Patent Description:
In particular, the present invention relates to a system for a concatenated assembly of rows of photovoltaic panels useful for a concatenated installation of rows of panels arranged over a horizontal or vertical orientation, in which the panels can be fixed both on their short side and on their long side, with a variable inclination.

Several mounting systems for photovoltaic panels are currently known.

An example is described by the patent application <CIT>, which discloses a system for the inclined arrangement of photovoltaic modules on flat roofs comprising a front and rear support section. The profiles are mounted parallel to the flat roof using retaining elements fixed to the roof. Preferably, the upper sides of both support sections are rounded so that the photovoltaic module rests tangentially or substantially tangentially on said sections. The support sections can thus provide an optimal structural support to PV modules of various sizes at various angles.

A further mounting system is disclosed in the patent application <CIT>, describing an installation system for industrial photovoltaic plants which has the purpose of reliably holding large-scale frameless thin-film modules, considering high wind and snow loads. The installation system comprises two profiled crosspieces, parallel and spaced apart and equipped with planar support surfaces. Furthermore, it comprises a plurality of blocks fixed to the back of a photovoltaic module by means of an adhesive.

Finally, the patent application <CIT> describes an assembly system of adjustable photovoltaic panels which allows to vary roofs and covering elements of the same roofs, while maintaining a rigid and safe assembly. The specific location for supporting feet and structural members of the mounting system can be varied to allow for variations in roof characteristics and different panel configurations. The mounting mechanisms are adjustable in both north/south and east/west directions to provide maximum layout flexibility.

Another solution is reported in the patent application <CIT> which describes a support assembly for mounting photovoltaic modules on a support surface and a mounting system including the same are disclosed herein. The support assembly may comprise a the body portion including a base portion and at least one upright support member coupled to the base portion, the at least one upright support member comprising an integrally formed ballast tray slot in one side thereof for receiving an upturned edge of a ballast tray; and at least one clamp subassembly coupled to the at least one upright support member of the body portion, the at least one clamp subassembly configured to be coupled to one or more photovoltaic modules. In addition to a plurality of support assemblies, the mounting system may further comprise at least one ballast tray support bracket, the ballast tray support bracket supporting a portion of a ballast tray on the support surface.

However, although advantageous in many aspects, the currently known assembling systems for concatenated PV modules do not allow rows of PV panels to be fixed alternately on their short side or also on their long side, and with a variable inclination, up to <NUM>°.

In addition, the known mounting systems do not allow the panels to be mounted in an easy and practical way.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a system for a concatenated assembly of rows of photovoltaic panels which allows to fix rows of such panels alternatively on their short side or on their long side, with variable inclination and in an easy and practical way, having therefore characteristics so as to overcome the limits which still affect the mounting systems of photovoltaic panels, with reference to the prior art.

According to the present invention, a system for a concatenated assembly of rows of photovoltaic panels is provided, as defined in claim <NUM>.

For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is now described, purely by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:.

With reference to these figures, and in particular to <FIG>, a system for a concatenated assembly of rows of photovoltaic panels is shown, according to the invention.

In more detail, a system <NUM> for a concatenated assembly of rows of photovoltaic panels, configured for mounting at least one photovoltaic panel <NUM> over a surface <NUM>, comprises:.

Therefore, according to the invention, two front supports <NUM> and two rear supports <NUM> are fixed to each photovoltaic panel <NUM>.

Preferably, the system <NUM> comprises a rubber mat <NUM>, made of EPDM, placed between the surface <NUM> and the bottom profile <NUM>.

According to one aspect of the invention, the system <NUM> further comprises:.

According to one aspect of the invention, the bottom profile <NUM> comprises in correspondence with an upper portion a longitudinal and central groove 103a, shown in <FIG> and in <FIG>.

According to one aspect of the invention, the front support <NUM> consists of:.

According to one aspect of the invention, a frame 50a of the photovoltaic panel <NUM> is placed on the first upper element 101b, while an end clamp is mounted and fixed in the groove 103a.

According to one aspect of the invention, the rear support <NUM> comprises a second base profile 102a, and a box-shaped element 102b which engages and couples, by means of a through bolt, both with the bottom profile <NUM> and with the second base profile 102a.

In particular, the box-shaped element 102b engages and couples with a profile <NUM>, included in the system <NUM> and shown in <FIG>, and with the second base profile 102a.

The profile <NUM> comprises upper flaps 200a, and lower flaps 200b able to match by snap-fit with the box-shaped element 102b, preventing overturning phenomena.

Furthermore, the box-shaped element 102b shown in section in <FIG> comprises four protrusions 102ba in correspondence with its outer corners, so as to reinforce the box-shaped element 102b allowing it to resist wind stresses acting on the photovoltaic panel <NUM>, even with high inclination angles.

The second base profile 102a also couples with a second upper element 102c. The second upper element 102c is provided with an external flap, suitable for the assembly of a possible windbreak casing, and with an inner C-shaped contour 102c' for mounting the frame 50a of the photovoltaic panel <NUM>, which is inserted and brought to abutment, as shown in detail in <FIG>.

