Foldable photovoltaic module arrangement having movable photovoltaic modules

Abstract

The invention relates to a photovoltaic module arrangement (10) for arranging at least two photovoltaic modules (22) which are foldably coupled to each other by means of at least one joint (40), wherein the at least two photovoltaic modules are each designed to have a module surface (26) and a supporting strip (34) supporting this module surface. According to the invention, the joint has an intermediate element (48) which at one end is hingedly mounted on the supporting strip associated with the first of the two photovoltaic modules and at the other end is hingedly mounted on the supporting strip associated with the second of the two photovoltaic modules.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Foldable photovoltaic module arrangement with movable photovoltaic modules

[0003] Background of the invention

[0004] The invention relates to a photovoltaic module arrangement for arranging at least two photovoltaic modules which are foldably coupled to one another by means of at least one joint, wherein the at least two photovoltaic modules are each designed with a module surface and a support strip supporting this module surface.

[0005] Photovoltaic module arrays, which can also be referred to as photovoltaic systems, typically comprise a multitude of photovoltaic modules that convert sunlight's radiant energy into electrical voltage using the photoelectric effect. Various types of photovoltaic module arrays are known for arranging such photovoltaic modules in a suitable position and orientation relative to the sun. These include arrays installed stationary on building roofs or in open spaces, as well as arrays in which the photovoltaic modules are foldably coupled together and thus can be moved together and apart, particularly for storage in a container. Underlying task

[0006] The invention is based on the object of improving a photovoltaic module arrangement with foldably coupled photovoltaic modules in such a way that they can be stored particularly easily and compactly.

[0007] Inventive solution

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention with a photovoltaic module arrangement for arranging at least two photovoltaic modules that are foldably coupled to one another by means of at least one joint. The at least two photovoltaic modules are each designed with a module surface and a support bar supporting this module surface. According to the invention, the joint is designed with an intermediate element that is hingedly mounted on the one hand to the support bar associated with the first of the two photovoltaic modules and on the other hand to the support bar associated with the second of the two photovoltaic modules.

[0009] The at least two photovoltaic modules are preferably designed to be movable on a support rail and the intermediate element is designed as a lifting protection device that hooks onto the at least one support rail.

[0010] The at least one support rail is preferably designed with at least one anti-lifting protection web for hooking under the anti-lifting protection, wherein in particular the at least one anti-lifting protection web is designed to extend over substantially the entire length of the at least one support rail.

[0011] Preferably, a drive is further provided for moving the at least two photovoltaic modules on the at least one support rail, wherein the drive is designed with a traction means, in particular in the form of a chain, and the intermediate element is designed as a coupling foot coupling into and out of the drive.

[0012] According to the invention, two drives extending essentially parallel to one another are preferably provided and a coupling foot is provided on each of the two drives.

[0013] The coupling foot is preferably designed to engage positively in the traction means in a substantially perpendicular manner.

[0014] The drive is preferably provided with at least one hold-down rail, preferably two opposing hold-down rails, for holding down the coupling foot, which engages positively with the traction mechanism. The hold-down rail particularly preferably simultaneously forms the anti-lifting bar.

[0015] The coupling foot advantageously has a recess which is kept free for a drive means driving the traction means when the coupling foot is engaged in the traction means.

[0016] The recess is preferably formed centrally in the coupling foot and, particularly advantageously, an engagement means for engaging in the traction means is formed laterally from the recess.

[0017] The traction mechanism is advantageously designed to be enclosed within the drive's housing. This protects the traction mechanism from the elements and unwanted intervention by operating personnel at no extra cost.

[0018] Brief description of the drawings. An exemplary embodiment of a solution according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached schematic drawings. It shows:

[0019] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a photovoltaic module arrangement according to the invention in the retracted state,

[0020] Fig. 2 shows the view according to Fig. 1 in the partially extended state of the photovoltaic module arrangement,

[0021] Fig. 3 the detail III according to Fig. 2,

[0022] Fig. 4 the detail IV according to Fig. 3,

[0023] Fig. 5 the detail V according to Fig. 3,

[0024] Fig. 6 the view according to Fig. 3 with one-sided dismantled photovoltaic module and associated intermediate element,

[0025] Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with a variant of an intermediate element,

[0026] Fig. 8 the side view VIII according to Fig. 3,

[0027] Fig. 9 shows section VIII according to Fig. 3,

[0028] Fig. 10 is a first perspective view of an intermediate element and

[0029] Fig. 11 a second perspective view of an intermediate element.

