Solar cell reinforcement structure

Abstract

The primary purpose is to prevent damage to solar panels caused by snow accumulation. [Solution] The solar cell reinforcement structure includes a damage prevention member 23 installed below the solar cell panel 3, which is mounted on the roof 2 via a fixing bracket 4. This member 23 prevents damage to the solar cell panel 3 caused by a settling force 21 acting on the solar cell panel 3 due to the connected snow accumulation S1 on the solar cell panel 3 and the snow accumulation S2 on the roof 2. The damage prevention member 23 may be, for example, a support beam 31, a support member 41, or both a support beam 31 and a support member 41.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a solar cell reinforcement structure.

Background Art

[0002] There are buildings such as houses where a solar cell panel is installed on the roof and power generation is performed using the solar cell panel (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] In Patent Document 1, the solar cell panel is fixed to the roof using fixing brackets with short legs. In Patent Document 2, the solar cell panel is fixed to the roof using a pedestal with long legs.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When the solar cell panel is attached to the roof using fixing brackets with short legs as in Patent Document 1, during snowfall, if the snow accumulation on the solar cell panel and the snow accumulation on the roof connect and integrate, a settling force acts on the solar cell panel through the connected snow accumulation. The settling force is the force by which the snow accumulation tries to sink from the side of the solar cell panel at a higher position to the side of the roof at a lower position, and is the force that pulls the solar cell panel downward. For example, in snowy regions, this settling force becomes large, so there is a risk that the solar cell panel may be damaged by the settling force.

[0006] Furthermore, when solar panels are mounted on the roof using a long-legged frame as described in Patent Document 2, the difference in height is large, so the snow on the solar panels and the snow on the roof do not connect, and therefore the problem of settling force does not occur.

[0007] Therefore, the main objective of the present invention is to contribute to improving the above-mentioned problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In response to the above problems, the present invention provides: The solar cell reinforcement structure is characterized by having a damage prevention member installed at the bottom of the solar cell panel, which is mounted on the roof via a fixing bracket. This member prevents damage to the solar cell panel caused by the settling force acting on it due to the connected snow accumulation, which connects the snow on the solar cell panel with the snow on the roof. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The present invention, with the above configuration, can prevent damage to solar panels caused by snow accumulation, etc. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a plan view of a roof on which solar panels are installed according to the solar cell reinforcement structure of this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along line AA of the roof in Figure 1, showing the damage prevention member (support beam) according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 2 shows the damage prevention member (support beam), which is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along the BB line of the roof in Figure 1. [Figure 4] (a) is a side view of the short fixing bracket, and (b) is a front view of the short fixing bracket. [Figure 5] (a) is a side view of the long fixing bracket, and (b) is a front view of the long fixing bracket. [Figure 6] (a) to (d) are explanatory diagrams illustrating, in order, the conditions under which solar panels are damaged by settling forces. [Figure 7]A longitudinal sectional view in the direction along the A-A line of the roof in FIG. 1, showing a damage prevention member (bundling member) according to another embodiment. [Figure 8] A longitudinal sectional view in the direction along the B-B line of the roof in FIG. 1, showing the damage prevention member (bundling member) in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] A longitudinal sectional view along a line from the upper side to the lower side of the roof, showing a damage prevention member (support beam and bundling member) according to another embodiment. [Figure 10] A longitudinal sectional view in the direction along the B-B line of the roof in FIG. 1, showing a damage prevention member (support beam and bundling member) according to another embodiment. [Figure 11] A partial enlarged view of FIG. 10. [Figure 12] A component drawing of the bundling member in FIG. 10. Among these, (a) is a side view, (b) is a top view, (c) is a bottom view, and (d) is a rear view.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0011] This embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12.

EXAMPLE

[0012] <Structure>This example has the following structure

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a building 1 such as a house. On the roof 2 of this building 1, a solar panel 3 is installed. As shown in FIG. 2 (FIG. 3), the solar panel 3 is fixed to the roof 2 via a fixing bracket 4 (FIGS. 4, 5). By lifting the solar panel 3 slightly higher than the roof 2 with the fixing bracket 4, the solar panel 3 creates a height difference (by the length of the legs of the fixing bracket 4) with respect to the roof 2.

[0014] The building 1 can be of any type, such as wooden, steel-framed, reinforced concrete, etc. In this embodiment, the building 1 is a unit building. The unit building is a building 1 that can be constructed in a short period by transporting building units 5 prefabricated in a factory to the construction site and assembling them at the construction site. The building units 5 form the same floor of the building 1 when arranged side by side horizontally, and different floors of the building 1 when stacked vertically.

[0015] The roof 2 is installed on the main body of the building 1 and protects the main body of the building 1 from solar radiation, wind, rain, etc. In the case of a unit building, the main body of the building 1 is composed of building units 5. In FIG. 2, only the upper part of the building unit 5 is depicted. The upper part of the building unit 5 has a ceiling beam 5a, a ceiling joist 5b, and an outer wall panel 5c.

[0016] Note that the building unit 5 has a box frame structure inside as a skeleton part, which is formed by connecting the upper ends of four columns with four ceiling beams 5a in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and connecting the lower ends of the four columns with four floor beams in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. The ceiling joist 5b is installed and connected between a pair of parallel ceiling beams 5a. The outer wall panel 5c is attached to the surface on the outdoor side of the unit frame.

[0017] The roof 2 can be of any shape and configuration, such as a gable roof or a hip roof. In this embodiment, it is a substantially flat shed roof. The shed roof is substantially rectangular in plan view. The shed roof may have a gentle drainage gradient.

[0018] The solar panel 3 is a power device (power generation module) that generates electricity using solar energy. The solar panel 3 is substantially rectangular in plan view. The solar panel 3 is installed on the shed roof with the panel part 6 in an inclined state.

[0019] As shown in Figure 1, the solar cell panel 3 has a panel section 6 (power generation section) which is approximately rectangular in plan view, formed by arranging and integrating multiple power generation elements in a planar manner, and a rectangular frame section 7 (shape-retaining section) which is installed to surround the outer edge of the panel section 6. The rectangular frame section 7 has four sides 7a to 7d along the edge of the panel section 6. In this embodiment, sides 7a and 7c of the frame section 7 are attached to the long side of the panel section 6c, and sides 7b and 7d are attached along the short side of the panel section 6c. Alternatively, side 7a of the frame section 7 protects the lower edge of the inclined panel section 6c, sides 7b and 7d protect the edges on both sides along the inclination of the panel section 6c, and side 7c protects the upper edge of the inclined panel section 6c. Hereinafter, the edges of the solar cell panel 3 will be described as sides 7a to 7d.