The second base profile 102a has an upper groove 102f in which the end clamp for blocking the photovoltaic panels <NUM> can be fixed.

According to one aspect of the invention, as shown in <FIG>, the front and rear supports <NUM>, <NUM> are fixed to the bottom profile <NUM> by means of two hammer head screws.

According to the invention, the front support <NUM> is fixed to the bottom profile <NUM> by means of a hook <NUM>, e.g., a plastic hook, which has a front protrusion 110a, shown in <FIG>, which snaps into a hole of the first bottom element 101a. The hook <NUM> also has a hammer head contour 110b able to be fixed to the bottom profiles <NUM>, by means of the profile <NUM> by inserting and rotating the hammer head contour 110b in a longitudinal and central groove 103a of the bottom profile <NUM>.

According to one aspect of the invention, the system <NUM> further comprises additional weights <NUM>, each equipped with a fastening element, shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

According to one aspect of the invention, the additional weights <NUM> are positioned on a support <NUM>, for example a plastic support, which has side protrusions 120b, two for each side over a central symmetry line, suitable for increasing the contacting surface. The support <NUM> also has two side flaps 120c, which extend vertically and orthogonally with respect to the side protrusions 120b, necessary to laterally contain a concrete block which constitutes a preferable additional weight <NUM>, avoiding overturning/translation due to the wind load. If the additional weight <NUM> has huge dimensions, such as not to be contained between the two side flaps 120c, the support <NUM> can also be supplied without the flaps 120c themselves: in this case the friction between the support <NUM> and the concrete block is increased through the presence of wedge-shaped projections 120e on the flat portion of the support <NUM>.

<FIG> shows how, according to one aspect of the invention, an additional weight <NUM> is supported at the bottom by an L-shaped angular bracket <NUM>, fixed in turn by means of a further hook <NUM>.

According to one aspect of the invention, the support <NUM> for additional weights <NUM>, shown in <FIG>, comprises in its lower portion a protrusion 120a, shown in <FIG>, and is able to be mounted by inserting such a protrusion 120a into the groove 103a of the bottom profile <NUM>. The side protrusions 120b, preferably equal to four protrusions, are able to increase the supporting surface of the additional weight <NUM>, while the two side flaps 120c are able to block the additional weight. The support <NUM> also comprises a plurality of separating baffles 120d along the base of the two side flaps 120c, which favors the detachment of the two flaps 120c if the concrete block which constitutes the additional weight <NUM> has large dimensions and cannot be contained between the same flaps 120c.

According to one aspect of the invention, the support <NUM> further comprises over its flat portion a plurality of wedge-shaped protrusions 120e, useful to increase the friction between the support <NUM> itself and the lower surface of the concrete block <NUM>.

According to one aspect of the invention, as shown in <FIG>, the rubber mat <NUM> interposed between the bottom profile <NUM> and the surface <NUM>, whether it is an attic or a roof, is able to absorb the deformations of the structure and to generate a friction with the roof covering.

The assembly of the rubber mat <NUM> to the bottom profile <NUM>, preferably made of aluminium, takes place by snap fastening of a plurality of teeth 105a, present laterally on the upper surface of the rubber mat <NUM>. The lower surface of the rubber mat <NUM> is knurled, in order to increase the friction and at the same time facilitate the flow of water.

According to one aspect of the invention, as shown in <FIG>, the longitudinal bottom profile <NUM> is connected to the junction elements 103d by means of four self-drilling screws to be positioned laterally.

<FIG> shows an overall view of a template <NUM> for positioning the supports or bottom profiles <NUM>. The template <NUM> is composed of at least two elements 125a, preferably three plastic elements 125a, and two parallel aluminium profiles 125b. The plastic elements 125a are placed and fixed transversally between the two aluminium profiles 125b.

<FIG> show sectional views of an element 125a.

Advantageously, the particular geometry of the template <NUM> allows both the bottom profiles <NUM> and the front and rear supports <NUM>, <NUM> to be positioned. It is possible to adjust the distance between the three plastic elements 125a and consequently block the aluminium profiles 125b with the two pre-assembled screws.

The front support <NUM> and the rear support <NUM> are positioned by mean of the template <NUM>.

According to one aspect of the invention, the geometry of the single element 125a, 125b which constitutes the template <NUM> is composed of septum on the lower part necessary for coupling with the groove 103a of the bottom profile <NUM> both over the longitudinal direction 121a and over the transverse direction 121b. The element 125a is assembled with two aluminium profiles 125b which fit into the two pockets 121d. The locking of the two profiles 125b takes place by tightening the screws in correspondence with the holes 121e and by deformation of the two grooves in correspondence with the point 121f.

According to one aspect of the invention, as shown in <FIG>, the system <NUM> comprises at least one fixing clamp <NUM> suitable for the supports already described. The fixing clamp <NUM> comprises a central body 122a which differs from the snap fastening system already described.

