Solar panel support frame

Abstract

To obtain a solar panel support trestle that allows design to be easily changed according to change of an inclination angle and enables cost of manufacture to be suppressed.SOLUTION: A trestle 20 has a trestle frame 30 on which a plurality of solar panels 16 are installed and a plurality of support members 22 that fix the trestle frame to an installation surface G. The support member 22 has a lower fixing bracket 24 that is fixed to the installation surface G, an upper fixing bracket 28 that is fixed to a cross rail 32 of the trestle frame 30, and a pillar part 26 whose lower end is fixed to a top face of the lower fixing bracket 24 and whose upper end is fixed to an undersurface of the upper fixing bracket 28. The support member 22 is constituted to be capable of supporting so that the trestle frame 30 has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the installation surface G by changing height dimension of the pillar part 26 along a predetermined inclination.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a support frame for a solar panel. [Background technology]

[0002] When installing a solar panel on a flat installation surface such as a flat roof of a house or the ground surface, it is desirable that the solar panel be supported at a predetermined inclination angle relative to the installation surface so that it can easily receive sunlight.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a support structure that supports multiple solar panels at a predetermined tilt angle. This support structure has a first support member that supports the front end of a first solar panel, a second support member that supports the rear end of the first solar panel and the front end of a second solar panel located behind the first solar panel, and a third support member that supports the rear end of the second solar panel. The first to third support members each support a solar panel at a different height, thereby supporting the multiple solar panels at a predetermined tilt angle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-06273 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the support member described in Patent Document 1 has a fitting portion that is fixed to the installation surface and a support portion that determines the support height of the solar panel, which is integrally formed. Therefore, if you want to change the tilt angle of the solar panel to suit the installation environment, each support member needs to be designed as a dedicated product, which significantly increases manufacturing costs and makes it difficult to change the tilt angle.

[0006] In consideration of the above facts, the present invention aims to provide a solar panel support frame that has a structure in which multiple solar panels are fixed at a predetermined tilt angle, and that can easily be changed in design in response to changes in the tilt angle and that can reduce manufacturing costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The support stand for solar panels according to the first aspect comprises a support frame on which a plurality of solar panels are mounted, and a plurality of support members for fixing the support frame to an installation surface, wherein the support members have a first fixing bracket fixed to the installation surface, a second fixing bracket fixed to a crosspiece of the support frame, and a column portion whose lower end is fixed to the upper surface of the first fixing bracket and whose upper end is fixed to the lower surface of the second fixing bracket, and the plurality of support members are configured to be able to support the support frame so that it has a predetermined inclination angle relative to the installation surface by changing the height dimension of the column portion along a predetermined gradient.

[0008] According to a first aspect, a support rack for solar panels includes a rack frame on which multiple solar panels are mounted, and multiple support members that secure the rack frame to an installation surface. The support members each include a first fixing bracket secured to the installation surface, a second fixing bracket secured to a rail of the rack frame, and a column whose lower end is secured to the upper surface of the first fixing bracket and whose upper end is secured to the lower surface of the second fixing bracket. The support members are configured to support the rack frame at a predetermined inclination angle relative to the installation surface by adjusting the height of the column along a predetermined gradient.

[0009] With this configuration, the tilt angle of the solar panel support frame can be changed by replacing only the column parts whose height dimensions are determined according to the desired tilt angle. Therefore, common parts can be used for the other parts, making it easy to change the design according to the tilt angle and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0010] The support frame for a solar panel according to the second aspect is configured as described in the first aspect, wherein the first fixing bracket has an open cross section formed by an upper flange fixed to the lower end of the support member, a lower flange fixed to the installation surface, and a web connecting the upper flange and the lower flange, the open cross section being arranged perpendicular to the web and reinforced by a stiffener extending in the opening direction to connect the upper flange and the lower flange, and the lower flange being fixed to the installation surface via a plurality of bolts arranged along the opening direction on both sides of the stiffener.

[0011] According to the second aspect, the first fixing bracket has an open cross section made up of an upper flange, a lower flange, and a web. The first fixing bracket connects the upper and lower flanges with stiffeners arranged perpendicular to the web, and is further fixed to the installation surface with multiple bolts, providing a reinforced structure that can withstand the load from the mounting frame.

