Profile rail, holding element and solar module assembly comprising same, in particular for a horizontal assembly of solar modules

p0001The invention relates to a rail, in particular for supporting framed solar modules, a support member for a frame for use in connection with a profile rail according to the invention and a solar module arrangement.

p0002From document <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP2006613A2"><text>EP 2006613 A2</text></patcit> discloses a solar module arrangement with rails and retaining elements for mounting of framed solar modules on a roof. A frame structure is mounted on the inclined roof of the sloping roof. Two horizontal, ie parallel to the roof ridge running rails are mounted on two other perpendicular thereto rails of the frame structure. The rectangular solar panels are located on the shorter frame transverse sides of its frame on the two horizontal rails. At the one-piece horizontal rails a gallows-shaped holding piece is formed, which forms a bearing surface for supporting a solar panel with one side of its vertical portion. T-shaped holding plates are inserted between the two solar modules in the horizontally extending profile rails to hold as the horizontal portion of the gallows-shaped holding piece of rails two adjacent solar modules in a direction perpendicular to the roof surface. The holding elements encompass the adjacent solar module frame respectively on the longer frame sides.

p0003The invention of the underlying technical problem is to provide a contrast, easier to manufacture and easier to assemble structures for mounting of framed solar modules for a solar panel system. What is desired is that this design is also suitable for rectangular solar modules to be mounted transversely.

p0004Subsequently, the different aspects of the invention and the preferred embodiment of a solar module arrangement will first be described. Next, the advantages and embodiments of the various aspects of the invention explained.

p0005According to a first aspect of the invention the technical problem is solved by a profile rail, in particular for mounting framed solar modules, with<ul><li>a rail body</li><li>two support legs, of which at least one in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the profile rail transversely projecting from the rail body and having mutually parallel supporting surfaces at different heights relative to a bottom edge of the rail with a vertical spacing from each other in a perpendicular pointing towards the transversely and longitudinally, the height direction, and With</li><li>a pointing in the transverse direction contact surface between the support legs, which bridges the difference in height between the support legs.</li></ul>

p0006A second aspect of the invention forms a holding element for a frame for use in conjunction with a profile rail according to the first aspect of the invention or one of its embodiments, with<ul><li>a cross-sectional view in a T-shaped frame recording, wherein a vertical bar of the T shape forms a bearing surface for a to be supported in the installed state frame,</li><li>a connected to the frame receiver, to encompass in the same cross-sectional view of C-shaped leg receptacle, which is formed in the installed state a projecting from the profiled rail in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the profile rail transverse direction of the rail body support leg of the profile rail, wherein an outer surface of the upper C bar the arm receiving simultaneously forms a frame bearing surface of the frame mounts.</li></ul>

p0007A third aspect of the invention and its preferred embodiment, finally forming a solar module arrangement, with <ul><li>a plurality of mutually parallel and transverse to the longitudinal direction of spaced rails of the first aspect of the invention or one of its embodiments,</li><li>a plurality of framed solar modules, which are each mounted on two adjacent ones of the rails, wherein</li><li>the solar modules in the frame receiver are respectively provided with a first frame part of its frame at least one of the holding elements according to the second aspect of the invention or one of its embodiments on a first support leg of a first of two adjacent profile rails in supported and with another frame part directly on one of the first sectional rail facing second supporting leg of a second of the two adjacent rails rest.</li></ul>

p0008The solution has inventive over the prior art advantages both in terms of the assembly as well as in manufacturing. In combination the profile rail of the first aspect of the invention and the retaining member of the second aspect of the invention, solar modules allow an especially simple manner with a minimum of additional fasteners such as screws to mount etc.. This is achieved, on the one hand the storage of the solar modules is made possible on a first rail in the frame accommodating the holding elements and on the other hand, the immediate support of the solar modules on a supporting leg of an adjacent rail. A slipping of the solar module frame against the transverse direction due to gravity is calculated using the contact surface prevents between the support legs, which bridges the height difference between the supporting legs either partially or completely. At the same time with the mounting of the solar module frame in the C-shaped frame receiving the retaining member prevents in conjunction with the C-shaped arm receiver that the frame in the height direction of the profile rail "lifts off" (FIXING BUTTON). Finally, slipping is prevented in the longitudinal direction of the rail due to the frictional force between the retaining element and the bearing surface of the profiled rail. ie The inventive construction of rail and retaining element is able to allow only by resorting to form-fit and friction a fixed support for solar modules.