[0030] Detailed of the

[0031] A photovoltaic module arrangement 10 is created by means of a container 12, the outer skin of which is designed with a container floor area, also referred to here as a storage area 14, two container end surfaces 16, two container side surfaces 18, and a container ceiling surface 20. The container 12 serves to accommodate a plurality of photovoltaic modules 22, which can be moved out of the container 12 and back into it by means of support rails 24. Two support rails 24 are laid out in a mutually parallel alignment above the ground in front of the container 12 (see Figs. 1 and 2). For this purpose, the support rails 24 are fixedly supported downwards into the ground.

[0032] The individual photovoltaic module 22, in turn, has a plurality of module surfaces 26, each of which is individually surrounded or enclosed by a module frame, in particular in the form of an L-profile or C-profile. A cable is located on each module surface 26, which is connected thereto and serves, in particular, to conduct electrical current generated by the module surface 26 when the module surface 26 is irradiated with sunlight.

[0033] For each photovoltaic module 22, four module surfaces 26 are arranged side by side in a portrait format, with the module surfaces 26 arranged in this manner being enclosed by a support frame 28. The support frame 28 is made of an extruded aluminum profile by means of support strips 30, with two side support strips 32, three central support strips 34, a lower longitudinal support strip 36, and an upper longitudinal support strip 38 being provided.

[0034] Between two opposing lower longitudinal support bars 36, a total of three joints 40 are provided, by means of which the associated photovoltaic modules 22 can be folded relative to each other and relative to the support rails 24. Each joint 40 is designed by means of four joint blocks 42, two of which are held stationary in an associated profile groove 44 on one of the longitudinal support bars 36 and the other two on the other longitudinal support bar 36.

[0035] The respective joint blocks 42 together form a joint axis 46, so that a joint axis 46 is formed on one of the two longitudinal support bars 36 and a joint axis 46 is also formed on the other longitudinal support bar 36.

[0036] An intermediate element 48 is then arranged between these two joint axes 46, so that on the one hand it is articulated to the lower longitudinal support bar 36 assigned to the first of the two photovoltaic modules 22 and on the other hand it is articulated to the lower longitudinal support bar 36 assigned to the second of the two photovoltaic modules 22.

[0037] Fig. 7 shows a variant of an intermediate element 48 located at the very front or outside of the photovoltaic modules 22, which is provided on the outside with a plough element 49. The plough element 49 has deflection surfaces 51 directed obliquely outwards, by means of which, when the photovoltaic modules 22 are moved, any material that may have accumulated on or in the associated support rails 24, such as in particular dirt, snow and / or ice, is pushed laterally outwards from the support rail 24.

[0038] The two support rails 24 are each designed with two upper support surfaces 50 extending parallel to one another, on which two rollers 52 are supported per joint 40. Of these four rollers 52 per joint 40, two are rotatably mounted between one of the joint blocks 42 and the intermediate element 48 on the first of the two joint axes 46, while the other two rollers 52 are rotatably mounted between one of the joint blocks 42 and the intermediate element 48 on the second of the two joint axes 46.

[0039] Under each of the support surfaces 50, there is an anti-lifting web 54 on the support strip 30. The respective intermediate element 48 hooks under these then opposite anti-lifting webs 54 in such a way that a anti-lifting protection is created for the photovoltaic modules 22 hinged thereto.

[0040] Furthermore, a drive 56 is provided on each of the two support rails 30, each of which extends with a traction means 58 in the form of a chain along the first section of the support rails 30 extending from the container 12. In such a photovoltaic module arrangement 10, a plurality of photovoltaic modules 22 are foldably coupled to one another by means of at least one joint 44 and can simultaneously be moved out of the container 12 and back into it by means of the rollers 46 on the support rails 24.

[0041] For movement, two drives 56 are provided, one on each of the two support rails 24, by means of which the movement of the photovoltaic modules 22 during extension and retraction on the support rails 24 is carried out. The intermediate elements 48 each serve as a coupling foot that couples vertically or perpendicularly into the traction mechanism 58 from above in a form-fitting manner. For this purpose, the intermediate elements 48 are each designed with lateral engagement means 60 in the form of coupling teeth, between which a recess 62 is located in the center. When the respective intermediate element 48 is engaged in the traction mechanism 58, this recess 62 creates a free space for a drive means 62, in the form of a drive wheel of the associated drive 56, that drives the traction mechanism 58.