[0012] Here, the stiffener is provided extending in the opening direction of the open cross section of the first fixing bracket. Furthermore, the multiple bolts are arranged side by side on both sides of the stiffener along the opening direction of the open cross section. With this configuration, it is possible to access the open cross section of the first fixing bracket from the opening direction to weld the stiffener and fasten the bolts, making installation easy by accessing from one direction. This allows for excellent installation workability and a robust reinforcement structure.

[0013] The support frame for a solar panel according to the third aspect is configured as described in the first or second aspect, in which the second fixing bracket has an open cross section that is closed on the downstream side in the gradient direction and opens on the upstream side in the gradient direction, and is configured so that the bars of the frame frame can be fixed in the inner space.

[0014] Incidentally, in a structure in which a solar panel is fixed at an inclination angle relative to the installation surface, wind pressure resistance is required to withstand wind pressure from the front side of the mount (the downstream side in the gradient direction).

[0015] Therefore, in the third aspect, the second fixing metal fittings have an open cross section that is closed on the underwater side in the gradient direction and opens on the abovewater side in the gradient direction, and are configured so that the rails of the mounting frame can be fixed in the internal space. With this configuration, the rails of the mounting frame can be fixed within the open cross section that is closed on the belowwater side in the gradient direction, so that the mounting frame can be well protected against wind pressure from the belowwater side in the gradient direction, and wind pressure resistance can be improved.

[0016] The support frame for a solar panel according to the fourth aspect is configured as described in any one of the first to third aspects, in which the column portion is formed in a hollow column shape and fixed to the second fixing bracket via a plate-shaped plate portion, and the plate portion is fastened together with the second fixing bracket to a crosspiece of the frame.

[0017] According to a fourth aspect, the support member has a hollow column portion, and the column portion and the second fixing metal fitting are fixed via a plate portion. The plate portion is fastened together with the second fixing metal fitting to a crosspiece of the gantry frame. In this configuration, forming the column portion into a hollow column shape makes it possible to reduce the weight compared to forming it into a solid column shape. Furthermore, by providing a plate portion between the column portion and the second fixing metal fitting, the fixing point between the second fixing metal fitting and the gantry frame can be located near the column center of the column portion, thereby achieving a reduction in the weight of the support member and increasing the support strength of the support member against the load from the gantry frame.

[0018] The support frame for a solar panel according to the fifth aspect is configured as described in any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the first fixing bracket is made of a first steel beam that is closed on the above-water side in the gradient direction and opens on the below-water side in the gradient direction, the second fixing bracket is made of a second steel beam that is closed on the below-water side in the gradient direction and opens on the above-water side in the gradient direction, and the column portion is made of a hollow columnar pipe material.

[0019] According to the fifth aspect, the support member can be manufactured using materials that have traditionally been widely used in structural construction, such as shaped steel and pipe materials, making it easy to implement and reducing manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the first shaped steel that constitutes the first fixing bracket is oriented so that its opening faces downstream in the gradient direction, and the second shaped steel that constitutes the second fixing bracket is oriented so that its opening faces upstream in the gradient direction. In this configuration, the fixing brackets arranged above and below the column portion are oriented so that their openings face in opposite directions along the gradient, thereby achieving a good strength balance for the support member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] As described above, the solar panel support frame of the first aspect has the excellent effect of being able to easily change the design in response to changes in the tilt angle in a structure that fixes multiple solar panels at a predetermined tilt angle, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0021] The solar panel support frame according to the second aspect has the excellent effect of being easy to install and having a strong reinforcement structure.

[0022] The solar panel support frame according to the third aspect has the excellent effect of being able to improve wind pressure resistance.

[0023] The solar panel support rack according to the fourth aspect has the excellent effect of being able to increase the support strength of the support members against the load from the rack frame while also achieving a reduction in the weight of the support members.