p0009A separate installation of the device elements on the rails is generally not necessary. Only on the top rail is an additional attachment of the retaining element against sliding transversely sense what succeeds in some preferred embodiments, for example by means of screws that secure the retaining elements on the rail body of the rail.

p0010Manufacturing technology, the advantage of the invention is that the retaining elements must be only cut out from an appropriately crafted simple profile and do not require further processing or pre - apart from the preparation of additional, already mentioned mounting options on the top rail.

p0011Embodiments of the various aspects of the invention will be described. The additional features of the embodiments can be combined together, unless they are described as alternatives to each other.

p0012A particularly preferred embodiment of the holding element provides that an upper horizontal bar of the C-shaped leg receptacle forms a support surface for the to be supported in the installed condition the frame and that the top horizontal C-beam has a material thickness in the height direction which is equal to the vertical distance of the support surfaces profile rail. It is thereby achieved that in the installed state, all the solar modules can be located in a common plane. Preferably these are the rails mounted in the solar module arrangement that their contact surfaces are the same height with respect to the respective profile rail in each case in a common plane. By using the holding elements of the present embodiment, which are suspended in the solar module arrangement in the profile rails each have on the support legs of smaller height, it is achieved that this joint plane for the mounting of the frame includes the support surfaces of the upper support arm and the frame bearing surfaces of the holding elements. This common plane thus corresponds to the common plane formed by the bearing surfaces of greater height on the profile rails.

p0013A particularly simple to manufacture construction of the rail has stepwise contiguous bearing surfaces, which are connected by the faces in the transverse direction contact surface. Preferably, the support surfaces and the contact surface of the profile rail extending in its longitudinal direction over the entire length of the profile rail.

p0014The support leg of the profile rail are from in preferred embodiments, both the rail body, because it forms a simultaneously stable and material-saving form of construction. but it is also possible to protrude from the rail body, only one of the two supporting legs and completely form the other of the two supporting legs on a top surface of the rail body. In this case, preferably from one of the two supporting legs, which has the smaller height above the lower edge of the profile rail. At this, the retaining element is arranged.

p0015One of the two supporting legs, the supporting surface is arranged in the height direction on the lower level, has in one embodiment at its bottom a connecting element for a positive connection of the profile rail with a stop member. The positive connection serves to maintain the attitude of the supported on the lower of the two supporting legs frame. It is designed so that a removal of the holding element is difficult or even impossible from the rail in the direction in which this support arm projecting from the rail body. The connecting element may have for example the form of a downwardly projecting nose, with a correspondingly shaped counter-connecting element of the holding member may engagement. In this manner, a "click mechanism" for secure mounting of the module is achieved which can not "fly away" during assembly. Also conceivable is an alternative form of the connection element in the form of a recess on either the rail or on the holding element, into which a projecting connecting element such as a nose or a tooth on the other part for producing the form-fitting connection.

p0016The basic function and basic construction of the retaining element can be developed for different installation locations within a solar array on each special way.

p0017For the support of the solar modules in particular on a bottom rail of the solar module arrangement in particular C-shaped frame pictures suitable. This holding element allows simple, the form-fit-use design features a powerful supporting the solar modules against sliding towards the transverse direction of the profile rail. Note: depending on the viewing direction, in the cross sectional view of a C-shaped like the letter C or mirrored appear. The "real" C-shape and mirrored the vertical bars of C-C form be here so far understood as equivalent embodiments of the C-shape. It is essential to form a frame recording by the C-shape, so a towards the frame facing opening of the mold.

p0018The same applies to the C-shape of the arm receiver. Here, it is also less in the view direction on the retaining element as rather to the opening of the arm receiver through the support leg, to enclose this on three pages. Wherein the retaining element with C-shaped frame receiving the contact surfaces of the frame and the receiving arm receiving point (and thus their apertures) in opposite directions.

p0019The arm receiver has a counterpart connection element for the positive connection of the profile rail with the retaining element., In one embodiment on its inside, ie facing in the assembled state to the support leg of the profile rail side of the lower horizontal beam-C Purpose and possible embodiment of the counter-connection element have already been explained above in connection with the corresponding embodiment of the profile rail. The counter-connecting member can thus have for example the form of an upwardly projecting nose, with a correspondingly shaped, downward-pointing connecting element of the profile rail can engage. Also conceivable is a recess as an alternative form of the connection element.

