A support system for large photovoltaic panel

Abstract

A support system installable at the top of a post (p) with which it is provided, such as support posts, for example, for supporting anti -hail nets or plastic films placed for covering orchards / vineyards or also posts used as plant stakes or set an open field where various kinds of vegetables are grown, is configured to allow the installation of large photovoltaic panels and, to this end, it substantially comprises: a support structure (S) for supporting at least one photovoltaic panel (PF); a lower base plate (B) firmly welded at the top of the post (P); fastening means (M) for fastening said support structure (S) to said lower plate (B), which means are configured to allow adjusting the inclination of the same panel.

Description

A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR LARGE PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL

[0001] The object of the present invention is an innovative support system, installable at the top of a post, configured to allow the installation of large photovoltaic panels, usable, for example, in the field of agriculture on support posts for supporting anti- hail nets or plastic films placed for covering orchards / vineyards , or also on posts used as stakes for plants.

[0002] Post covers of various types are known, also provided with supports for photovoltaic panels, the main limitation of which comes from the fact that they have a slender frame, only adapted to support small panel s .

[0003] Another limit of the aforesaid supports comes from the fact that they offer poor resistance to stress caused by wind hitting the photovoltaic panels.

[0004] it is the main object of the present invention to overcome the limits of the known art by providing a support for photovoltaic panels, which allows the installation of particularly robust structures on top of a post, which, without interfering with the underlying crops or with the covering nets / sheets, is capable of supporting and, if necessary, moving the photovoltaic panels, also large and heavy ones.

[0005] The suggested solution substantially comprises: a support structure for at least one photovoltaic panel, a lower base plate firmly secured to the top of the post and fastening means forfastening said support structure to the lower plate, said means being configured to adjust the inclination of the same panel. Said lower plate can also be rotatable with respect to the underlying post.

[0006] A better understanding of the invention will be achieved from the following detailed description and with reference to the accompanying drawings showing, by way of non-limiting example, a preferred embodiment.

[0007] in the drawings:Figure 1 shows side views of the fastening body at the top of the post and a vertical section of said body;Figure 2, like Figure 1, shows a top view and 3D views of the body and post onto which it is fastened;Figure 3 shows views of the upper ring, rotatably securing the plate holding the support structure of the panel to the body;Figure 4 is a 3D view showing the photovoltaic panel fastened at the top of the post by means of the support system according to the present invention;Figures 5 and 6 are a top view and a 3D view, respectively, of the rotatable base provided with motorized rotation meansFigure 7 shows a rear view, from the top and from the bottom of the support structure, of the panel and the base to which it is fastened;Figure 8 shows views of the panel mounted onto the post and a top view and a side view of the post in which the fastening pin for the body to the post is visible;Figure 9 shows three views of only the support structure of the panel and the base to which it is fastened ;Figure 10 illustrates views of the motorized unit that moves the support structure of the panel with respect to the body integral with the post;Figures 11, 12A and 12B illustrate some views of a second embodiment of the invention, in which the rotation of the panel is carried out by means of cables hooked to the rotatable base and longitudinally si i di ng .Figures 13, 14 and 15 show different configurations / arrangements of the rods, adjustable for varying the inclination of the panel with respect to the rotatable base;Figure 16 shows views of the post section in which the transverse fastening pin for fastening the body is present;Figures 17A and 17B show assembly details of assembling the body at the top of the post by means of said pin in Figure 16;Figures 18 and 19, like Figures 16, 17A and 17B, show a variant in which said transverse pin cooperates with L-shaped brackets.

[0008] with reference to the above listed figures, the present invention comprises:- a support structure (S) for supporting at least one photovoltaic panel PF(),- a lower base plate (B) firmly secured to the top of the post (P),- fastening means (M) for fastening said supportstructure (S) to said lower plate (B) , which means are configured to allow adjusting the inclination of the same panel.

[0009] in a preferred embodiment of the invention, said lower base plate (B) , to which the support structure (S) is fastened, is horizontally rotatable with respect to the underlying post (P), in order to rotate the photovoltaic panel (PF) with respect to the longitudinal axis of the same post.

[0010] in the described preferred embodiment, the support structure (S) consists of a substantially quadrangular frame configured to allow the fastening of at least one photovoltaic panel (PF), which frame is hinged to said lower base plate (B) to allow varying the inclination of the panel.

[0011] According to the invention, the base plate (B) is firmly secured to the upper end of the post (P) by means of a special body (10) provided with a downwardly open lower cavity into which the upper end of the post (P) is inserted, directly or by interposing an adapter, which is therefore interposed between the post (P) and the same body. According to a particular feature of the invention, said body (10) is provided with at least two screws configured to cooperate with a transverse pin (13) fastened close to the upper end of the post (P), or with a respective L- shaped bracket (14) integral with said pin (13).