[0024] The solar panel support frame according to the fifth aspect has the excellent effect of achieving a good strength balance of the support members while also reducing manufacturing costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a solar panel is installed using a solar panel support frame according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the gantry according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a support member according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] (A) is a plan view of the support member as viewed from the direction of arrow A in Figure 3, (B) is a side view of the support member as viewed from the direction of arrow B in Figure 3, and (C) is a side view of the support member as viewed from the direction of arrow C in Figure 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of a state in which the support member is fixed to an installation surface. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an enlarged side view showing the fixing structure of the solar panel at the end of the mounting frame according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an enlarged side view showing the fixing structure of the solar panel at the middle part of the mounting frame according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an enlarged view of a fixing bracket of the solar panel according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing a fixing bracket of the solar panel according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] A solar panel fixing structure 10 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. This solar panel fixing structure 10 relates to a fixing structure for a plurality of solar panels 16 that are supported at a predetermined inclination angle relative to a relatively flat installation surface G. The installation surface G is, for example, a flat roof 14 provided on the roof of a building 12, or the ground surface, as shown in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, a case where a plurality of solar panels 16 are installed on the flat roof of the building 12 will be described as an example.

[0027] (Overall composition) 1 and 2, the solar panel fixing structure 10 includes a mount 20 as a support mount for the solar panels. The mount 20 includes a mount frame 30 on which multiple solar panels 16 are installed, and multiple support members 22 that fix the mount frame 30 to the installation surface.

[0028] The plurality of support members 22 are arranged with their height dimensions changed along a predetermined gradient, and support the lattice-shaped mount frame 30 from below by these plurality of support members 22. As a result, the mount frame 30 is arranged at an inclination at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the installation surface G. The support members 22 and the mount frame 30 will be described in detail below.

[0029] (Support member 22) 3 to 5, the support member 22 includes a lower fixing bracket 24 fixed to the installation surface G, a pillar portion 26 arranged above the lower fixing bracket 24, and an upper fixing bracket 28 arranged above the pillar portion 26. The lower fixing bracket 24 corresponds to the "first fixing metal fitting" in the present invention. The upper fixing bracket 28 corresponds to the "second fixing metal fitting" in the present invention.

[0030] The lower fixing bracket 24 is formed by cutting a steel beam to a predetermined length, and in one example of this embodiment, it is made of a channel steel (C-shaped steel). The lower fixing bracket 24 thus configured has an open cross section formed by an upper flange 24A constituting the upper surface, a lower flange 24B constituting the lower surface, and a web 24C connecting the upper flange 24A and the lower flange 24B in the height direction. Furthermore, a reinforcing stiffener 24D is provided in the inner space of the lower fixing bracket 24, intersecting the web 24C at right angles and extending along the opening direction of the open cross section. The stiffener 24D connects the upper flange 24A and the lower flange 24B in the height direction at the middle of the bracket's width direction, thereby increasing the strength of the lower fixing bracket 24 against loads from above.

[0031] The lower flange 24B of the lower fixing bracket 24 is fixed to the installation surface G with a plurality of bolts 80. When the installation surface G is the flat roof 14 of the building 12 as in this embodiment, the lower fixing bracket 24 is fixed to a structural member 90 such as a beam or pillar embedded in the concrete foundation 142 of the flat roof 14. The plurality of bolts 80 are inserted into a plurality of bolt insertion holes (reference numerals omitted) formed in the lower flange 24B of the lower fixing bracket 24 and the structural member 90, and are fastened by screwing nuts 82 from below.

[0032] Here, the multiple bolts 80 are distributed and arranged on both sides of the stiffener 24D, and are arranged side by side along the opening direction of the open cross section. Specifically, in this embodiment, two bolts 80 are arranged side by side along the opening direction on both sides of the stiffener 24D. Therefore, the open cross section of the lower fixing bracket 24 can be accessed from the opening direction to perform welding and bolt tightening of the stiffener 24D.

[0033] The pillar portion 26 is formed by cutting a hollow pillar-shaped pipe material to a predetermined length. The lower end of the pillar portion 26 is fixed by welding or the like to the upper surface of the upper flange 24A of the lower fixing bracket 24. The upper end of the pillar portion 26 is fixed by welding or the like to the lower surface of the upper fixing bracket 28 (described later) via a plate-shaped plate portion 27.