p0020The C-shape of the frame receiving the retaining element with its internal dimension preferably - apart from the need to match - tailored to the measure of the male frame. The upper horizontal C-beams of the frame recording, thus preventing the retained solar module even slightly "lifted" about in the wind. This function is also supported by the C-shaped leg receptacle, which together with the holding element from the profiled rail prevents lifting of the solar module.

p0021For the top rail is also a simplified holding member is a frame recording, the shape of which will be described as a form of large Greek letter gamma, or a gallows. The retaining member of the present embodiment for use in the top rail has no supporting function to prevent slipping down to take, but only the shifting of the solar module frame in the transverse direction of the profile rail upward, prevent lengthwise of the rail and lifting in the height direction. This is achieved with a molding, in which the bearing surfaces of the frame mounts and the leg receptacle in the same direction, in a particularly simple manner.

p0022The holding member for use in the uppermost rail preferably at the lower horizontal beams of the C-arm receiver has a perpendicularly adjoining fastening leg. This can for fastening the retaining element against movement in the transverse direction of the profile rail are used, and has for this purpose, as mentioned, for example, a borehole for receiving a connecting means, such as a screw. With the connection means the holding element can be fixed to the rail body of the profile rail that it comprises a suitably arranged screw. It can of course be used also drilling screws for simplicity, so that the need of a thread is omitted in the wall of the profile rail.

p0023For the installation of solar modules on all other rails, that is apart from the bottom and the top rail, the holding elements with the T-shaped frame mounts are particularly suitable, and the vertical T-bar is formed on its both sides a contact surface for each one frame. With such a holding element already described holding functions of the retaining elements on the bottom and the top rail are combined cleverly, without a separate mounting on the rail is required.

p0024The inventive solution of the combination of rail and retaining elements is suitable for longitudinal mounting as well as a cross-assembly of solar modules.

p0025Further embodiments are described in the appended dependent claims.

p0026Hereinafter, a further embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.<ul><li><figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> shows a solar module arrangement in a perspective cross-sectional view.</li><li><figref idrefs="f0002">figure 2</figref> shows a detailed view of a variant of the solar module assembly of <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>,</li></ul>

p0027The solar module assembly 10 of <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> is shown only schematically. In particular, solar modules are only indicated schematically by frame pieces R11 and R12 a first frame R1 and frame pieces R21 and R22 a second frame R2.

p0028The solar module assembly 10 includes a number of rails, of which in <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> Rails 12, 14 and 16 shown. For details on the installation of rails on a rack are not shown here, and correspond to the times established practice. A gnomon is used to illustrate a longitudinal direction 1, a transverse direction q and a height direction h, respectively with respect to the rail 12. The height direction h can thus depending on the orientation of the rail against a center of the earth facing perpendicular direction L may be inclined.

p0029In conventional manner, the solar array is tilted installed. This can be described in other words so that the common plane of the solar modules over a horizontal plane H is tilted at the installation of the solar array 10, ie is at an acute angle to this plane. The horizontal plane (H) will be received irrespective of the circumstances of the installation site as perpendicular to the plumb line L at the installation. The arrangement of the<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is set up so that the rail 12 is the lowest, ie an imaginary horizontal plane H nearest rail of the solar module assembly and the rail 16 the top, ie farthest lying on the horizontal plane H profile rail. Both a roof installation as well as an installation in an outdoor solar system are possible with the present solar array using each suitable additional installation means.

p0030The profile rails 12, 14 and 16 are substantially identical. They have a rail body 18, which in this case is formed of a rectangular hollow profile. From rail body 18 are from two support legs 20 and 22nd The support legs 20 and 22 form in their upper sides supporting surfaces 24 and 26 at different heights h1 and h2 with respect to a bottom edge 28 of the rail 12. The vertical distance or height difference between the two bearing surfaces 24 and 26 is in<figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> identified by d, where d = h2 - h1 met.

p0031The vertical distance d is bridged by a contact surface 30 facing in the transverse direction q. In this way the two supporting limbs 20 and 22 adjoin with their bearing surfaces 24 and 26 are step-shaped to each other.

p0032On the stage, so the contact surface 30 are both holding elements; from those in <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> the holding elements are shown 32, 34 and 36th It is understood that the length of the profile rails 12, 14 and 16 several, at least two holding elements are provided per solar module.