[0012] The support system described so far also provides fastening means for the support structure (S) , comprising at least three fastening rods (AF) , at least one of which is adjustable in length, which arepreferably arranged symmetrically to the base plate (B) and to the support structure (S) , as well as fastened to the upper and lower sides of the frame, respectively, constituting said support structure.

[0013] For example, in the described preferred embodiment, two short front rods and two long rear rods are provided, which are adjustable in length(Figures 4 and 9). It is interesting to point out that two short front rods and only one long rear rod may also be provided, which are adjustable in length(Figure 13), or only one short front rod and two long rear rods, which are adjustable in length (Figure 14). Thereby, it is advantageously possible to adjust the inclination of the photovoltaic panel (PF) as needed.

[0014] It is worth noting that the support structure (S) supporting the photovoltaic panel (PF) is hinged to the upper ends of the aforesaid rods (AF) , to allow the variation in the inclination of the structure (S) , and thus of the panel (PF), with respect to the base plate (B) .

[0015] Furthermore, it is also possible to provide front rods having a substantially null length, i.e., the lower part of the frame of the support structure (S) is directly hinged to the base plate (B) .

[0016] when the base plate (B) is fixed and not rotatable with respect to the underlying post (P), the plate (B) is fastened to the body (10) by means of two or more screws positioned uniformly on the body.

[0017] whereas, when the base plate (B) is rotatably installed with respect to the underlying post (P) , this plate (B) is provided with a central hole (1)configured to coaxially and slidingly cooperate with a cylindrical element (2), having a circular plan, placed on the upper surface of the body (10) the axis of which coincides with, or is parallel to that of the underlying post (P); in such case, the plate (B) is rotatably secured to the body (10) by means of an upper ring (A) that keeps the bottom of the plate (B) parallel to the base plane of the cylindrical element (2), so that it can rotate about, and with respect thereto.

[0018] in the described preferred embodiment, said base plate (B) is rotatable and provided with motorized means (3) for rotating the plate (B) with respect to the body (10) integral with the post (P) .

[0019] Said motorized means (3) preferably, but not exclusively, consist of a gearwheel (4) / worm screw (5) kinematic system actuated by a motor (M) , in which the motor (M) and the relative worm screw (5) are integral with the base plate (B), while the gearwheel (4), still engaged with said worm screw (5), is integral with the underlying body (10).

[0020] The body (10) is preferably provided with two upper grooves, substantially horizontal and perpendicular to each other, adapted to accommodate and secure the support cables for an anti-hail net / polymer film covering the row.

[0021] Said cables are held in place and secured by the base plate (B) , which is fastened to the body (10) and / or by a cover (c) fastened to the body (10), preferably with screws, and / or by the gear wheel (4). Advantageously, thereby the cables, which cross eachother and are locked at the top of each post, make the entire structure extremely solid, preventing wind pushing on the panel (PF) from moving the respective post (P).

[0022] For actuating the motor (M) , an electronic board and a battery powered by the photovoltaic panel are provided, said electronic board being remotely controllable by cable or wireless means, and / or by an internal CPU to follow the movement of the sun during the day, for example by calculating the movement according to ephemeris tables and the date and time.

[0023] Said electronic board preferably also comprises wi reless / radio / GSM communication means.

[0024] in light of the above, the presence of the horizontal rotation motorized means (3) allows the photovoltaic panel (E) to rotate about the vertical axis of the post (P).

[0025] The present invention thus allows the installation of at least one large photovoltaic panel (PF) onto the corresponding post (P) , e.g., in orchards / vi neyards , without interfering with the crops below, while simultaneously allowing normal covers to be used on said crops without needing to alter the layout or use thereof, thus preserving the underlying plants as best as possible. For example, said panels (PF) have width dimensions from 1000 to 2500 mm and height dimensions from 500 to 1500 mm.

[0026] A second embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 11, 12A and 12B, comprises actuation means for actuating the horizontal rotation of the panel (PF) as an alternative to the previously described motorizedmeans, consisting of cables (11) fastened to the respective studs (12) integral with the base plate (B) , preferably protruding below or laterally thereto, in which said plate (B) is rotatably and idly mounted to the body (10) .

[0027] Said actuation cables (11) are configured to be sliding in a direction substantially longitudinal to the length thereof, to impose rotation to one or more panels (PF) on a same row of posts (P).

[0028] Figure 15 shows a simplified variant of the finding, in which the rotatable fastening of the base plate (B) to the body (10) is carried out by using robust large diameter washers, as an alternative to the previously described upper ring (A).