[0020] The solar panels 3 are installed on the roof 2 with their sides 7a to 7d aligned. In this case, multiple solar panels 3 may be installed on the roof 2 with almost no gaps between them in the horizontal or vertical directions. Alternatively, if necessary, multiple solar panels 3 may be installed on the roof 2 with gaps between them in the horizontal or vertical directions. As a result, the gaps 8 between the solar panels 3 are exposed on the roof 2. In this embodiment, four solar panels 3 of the same size are installed on the roof 2 with gaps 8 in the horizontal and vertical directions, but the number and arrangement of solar panels 3 are not limited to this.

[0021] In the following explanation, for convenience, the direction is defined as follows: the first direction X is the horizontal direction along the edge connecting the upstream and downstream sides of a flat roof (roof 2) with a gentle drainage slope, and the second direction Y is the horizontal direction along the edge perpendicular to the first direction X. For example, the solar panel 3 is installed on roof 2 with its short side (sides 7b, 7d) facing the first direction X and its long side (sides 7a, 7c) facing the second direction Y. However, the orientation of the short and long sides of the solar panel 3 relative to roof 2 may be reversed from the above.

[0022] Furthermore, the roof 2 may have a roof section 9 around its perimeter where solar panels 3 are not installed (or are not installed). This roof section 9 is provided as needed, for example, as a workspace when installing solar panels 3 on the roof 2. The roof section 9 is mainly formed along the edge of the roof 2. As a result, the roof 2 has an exposed roof section 9 where there are no solar panels 3. In this embodiment, the roof section 9 is formed in four places along the edge of the roof 2, but it is not limited to this, and there may be one or more roof sections 9.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2 (Figure 3), the fixing bracket 4 is a bracket for fixing the solar panel 3 to the roof 2. The fixing bracket 4 forms the solar panel mounting structure. The fixing bracket 4 is a bracket with short legs that installs the solar panel 3 at a relatively low position close to the roof 2, and is different from a mounting frame with long legs that installs the solar panel 3 at a relatively high position far from the roof 2. The fixing bracket 4 is formed with a leg length (height) of approximately 0 mm to 50 mm, for example, about 30 mm.

[0024] The fixing brackets 4 are installed at least at the four corners (four corner sections) or near them on the solar cell panel 3, which is roughly rectangular in plan view. The fixing brackets 4 can also be installed at locations other than near the four corners. For example, the fixing brackets 4 can be installed at either end or near any of the sides 7a to 7d of the frame section 7, and can also be attached as appropriate to the middle section (Figure 3) of those sides 7a to 7d.

[0025] As shown in Figure 4 (Figure 5), the fixing bracket 4 may mainly consist of a bracket body 12 (panel support part) that extends in the vertical direction 11 and supports the solar panel 3 from below, and a clamp part 13 (roof fixing part) for fixing the bracket body 12 to the roof 2.

[0026] The main body 12 of the fixing bracket 4 has a vertical surface portion 12a extending in the vertical direction 11 (and the second direction Y). The vertical surface portion 12a has an upper surface portion 12b at its upper end for attachment to the solar panel 3, and a lower surface portion 12c at its lower end for grounding on the roof 2. The upper surface portion 12b is an inclined surface parallel to the lower surface (frame portion 7) of the solar panel 3, and the lower surface portion 12c is a substantially horizontal surface parallel to the upper surface of the roof 2. Furthermore, the vertical surface portion 12a has side portions 12d on both sides and is box-shaped with one side open.

[0027] The metal fitting body 12 is formed, for example, by bending a single metal plate. The lower portion 12c may have locking portions 12e at both ends that are folded upward to lock the lower part of the side portion 12d from the outside. The lower portion 12c may have a rubber spacer 12f attached to its lower surface.

[0028] The clamp section 13 may include a pair of left and right clamp pieces 13a and a spacing adjustment device 13b, such as a bolt and nut, for adjusting the amount of opening and closing of the pair of clamp pieces 13a. The pair of left and right clamp pieces 13a may be made of separate components, or their upper ends may be connected by a connecting part 13c to form a single unit. The clamp section 13 opens and closes the pair of clamp pieces 13a by tightening or loosening the spacing adjustment device 13b.

[0029] The fixing bracket 4 is attached to the solar panel 3 before it is installed on the roof 2. The upper surface 12b of the fixing bracket 4 is fixed to the frame 7 of the solar panel 3. For this purpose, the upper surface 12b of the fixing bracket 4 is provided with screw holes 14 for screwing it into the frame 7 of the solar panel 3.

[0030] The solar panel 3, to which the fixing bracket 4 is attached, is fixed to the roof 2 by attaching the clamp portion 13 to the roof 2 at the construction site. The clamp portion 13 may be integrally formed with the vertical surface portion 12a of the bracket body 12, or it may be made of a separate part from the vertical surface portion 12a and attached to the vertical surface portion 12a via, for example, a connecting bracket 15 (angle bracket) that is roughly L-shaped in plan view.

[0031] The connecting fitting 15 has a first arm portion 15a parallel to the vertical surface portion 12a of the fitting body 12, and a second arm portion 15b substantially perpendicular to the first arm portion 15a. The first arm portion 15a is fixed in contact with the vertical surface portion 12a by a connecting device 16 such as a bolt and nut. A pair of clamp pieces 13a are attached to both sides of the second arm portion 15b using a spacing adjustment device 13b. Screw holes 17 are formed in the vertical surface portion 12a for screwing in the first arm portion 15a of the connecting fitting 15. Two screw holes 17 may be provided so as to be symmetrical with respect to the width center of the vertical surface portion 12a, so that the connecting fitting 15 can be attached regardless of its orientation.

[0032] As shown in Figure 2 (Figure 3), the roof 2 is formed by arranging multiple roof panels 18 on the main body of the building 1 (or the building unit 5 in the case of a modular building). Joint covers 19 are attached to the joints of the roof panels 18. The roof panels 18 are supported from below by roof frames 18a at least near the lower part of both sides, and the joint covers 19 are installed at the upper position of the joint formed between the opposing roof frames 18a of adjacent roof panels 18. In this embodiment, the roof frames 18a are long members extending in the first direction X.

[0033] The joint cover 19 is a projection that protrudes above the upper surface of the roof panel 18 and extends in a direction along the joint of the roof panel 18 (for example, a first direction X). A notch 12g is formed in the lower part and lower part 12c of the vertical surface portion 12a of the metal fitting body 12, straddling the joint cover 19 (Figure 4(b)). The notch 12g is formed slightly higher than the joint cover 19 and extends in a second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction X, so as to be wider than the joint cover 19.

[0034] The clamp portion 13 is installed relative to the metal fitting body 12 at a position outside the notch 12g in the first direction X, and at a position overlapping the notch 12g in the second direction Y. The clamp piece 13a has a gripping portion on its lower end that is shaped to be suitable for clamping and gripping the joint cover 19.

