Solar panel mounting system

Abstract

To provide a solar panel mounting system that can ensure safety in a space-saving manner, even when the solar panels are installed at a lower position. [Solution] A solar panel mounting device for installing solar panels on a vertical surface, comprising: at least two or more support columns, one end of which is fixed to the ground surface or underground and the other end of which is used to mount the solar panel; a solar panel installed on the support columns such that its lower end is located at a predetermined height H from the ground surface; and a fence fixed to at least two or more support columns to prevent passage through the space below the solar panel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a solar panel mounting apparatus of the type in which a solar panel is installed on a vertical surface.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there exists a solar panel mounting apparatus of the type in which a solar panel is installed on a vertical surface. Unlike the type that is installed facing south and inclined so that the power generation amount is maximized during the time period when the sun centered on the south side is at a high position, power generation is performed by installing the solar panel on a vertical surface oriented in the east-west direction.

[0003] For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose technologies related to solar panel mounting apparatuses of the type in which a solar panel is installed on a vertical surface.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, solar panels generate heat during power generation and pose a risk of burns when touched, so it is particularly necessary to create an environment that is difficult for small children to touch. For example, if the solar panel is installed such that the height from the ground to the lower end of the solar panel is 2 m or more, the possibility of children touching the solar panel can be significantly reduced without separately installing a fence or the like. However, the higher the installation position of the solar panel, the higher the center of gravity and the more susceptible it is to the influence of wind, which makes it necessary to further strengthen the support columns, resulting in a problem of increased costs.

[0006] Therefore, one possible solution to reduce costs is to lower the installation position of the solar panels while simultaneously installing fences to prevent contact with them. If the fences create an environment where it is difficult for small children to touch the panels, safety can be ensured even if the solar panels are installed at a lower position. However, if there is insufficient excavation space at the planned installation site for the solar panels, it may be difficult to install a separate fence after the solar panel mounting system has been installed.

[0007] This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a solar panel mounting device that can ensure safety in a space-saving manner even when the solar panels are installed at a lower position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The solar panel mounting device according to the present invention is a solar panel mounting device for installing solar panels on a vertical plane, and is characterized by comprising: at least two or more support columns, one end of which is fixed to the ground surface or underground and the other end of which is used to install the solar panel; a solar panel installed on the support columns such that its lower end is located at a predetermined height H from the ground surface; and a fence fixed to at least two or more of the support columns to prevent passage through the space below the solar panel.

[0009] Furthermore, the solar panel mounting device according to the present invention is characterized in that the fence is installed so as to cover a range of height h on a vertical plane at a distance d from the mounting surface of the solar panel, and by adjusting the length of d+h, an environment is created in which a person cannot touch the solar panel whose lower end is at a height H.

[0010] Furthermore, the solar panel mounting device according to the present invention is further characterized in that auxiliary members for installing the fence of height h at a distance d from the mounting surface of the solar panel are provided on two or more of the support columns, and the fence is fixed to the two or more of the auxiliary members.

[0011] Furthermore, the solar panel mounting device according to the present invention is characterized in that the solar panel is a double-sided light-receiving solar panel, and the fence is installed on both sides of the support column. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, when installing a solar panel mounting system of the type in which solar panels are installed on a vertical plane, even in situations where sufficient height cannot be secured from the ground to the lower end of the solar panel, it is possible to create an environment in which people cannot touch the solar panel by installing a fence on the support columns. Furthermore, by adjusting the length of d+h so as to cover a range of height h on a vertical plane at a distance d from the installation surface of the solar panel, it is possible to create an environment in which people cannot touch the solar panel whose lower end is at a height H. In addition, by providing auxiliary members for installing a fence of height h at a distance d on two or more support columns, and fixing the fence to two or more auxiliary members, it is possible to install a solar panel mounting system with a fence even in environments where the area where the solar panel mounting system is to be installed is small and there is little space to excavate. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the solar panel mounting device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a side view showing the configuration of a solar panel mounting device according to the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a side view showing another configuration of the solar panel mounting device according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] [First Embodiment] Hereinafter, an example of a solar panel mounting device according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the solar panel mounting device according to the present invention.

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, the solar panel mounting device 100 according to the present invention consists of two or more support columns 10, a beam 20 fixed between the two or more support columns, a solar panel 30 fixed to the beam 20, an auxiliary member 40 connected to the support columns 10, and a fence 50. The solar panel mounting device 100 according to the present invention is a type in which solar panels are installed on a vertical plane, and has a structure in which the solar panel 30 is fixed to two or more vertically erected support columns 10 via the beam 20. Furthermore, it is characterized by the installation of a fence 50 on the support columns 10 via the auxiliary member 40. Here, the fence 50 may be of the wire mesh type or the plate type.

[0016] Figure 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the solar panel mounting device according to the present invention. The support column 10 of the solar panel mounting device 100 may be composed of a single member or may be composed of a combination of multiple members. In the example shown in Figure 2, the configuration allows for slight height adjustment when fixing the second support column member 12 to the first support column member 11 that is buried in the ground by screwing or the like. Although it is described that one end of the first support column member 11 is buried in the ground, it is not limited to this, and a method of providing a foundation and fixing the first support column member 11 to the foundation may also be used. As shown in Figure 2, in this example, the solar panel mounting device 100 has a height H from the ground surface to the lower end surface of the solar panel 30, and the installation area P of the solar panel 30 is formed above that. The higher the height H and the wider the installation area P of the solar panel 30, the higher the center of gravity of the solar panel mounting device 100, the greater the overall weight, and the greater the effect of wind, so the support column 10 is required to have higher strength.