[0042] This drive means 62 in the form of a drive wheel is located entirely within a housing 64 with a substantially rectangular cross-section, which is formed with the respective support bar 30 under the two associated anti-lift bars 54. The drive wheel, together with the associated traction means 58, is thus completely surrounded or enclosed by the respective support bar 30.

[0043] With the engagement means 60 in the form of coupling teeth, which hook under the anti-lifting bars 54, both a lift-off protection and a coupling foot to the traction device are created, as well as a hold-down function in the traction device 56. The two anti-lifting bars 54 simultaneously serve as a hold-down rail each.

[0044] Finally, it should be noted that all the features listed in the

[0045] application documents and in particular in the dependent claims, despite the formal reference to one or more specific claims, should also be granted independent protection individually or in any combination.

[0046] List of reference symbols

[0047] 10 Photovoltaic module arrangement

[0048] 12 containers

[0049] 14 Container floor space or storage area

[0050] 16 Container front face

[0051] 18 Container side surface

[0052] 20 container ceiling area

[0053] 22 photovoltaic modules

[0054] 24 support rail

[0055] 26 module area

[0056] 28 support frames

[0057] 30 support bar

[0058] 32 Side support bar

[0059] 34 Central support bar

[0060] 36 lower longitudinal support bar

[0061] 38 upper longitudinal support bar

[0062] 40 joint

[0063] 42 Articulated bracket

[0064] 44 profile groove

[0065] 46 Joint axis

[0066] 48 Intermediate element (lift-off protection or coupling foot)

[0067] 49 Plough element

[0068] 50 support surface

[0069] 51 Deflection surface

[0070] 52 rolls

[0071] 54 Lift-off protection bar (hold-down rail)

[0072] 56 Drive

[0073] 58 Traction means (chain) -IQ- Engagement means (coupling tooth) Recess Drive means (drive wheel) Housing

Claims

Claims 1. Photovoltaic module arrangement (10) for arranging at least two photovoltaic modules (22) which are foldably coupled to one another by means of at least one joint (40), wherein the at least two photovoltaic modules (22) are each designed with a module surface (26) and a support strip (34) supporting this module surface (26), characterized in that the joint (40) is designed with an intermediate element (48) which is, on the one hand, articulatedly mounted on the support strip (34) assigned to the first of the two photovoltaic modules (22) and, on the other hand, articulatedly mounted on the support strip (34) assigned to the second of the two photovoltaic modules (22).

2. Photovoltaic module arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two photovoltaic modules (22) are designed to be movable on a support rail (24) and the intermediate element (48) is designed as a lifting protection device which hooks onto the at least one support rail (24).

3. Photovoltaic module arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one support rail (24) is designed with at least one anti-lifting web (54) for hooking under the anti-lifting protection, wherein in particular the at least one anti-lifting web (54) is designed to extend over substantially the entire length of the at least one support rail (24).

4. Photovoltaic module arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a drive (56) for moving the at least two photovoltaic modules (22) on the at least one support rail (24) is provided, wherein the drive (56) is designed with a traction means (58), in particular in the form of a chain, and the intermediate element (48) is designed as a coupling foot coupling into and out of the drive (56).

5. Photovoltaic module arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that two drives (56) extending substantially parallel to one another are provided and a coupling foot is provided on each of the two drives (56).

6. Photovoltaic module arrangement according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the coupling foot is designed to engage positively in the traction means (58) in a substantially perpendicular manner.

7. Photovoltaic module arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the drive (56) is provided with at least one hold-down rail, preferably two opposing hold-down rails, for holding down the coupling foot engaging positively in the traction means (58).

8. Photovoltaic module arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the coupling foot has a recess (62) which, when the coupling foot is engaged in the traction means (58), is kept free for a drive means (62) driving the traction means (58).

9. Photovoltaic module arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the recess (62) is formed centrally in the coupling foot and an engagement means (60) for engaging in the pulling means (58) is formed laterally from the recess (62).

10. Photovoltaic module arrangement according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the traction means (58) on the drive (56) is designed to be encompassed by its housing (64).

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