The invention relates to solar panel mountings for installing solar cells panels on roofs, more particularly on folded-plate roofs.
It is often the case with folded-plate roofs that metal foundations are attached to ridges of a folded-plate roof, elongated bases are bridged between the metal foundations, and solar cell panels are attached to the bases.
Foundation-side brackets are attached to the metal foundations, the bases are attached to the foundation-side brackets, panel-side brackets are attached to the bases, and solar cell panels are attached to the panel-side brackets.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2011-236611
Folded-plate roofs are formed by combining panels having ridges at regular intervals and broadly divided into the overlap-type and the seam-type. An overlap-type roof is fabricated by overlapping ridges of adjacent panels, and a seam-type roof is fabricated by combining seams of ridges of adjacent panels. In either type, a folded-plate roof is provided above a plurality of beams for fixing the panels. The interval of the beams is not particularly standardized but typically determined in accordance with the size and the shape of the folded-plate roof.
Metal foundations to be attached to ridges of a folded-plate roof must be attached to points where the beams are present to ensure strength. With regard to panel-side brackets to couple solar cell panels to the bases that are bridged between the metal foundations by means of the foundation-side brackets, it is preferable in terms of strength that the panel-side brackets be located above the metal foundations.
In the circumstances in view of various beam intervals, it is desirable that the foundation-side brackets and the panel-side brackets are slidable relative to the bases so as to locate the foundation-side brackets and the panel-side brackets on top of the metal foundations as much as possible.
However, it is difficult to locate two brackets on top of each metal foundation due to the sizes of the metal foundations, the foundation-side brackets, and the panel-side brackets. This makes it inevitable that the panel-side brackets will be misaligned from above the metal foundations, resulting in that the metal foundations cannot directly bear the weight of the solar cell panels.
Also, the positions to install the beams restrict the positions to install the metal foundations and therefore restrict the positions to install solar cell panels. As a result, depending on the positions and the intervals therebetween to install the beams, the solar cell panels may be installed at increased intervals. That is, there may be an area where solar cell panels are installed at random positions, which may not be optimum positions for electricity generation by the solar cell panels.
The invention has been conceived in view of the above circumstances and aims to provide a solar panel mounting in which a foundation-side bracket and a panel-side bracket can be attached to a base at a position in accordance with a metal foundation, the weight of the solar cell panels can be directly supported by the metal foundation, and the solar cell panels can be installed freely without restriction by the installation location of a beam so as to enhance efficiency in electricity generation.
A solar panel mounting related to the invention is a solar panel mounting for installing a solar cell panel on a seam-type folded-plate roof. The mounting includes a metal foundation fixedly attached to a ridge of the folded-plate roof; first brackets, wherein two first brackets are used for each metal foundation; a base of elongated shape to be bridged between the metal foundation and another metal foundation by means of the first brackets; and a mounting bracket to mount the first brackets on the base. The first brackets each include a first coupling portion to be coupled to the metal foundation, and a first triangular portion of generally triangular shape extending perpendicularly from the first coupling portion. Of the two first brackets for each metal foundation, one of the first brackets is attached to the metal foundation, and the other first bracket is attached to the base such that the other first bracket is oriented opposite to the first bracket attached to the metal foundation. The two first brackets are located on top of the metal foundation with hypotenuse portions of the first triangular portions of the two first brackets are in contact with each other.
Another solar panel mounting related to the invention is a solar panel mounting for installing a solar cell panel on an overlap-type folded-plate roof. The mounting includes a metal foundation fixedly attached to a ridge of the folded-plate roof; a first bracket used for each metal foundation; a second bracket used for each metal foundation; a base of elongated shape to be bridged between the metal foundation and another metal foundation by means of the first bracket; and a mounting bracket to mount the first bracket and the second bracket on the base. The first bracket includes a first coupling portion to be coupled to the metal foundation, and a first triangular portion of generally triangular shape extending perpendicularly from the first coupling portion. The second bracket includes a second coupling portion to be coupled to the solar cell panel, and a second triangular portion of generally triangular shape extending perpendicularly from the second coupling portion. The first bracket and the second bracket are located on top of the metal foundation such that a hypotenuse portion of the first triangular portion and a hypotenuse portion of the second triangular portion are in contact with each other.