[0034] The plate portion 27 is made of a metal plate formed in a disk shape, and the upper end of the column portion 26 and the lower surface of the plate portion 27 are fixed by welding or the like. A bolt insertion hole (reference numeral omitted) is formed in the center of the plate portion 27, overlapping with the column center of the column portion 26, and is fastened together with a lower flange 28A of the upper fixing bracket 28 to a cross beam 32 of the mounting frame 30, which will be described later.

[0035] Upper fixing bracket 28 is formed by cutting a steel beam to a predetermined length, and in this embodiment is made of an L-shaped steel. Upper fixing bracket 28 having such a configuration has an open cross section made up of lower flange 28A that forms the lower surface and web 28B that stands in the height direction from the end of lower flange 28A.

[0036] The upper fixing bracket 28 is configured to be able to fix the cross beam 32 of the gantry frame 30 in the inner space of the open cross section. Specifically, the upper fixing bracket 28 has a plurality of bolt insertion holes (reference numerals omitted) on the side surfaces of the lower flange 28A and the web 28B, and is fastened and fixed with bolts 80 to the opposing surface of the cross beam 32 with the cross beam 32 inserted into the open cross section. In addition, the fixing points between the lower flange 28B of the upper fixing bracket 28 and the cross beam 32 of the gantry frame 30 include fixing points with the plate portion 27 provided on the upper end of the column portion 26. As a result, fixing points for fastening the plate portion 27, lower flange 28A, and cross beam 32 together are provided near the column center of the column portion 26.

[0037] The support member 22 configured as described above has a structure in which the height (vertical) dimension can be easily adjusted by changing the dimensions of the column portions 26. In this embodiment, a plurality of support members 22 are arranged linearly in the horizontal direction and set to the same height, and are installed in three rows in the vertical direction (gradient direction) (see FIG. 2). These support members 22 are configured so that the rack frame 30 can be supported at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the installation surface G by changing the dimensions of the column portions 26 (22A to 22C) of each row along a predetermined gradient.

[0038] 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the support member 22 installed on the flat roof 14. As shown in this figure, when the support member 22 is installed, the lower fixing bracket 24 is fixed to the structural material 90 of the building 12 while being embedded in the concrete foundation 142 of the flat roof 14. In addition, a surface layer 144 that has heat insulating and waterproof properties is formed on the upper surface of the concrete foundation 142.

[0039] Here, the open cross section of the upper fixing bracket 28 is arranged so that it is closed on the belowwater side in the gradient direction of the support member 22 and is open on the abovewater side in the gradient direction. In addition, the open cross section of the lower fixing bracket 24 is oriented opposite to the upper fixing bracket 28 along the gradient direction, and is arranged so that it is closed on the abovewater side in the gradient direction and is open on the belowwater side in the gradient direction.

[0040] However, when the solar panel 16 is fixed at a predetermined inclination angle relative to the installation surface G using the mounting base 20 as described above, wind pressure resistance is required to withstand wind pressure from the front side of the mounting base 20 (the downstream side in the gradient direction) and the bottom side of the mounting base 20.

[0041] In this regard, the upper fixing bracket 28 having such a configuration does not have openings on the underwater side (the front side of the gantry 20) and the lower side in the gradient direction. Therefore, the gantry frame 30 can be well protected from wind pressure from the underwater side in the gradient direction and from the lower side of the gantry, and wind pressure resistance can be improved.

[0042] Furthermore, by arranging the lower fixing bracket 24 and the upper fixing bracket 28 arranged above and below the column portion 26 so that their openings face in opposite directions along the gradient direction, the strength balance of the support member can be improved.

[0043] (mounting frame 30) Next, we will explain the configuration of the gantry frame 30. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the gantry frame 30 is configured to include a plurality of horizontal beams 32 and a plurality of vertical beams 34, and is formed into a rectangular lattice frame by arranging the horizontal beams 32 and the vertical beams 34 in a lattice pattern.