[0035] When installing solar panels 3 on a flat roof in a sloping manner, the (short-legged) fixing brackets 4 are of different lengths. The shorter fixing bracket 4(S) shown in Figure 4 is installed on the lower side of the slope (downstream side). The longer fixing bracket 4(L) shown in Figure 5 is installed on the upper side of the slope (upstream side). The difference between fixing bracket 4(S) and fixing bracket 4(L) is mainly the length of the vertical direction 11 of the bracket body 12, which differs by the slope of the solar panel 3. As a result, the solar panel 3 is installed so that it is floating (or separated) from the top surface of the flat roof by the fixing brackets 4, and the downstream and upstream sides are at different heights. For example, if there is sufficient strength, the longer fixing bracket 4(L) may have holes formed in the vertical surface portion 12a as needed to reduce weight. The holes may be reinforced by forming a ring-shaped rising portion continuous with the periphery by burring.

[0036] Then, the long and short fixing brackets 4 are fixed to the roof 2 by clamping and gripping the joint cover 19 with the pair of clamp pieces 13a of the clamp portion 13 at a position that overlaps with the notch portion 12g, thereby installing the solar panel 3 on the flat roof. At this time, the tightening direction of the spacing adjustment device 13b when clamping the joint cover 19 with the clamp pieces 13a is in a nearly horizontal direction (the second direction Y in this embodiment) from the outside to the inside of the solar panel 3.

[0037] The above is a basic configuration, but this embodiment may also have the following configuration.

[0038] (1) As shown in Figure 6, this solar cell reinforcement structure is configured such that a damage prevention member 23 (Figures 2 and 3) is installed at the bottom of the solar cell panel 3 which is mounted on the roof 2 via a fixing bracket 4. The damage prevention member 23 is designed to prevent damage to the solar panel 3 (damaged part 22) caused by the settling force 21 acting on the solar panel 3 due to the connected snow accumulation S1 on the solar panel 3 and the snow accumulation S2 on the roof 2.

[0039] Here, the solar cell reinforcement structure is a structure that primarily reinforces the solar cell panels 3, which are attached to the roof 2 with fixing brackets 4, against settling forces 21. Damage prevention members 23 are installed on the solar cell panels 3, fixing brackets 4, roof 2, etc.

[0040] The snow accumulation S1 on the solar panel 3 is snow that has accumulated on top of the solar panel 3.

[0041] The snow accumulation S2 on roof 2 mainly consists of snow accumulated on the roof section 9. The snow accumulation S2 on roof 2 may also include snow accumulated in the gaps 8 between adjacent solar panels 3.

[0042] The connected snow accumulation S3 is located between the snow accumulation S1 on the solar panel 3 and the snow accumulation S2 on the roof 2, and settles as it becomes slightly elevated from the roof 2.

[0043] The lower part of the solar cell panel 3 is the part that is on the bottom when the solar cell panel 3 is in a horizontal position, and includes the back surface of the panel portion 6 facing the roof 2, and the lower side and bottom surface of the frame portion 7. In this embodiment, the damage prevention member 23 is mainly installed at the edge of the panel portion 6, the bottom surface of the frame portion 7, and their surrounding areas.

[0044] The settling force 21 is the force that pulls the solar panel 3 downwards as the snow accumulation S1 on the solar panel 3 is pulled downwards by the snow accumulation S3 connected to the snow accumulation S2 on the roof 2. The settling force 21 acts on the solar panel 3 when the snow accumulation S1 on the solar panel 3 and the snow accumulation S2 on the roof 2 connect and become one during snowfall. The settling force 21 is a force directed from the side of the solar panel 3, which is higher, towards the side of the roof 2, which is lower. For example, in areas with heavy snowfall, this settling force 21 becomes large, and there is a risk that the solar panel 3 may be damaged by the settling force 21. In addition, the solar panel 3 may also be damaged by the weight of the snow accumulation S1.

[0045] The settling force 21 is a phenomenon that occurs when the snow accumulation S2 on the roof 2 connects with the snow accumulation S1 on the solar panel 3. Therefore, the settling force 21 does not occur in all solar panel mounting structures, but is almost exclusively limited to solar panel mounting structures that use short-legged fixing brackets 4, as in this embodiment. For this reason, the damage prevention member 23 in this embodiment is not particularly necessary when using a mounting frame with long legs.

[0046] Furthermore, the solar panel 3 may be locally deformed or damaged by the settling force 21 at its edges 7a to 7d and the surrounding areas (damaged area 22). The weight of the snow accumulation S1 may also cause damage to the solar panel 3. When the solar panel 3 is damaged, the frame portion 7 is deformed.

[0047] In particular, if the solar panel 3 has a protruding portion 24 that extends laterally from the outside of the part to which the fixing bracket 4 is attached, the protruding portion 24 becomes cantilevered, and the protruding portion 24 is prone to deforming downwards due to the settling force 21 (or the weight of the snow accumulation S1), resulting in a damaged portion 22.

[0048] The protruding portion 24 occurs, for example, when the position of the corner of the solar cell panel 3 differs from the position of the joint cover 19. In this embodiment, the protruding portion 24 is formed on both sides 7b and 7d, which are the short and inclined sides of the solar cell panel 3. Therefore, each solar cell panel 3 in Figure 1 is at high risk of damage to both sides of its edges (the short sides 7b and 7d). However, the protruding portion 24 may also be formed on the long sides (sides 7a and 7c) of the solar cell panel 3, or on all sides 7a to 7d. In this case, each solar cell panel 3 in Figure 1 is at risk of damage to its upper and lower edges (the long sides 7a and 7c) or all sides (sides 7a to 7d). Hereafter, the protruding portion 24 will be described assuming that it is formed on the short sides 7b and 7d. However, if the protruding portion 24 is provided on the long sides 7a and 7c or on all sides 7a to 7d, necessary modifications should be made.

[0049] The damage prevention member 23 is a reinforcing member provided to prevent deformation or damage to the solar cell panel 3 due to the weight of the settling force 21 or snow accumulation S1, for example, in areas with heavy snowfall. The damage prevention member 23 may be provided on all sides 7a to 7d of the solar cell panel 3 adjacent to the roof portion 9 or the gap portion 8. However, it is preferable to install the damage prevention member 23 mainly on the part of the solar cell panel 3 that is subjected to the settling force 21 or the weight of the snow accumulation S1, or in the vicinity thereof. In areas other than areas with heavy snowfall, the damage prevention member 23 does not need to be provided unless necessary.

[0050] For example, the damage prevention member 23 is preferably installed on a cantilevered protruding portion 24 that extends outward from the portion of the solar panel 3 to which the fixing bracket 4 is attached, or on the lower side of the surrounding area.

