion 31 to the lower end of the columnar leg 33. With this configuration, the connection between the upper end connection portion 31 and the upper end of the columnar leg 33 and the connection between the lower end connection portion 35 and the lower end of the columnar leg 33 can be achieved simply by passing pin members 32, 37 through pin holes 31p, 33p, 35p, 33q, respectively, so that there is no need to use screwing, welding, or other labor-intensive processes, thereby achieving a reduction in the amount of work involved. In order to prevent the pin members 32, 37 from coming off the respective pin holes, although not shown, after the pin members 32, 37 have been inserted into the pin holes, rod-shaped members may be inserted near both ends of the pin members in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, thereby limiting the axial displacement of the pin members 32, 37. The above-described configuration for inserting pin members into the pin holes may be adopted for only one of the upper end portions or lower end portions of the columnar members 3, 4, and this case also falls within the scope of this embodiment.

[0026] However, if the connection between the upper end connection portion 31 and the upper end of the columnar leg 33, and the connection between the lower end connection portion 35 and the lower end of the columnar leg 33 are achieved simply by passing pin members through the pin holes as described above, the columnar leg 33 can pivot around the pin member at its upper or lower end, as shown in Figure 3(A), and actual pivoting will result in a change in the height of the panel unit 2. In this regard, if the pin members 32, 37 at the upper and lower ends of all the columnar legs 33 attached to each edge of the panel unit 2 extend in the same direction, when a circumferential force of the pin members 32, 37 acts on the panel unit 2, the columnar legs 33 will pivot around the pin members at their upper and lower ends simultaneously, and the position of the panel unit 2 may not be maintained. 1(A) to 1(D), in this embodiment, pin holes may be drilled in each columnar member, and the pin members 32, 37 may be inserted through the pin holes so that the axial directions of the pin members 32, 37 at the upper and lower ends intersect with each other. The angle α (FIG. 1(C)) formed between the pin members 32, 37 may be any angle, such as 45°. With this configuration, even if a force acts on the panel portion 2 in its surface direction, the columnar leg portion 33 of each columnar member 3 does not pivot, and the height of the panel portion 2 is maintained.

[0027] 1(A) and 2, it is preferable that the pin holes of the columnar members 3 and 4 attached at opposing positions on opposing edges of the panel portion 2 are drilled and the pin members are inserted through them so that the extending directions of the pin members intersect with each other. As can be seen from Fig. 3(B), if the axial directions of the pin members are not aligned, the pivot orbit CL3 of the columnar leg of the columnar member 3 and the pivot orbit CL4 of the columnar leg of the other columnar member will be different, and therefore, when one column tries to pivot, the distance ΔH between the columnar legs needs to change. However, since the opposing columnar members 3 and 4 are fixed to the panel portion 2, the distance ΔH between the columnar legs is not allowed to change. As a result, even if a force acts in a direction that pivots the columnar leg of one columnar member, neither columnar leg can pivot, and thus the height and position of the panel portion 2 are maintained.

[0028] From the perspective of the appearance of the solar power generation panel, the extension direction of the pin members at the upper ends of the columnar members 3, 4 attached to the peripheral edge of the panel unit 2 may be along the edge. In this case, the columnar members 3, 4 may be configured so that the extension direction of the pin members at the lower ends of each columnar member intersects the extension direction of the peripheral edge of the panel unit 2 and the extension directions of the pin members at the lower ends of the columnar members on opposing edges intersect with each other. Referring to FIG. 2, the angle β (=π-2α) formed by the direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the pin members at the lower ends of the columnar members 3, 4 on opposing edges may be set arbitrarily. When α = 45°, β = 90°, but is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 4, the columnar members 3, 4 may be configured so that the extension directions of the pin members at the lower ends of the columnar members on one edge intersect with each other, and this case also falls within the scope of this embodiment.