[0044] 5, the horizontal beams 32 are skeletal members extending in the horizontal direction (the direction perpendicular to the gradient direction) of the mounting frame 30, and are made of channel steel, for example. The horizontal beams 32 thus configured have an open cross section made up of an upper flange 32A that forms the upper surface, a lower flange 32B that forms the lower surface, and a web 32C that connects the upper flange 32A and the lower flange 32B in the height direction.

[0045] The open cross section of the horizontal crosspiece 32 is closed on the downstream side in the gradient direction and is open on the upstream side in the gradient direction, similar to the upper fixing bracket 28. When the horizontal crosspiece 32 is housed in the inner space of the upper fixing bracket 28, the sides of the lower flange 32B and web 32C abut against the lower flange 28A and web 28B of the upper fixing bracket 28, respectively. Bolts 80 are inserted through the bolt insertion holes between these abutting surfaces and are fastened together by screwing them into nuts (weld nuts) 82.

[0046] Further, on the upper surface of the horizontal beam 32, a support bracket 92 is provided which is substantially L-shaped when viewed from the gradient direction.

[0047] The vertical beams 34 are skeletal members that extend along the vertical direction (gradient direction) of the mounting frame 30, and are made of channel steel, for example. Therefore, they have an upper flange 34A that forms the upper surface, a lower flange 34B that forms the lower surface, and a web 34C that connects the upper flange 34A and the lower flange 34B in the height direction (see FIG. 6).

[0048] The vertical beams 34 are fixed to the upper side of the horizontal beams 32 via support brackets 92, and are supported by the support brackets 92 in a state where they are slightly raised above the upper surfaces of the horizontal beams 32. As a result, a gap is provided between the vertical beams 34 and the horizontal beams 32 in the height direction, and the vertical beams 34 are inclined obliquely along the gradient direction of the support members 22.

[0049] The vertical beams 34 configured in this manner are supported at an incline by a plurality of support members 22 whose heights change along the gradient direction. The mounting frame 30 is provided with a plurality of vertical beams 34 spaced apart in the width direction of the frame, and an upper flange 34A, which is arranged at an incline with respect to the installation surface G, serves as a fixing surface P for the plurality of solar panels 16.

[0050] A plurality of solar panels 16 are arranged horizontally and vertically on the same plane on the fixing surface P. These solar panels 16 are fixed to the mounting frame 30 using first fixing brackets 40 and second fixing brackets 50 made of sheet metal.

[0051] Here, if the underwater side of the solar panel 16 in the gradient direction is considered to be the front side of the mounting base 20 and the abovewater side is considered to be the rear side of the mounting base 20, then the front end of each solar panel 16 is located on the underwater side in the gradient direction and the rear end is located on the abovewater side in the gradient direction.

[0052] The first fixing brackets 40 are disposed on the front and rear end sides of the mounting frame 30, and fix the front end or rear end of the solar panel 16 to the mounting frame 30. Figure 6 shows the state in which the front end of the solar panel 16 is fixed by the first fixing brackets.

[0053] As shown in this figure, the first fixing metal fitting 40 is a bracket formed by bending a metal plate into a substantial Z-shape. The first fixing metal fitting 40 comprises a base portion 42 fixed to the upper flange 34A of the vertical bar 34, a vertical wall portion 44 erected from one end of the base portion 42, and a fixing portion 46 provided at the tip of the vertical wall portion 44.

[0054] The base portion 42 is formed in a plate shape with its height direction being its plate thickness direction, and is placed on the upper flange 34A of the vertical crosspiece 34. The base portion 42 is fastened and fixed by inserting bolts 60 into mounting holes (not shown) formed in the base portion 42 and the upper flange 34A of the vertical crosspiece 34, and screwing nuts 62 into the base portion 42 from below the upper flange 34A. The nuts 62 may be weld nuts welded to the underside of the upper flange 34A.

[0055] The vertical wall portion 44 stands vertically upward from one end of the base portion 42 and is disposed opposite the side surface of the front end of the solar panel 16. The fixing portion 46 is formed in a hook shape by folding back the tip of the vertical wall portion 44 toward the side surface of the front end of the solar panel 16. A locking piece 18A protruding from the side surface of the module case 18 is provided on the side surface of the front end of the solar panel 16. The first fixing bracket 40 holds down the front end of the solar panel 16 from above by hooking the hook-shaped fixing portion 46 onto the locking piece 18A, thereby fixing it to the vertical crosspiece 34.