[0051] In particular, the settling force 21 is a phenomenon that occurs when the snow accumulation S2 on the roof 2 pulls in the snow accumulation S1 on the solar panel 3 via the connected snow accumulation S3. Therefore, excessive settling force 21 that would damage the solar panel 3 does not occur in all parts of the roof 9 or gaps 8. Excessive settling force 21 occurs almost exclusively in the parts of the roof 9 or gaps 8 that have a large surface area where the snow accumulation S2 that promotes the settling force 21 is abundant.

[0052] Therefore, a large roof section 9 or gap section 8 of a predetermined area or larger, where a snow accumulation S2 of more than a specified amount (amount of snow accumulation that induces the generation of excessive settling force 21) is expected on the roof 2, is designated as a section requiring attention regarding settling force 21, and is considered a section that is highly likely to induce excessive settling force 21, and is designated as a section requiring attention regarding settling force 21 10. The specified amount of snow accumulation S2 is predetermined according to the strength of the solar panels 3, etc.

[0053] The damage prevention member 23 is installed at least on the portion of the solar cell panel 3 adjacent to the roof portion 9, which is designated as the area requiring special attention 10. In this embodiment, for example, the right roof portion 9 of the roof 2 in Figure 1 is designated as the area requiring special attention 10. The greatest settling force 21 is applied to the right-hand side 7b (inclined side, short side) of the two solar cell panels 3 adjacent to the roof portion 9, which is designated as the area requiring special attention 10. Moreover, this side 7b is the short side or inclined side which is a cantilevered protruding portion 24, and is therefore the most susceptible to damage. Thus, the damage prevention member 23 is installed at least on this side 7b, or around this side 7b.

[0054] The damage prevention member 23 may be provided only on the aforementioned side 7b of the solar cell panel 3, but may also be provided on sides other than the aforementioned side 7b if necessary. For example, the damage prevention member 23 may be provided on the side 7d of the solar cell panel 3 that has a cantilevered protruding portion 24 on the opposite side of the aforementioned side 7b, or on sides 7b, 7d of solar cell panels 3 other than the aforementioned solar cell panel 3 that have a cantilevered protruding portion 24, or around there. Furthermore, for example, the damage prevention member 23 may be provided on other sides 7a to 7d of the solar cell panel 3 that are along the roof portion 9 or gap portion 8 other than the area of ​​concern 10 of the roof 2, or around there. For example, the damage prevention member 23 may be provided on the long sides (sides 7a, 7c) of the solar cell panel 3 that are inclined with respect to the roof 2, or on the upper and lower sides (sides 7a, 7c), or around there.

[0055] The damage prevention member 23 can be anything as long as it can prevent damage to the solar panel 3 due to the settling force 21, but it is preferable to have it as follows.

[0056] (2) In the above, as shown in the embodiments of Figures 2 and 3, the damage prevention member 23 may be a support beam 31 that extends along the lower part of the edge (for example, sides 7a to 7d) of the solar cell panel 3.

[0057] Here, the frame portion 7 of the solar cell panel 3 may be composed of a frame body having an L-shaped cross-section consisting of a vertical surface portion (web portion) extending in the vertical direction 11 and a horizontal surface portion (flange portion) extending inward from the lower part of the vertical surface portion. In this case, the horizontal surface portion becomes the lower surface of the frame portion 7. The frame portion 7 may have a panel holding portion with a C-shaped or U-shaped cross-section capable of accommodating and holding the panel portion 6 at the upper part of the vertical surface portion of the frame body. When the frame portion 7 is made in this shape, the lower part of the frame portion 7 becomes the L-shaped cross-section portion on the lower side of the frame body or the horizontal surface portion of the frame body.

[0058] The support beam 31 of the damage prevention member 23 is a long metal member that supports the lower part of the frame 7 from below. The support beam 31 is preferably made of, for example, an aluminum square bar. An aluminum square bar has a hollow rectangular shape with four sides and a closed cross-section, thus possessing high strength. The aluminum square bar used as the support beam 31 is installed so as to extend in the direction of the surface of the solar panel 3 (the direction of the surface formed by the first direction X and the second direction Y). The material of the support beam 31 can be iron, stainless steel, or anything else, as long as it is treated to prevent rust.

[0059] The support beam 31 is preferably extended along at least one side 7a to 7d of the rectangular frame portion 7, to a length approximately the same as that of the side 7a to 7d.

[0060] In this case, one side 7a to 7d of the frame portion 7 may be any of the sides 7a to 7d that are aligned with the roof portion 9 of the roof 2. One side 7a to 7d of the frame portion 7 may be any of the sides 7a to 7d that are aligned with the gap portion 8 of the roof 2. One side 7a to 7d of the frame portion 7 may be any other side 7a to 7d.

[0061] Furthermore, for example, the support beam 31 may be similarly provided for each pair of sides 7a, 7c or sides 7b, 7d of the frame portion 7. The pair of sides 7a, 7c may be the horizontal upper and lower edges of the solar cell panel 3, or the pair of sides 7b, 7d may be the inclined edges on both sides of the solar cell panel 3. The pair of sides 7a, 7c may be the long sides of the solar cell panel 3, or the pair of sides 7b, 7d may be the short sides of the solar cell panel 3. The support beam 31 can be provided on one or both of the pair of sides 7b, 7d and the other pair of sides 7a, 7c.

[0062] As described above, the support beam 31 may be provided on all sides 7a to 7d, or on at least one of the sides 7a to 7d. Alternatively, the support beam 31 may be provided on sides 7b and 7d that have cantilevered protruding portions 24 that extend outward from the fixing brackets 4. Or, the support beam 31 may be provided on the edge adjacent to the roof section 9 (part requiring attention 10) that generates excessive settling force 21 that could cause damage to the solar cell panel 3.

[0063] In this embodiment, the support beam 31 is provided along at least the side 7b on the side of the cantilevered protruding portion 24 of the two solar panels 3 adjacent to the roof section 9 (part 10) in the roof 2 of Figure 1, specifically the side 7b on the part 10. For the other sides 7a to 7d, which are not at risk of deformation or damage due to settling forces 21, the support beam 31 may or may not be provided.

[0064] Furthermore, the support beam 31 may be configured such that, for example, its upper side is substantially in contact with the side surface of the frame portion 7 from below, thereby supporting the side surface over almost its entire length. This ensures that the frame portion 7 is evenly reinforced throughout its entire area.

[0065] While it is preferable for the support beam 31 to be a single, continuous member, it may also be made into a structure in which multiple members are combined in a nested manner, allowing for length adjustment. This makes it possible to install the support beam 31 on multiple types of solar panels 3 of different sizes.