In the solar panel mounting according to the invention, if used for a seam-type folded-plate roof, two of the first brackets are located on top of each metal foundation. Therefore, the weight of the solar cell panel can be highly stably supported directly by the metal foundations and beams located below the metal foundations.
Further, in the solar panel mounting according to the invention, if used for an overlap-type folded-plate roof, the first bracket and the second bracket are located on top of the metal foundation. Therefore, the weight of the solar cell panel can be highly stably supported directly by the metal foundations and beams located below the metal foundations.
Further, in the solar panel mounting according to the invention, irrespective of the seam-type or the overlap-type, the first bracket and the second bracket can be attached to the base at a position in accordance with the metal foundation. Therefore, the metal foundations can be mounted in accordance with the positions of beams, and the first brackets and the second brackets to support the weight of the solar cell panel in conjunction with the metal foundation can be directly supported by the beams by means of the metal foundation, thereby improving the flexibility in mounting the beams and ensuring high stability.
A solar panel mounting 1000 according to an embodiment of the invention is a solar panel mounting for installing a solar panel SP on a seam-type folded-plate roof R. The mounting includes metal foundations 100 fixedly attached to ridges of the folded-plate roof, first brackets 300, two of which are used for each metal foundation 100, bases 400 of elongated shape each bridged between a metal foundation 100 and another metal foundation 100 by means of the first brackets 300, and mounting brackets 500 for attaching the first brackets 300 to the bases 400. The first brackets 300 each include a first coupling portion 310, connected to a metal foundation 100, and a first triangular portion 320 in generally triangular shape, extending perpendicularly from the first coupling portion 310. Of the two first brackets 300 for each metal foundation 100, one is attached to the metal foundation 100. The other first bracket 300 is attached to the base 400 such that the other first bracket 300 is oriented opposite to the one of the first brackets 300 attached to the metal foundation 100. The two first brackets 300 are located on top of the metal foundation 100 such that the hypotenuse portions 321 of the first triangular portions 320 of the two first brackets 300 are in contact with one another.
A solar panel SP can be attached using the solar panel mounting 1000 on a folded-plate roof R, irrespective of the seam-type or the overlap-type, with the metal foundations 100 attached to the ridges R1 of the roof. However, the metal foundations 100 of different shapes are used for the seam-type roof and the overlap-type.
Specifically, for the seam-type, the metal foundations 100 are attached to the ridges R1 such that each metal foundation 100 sandwiches a seam R2 formed on each ridge R1.
For the overlap-type, as shown in
In either case, the top of each metal foundation 100 is provided with bolts (not shown) projecting for fixing a foundation-side bracket 300.
The first brackets 300 are formed by bending an iron plate. As shown in
In the solar panel mounting 1000, two of the first brackets 300 are used for each metal foundation 100.
The first brackets 300 may be formed by die-casting zinc or aluminum as long as they can ensure adequate strength.
Each first coupling portion 310 has one elongated hole 311. The elongated hole 311 receives the bolt therethrough.
The first triangular portion 320 is joined at its bottom to the first coupling portion 310. In the first triangular portion 320, the hypotenuse portion 321 and the perpendicular-leg portion 322, which is perpendicular to the first coupling portion 310, are formed with bent portions 321A and 322A, respectively, which are bent to extend in the opposite direction to the first coupling portion 310. The bent portions 321A and 322A are generally trapezoidal. Oblique sides 321B and 322B of the bent portions 321A and 322A are to be brought into intimate contact with a slope 411 of the base 400.
The first triangular portion 320 also has a first through-hole 320A substantially in the center. The first through-hole 320A is used to receive therethrough a bolt 700 for fixing a first bracket 300 to the base 400.
As shown in
The base 400 can be extended with joints (not shown). For this purpose, bolt holes 420 for connecting the joints to the base 400 are open at opposite ends of the face of the base 400 that is opposed to the one side face formed with the groove 410.