[0029] Finally, it is worth noting that the invention described so far is also usable on posts (P) of all types, positioned in an open field where various kinds of vegetables are grown.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A support system installed at the top of a post (P) for orchards / vineyards , such as support posts for anti-hail nets or plastic films placed for covering the orchards / vineyards, or also posts used as plant stakes or set in an open field where various kinds of vegetables are grown, said system being configured to allow the installation of one or more photovoltaic panels having width dimensions equal to or greater than 1000 mm and height dimensions equal to or greater than 500 mm, characterized in that it substantially comprises:- a support structure (S) for supporting at least one photovoltaic panel PF(),- a lower base plate (B) firmly secured to the top of the post (P),- fastening means for fastening said support structure (S) to said lower plate (B) , which means are configured to adjust the inclination of the structure (S) and thus of the same panel ; wherein the support structure (S) consists of a substantially quadrangular frame configured to allow fastening of at least one photovoltaic panel (PF) , which frame being hinged to said lower base plate (B) to allow varying the inclination of the panel; and wherein fastening means are also provided for the support structure (S) , comprising at least three fastening rods (AF) at least one of which is adjustable in length, which are integral, at the bottom, with the base plate (B) and hinged, at the top, to the lower and upper sides of the frame,respectively, constituting said support structure; wherein said fastening rods (AF) comprise:- two short front rods and two long rear rods, which are adjustable in length, or- two short front rods and only one long rear rod, which is adjustable in length, or- only one short front rod and two long rear rods, which are adjustable in length, thus obtaining the possibility of adjusting the inclination of the photovoltaic panel (PF) as needed.

2. A system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said lower base plate (B) , to which the support structure (S) is fastened, is horizontally rotatable with respect to the underlying post (P), in order to allow rotating the photovoltaic panel (PF) with respect to the longitudinal axis of the post.

3. A system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said base plate (B) is firmly secured to the upper end of the post (P) by means of a special body (10) provided with a downwardly open lower cavity into which the upper end of the post (P) is inserted directly or by interposing an adapter, which is therefore interposed between the post (P) and the same body; wherein said body (10) is provided with at least two screws configured to cooperate with a transverse pin (13) fastened close to the upper end of the post (P), or with a respective L- shaped bracket (14) integral with said pin (13).

4. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the support structure (S) supporting the photovoltaic panel (PF) is hinged to the upper ends of the aforesaid rods (AF) , to allow the variation in the inclination of the structure (S) , and thus of the panel (PF), with respect to the base plate (B) .

5. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that if the base plate (B) is fixed and not rotatable with respect to the underlying post (P), the plate (B) is fastened to the body (10) by means of two or more screws uniformly positioned on the same body.

6. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that if the base plate (B) is rotatably installed with respect to the underlying post (P), it is provided with a central hole (1) configured to coaxially and slidingly cooperate with a cylindrical element (2) having a circular plan placed on the upper surface of the body (10) the axis of which coincides with, or is parallel to that of the underlying post (p) ; said plate (B) being rotatably secured to the body (10) by means of an upper ring (A) configured to keep the bottom of the plate (B) parallel to the base plane of the cylindrical element (2), so that it can rotate about, and with respect thereto.

7. A system according to claim 3 or 6, characterized in that said base plate (B) is rotatable and provided with motorized means (3) for rotating the same plate (B) with respect to the body (10) integral with the post (P).

8. A system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said motorized means (3) consistof a gearwheel (4) / worm screw (5) kinematic system actuated by a motor (M) , wherein the motor (M) and the relative worm screw (5) are integral with the base plate (B) , while the gearwheel (4), still engaged with said worm screw (5), is integral with the underlying body (10) .

9. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that the body (10) is provided with two upper grooves, substantially horizontal and perpendicular to each other, adapted to accommodate and secure support cables for an anti-hail net / polymer film.

10. A system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said cables are held in place and secured by the base plate (B) that is fastened to the body (10) and / or by a cover (c) fastened to the body (10), preferably with screws, and / or by the gear wheel (4) .

11. A system according to claim 8, characterized in that an electronic board (M) and a battery powered by the photovoltaic (PF) panel are provided for actuating the motor, said electronic board being configured to be remotely controllable by cable or wireless means, and / or by an internal CPU to follow the movement of the sun during the day, for example by calculating the movement according to ephemeris tables and the date and time.

12. A system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said electronic board also comprises wi reless / radio / GSM communication means.

13. A system according to claims 3 or 6, characterized in that said base plate (B) is rotatableand provided with actuating means for rotating the same plate (B) with respect to the body (10) integral with the post (P), wherein said actuation means for actuating the horizontal rotation of the panel (PF) consist of cables (11) fastened to respective studs (12) integral with the base plate (B), projecting below or laterally thereto, wherein said plate (B) is rotatably and idly mounted to the body (10).

14. A system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said cables (11) are configured to be sliding in a direction substantially longitudinal to the length thereof, to impose rotation to one or more panels (PF) on a same row of posts (P) .

15. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that when the base plate (B) is rotatably installed with respect to the underlying post (P), said plate (B) is provided with a central hole (1), configured to coaxially and slidingly cooperate with a cylindrical element (2) having a circular plan placed on the upper surface of the body (10) the axis of which coincides with or is parallel to that of the underlying post (p) ; said plate (B) being rotatably secured to the body (10) by means of robust large diameter washers configured to keep the bottom of the plate (B) parallel to the base plane of the cylindrical element (2), so that it can rotate about, and with respect thereto.

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