[0066] (3) In the above, as shown in other embodiments in Figures 7 and 8, the damage prevention member 23 may also be a support member 41 that supports the roof 2 from below at the middle part, near both ends, or near both ends of the edge (for example, sides 7a to 7d) of the solar cell panel 3.

[0067] Here, the intermediate portion of the frame portion 7 is the longitudinal middle portion of at least one side 7a to 7d of the rectangular frame portion 7, excluding both ends and their vicinity. The vicinity of both ends of the frame portion 7 is the ends on both sides and their vicinity of at least one side 7a to 7d of the frame portion 7. One or more support members 41 can be attached to the intermediate portion of sides 7a to 7d. Two support members 41 can be attached to the vicinity of both ends of sides 7a to 7d. The vicinity of both ends includes both ends and their vicinity. Three or more support members 41 can be attached to the intermediate portion and the vicinity of both ends of sides 7a to 7d.

[0068] In this case, one side 7a to 7d of the frame portion 7 may be any of the sides 7a to 7d that are aligned with the roof portion 9 of the roof 2. One side 7a to 7d of the frame portion 7 may be any of the sides 7a to 7d that are aligned with the gap portion 8 of the roof 2. One side 7a to 7d of the frame portion 7 may be any other side 7a to 7d.

[0069] The support member 41 of the damage prevention member 23 is a short metal column (frame) interposed between the frame portion 7 of the solar panel 3 and the roof 2 to support the solar panel 3 on the roof 2. The support member 41 is preferably made of, for example, an aluminum square bar. The aluminum square bar has a hollow rectangular shape with four sides and a closed cross-section, thus possessing high strength. The aluminum square bar used as the support member 41 is installed so that its four sides extend in the vertical direction 11. Alternatively, the support member 41 may be an open-section member with a portion of its side open. The material of the support member 41 can be iron, stainless steel, or anything else, as long as it is rust-proofed. Furthermore, the support member 41 may be made by bending a single metal plate to form a closed cross-section or a C-shaped cross-section.

[0070] The support member 41 is positioned at approximately the same height as the vertical distance 11 between the lower surface (side surface) of the frame portion 7 and the upper surface of the roof 2 at the installation location. The upper end of the support member 41 is formed parallel to the lower surface of the frame portion 7, and the lower end is formed parallel to the upper surface of the roof 2. For example, when installing solar panels 3 at an angle on a flat roof, the upper end of the support member 41 is inclined to match the inclination of the solar panels 3. The lower end of the support member 41 abuts against the roof 2. The support member 41 may have, for example, a rubber spacer attached to its lower end.

[0071] The support members 41 may be provided similarly to each pair of sides 7a, 7c or sides 7b, 7d of the frame portion 7. The pair of sides 7a, 7c may be the horizontal upper and lower edges of the solar cell panel 3, or the pair of sides 7b, 7d may be the inclined edges on both sides of the solar cell panel 3. The pair of sides 7a, 7c may be the long sides of the solar cell panel 3, or the pair of sides 7b, 7d may be the short sides of the solar cell panel 3. The support members 41 can be provided on one or both of the pair of sides 7b, 7d and the other pair of sides 7a, 7c.

[0072] As described above, the support members 41 may be provided on all sides 7a to 7d, or on at least one of the sides 7a to 7d. Alternatively, the support members 41 may be provided on sides 7b and 7d that have cantilevered protruding portions 24 that extend outward from the fixing brackets 4. Or, the support members 41 may be provided on the edges adjacent to the roof portion 9 (part requiring attention 10) that generates excessive settling force 21 that may cause damage to the solar cell panel 3.

[0073] In this embodiment, the support member 41 is provided at least on side 7b of the cantilevered protruding portion 24 of two solar cell panels 3 adjacent to the roof portion 9 (part requiring attention 10) of the roof 2 in Figure 1, specifically on side 7b on the side of part requiring attention 10. For sides 7a to 7d that are not at risk of deformation or damage due to the settling force 21, the support member 41 may or may not be provided.

[0074] The support members 41 can be provided one or more times in the intermediate portion of sides 7a to 7d of the frame portion 7. The support members 41 may be provided at random positions in the longitudinal direction of sides 7a to 7d of the frame portion 7. However, in terms of strength, it is preferable to provide the support members 41 at division points (for example, bisection points, trisection points, etc.) that divide sides 7a to 7d of the frame portion 7 into multiple parts in the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, one support member 41 is provided at the position of the bisection point of sides 7a to 7d of the frame portion 7. The division points may be equal division points or unequal division points. In this embodiment, the support members 41 are provided such that the positions of the equal division points of sides 7a to 7d fall within the width range of the support member 41. Falling within the width range means that the division points exist between one width end and the other width end of the support member 41. The width of the support member 41 is the longitudinal dimension of sides 7a to 7d.

[0075] For example, if you want to reinforce the upper part of the tilted solar panel 3, the support member 41 can be set at a position higher up the slope than the center of sides 7a to 7d.

[0076] The support member 41 may, for example, have its upper end substantially abut against the side surface of the frame portion 7 from below, thereby providing local support to the side surface. This locally reinforces the frame portion 7, and the overall strength of the frame portion 7 is also improved by this local reinforcement.

[0077] The support member 41 may be a single continuous piece, but it may also be constructed by combining multiple pieces in a nesting manner to allow for height adjustment. This allows the support member 41 to be attached at any position along sides 7a to 7d.

[0078] (4) In the above, as shown in another embodiment in Figures 9 to 12, the damage prevention member 23 may be both a support beam 31 extending along the lower part of the edge (e.g., sides 7a to 7d) of the solar cell panel 3, and a support member 41 that supports the roof 2 from below either the middle part, near both ends, or near the middle part and near both ends of the support beam 31 or the edge (e.g., sides 7a to 7d).

[0079] As described above, the support members 41 and support beams 31 may be provided on all sides 7a to 7d, or on at least one of sides 7a to 7d. Alternatively, the support members 41 and support beams 31 may be provided on sides 7b and 7d that have cantilevered protruding portions 24 that extend outward from the fixing brackets 4. Or, the support members 41 and support beams 31 may be provided on the edges adjacent to the roof section 9 (part requiring attention 10) that generates excessive settling force 21 that could cause damage to the solar panel 3.

[0080] In this embodiment, the support member 41 and the support beam 31 are provided at least on the side 7b on the side of the cantilevered protruding portion 24 of the two solar panels 3 adjacent to the roof portion 9 (part requiring attention 10) of the roof 2 in Figure 1, specifically on the side facing the part requiring attention 10.

[0081] For example, as shown on side 7b of Figure 10, the support beam 31 and the support member 41 may be installed adjacent to each other, with the support beam 31 supporting the protruding portion 24 of the edge of the solar panel 3 from below, and the support member 41 supporting the inner position of the support beam 31 from below. The support member 41 is installed near the edge of the solar panel 3, at a position that overlaps with the fixing bracket 4 when viewed from the first direction X. Adjacent placement is suitable when the vertical distance between the roof 2 and the solar panel 3 is narrow, such as on the underside of the solar panel 3.

