SOLAR PANEL FIXTURE ELEMENT OF A SOLAR PANEL SYSTEM, A SOLAR PANEL SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF MOUNTING OF SOLAR PANELS OF A SOLAR PANEL SYSTEM

[46]
The invention relates to a solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system, which has a first fixing side (10A) and a second fixing side (10B), which solar panel fixture element (10) comprises two parallelly extending two main elements (11A, 11B), which are located centrally spaced apart from each other, and between the centrally and parallelly extending two main elements (11A, 11B) is formed cross elements (13, 14, 23, 24), which extend between the first main element (11A) and the second main element (11B). Each fixing side (10A, 10B) is formed outwards from centrally and parallelly extending two main elements (11A, 11B) and the solar panel fixture element (10) has on each fixing side (10A, 10B) from the corresponding main element (11A, 11B) extending upper support elements (15A, 15B) and lower support elements (16A, 16B). Between the upper support element (15A, 15B) and corresponding lower support element (16A, 16B) a mounting groove (20A, 20B) of corresponding fixing side is formed and in the solar panel fixture element (10) the mounting groove (20A) on the first fixing side (10A) is differently dimensioned than the mounting groove (20B) on the second fixing side (10B).

A solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system, in which the solar panel fixture element (10) has a first fixing side (10A) and a second fixing side (10B),

the solar panel fixture element (10) comprises two parallelly extending two main elements (11A, 11B), which are located centrally spaced apart from each other,

between the centrally and parallelly extending two main elements (11A, 11B) is formed cross elements (13, 14, 23, 24), which extend between the first main element (11A) and the second main element (11B),

each fixing side (10A, 10B) is formed outwards from centrally and parallelly extending two main elements (11A, 11B),

the solar panel fixture element (10) has on each fixing side (10A, 10B) from the corresponding main element (11A, 11B) extending upper support elements (15A, 15B) and lower support elements (16A, 16B),

between the upper support element (15A, 15B) and corresponding lower support element (16A, 16B) a mounting groove (20A, 20B) of corresponding fixing side is formed,
characterized in that the lower support elements (16A, 16B) have a tightening protrusion (22A, 22B) at their outermost ends, which tightening protrusion (22A, 22B) extends upwards from the corresponding lower support elements (16A, 16B) and that the lower support elements (16A, 16B) are controllably bendable.

Solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system according to claim 1, characterized in that the main elements (11A, 11B) and the cross elements (13, 14, 23, 24) form a support and fastening frame structure for the solar panel fixture element (10).

Solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lower support elements (16A, 16B) are slightly inclined towards the upper support elements (15A, 15B) i.e. towards the mounting grooves (20A, 20B), advantageously 3-8 degrees, more advantageously about 5 degrees, and/or the upper support elements (15A, 15B) are slightly inclined towards the lower support elements (16A, 16B) i.e. towards the mounting grooves (20A, 20B), advantageously 0,5-2,5 degrees, more advantageously about 1,5 degrees.

Solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system according to any of claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the two upper cross elements (13, 14) are perpendicular to the main elements (11A, 11B) and form an opening (25) limited by the cross elements (13, 14) and the parts of the main elements (11A, 11B) extending between the cross elements (13, 14), which opening (25) is for a joint piece to connect two next to each other located solar panel fixture elements (10) to each other in longitudinal direction.

Solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system according to any of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that at one end of the main elements (11A, 11B) a clamping groove (12) of the solar panel fixture element (10) is formed.

Solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system according to claim 5, characterized in that the solar panel fixture element (10) comprises on each fixing side (10A, 10B) fastening legs (18A, 18B) extending from the main elements (11A, 11B) outwards and that the fastening legs (18A, 18B) have upward extending corner elements (17A, 17B).

Solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system according to any of claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the solar panel fixture element (10) is an extruded profile, advantageously an extruded metallic profile, more advantageously an extruded aluminum profile.

Solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system according to any of claims 1 - 7, characterized in that in the solar panel fixture element (10) the mounting groove (20A) on the first fixing side (10A) is differently dimensioned than the mounting groove (20B) on the second fixing side (10B),

Solar panel system comprising solar panels (30) and a support and fastening structure (35), characterized in that , the solar panel system comprises solar panel fixture elements (10) according to any of claims 1 - 8 and that the solar panels (30) are fastened to the support and fastening structure (35) by the solar panel fixture elements.

Method of mounting of solar panels (30) of a solar panel system, characterized in that , in method the solar panels (30) are fastened to a support and fastening structure (35) of the solar panel system by solar panel fixture elements (10) according to any of claims 1 - 8 and that in the method end sides of two next to each other located solar panels (30) are fastened to one solar panel fixture element (10) on the upper support structures (15A, 15B) correspondingly on the first fixing side (10A) and on the second fixing side (10B) and that the opposite end side of each solar panel (30) is fastened to another solar panel fixture elements (10) such, that the end sides of the solar panels (30) are supported by the lower support structures (16A, 16B) and fastened to the mounting groove (20A or 20B) on either fixing side (10A; 10B) depending on the thickness of the solar panel (30).