[0056] Similarly, the first fixing bracket 40 can fix the rear end of the solar panel 16 arranged on the rear end side of the mounting frame 30. That is, by hooking the fixing portion 46 onto the locking piece 18A provided on the side surface on the rear end side of the solar panel 16, the rear end of the solar panel 16 is fixed to the vertical beam 34 (see FIG. 2).

[0057] The second fixing bracket 50 is disposed between two solar panels 16 aligned along the gradient direction. The second fixing bracket 50 has a main body 50A serving as a bracket formed by bending a metal plate into a generally inverted hat shape, and a connecting reinforcement part 50B configured to be separable from the main body 50A.

[0058] The main body portion 50A includes a base portion 52 fixed to the upper flange 34A of the vertical bar 34, and a pair of spacing wall portions 54 erected from both ends of the base portion 52 in the gradient direction, and has hook-shaped fixing portions 56, 58 at the tips of the pair of spacing wall portions 54.

[0059] The base portion 52 is formed in a plate shape with its thickness direction in the height direction, and is fastened and fixed by inserting bolts 60 into mounting holes (not shown) formed on the upper flange 34A of the vertical crosspiece 34 and screwing nuts 62 into the upper flange 34A from below. The nuts 62 may be weld nuts welded to the underside of the upper flange 34A.

[0060] The two fixing parts 56, 58 are composed of a first fixing part 56 arranged on the underwater side in the gradient direction and a second fixing part 58 arranged on the abovewater side, and the rear end of the belowwater solar panel 16A is fixed by the first fixing part 56. Also, the front end of the abovewater solar panel 16B is fixed by the second fixing part 58.

[0061] The method of fixing the first and second fixing parts 56, 58 to the solar panels 16A, 16B is similar to that of the fixing part 46 of the first fixing metal fitting 40 described above, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0062] As shown in Figures 7 to 9, a pair of spacing walls 54 are erected vertically upward from one end of the base 52 on the underwater side and one end on the abovewater side, respectively, and are arranged facing each other in the direction of the inclined surfaces of the vertical beams 34. A slit 70 is formed in each of the pair of spacing walls 54, and the slit 70 extends from each spacing wall 54 across the first fixing portion 56 and the second fixing portion 58, and opens on the upper side of the mount 20. In each of Figures 7 to 9, the slit 70 arranged on the belowwater side in the gradient direction is designated by the symbol "70A" as the first slit, and the slit 70 arranged on the abovewater side in the gradient direction is designated by the symbol "70B" as the second slit.

[0063] Both ends of the connecting reinforcement part 50B are inserted into the first slit part 70A and the second slit part 70B that open upward so as to bridge the pair of spacing retaining wall parts 54. The connecting reinforcement part 50B is a reinforcing member that connects and reinforces the pair of spacing retaining wall parts 54, and is composed of one bolt 64 that is made up of a fully threaded bolt or the like, and a pair of nuts 66 that are screwed onto both ends of the bolt 64, for example.

[0064] When both ends of the bolt 64 are inserted into the first and second slit portions 70A, 70B and are spanned across the pair of spacing wall portions 54, the pair of nuts 66 are positioned inside the pair of spacing wall portions 54. This allows the pair of spacing wall portions 54 to be connected by the connecting reinforcement portion 50B. With this configuration, even if a load acts on the spacing wall portions 54 in the inclined direction of the vertical bars 34, the distance between the pair of spacing wall portions 54 is firmly maintained.

[0065] (Actions and Effects) According to the present embodiment described above, the following excellent effects can be obtained.