[0017] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the solar panel mounting device 100 has a fence 50 attached to the support column 10 via an auxiliary member 40. The auxiliary member 40 is used to install a fence 50 with a height h at a distance d from the installation surface of the solar panel 30. Here, the length of d+h is adjusted to create an environment where a person cannot touch the solar panel whose lower end is at height H. For example, if the height to the lower end of the solar panel 30 is 1500mm, it is a dangerous height as even a child can reach out and touch it. Therefore, if, for example, d=400mm and h=1700mm and the auxiliary member 40 and fence 50 are installed, d+h=400mm+1700mm=2100mm, it is possible to secure a distance that makes it difficult for a child to touch the solar panel 30.

[0018] Figure 3 is a side view showing another configuration of the solar panel mounting device according to the present invention. In the example shown in Figure 3, fences 50 are installed on both sides of the support column 10. If there is a possibility of people touching the panels on both sides, it is preferable to install fences 50 on both sides. When installing fences 50 on both sides of the support column, it is not necessary to use fences 50 of the same size. For example, for one side of the fence 50, the auxiliary member 40 could be set to a size of d1+h1=400mm+1700mm=2100mm, and for the opposite side of the fence 50, the auxiliary member 40 could be set to a size of d2+h2=700mm+1500mm=2200mm. On the left side of the drawing, by setting d2=700mm, it is possible to secure a gap large enough for a worker to stand and walk during inspection while preventing people from touching the solar panels 30 from the outside. Note that if the value of d+h is large relative to H, it can be expected to have the effect of preventing children from touching the solar panels 30, but if the value of h, i.e., the height of the fence 50 itself, is too low, children will be able to climb over the fence 50 and enter, which is undesirable. Therefore, it is preferable that the value of h be at least 1200 mm, so as to be a height that children will not easily try to climb over.

[0019] Further, as shown in Figure 3, even in a situation where other structures such as concrete already exist at the location where the solar panel mounting apparatus 100 is to be installed, and construction is desired without destroying such structures, the solar panel mounting apparatus 100 of the present example has a structure in which the fence 50 is connected to the support post 10 via the auxiliary member 40, so that construction is possible as long as there is a space where the support post 10 can be embedded, and the fence can be installed even without a separate excavation space for fence installation.

[0020] Further, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, by adopting a configuration in which the fence 50 is installed at a position separated by a distance d from the installation surface of the solar panel 30, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the shadow of the fence 50 falls on the solar panel 30 and lowers the power generation efficiency. If the fence 50 with a height h greater than the height H from the ground surface to the lower end of the solar panel 30 is installed in the immediate vicinity of the solar panel 30, although the influence varies depending on the angle of the sun, the power generation efficiency may be lowered due to the influence of the shadow of the fence 50. On the other hand, in the present example, since the fence 50 with the height h is installed at a position separated by the distance d from the installation surface of the solar panel 30, the possibility that the shadow of the fence 50 falls on the solar panel 30 can be reduced by the distance d, and as a result, it can contribute to the increase of power generation efficiency.

[0021] Further, by providing the fence 50 for prohibiting passage through the space below the solar panel, passage of people can be prohibited, and if the fence 50 is provided so that there is no gap with the ground surface, invasion of animals can also be prevented.

[0022] As described above, according to the solar panel mount device 100 of the present invention, at least two or more support posts each having one end fixed on the ground surface or in the ground and the other end for installing a solar panel, the solar panel installed on the support post such that the lower end thereof is located at a predetermined height H from the ground surface, and the fence fixed to the at least two or more support posts for prohibiting passage through the space below the solar panel are provided. Therefore, when installing a solar panel mount device of the type that installs a solar panel on a vertical plane, even in a situation where the height from the ground to the lower end of the solar panel cannot be sufficiently secured, it is possible to construct an environment where people cannot touch the solar panel by providing the fence on the support posts. In addition, by covering the range of height h on the vertical plane separated by a distance d from the installation surface of the solar panel and adjusting the length of d+h, it is possible to construct an environment where people cannot touch the solar panel whose lower end is at the position of height H. Further, by providing auxiliary members for installing the fence of height h at the position separated by the distance d on two or more support posts, and fixing the fence to the two or more auxiliary members, it is possible to install the solar panel mount device provided with the fence even in an environment where the place for installing the solar panel mount device has a small excavable area.

[0023] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various configurations or embodiments can be adopted within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of Reference Signs]

[0024] 100 Solar panel mount device 10 Support post 11 First support post member 12 Second support post member 20 Beam 30 Solar panel 40 Auxiliary member 50 Fence 60 Structure

Claims

1. A solar panel mounting system for installing solar panels on a vertical surface, At least two or more support columns, one end of which is fixed to the ground surface or underground, and the other end of which is used to install the solar panel, A solar panel is installed on the support column such that its lower end is located at a predetermined height H from the ground surface, A fence fixed to at least two of the aforementioned support posts, for preventing passage through the space below the solar panel, A solar panel mounting system equipped with the following features.

2. The fence is installed so as to cover a range of height h on a vertical plane at a distance d from the mounting surface of the solar panels, and by adjusting the length of d+h, an environment is created in which people cannot touch the solar panels whose lower end is at a height H. The solar panel mounting device according to claim 1.

3. Auxiliary members for installing the fence, which has a height h, at a distance d from the mounting surface of the solar panel are provided on two or more of the support posts, and the fence is fixed to the two or more of the auxiliary members. The solar panel mounting device according to claim 2.

4. The solar panels are double-sided solar panels, and the fences are installed on both sides of the support posts. A solar panel mounting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images