The assembly of the central body 122a takes place by lateral insertion into grooves 101f, 102f present, respectively, on the upper profiles of the front support <NUM> and of the rear support <NUM>. During the tightening of the screw, the upper part of the fixing clamp <NUM> abuts with the frame 50a of the panel <NUM> causing the central body 122a to move upwards, with the central body 122a itself which has lower hooks which come into contact with the two upper hooks present in the groove of the upper element 101b.

According to one aspect of the invention, the central body 122a has two knurled side surfaces <NUM> which, by coupling with the knurled part <NUM> of the upper piece, or of the frame 50a, facilitate the locking of the entire clamp to the photovoltaic panel <NUM>.

According to another aspect of the invention, with reference to the detail view 'I' of <FIG>, the two elements 101a and 101b couple together forming a hinge and allowing the rotation of the upper element 101b on the bottom element 101a. The rotation allows to mount the photovoltaic panel <NUM> at different inclinations, up to <NUM>° with respect to the surface <NUM>.

According to another aspect of the invention, the system <NUM> further comprises transverse bracings, shown in <FIG>.

According to one aspect of the invention, the system <NUM> comprises locking hooks for the aforementioned transverse bracings, shown in <FIG>.

According to another aspect of the invention, the system <NUM> comprises windbreak casings, shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows the assembly of a typical configuration with three rows of PV panels <NUM> linked together. In order to stiffen the frame 50a it is used a transverse corner bracing <NUM>, which is connected to the several bottom profiles <NUM> by means of a second hook <NUM>.

According to one aspect of the invention, the second hook <NUM> (shown in detail 'K' of <FIG>) consists of a first and a second element <NUM>, <NUM>, connected to each other by a hammer head screw <NUM>. The first and the second element <NUM>, <NUM> block the transverse corner bracing without the need to drill holes on it.

The transverse corner bracing <NUM> mounted in pairs, one piece at the bottom and the other at the top, also has the function of supporting the additional weights <NUM> (as shown in the detail 'J' of <FIG>) with the advantage of being able to translate the position of the fastenings thanks to the use of the hook <NUM>, whose fixing to the bottom profile <NUM> is adjustable and does not require drilling.

According to one aspect of the invention, the system <NUM> comprises a plurality of windbreak casings <NUM>. It is also possible to assemble each windbreak casing <NUM> in correspondence with the rear panel support <NUM>. The fixing of the windbreak casing <NUM> takes place by means of self-drilling screws also exploiting the protruding wing present on the second upper element 102c.

The geometry of the <NUM> windbreak casing may vary, according to the wind load present in the installation site.

Advantageously according to the invention, the system for a concatenated assembly of rows of photovoltaic panels allows the inclination of the PV panel <NUM> to be adjusted by custom-made cutting the box-shaped element 102b of the rear support <NUM>, thus changing the height of the rear support <NUM> while the other profiles remain unchanged.

Advantageously according to the invention, the system for a concatenated assembly of rows of photovoltaic panels allows to facilitate the assembly of the PV panel, by inserting the frame on the rear support and hitting it on the front support.

Advantageously according to the invention, the system for a concatenated assembly of rows of photovoltaic panels allows the use of the same rotary clamp to block the panel both on the short side and on the long side.

Claim 1:
System (<NUM>) for a concatenated assembly of rows of photovoltaic panels, configured for mounting at least one photovoltaic panel (<NUM>) over a surface (<NUM>), comprising:
- at least one bottom profile (<NUM>) mounted longitudinally over the surface (<NUM>) and comprising, in correspondence with an upper portion, a longitudinal and central groove (103a);
- at least one front support (<NUM>) anchored to the at least one bottom profile (<NUM>) and to a front portion of the at least one photovoltaic panel (<NUM>), consisting of: a first bottom element (101a) able to be fixed to the longitudinal and central groove (103a) of the at least one bottom profile (<NUM>), and a first upper element (101b) to which the first bottom element (101a) matches forming a hinge, so that the first upper element (101b) is able to rotate within a predetermined angle with respect to the first bottom element (101a);
- at least one rear support (<NUM>) anchored to the at least one bottom profile (<NUM>) and to a rear portion of the at least one photovoltaic panel (<NUM>), comprising a second base profile (102a) comprising an upper groove, a box-shaped element (102b) engaging and matching with both the at least one bottom profile (<NUM>) and the second base profile (102a), and a second upper element (102c) coupled with the second base profile (102a);
characterized in that said second upper element (102c) comprises an external flap and an inner C-shaped contour (102c') for mounting a frame (50a) of the at least one photovoltaic panel (<NUM>);
wherein the system further comprises a hook (<NUM>) for fixing the at least one front support (<NUM>) to the at least one bottom profile (<NUM>), said hook (<NUM>) comprising a front protrusion (110a) able to be snapped into a hole of the first bottom element (101a), and a hammer head contour (110b) configured to be fixed to the at least one bottom profile (<NUM>) by inserting and rotating the hammer head contour (110b) in the longitudinal and central groove (103a) of the at least one bottom profile (<NUM>).