[0066] In this embodiment, the mount 20 includes a mount frame 30 on which a plurality of solar panels 16 are mounted, and a plurality of support members 22 that fix the mount frame 30 to an installation surface G. Here, the support members 22 have a lower fixing bracket 24 that is fixed to the installation surface G, and an upper fixing bracket 28 that is fixed to a horizontal beam 32 of the mount frame 30. The support members 22 also have pillar portions 26 that are fixed at their lower ends to the upper surfaces of the lower fixing brackets 24 and at their upper ends to the lower surfaces of the upper fixing brackets 28. The support members 22 are configured to be able to support the mount frame 30 so that it has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the installation surface G by changing the height dimension of the pillar portions 26 along a predetermined gradient.

[0067] With this configuration, the tilt angle of the mount 20 can be changed by replacing only the parts of the column 26, the height of which is determined according to the desired tilt angle. Therefore, common parts can be used for the other parts, design changes according to changes in the tilt angle can be easily made, and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0068] The lower fixing bracket 24 has an open cross section made up of an upper flange 24A, a lower flange 24B, and a web 24C. The lower fixing bracket 24 connects the upper flange 24A and the lower flange 24B with stiffeners 24D provided perpendicular to the web 24C, and is further fixed to the installation surface G with a plurality of bolts 80, thereby providing a reinforced structure capable of withstanding the load from the mounting frame 30.

[0069] Here, the stiffener 24D is provided extending in the opening direction of the open cross section of the lower fixing bracket 24. Furthermore, multiple bolts 80 are arranged side by side on both sides of the stiffener 24D along the opening direction of the open cross section. With this configuration, it is possible to access the open cross section of the lower fixing bracket 24 from the opening direction to perform welding and bolt tightening of the stiffener 24D, making construction easier by accessing from one direction. This allows for installation with excellent construction ease and a strong reinforcement structure.

[0070] On the other hand, the upper fixing bracket 28 has an open cross section that is closed on the underwater side in the gradient direction and opens on the abovewater side in the gradient direction, and is configured so that the cross beams 32 of the mounting frame 30 can be fixed in the inner space thereof. With this configuration, since the cross beams 32 of the mounting frame 30 can be fixed within the open cross section that is closed on the belowwater side in the gradient direction, the mounting frame 30 can be well protected from wind pressure from the belowwater side in the gradient direction (i.e., the front side of the mounting frame 20), and wind pressure resistance can be improved.

[0071] The support member 22 has a hollow column portion 26, and the column portion 26 and the upper fixing bracket 28 are fixed to each other via a plate portion 27. The plate portion 27 is fastened together with the upper fixing bracket 28 to a cross beam 32 of the gantry frame 30. In this configuration, forming the column portion 26 into a hollow column shape allows for a reduction in weight compared to forming it into a solid column shape. Furthermore, providing the plate portion 27 between the column portion 26 and the upper fixing bracket 28 allows for a fixing point between the upper fixing bracket 28 and the gantry frame 30 to be located near the column center of the column portion 26. This allows for a reduction in weight of the support member 22 and an increase in the support strength of the support member 22 against a load from the gantry frame 30.

[0072] Furthermore, by adjusting the thickness of the plate portion 27, it is possible to adjust the support strength and fine-tune the height.

[0073] In this embodiment, the lower fixing bracket 24 is made of a channel steel (first-shaped steel), the column portion 26 is made of a pipe material, and the upper fixing bracket 28 is made of an L-shaped steel (second-shaped steel). In this way, the support member 22 can be manufactured using materials that have traditionally been widely used in structural construction, such as steel sections and pipe materials, making it easy to implement and reducing manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the lower fixing bracket 24 is provided with an opening facing downwater in the direction of the gradient, and the upper fixing bracket 28 is provided with an opening facing upwater in the direction of the gradient. In this configuration, the opening directions of the lower fixing bracket 24 and the upper fixing bracket 28 are set in opposite directions along the gradient, thereby achieving a good strength balance for the support member.

[0074] [supplementary explanation] In the above embodiment, the mounting frame 20 is installed on the flat roof 14 of the building 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when installing on the ground surface, a columnar concrete foundation may be provided on the ground surface, and the lower fixing bracket 24 of the support member may be fixed to the upper end of a structural member buried in the foundation.

[0075] The lower fixing bracket 24 is not limited to being made of channel steel, but may be made of, for example, H-shaped steel or the like, or may be made of sheet metal having a desired thickness. Similarly, the upper fixing bracket 28 is not limited to an L-shaped steel, but may be, for example, a channel steel.