[0082] Alternatively, the support beam 31 and the support member 41 may be installed with the support member 41 located below the support beam 31, as shown by side 7b in Figure 9 and side 7d in Figure 10, so that the edge (protruding portion 24) of the solar panel 3 is supported from below by the support beam 31 and the support member 41 (vertical arrangement). The vertical arrangement is suitable when there is a large vertical gap between the roof 2 and the solar panel 3, such as on the waterward side of the solar panel 3.

[0083] The support member 41 may be attached directly to the roof 2, but as shown in Figures 9 and 11, an auxiliary beam such as a connecting beam 61 that connects the downstream fixing fitting 4 and the upstream fixing fitting 4 may be provided on the roof 2, and the support member 41 may be attached on top of the connecting beam 61. The connecting beam 61 has clamp portions 13 at both ends and in the middle that are shared with the fixing fitting 4. In this case, the support member 41 may be the same as in the other embodiments shown in Figures 7 and 8, but in this embodiment, it has the following configuration.

[0084] Specifically, as shown in Figure 12, the support member 41 has a vertical surface portion 41a extending in the vertical direction 11 (and the first direction X). The vertical surface portion 41a has an upper surface portion 41b at its upper end for attachment to the lower surface of the solar cell panel 3 or support beam 31, and a lower surface portion 41c at its lower end for grounding on the roof 2 or connecting beam 61. The upper surface portion 41b is an inclined surface parallel to the lower surface (frame portion 7) of the solar cell panel 3, and the lower surface portion 41c is a substantially horizontal plane parallel to the upper surface of the roof 2. Furthermore, the vertical surface portion 41a has side portions 41d on both sides and is box-shaped with one side open. Pre-drilled holes 41e for fixing with fastening members 51 are appropriately provided in the lower surface portion 41c and the side portions 41d. This support member 41 is formed, for example, by bending a single metal plate. This support member 41 may be used for other embodiments shown in Figures 7 and 8 by changing its height, etc.

[0085] For matters other than those mentioned above, the same procedures as described in (2) and (3) may be followed.

[0086] (5) In the above, the damage prevention members 23 (support beam 31, bundle member 41) may be retrofitted to the existing solar panel 3.

[0087] Here, "adding to existing solar panels 3" means installing the damage prevention member 23 in addition to the solar panels 3 that are already installed on the roof 2. The damage prevention member 23 only needs to reinforce the existing solar panels 3 by being installed, and does not need to be directly fixed to the existing solar panels 3. In addition, the damage prevention member 23 can also be installed at the same time as the new solar panels 3 are installed on the roof 2.

[0088] To enable retrofitting to existing solar panels 3, the damage prevention member 23 is designed to match the mounting structure of the solar panels 3. For example, the damage prevention member 23 can be easily installed without changing the mounting state of the solar panels 3 to the roof 2 (for example, without removing the solar panels 3 or fixing brackets 4). Furthermore, to facilitate installation, it is preferable that the damage prevention member 23 be easily installed by mounting it horizontally or downwards in a location that is easily accessible from the outside.

[0089] First, in the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, for example, the support beam 31 may be attached to the fixing bracket 4 using fastening members 51 such as screws, in a nearly horizontal manner, from the outside to the inside of the solar panel 3. The support beam 31 is attached between a pair of fixing brackets 4 that are spaced apart on both ends of sides 7a to 7d of the frame portion 7. The support beam 31 is fixed to the fixing brackets 4 at both ends, or near them.

[0090] The support beam 31 is erected and connected, for example, between fixing brackets 4(S) and 4(L) supporting sides 7b and 7d, between fixing brackets 4(S) and 4(S) supporting side 7a, and between fixing brackets 4(L) and 4(L) supporting side 7c. In this case, the installation direction of the support beam 31 and fastening members 51 relative to the fixing brackets 4 is in the direction from the outside to the inside of the solar panel 3.

[0091] The support beam 31 is directly fastened and fixed to the fixing bracket 4 on its inner side. Preferably, the upper and lower sides of the support beam 31 are formed to be approximately the same width as, or slightly smaller than, or slightly larger than, the protrusion amount of the protruding portion 24, so that the inner side of the support beam 31 makes good contact with the fixing bracket 4. The support beam 31 may have a pilot hole on the side where it overlaps with the fixing bracket 4 for inserting a fastening member 51 such as a screw. By attaching the support beam 31 to the fixing bracket 4, it becomes possible and easy to retrofit it to an existing solar panel 3.

[0092] In this case, the support beam 31 may or may not be fixed to the frame portion 7 (such as the side surface) with its upward-facing side. Preferably, the upward-facing side of the support beam 31 should always be in constant contact with the side surface without any gap, but it is acceptable for there to be a small gap between them so that contact occurs when the side surface bends slightly downward. The distance between the upper side of the support beam 31 and the side surface should be a few millimeters or less, preferably 1 mm or less.

[0093] Next, in the other embodiments shown in Figures 7 and 8, for example, the support member 41 may be directly or indirectly provided with a clamp portion 53 on its lower end, similar to the clamp portion 13 of the fixing bracket 4, so that it can be gripped and fixed to the roof 2 by the clamp portion 53. In this case, the clamp portion 53, like the clamp portion 13, has a pair of left and right clamp pieces and a fastening member such as a screw for adjusting the opening and closing amount of the pair of clamp pieces.

[0094] The support member 41 is equipped with a clamp portion 53 on its lower end, allowing it to be retrofitted to the roof 2 and existing solar panels 3. In this case, the support member 41 and clamp portion 53 may be inserted from the outside to the inside of the solar panel 3, their position adjusted along sides 7a to 7d, and then the clamp portion 53 tightened to secure them to the joint cover 19 of the roof 2. In the case of inclined solar panels 3, it is preferable to install the support member 41 from a position where the distance between the roof 2 and the frame portion 7 is greater than the height of the support member 41.

[0095] Alternatively, if there is an existing fixing bracket 4 near the installation location, the bundle member 41 may be installed on the solar panel 3 by connecting and fixing it to the nearby fixing bracket 4 via a connecting plate 54. The connecting plate 54 is a member that connects the bundle member 41 and the fixing bracket 4. The connecting plate 54 may be a strip-shaped fitting that extends almost horizontally and has a surface parallel to the vertical surface portion 12a of the fitting body 12 of the existing fixing bracket 4. The connecting plate 54 may also be a fitting that is almost L-shaped in plan view. The connecting plate 54 that is almost L-shaped in plan view is almost the same as the connecting fitting 15 that is almost L-shaped in plan view and is used in the existing fixing bracket 4 to attach the clamp portion 13 to the fitting body 12.

