# US 10,866,011 B2 · Support for solar modules > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,866,011 B2 - Document ID: US10866011B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/654,093 - Filed: 2019-10-16 - Published: 2020-04-23 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-17 - Assignees: FRENELL GmbH - Applicants: FRENELL GmbH - Inventors: Max Mertins - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10866011B2 ## CPC - F24S 23/82: {characterised by the material or the construction of the reflector} - F16C 13/00: Rolls, drums, discs, or the like (guide rollers in feeding webs B65H27/00; calender rolls, bearings therefor D21G1/02; rotary drums or rollers for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus F28F5/02); Bearings or mountings therefor - F16C 17/00: Sliding-contact bearings for exclusively rotary movement (F16C32/06 takes precedence; adjustable bearings F16C23/00, F16C25/00) - F24S 23/77: with flat reflective plates - F24S 30/00: Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules - F24S 30/40: for rotary movement - F24S 50/20: for tracking - H02S 20/32: specially adapted for solar tracking - F24S 2030/15: {Bearings} - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A support for rotationally movable mounting of solar modules configures an outer shaft as a tube and mounts an inner shaft in it, by way of a calotte element in the end position, so that this element is accommodated in the outer shaft in longitudinally displaceable and tiltable manner, as well as in freely rotational manner, if necessary. In this way, only one roller block is required, even if two uncoupled connection shafts are to be mounted. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A support for rotationally movable mounting of solar modules in a solar power plant, the support comprising: (a) a roller block; and (b) a connection shaft mounted on the roller block for connecting adjacent first and second solar modules; wherein the connection shaft is formed in first and second parts and comprises a tubular outer shaft and an inner shaft having a calotte element in an end position; and wherein the calotte element is accommodated in the outer shaft in a tiltable and longitudinally displaceable manner. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The support according to claim 1, wherein the roller block has a trough profile comprising first and second shanks; wherein first and second rollers having parallel axes of rotation are disposed between the first and second shanks; and wherein the connection shaft is rotatably mounted between the first and second rollers and contacts both the first roller and the second roller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The support according to claim 1, wherein the calotte element has entrainment elements that project outward, for torque-proof mounting in the outer shaft; and wherein the entrainment elements interact with counter-elements on an inner mantle of the outer shaft in a force-fit manner. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The support according to claim 1, wherein the calotte element is mounted in the outer shaft so as to rotate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The support according to claim 1, wherein the inner shaft has a first connection plate assigned to a first end of the inner shaft and the outer shaft has a second plate assigned to a second end of the outer shaft opposite to the first end of the inner shaft; and wherein the first and second connection plates face away from one another for attachment to a solar module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The support according to claim 2, wherein the first and second rollers are disposed in the trough profile in an identical manner and at an identical height. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The support according to claim 2, wherein the first and second rollers have an outer circumference at least approximately corresponding to an outer circumference of the outer shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The support according to claim 2, wherein the first and second rollers have an outer contour convex in an axial direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The support according to claim 1, further comprising an intermediate tube interposed between the outer shaft and the calotte element, wherein the intermediate tube forms a calotte holder for at least one of tiltable accommodation and longitudinally displaceable accommodation of the calotte element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The support according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate tube is produced from plastic.