[0076] The column portion 26 is not limited to being fixed to the upper fixing bracket 28 via the plate portion 27. The upper end of the column portion 26 may be directly welded to the upper fixing bracket 28. The column portion may also be formed of a solid columnar member. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 16 Solar panels (16A, 16B) 20 Mounting frame (support frame for solar panels) 22 Support member 24 Lower fixing bracket (first fixing bracket, first steel section) 24D stiffener (reinforced part) 26 Pillar section 27 Plate section 28 Upper fixing bracket (second fixing bracket, second steel section) 30 Mounting frame 32 Crosspiece (crosspiece) 80 volts G Installation surface

Claims

1. A solar panel support frame including a frame frame on which a plurality of solar panels are installed and a plurality of support members that fix the frame frame to an installation surface, The support member is a first fixing bracket fixed to the installation surface; a second fixing bracket fixed to a crosspiece of the frame; a pillar portion whose lower end is fixed to the upper surface of the first fixing metal fitting and whose upper end is fixed to the lower surface of the second fixing metal fitting, the plurality of support members are configured to be able to support the rack frame so that it has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the installation surface by changing the height dimension of the column portions along a predetermined gradient, the first fixing metal fitting has an open cross section formed by an upper flange fixed to a lower end of the support member, a lower flange fixed to the installation surface, and a web connecting the upper flange and the lower flange, The open cross section is provided perpendicular to the web and is reinforced by a stiffener extending in the opening direction to connect the upper flange and the lower flange, The lower flange is fixed to the installation surface via a plurality of bolts arranged along the opening direction on both sides of the stiffener. Solar panel support frame.

2. A solar panel support frame comprising a frame on which a plurality of solar panels are mounted, and a plurality of support members for fixing the frame to an installation surface, The support member is a first fixing bracket fixed to the installation surface; a second fixing bracket fixed to a crosspiece of the frame; a pillar portion whose lower end is fixed to the upper surface of the first fixing metal fitting and whose upper end is fixed to the lower surface of the second fixing metal fitting, the plurality of support members are configured to be able to support the rack frame so that it has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the installation surface by changing the height dimension of the column portions along a predetermined gradient, The second fixing bracket has an open cross section that is closed on the underwater side in the gradient direction and opens on the abovewater side in the gradient direction, and is configured so that the bars of the mounting frame can be fixed in the inner space thereof.

3. A support frame for solar panels comprising a frame on which a plurality of solar panels are mounted, and a plurality of support members for fixing the frame to an installation surface, The support member is a first fixing bracket fixed to the installation surface; a second fixing bracket fixed to a crosspiece of the frame; a pillar portion whose lower end is fixed to the upper surface of the first fixing metal fitting and whose upper end is fixed to the lower surface of the second fixing metal fitting, the plurality of support members are configured to be able to support the rack frame so that it has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the installation surface by changing the height dimension of the column portions along a predetermined gradient, The pillar portion is formed in a hollow pillar shape and is fixed to the second fixing metal fitting via a plate-shaped plate portion, The plate portion is fastened together with the second fixing metal fitting to the crosspiece of the frame. Solar panel support frame.

4. A support frame for solar panels comprising a frame on which a plurality of solar panels are mounted, and a plurality of support members for fixing the frame to an installation surface, The support member is a first fixing bracket fixed to the installation surface; a second fixing bracket fixed to a crosspiece of the frame; a pillar portion whose lower end is fixed to the upper surface of the first fixing metal fitting and whose upper end is fixed to the lower surface of the second fixing metal fitting, the plurality of support members are configured to be able to support the rack frame so that it has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the installation surface by changing the height dimension of the column portions along a predetermined gradient, The first fixing metal fitting is composed of a first steel beam that is closed on the above-water side in the gradient direction and is open on the below-water side in the gradient direction, The second fixing metal fitting is composed of a second steel section that is closed on the underwater side in the gradient direction and is open on the abovewater side in the gradient direction, The column portion is made of a hollow columnar pipe material. Solar panel support frame.

Images