[0096] In this case, first, the connecting plate 54 is attached to the support member 41 beforehand. In this state, the support member 41, together with the connecting plate 54, is inserted and installed between the solar panel 3 and the roof 2 at the location where the existing fixing bracket 4 is located, from the outside to the inside of the solar panel 3. Then, the connecting plate 54 is fixed to the vertical surface portion 12a of the bracket body 12 of the existing fixing bracket 4. As a result, the support member 41 is installed on the solar panel 3.

[0097] Furthermore, when installing solar panels 3 on the roof 2, the connecting fittings 15 of the fixing fittings 4 may be integrated with the connecting plate 54 so that they also function as the connecting plate 54, and may be made roughly T-shaped in plan view.

[0098] Furthermore, if there is no existing fixing bracket 4 near the installation location of the support member 41, a new fixing bracket 55 may be installed at that location, and the support member 41 may be connected and fixed to the new fixing bracket 55 via a connecting plate 54. The new fixing bracket 55 has a metal body 56 and a clamp part 53 similar to the metal body 12 and clamp part 13 of the fixing bracket 4, but the metal body 56 is of a different height from the metal body 12 of the fixing bracket 4. The metal body 56 of the new fixing bracket 55 is approximately the same height as the support member 41.

[0099] The support member 41 and the new fixing bracket 55 may be pre-connected and integrated using a connecting plate 54 or the like. Then, by installing the new fixing bracket 55 on the roof 2, the support member 41 is installed on the solar panel 3 together with the new fixing bracket 55.

[0100] In this case, the support members 41, connecting plates 54, and new fixing brackets 55 are inserted and installed from the outside to the inside of the solar panel 3. The inserted support members 41, etc., may be fixed to the joint cover 19 of the roof 2 by adjusting their position along sides 7a to 7d and then tightening the clamp portion 53 of the new fixing brackets 55. In the case of a tilted solar panel 3, it is preferable to install the support members 41 and new fixing brackets 55 from a position where the distance between the roof 2 and the frame portion 7 is greater than their height.

[0101] In any of the above cases, the bundle member 41 is connected to the connecting plate 54, the fixing bracket 4, the new fixing bracket 55, etc. by connecting members 57 such as screws, and is fixed to the roof 2 by the clamp portion 53, the clamp portion 13 of the fixing bracket 4, or the clamp portion 53 of the new fixing bracket 55.

[0102] The upper end of the support member 41 may be fixed to the frame portion 7 (such as the side surface), but it is not necessary to fix it. It is preferable that the upper end of the support member 41 is always in contact with the side surface without any gap, but it is also acceptable for there to be a small gap between it and the side surface so that it comes into contact with the side surface when the side surface bends slightly downward. The distance between the upper end of the support member 41 and the side surface should be a few millimeters or less, preferably 1 mm or less.

[0103] Furthermore, as shown in another embodiment in Figures 9 to 12, the support beam 31 and the support member 41 can be used in combination. For example, the support beam 31 may be attached to a pair of sides 7a, 7c or sides 7b, 7d of the frame portion 7, and the support member 41 may be attached to another pair of sides 7b, 7d or sides 7a, 7c of the frame portion 7, so that they are mounted in different positions.

[0104] Another way to use them together is, as described above, to provide the support beam 31 at the bottom of at least one of the sides 7a to 7d of the frame section 7, and to provide the support member 41 on the underside (between the roof 2 and the support beam 31) or side of the same side 7a to 7d of the frame section 7 (vertical or adjacent arrangement).

[0105] In the case of adjacent arrangement, for example, the support beams 31 and support members 41 can be easily and individually retrofitted to the existing solar panels 3, similar to the embodiments in Figures 2 and 3, and the other embodiments in Figures 7 and 8.

[0106] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 9, for example, the support beam 31 may be fixed almost horizontally to the upstream fixing bracket 4(L) from the outside of the solar panel 3 using a fastening member 51, while the downstream end may be fixed to the connecting beam 61 or roof 2 via a support member 41 without being fixed to the downstream fixing bracket 4(S). In this case, at least one support member 41 is installed near the downstream end of the support beam 31.

[0107] In the above configuration, when the members are arranged adjacently, the support member 41 installed near the downstream end of the support beam 31 is fixed, for example, by fastening its side portion 41d to the side of the support beam 31 from the outside with a fastening member 62, and by fastening its bottom portion 41c to the upper surface of the connecting beam 61 or the roof 2 from above with a fastening member 63. When the members are arranged vertically, the support member 41 installed near the end of the support beam 31 is fixed, for example, by fastening its top portion 41b to the lower surface of the support beam 31 from below with a fastening member, and by fastening its bottom portion 41c to the connecting beam 61 or the roof 2 from above with a fastening member.

[0108] Alternatively, in each of the above cases, the support beam 31 and the support member 41 may be pre-integrated, the support beam 31 may be fixed to the solar panel 3 or fixing bracket 4, and the support member 41 may be fixed to the connecting beam 61 or roof 2.

[0109] By any of the above methods, the support beam 31 and the support member 41 can be easily and retrofitted to the existing solar panel 3.

[0110] <Effect> The effect of this embodiment is as follows:

[0111] A building such as a house may have solar panels 3 installed on its roof 2. The solar panels 3 installed on the roof 2 generate electricity. The solar panels 3 generate electricity by converting the energy of sunlight into electricity. The electricity generated by the solar panels 3 can be used for self-consumption, sold back to the grid, or stored in a battery. This allows the user to save on electricity bills, among other things. In addition, the user can reduce the amount of electricity purchased from the commercial power source and live an environmentally friendly life.

[0112] In this embodiment, the solar panel 3 is fixed to the roof 2 by a mounting bracket 4 with short legs. The mounting bracket 4 may also be used to lift the solar panel 3 from below, thereby installing the solar panel 3 in a state where it is suspended above the roof 2. This creates a height difference between the roof 2 and the solar panel 3.

[0113] The solar cell panel 3 has a structure in which, for example, the outer perimeter of the panel portion 6 is surrounded by a frame portion 7. Therefore, the solar cell panel 3 has strength such that the panel portion 6 is reinforced by the frame portion 7, and is less likely to deform or be damaged by normal snowfall.

[0114] However, during snowfall, the snow accumulation S1 on the solar panel 3 and the snow accumulation S2 on the roof 2 (Figure 6(a)) may connect and become one, as shown sequentially in Figures 6(a) to (d). When the snow accumulation S1 and snow accumulation S2 connect and become one in this way (Figure 6(b)), a settling force 21 acts on the solar panel 3 via the connected snow accumulation S3 (Figure 6(c)).