p0033The basic construction of the holding elements is explained below with reference of the holding member 32, which is provided for installation on the bottom rail 12th The holding member 32 has a frame 38. The frame receiving receptacle 38 is in the cross-sectional view of the<figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> C-shaped. More specifically, the frame receiving in the selected view the shape of a mirrored on its vertical wall 40 "C". A vertical distance h3 between the upper and lower horizontal C-beams 42, 44 is chosen to match a height dimension h4 of a frame R1 of a solar module. The vertical distance h3 is preferably carried out with the game, so slightly larger than the height dimension h4 of the frame to facilitate insertion and slight displacement of the frame in the longitudinal direction of the profile rail 12th The rear wall 40 of the C-shaped frame support 38 lies with its lower portion against the bearing surface 30 of the profile rail 12th

p0034having a C-shaped leg support 46, the horizontal C-beams 44 and 50 and a vertical C-bar 48, engages around the retaining element 32 to the support arm 22. The upper horizontal bars the C-shaped arm receiving with the lower horizontal C-beams 44 of the frame mounts identical.

p0035When installed, so the frame R pushes the holding element 32 on the one hand against the contact surface 30 and the other hand on the lower bearing surface 26. Thus, on the one hand by positive locking prevents slipping of the frame down, so by gravity against the transverse direction q. On the other hand is prevented by frictional connection due to the friction between the holding member 32 and the bearing surface of the frame 26 from slipping in the longitudinal direction of the profile rail. A lifting of the frame in the direction of height h is prevented by the C-shape of the frame mounts 38 and by the C-shape of the arm receiving 46th A separate fastening of the holding member 32 on the rail body 18 is therefore not necessary. Suffice it alone, that retaining member 32 mount onto the rail at the bottom of receiving arms 22 and then insert the frame R.

p0036As digression at this point in <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> Variant shown referenced with an additional securing of the connection between the retaining element and the rail. The in<figref idrefs="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> Section shown is similar to the in <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> marked by a chain-line area in X. <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> reference numerals used for in <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> Parts depicted are similar to those of the <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>, But additionally contain a prefix 1. For example, the profile rail in <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> by the numeral 14 and in <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> marked with the reference numeral 114th

p0037The variant of <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> provides an additional positive connection between the rail 114 and the holding member 132nd For this purpose, the support arm 122, the support surface is arranged in the height direction on the lower level, on its underside a connecting member 153 in the form of a nose. As a counter-connecting element, the holding element at its leg receiver 146 on its inside, ie, in the assembled state to the support arm 122 of the rail 114 facing side of the lower horizontal C-beam 150 is also one, but upwardly facing nose 151 on. During assembly, the interlocking connection by a simple "one-click" of the holding member 132 are prepared and are dissolved when required by elastic bending again. Using this connection, the retaining element 132 is secured even during the installation against sliding in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail 114 and the bearing surfaces of the supporting leg direction and the module can be mounted securely.

p0038Subsequently, on again <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> Referring. It should be noted that the lower horizontal bar of the C-shaped frame mounts 38 in a particularly preferred embodiment, a material thickness in the height direction h has, which is exactly equal to the vertical distance d of the bearing surfaces 24 and 26th In this way it is possible that the inserted solar module to the frame R1 is in exactly the same levels as the adjacent frame R2. Overall, all solar modules are mounted in the same common plane in this manner.

p0039The holding members 34 and 36 differ from the holding member 32 in some details, which are described below. The holding member 34 has a T-shaped frame mounting 54 with two contact surfaces 56 and 58. The contact surface 56 serves to support a second solar module R2. Furthermore, the horizontal T-bar serves 62 of the frame mounts 54 of the holding member 34 on the mutual support of the frame R1 and R2 against movement in the vertical direction h, in particular as FIXING BUTTON.

p0040The holding member 36 on the top rail 16 has an S-shaped frame receiver 64. Here, however, is the frame with its underside directly on the higher support leg 20. The holding element 36 has in its frame mounts an upper horizontal beam 66 and a vertical bar 68. This prevents movement of the built-in solar module frame R2 in the vertical direction and in the transverse direction. To determine the support member in the transverse direction a hole 72 is provided on a mounting leg 70, by means of a screw 74 from slipping off the retaining element 36 in the transverse direction is prevented.

p0041The installation of a solar module arrangement is usefully from bottom to top, so begins to install the retaining elements 32 on the bottom rail and the retaining elements 34 14 on the next adjacent rail after assembly of the two rails 12 and 14 with a first solar module series is mounted the next solar module series, up to the top solar module series between the rails 14 and 16. Finally, the retaining elements on the top rail 16 are screwed with the screws 74th

p0042It should be noted that the technical problem and the solution of the invention are, whether solar or other framed components such as light-emitting diode modules are supported.