[0029] Absorption of displacement in columnar members As described above, when the connection between the upper end connection portion 31 and the upper end of the columnar leg portion 33 and the connection between the lower end connection portion 35 and the lower end of the columnar leg portion 33 are achieved by inserting pin members into the pin holes, the axial diameter of the pin members may be smaller than the diameter of the pin holes through which they are inserted, and the pin members may be displaceable radially within the pin holes. This allows the length between the upper and lower ends of the columnar members 3, 4 to be displaceable within the range in which the pin members are displaceable radially within the pin holes, and makes it possible to absorb unevenness on the installation surface within the displaceable range of the length. More specifically, referring to Figure 5, as shown on the left side of the figure, when the length between the upper and lower ends of the columnar member 3 is shortest, the pin member 32 at the upper end abuts against the upper end of the pin hole 31p of the upper end connection portion 31 and abuts against the lower end of the pin hole 33p in the upper end portion of the columnar leg portion 33, and the pin member 37 at the lower end abuts against the lower end of the pin hole 35p of the lower end connection portion 35 and abuts against the upper end of the pin hole 33q in the lower end portion of the columnar leg portion 33. On the other hand, as shown on the right side of the figure, when the length between the upper and lower ends of the columnar member 3 is at its longest, the pin member 32 at the upper end abuts against the lower end of the pin hole 31p of the upper end connecting portion 31 and abuts against the upper end of the pin hole 33p in the upper end portion of the columnar leg 33, and the pin member 37 at the lower end abuts against the upper end of the pin hole 35p of the lower end connecting portion 35 and abuts against the lower end of the pin hole 33q in the lower end portion of the columnar leg 33. Then, the difference δ in length of the columnar member 3 when the length between the upper and lower ends of the columnar member 3 changes from the shortest to the longest state can be obtained by the following formula: δ=ψ 35p +ψ 31p +ψ 33p +ψ 33q -2(ψ 32 +ψ 37 ) In addition, ψ 35p , ψ 31p , ψ 33p , ψ 33q is the hole diameter of the pin holes 35p, 31p, 33p, and 33q, and ψ 32 , ψ 37 is the shaft diameter of the pin members 32, 37. Therefore, in the above case, if the unevenness of the installation surface R is less than δ, it is absorbed by the displacement of the length of the columnar member 3, and the solar panel 1 can be installed without any special ingenuity, thereby avoiding an increase in the installation labor.

[0030] Similarly, as described above, if the shaft diameter of the pin members is smaller than the diameter of the pin holes through which they are inserted and the pin members are capable of radial displacement within the pin holes, the columnar members will be capable of horizontal displacement. Therefore, if the change in horizontal dimension when the spacing between adjacent columnar members changes due to thermal expansion of the solar panel or the installation surface is δ or less, this can be absorbed by displacement within each columnar member, and the risk of breakage caused by differences in expansion and contraction due to heat can be avoided without any special ingenuity.

[0031] Example As an example, the periphery of the panel portion 2 may be formed of a rectangular aluminum frame, for example, 2 m long and 1 m wide. Four columnar members 3 and 4 may be arranged approximately evenly along the long edge of the panel portion 2, with the columnar legs of columnar member 3 having a height of 178 mm and the columnar legs of columnar member 4 having a height of 83 mm. The inclination angle θ of the panel portion is approximately 5°. The columnar members 3 and 4 may be formed of steel plate with excellent rust resistance, such as SUS304 steel plate, and the columnar legs may be stainless steel pipes for piping specified in JIS G 3448 with a nominal diameter of 30 mm. The pin members may be stainless steel pipes for piping specified in JIS G 3448 with a nominal diameter of 13 mm.

[0032] The above description has been made in relation to the embodiments of the present invention, but it will be apparent that many modifications and changes will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the present invention is not limited to the above-exemplified embodiments, but can be applied to various devices without departing from the concept of the present invention.

Claims

1. A solar power generation panel having columnar members at multiple points on its edge, the columnar members having upper ends connected to the edge and lower ends abutting the installation surface, and extending in an approximately vertical direction, and the solar power generation panel is held at a distance from the installation surface by the columnar members.

2. The solar panel of claim 1, The columnar member has an upper end connection portion fixed to the edge of the solar panel at the upper end, a lower end connection portion fixed to the installation surface at the lower end, and a columnar leg portion extending between the upper end connection portion and the lower end connection portion, A solar power generation panel in which a connection pin hole drilled in at least one of the upper end connection portion and the lower end connection portion is aligned with a leg pin hole drilled in one of the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the columnar leg portion that is connected to at least one of the upper end connection portion and the lower end connection portion, and a pin member is inserted into these aligned leg pin holes and connection pin holes to connect at least one of the upper end connection portion and the lower end connection portion to the corresponding upper end portion or lower end portion of the columnar leg.

3. 3. A solar power generation panel according to claim 2, wherein the pin members are inserted into the aligned connection portion pin holes and leg portion pin holes at both the upper end connection portion and the lower end connection portion, and the pin members at the upper end portion and the lower end portion of each of the columnar members extend in different directions.

4. 3. The solar panel according to claim 2, wherein the pin members of the two columnar members arranged at opposing locations on opposing edges of the solar panel extend in different directions.

5. 3. The solar panel according to claim 2, wherein the axial diameter of the pin members is smaller than the diameter of the pin holes through which the pin members are inserted, and the pin members are displaceable in the radial direction within the pin holes.

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