The mounting bracket 500 to attach the first bracket 300 to the base 400 includes a midsection 510 and retainers 520 integrally formed as shown in
As shown in
The oblique sides 321B and 322B of the bent portions 321A and 322A of the first bracket 300 are brought into intimate contact with the front faces of the slopes 411 of the base 400. The mounting bracket 500 is placed into the base 400 so that the inclined portions 521 of the retainers 520 of the mounting bracket 500 are brought into abutment with the back faces of the slopes 411. In that state, the bolt 700 is passed through the bolt hole 511 of the mounting bracket 500 and a first through-hole 320A of the first bracket 300, and the bolt 700 is threadedly engaged with a nut 710. The first bracket 300 is thus attached to the base 400.
It should be noted that the first coupling portion 310 of the first bracket 300 is flush with the lower side of the base 400.
Next, a second one of the first brackets 300 (the upper one of the first brackets 300 as shown in
It should also be noted that the first coupling portion 310 of the second one of the first brackets 300 is flush with the upper side of the base 400.
As shown in
In
If the folded-plate roof R itself is tilted at an angle suitable for electricity generation by the solar panel SP, then the solar panel SP can be connected directly to the first coupling portion 310 of the upper first bracket 300.
If unfortunately the folded-plate roof R itself is horizontally oriented or tilted at an angle that is not suitable for electricity generation by the solar panel SP, instead of connecting the solar panel SP directly to the first coupling portion 310 of the upper first side bracket 300, the tilt member 600 is interposed between the upper first bracket 300 and the solar panel SP as shown in
As shown in
Addition of this tilt member 600 makes it possible to mount a solar panel SP at an angle suitable for electricity generation even when a folded-plate roof R itself is horizontally oriented or tilted at an angle not suitable for electricity generation by the solar panel SP.
In addition, when the solar panel mounting 1000 is mounted on an overlap-type folded-plate roof R, one first bracket 300 and one second bracket 200 are used as shown in
The second bracket 200, formed by bending an iron plate as is the case with the first bracket 300, includes, as shown in
The second bracket 200 may be formed by die-casting zinc or aluminum as long as it can ensure an adequate strength.
The second bracket 200 and may be formed by die-casting zinc or aluminum as long as it can ensure an adequate strength.
The second coupling portion 210, longer than the first coupling portion 310 of the first bracket 300, has three elongated holes 211. The elongated holes 211 serve to receive therethrough the bolts of the bolts and nuts 160.
The second triangular portion 220 is joined at its bottom to the second coupling portion 210. In the second triangular portion 220, the hypotenuse portion 221 and the perpendicular-leg portion 222, which is perpendicular to the second coupling portion 210, are formed with bent portions 221A and 222A, respectively, which are bent to extend in the opposite direction to the second coupling portion 210. The bent portions 221A and 222A are generally of trapezoidal shape. The oblique sides 221B and 222B of the bent portions 221A and 222A are to be brought into intimate contact with the slopes 411 of the base 400.
The second triangular portion 220 also has the second through-hole 220A substantially in the center. The second through-hole 220A is used to receive therethrough the bolt 700 for fixing the second bracket 200 to the base 400.
The hypotenuse portion 321 of the first bracket 300 and the hypotenuse portion 221 of the second bracket 200 are inclined at the same angle. Accordingly, when the hypotenuse portion 321 of the first bracket 300 is brought into abutment against the hypotenuse portion 221 of the second bracket 200, the hypotenuse portions 321 and 221, more particularly the bent portions 321A and 221A formed on the hypotenuse portions 321 and 221, are brought into intimate contact with each other.
In
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/JP2012/067561 | 7/10/2012 | WO | 00 | 12/8/2014 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2014/010026 | 1/16/2014 | WO | A |
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Entry |
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International Search Report for Application No. PCT/JP2012/067561, dated Oct. 16, 2012, with English-language translation. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20150135608 A1 | May 2015 | US |