[0115] The settling force 21 is the force exerted by the snow accumulation S1 and S3 as they attempt to settle from the side of the solar panel 3, which is at a higher position, towards the side of the roof 2, which is at a lower position, causing the snow accumulation S1 and S3 to pull the solar panel 3 downwards.

[0116] For example, in areas with heavy snowfall, the amount of snow is greater than in normal areas, and consequently the settling force 21 is greater. This large settling force 21 may cause localized deformation or damage to the solar panel 3 (its frame 7 and panel 6) (Figure 6(d)). In addition, when there is a large amount of snow, damage may also occur due to the weight of the snow S1 on the solar panel 3.

[0117] The solar panel 3 is subjected to a large settling force 21 on the edges adjacent to the large roof area 9 (area requiring special attention 10). In addition, the cantilevered protruding portion 24 of the solar panel 3 that extends outward from the fixing bracket 4 is relatively weak. Therefore, the edges of the solar panel 3 adjacent to the large roof area 9 (area requiring special attention 10), and the edges with outwardly protruding protruding portions 24 (for example, edge 7b) are at increased risk of localized deformation or damage due to the settling force 21.

[0118] Therefore, in this embodiment, a damage prevention member 23 is installed on the solar cell panel 3 to reinforce the solar cell panel 3.

[0119] <Effects> The effects of this embodiment are as follows:

[0120] (Effect 1) The solar cell reinforcement structure has a damage prevention member 23 installed at the bottom of the solar cell panel 3 (which is fixed to the roof 2 by fixing brackets 4 with short legs). As a result, the damage prevention member 23 partially reinforces the solar cell panel 3 by supporting it from below, and prevents damage to the solar cell panel 3 due to snow accumulation S1 and S3, in particular damage to the solar cell panel 3 due to settling force 21. In this case, the damage prevention member 23 may be installed on the part of the solar cell panel 3 where the settling force 21 acts, or around that part. In this way, the damage prevention member 23 can effectively reinforce the solar cell panel 3 against the settling force 21. For example, the damage prevention member 23 can be installed at least around the sides 7a to 7d (e.g., side 7b) of the solar panel 3 that are adjacent to the large roof area 9 (area requiring attention 10) that causes excessive settling force 21, or around the sides (e.g., sides 7b, 7d) that have a cantilevered projection 24 that protrudes further toward the roof area 9 than the fixing bracket 4.

[0121] (Effect 2) The solar cell reinforcement structure may also use a support beam 31 instead of a damage prevention member 23. The support beam 31 is a member that extends along the lower part of the edge (for example, sides 7a to 7d) of the solar cell panel 3. Therefore, the support beam 31 effectively reinforces the entire sides 7a to 7d of the frame portion 7 of the solar cell panel 3 from below. The entire frame portion 7 of the solar cell panel 3 is reinforced by the long component, the support beam 31, thereby improving the overall strength of sides 7a to 7d. Thus, the support beam 31 suppresses deformation of the frame portion 7 and prevents damage to the solar cell panel 3 due to settling force 21. In this case, if the damage prevention member 23 is positioned to support sides 7a to 7d (for example, side 7b) adjacent to the large roof portion 9 (part requiring attention 10) of the solar cell panel 3, or around the cantilevered protruding portion 24, damage to the solar cell panel 3 due to settling force 21 and the like can be prevented more effectively.

[0122] (Effect 3) The solar cell reinforcement structure may also use a bundle member 41 instead of a damage prevention member 23. The bundle member 41 is a member that supports the solar cell panel 3 from below to the roof 2 at the middle part, near both ends, or near both ends of the edge (for example, sides 7a to 7d) of the solar cell panel 3. Therefore, the bundle member 41 locally reinforces the middle part of sides 7a to 7d of the frame part 7 of the solar cell panel 3 from below the sides 7a to 7d of the frame part 7. By locally reinforcing the middle part of sides 7a to 7d of the frame part 7 of the solar cell panel 3 with a relatively small component called the bundle member 41, the overall strength is also improved. Thus, the bundle member 41 suppresses deformation of the frame part 7 and prevents damage to the solar cell panel 3 due to the settling force 21. Furthermore, since the bundle member 41 is a relatively small component, costs are kept down and construction effort is reduced. In this case, if the support member 41 is positioned to support the sides 7a to 7d (for example, side 7b) adjacent to the large roof area 9 (part requiring attention 10) of the solar cell panel 3, or the area around the cantilevered protruding portion 24, damage to the solar cell panel 3 due to settling force 21 and the like can be more effectively prevented.

[0123] (Effect 4) The solar cell reinforcement structure may use damage prevention members 23 in both the support beam 31 and the bundle member 41. This makes it possible to obtain both the effects of the support beam 31 (Effect 2) and the bundle member 41 (Effect 3) simultaneously.

[0124] (Effect 5) The damage prevention members 23 (support beams 31, strut members 41) may be retrofittable. Therefore, the damage prevention members 23 can be easily attached (added) to the existing solar panels 3 later. By retrofitting the damage prevention members 23, the damage prevention members 23 protect the existing solar panels 3 from damage caused by settling forces 21, etc., when snow accumulates. The existing solar panels 3 are protected from damage caused by settling forces 21, etc., by the retrofitted damage prevention members 23. [Explanation of symbols]

[0125] 2. Roof 3. Solar panels 7 Frame section 9. Roof section 10 Parts requiring attention 21 Sedimentation force 23 Damage prevention component 31 Support beam 41 Bundle member S1 Snow accumulation on the roof S2 Snow accumulation on solar panels S3 Connected snow

Claims

1. A solar cell reinforcement structure characterized by having a damage prevention member installed below the solar cell panel, which is mounted on the roof via a fixing bracket, to prevent damage to the solar cell panel due to the settling force acting on the solar cell panel by the connected snow accumulation, which connects the snow accumulation on the solar cell panel with the snow accumulation on the roof.

2. A solar cell reinforcing structure according to claim 1, The solar cell reinforcing structure is characterized in that the damage prevention member is a support beam extending along the lower part of the edge of the solar cell panel.

3. A solar cell reinforcing structure according to claim 1, The solar cell reinforcing structure is characterized in that the damage prevention member is a bundle member that supports the middle portion of the edge of the solar cell panel, the vicinity of both ends, or the middle portion and the vicinity of both ends from below to the roof.

4. A solar cell reinforcing structure according to claim 1, The solar cell reinforcing structure is characterized in that the damage prevention member is both a support beam extending along the lower part of the edge of the solar cell panel, and a bundle member that supports the support beam or the middle part, near both ends, or near both ends of the edge from below to the roof.

5. A solar cell reinforcing structure according to any one of claims 2 to 4, The aforementioned damage prevention member is a solar cell reinforcement structure characterized by being able to be retrofitted to an existing solar cell panel.

Images