[1]
The invention relates to fastening of solar panels in a solar panel system. The invention also relates to a solar panel system. The invention also relates to a method of mounting of a solar panel system. More particularly the invention relates to a solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system according to the preamble of the independent solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system claim. More particularly the invention relates to a solar panel system according to the preamble of the independent solar panel system claim. More particularly the invention relates to a method of mounting of solar panels of a solar panel system according to the preamble of the independent method claim.

[2]
Solar energy utilization is in present days widely used and increasingly popular. The solar energy is collected by solar panels, which typically are used as solar panel systems formed of a group/-s of several panels mounted on supporting structures in a sunny location and panels oriented towards the sun in order to collect as much solar energy as possible. In the solar panel systems, the solar panels are typically mounted as roof systems or as solar energy parks with foundations and support structures on ground.

[3]
When new sites for solar panel system are founded, mounting work of the solar panels and their support and fastening structures and elements play a significant role. Often in the mounting work there are work stages that require more than one assemblers due to work stages, which are not possible to do by one assembler, only. For example, moving the large solar panels to their places for mounting and holding and positioning the large solar panels typically need at least one assembler for the solar panel and at least one assembler for the actual fastening work. The mounting work is often also done in cumbersome working positions, that may cause work-related musculoskeletal disorders. As in the solar panel systems, especially in those located in solar energy parks, where mounting and fastening stages of a solar panel are repeated even tens of thousands of times, work related to each fastening stage and fastening element is enhanced.

[4]
It is known from prior art to use solar panel mounting systems, in which the solar panels are mounted into fastening grooves of fastening profiles extending on each side of the solar panel by drawing them at end of the solar panel line and thus the profiles can be positioned and tightened to only after the solar panels have been mounted or alternatively different tolerance devices are used to secure the fastening.

[5]
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system, a solar panel system and a method of mounting of solar panels of a solar panel system, in which the problems and disadvantages of solutions known from prior art are eliminated or at least minimized.

[6]
An object of the invention is to provide a solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system, a solar panel system and a method of mounting of solar panels of a solar panel system, which minimizes the need of time and work in mounting and fastening solar panels to the solar panel system independent of size or manufacturer of the solar panels.

[7]
An object of the invention is to provide a solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system, a solar panel system and a method of mounting of solar panels of a solar panel system, which minimizes the need of more than one assembler in mounting and fastening one solar panel to the solar panel system.

[8]
A further object of the invention is to create a solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system, a solar panel system and a method of mounting of solar panels of a solar panel system, which minimizes the mounting time and maximizes the easiness of the mounting work and in which needs of different types of mounting fasteners and like as well as work stages are minimized.

[9]
One particular, non-necessary object of the invention is to create a solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system, a solar panel system and a method of mounting of solar panels of a solar panel system, in which mounting work can be done at low height level.

[10]
In order to achieve the above objects and those that will come apparent later the solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system according to the invention is mainly characterized by the features of the characterizing part of the independent solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system claim. The solar panel system, in turn, is mainly characterized by the features of the characterizing part of the independent solar panel system claim and the method of mounting of solar panels of a solar panel system is mainly characterized by the features of the characterizing part of the independent method claim. Advantageous embodiments and features are defined in dependent claims.

[11]
According to the invention the solar panel fixture element of a solar panel system has a first fixing side and a second fixing side, comprises two parallelly extending two main elements, which main elements are located centrally spaced apart from each other, between the centrally and parallelly extending two main elements is formed cross elements, which cross elements extend between the first main element and the second main element, wherein each fixing side is formed outwards from centrally and parallelly extending two main elements, and the solar panel fixture element has on each fixing side from the corresponding main element upper support elements and lower support elements, wherein between the upper support element and corresponding lower support element a mounting groove of corresponding fixing side is formed.

[12]
According to the invention the lower support elements have a tightening protrusion at their outermost ends, which tightening protrusion extends upwards from the corresponding lower support elements and are controllably bendable as the solar panel is mounted. Thus, final positioning and tightening of the solar panels is advantageously achieved by gravity and the "controlled" deformation of the tightening protrusion.

[13]
According to an advantageous feature of the invention the main elements and the cross elements form a support and fastening frame structure for the solar panel fixture element.

[14]
According to an advantageous feature of the invention lower support elements are slightly inclined towards the upper support elements i.e. towards the mounting grooves, advantageously 3-8 degrees, more advantageously about 5 degrees, and/or the upper support elements (are slightly inclined towards the lower support elements i.e. towards the mounting grooves, advantageously 0,5-2,5 degrees, more advantageously about 1,5 degrees. Thus, when one end of the solar panel is in the mounting groove of a fixture element and the other end on support of the corresponding support elements of the next fixture element, the solar p…