# US 2015/0144580 A1 · Photovoltaic system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0144580 A1 - Document ID: US20150144580A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/397,171 - Filed: 2013-04-26 - Published: 2015-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-26 - Assignees: KYOCERA Corporation - Applicants: Kyocera Corporation - Inventors: Takahiro Kitano; Kouki Uchida; Yoshiyuki Fujikawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150144580A1 ## CPC - H02S 20/00: Supporting structures for PV modules - F24S 25/10: extending in directions away from a supporting surface - F24S 25/12: using posts in combination with upper profiles - F24S 25/20: Peripheral frames for modules - F24S 25/35: by means of profiles with a cross-section defining separate supporting portions for adjacent modules - F24S 25/617: Elements driven into the ground, e.g. anchor-piles; Foundations for supporting elements; Connectors for connecting supporting structures to the ground or to flat horizontal surfaces - F24S 25/65: for coupling adjacent supporting elements, e.g. for connecting profiles together - F24S 25/70: with means for adjusting the final position or orientation of supporting elements in relation to each other or to a mounting surface; with means for compensating mounting tolerances - H02S 20/10: Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground (H02S20/30 takes precedence) - H02S 20/30: Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment - F24S 2025/6008: {by using toothed elements} - F24S 2025/801: {having hollow parts with closed cross-section} - F24S 2025/807: {having undercut grooves} - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - 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) - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A photovoltaic system includes a pole member which stands on an installation surface, a connecting support member disposed on an upper end section of the pole member, a rail member supported by the connecting support member, and a photovoltaic cell module disposed on the rail member, wherein the pole supporting member includes a lower section that covers at least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the upper end section of the pole member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A photovoltaic system comprising: a pole member which stands above an installation surface; a connecting support member disposed on an upper end section of the pole member; a rail member supported by the connecting support member; and a photovoltaic cell module disposed on the rail member, wherein the connecting support member includes a lower section that covers at least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the upper end section of the pole member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic system according to claim 1, wherein the lower section of the connecting support member includes two opposite plate sections, and at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the upper end section of the pole member is located between the opposite plate sections. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The photovoltaic system according to claim 2, wherein the two plate sections include a protrusion which protrudes from an inner surface of at least one of the plate sections so that a lower surface of the protrusion is in contact with the upper end section of the pole member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic system according to claim 1, wherein the pole member includes a tubular section in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic system according to claim 1, wherein a cross sectional shape of the pole member in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pole member is I-shape, T-shape or H-shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting support member includes an upper surface section and a projection or a recess formed at the upper surface section, and the rail member includes a lower surface section and a recess that corresponds to the projection or a projection that corresponds to the recess of the connecting support member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The photovoltaic system according to claim 2, further comprising a first fastening member that fixes the connecting support member on the pole member, wherein the first fastening member is inserted into a first elongate hole which extends in the longitudinal direction of the pole member on at least one of the two plate sections and a first hole disposed on the upper end section of the pole member to fix the connecting support member on the pole member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The photovoltaic system according to claim 7, wherein the plate section includes a first fitting section on a back side of a surface which faces the outer peripheral surface of the pole member, and the first fastening member includes a contact surface that is in contact with the first fitting section, the contact surface being provided with a second fitting section that fits with the first fitting section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The photovoltaic system according to claim 8, wherein the first fitting section is a first serration section, and the second fitting section is a second serration section that is capable of fitting with the first serration section at a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction of the pole member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic system according to claim 1, further comprising a pole supporting member disposed between a foundation disposed on the installation surface and the pole member and a second fastening member that fixes the pole member on the pole supporting member, wherein the pole supporting member includes a bottom section that is disposed on the foundation and a wall section that is connected to the bottom section and covers at least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of a lower end section of the pole member, and the second fastening member is inserted into a second elongate hole which extends in the longitudinal direction of the pole member on the wall sections and a second hole disposed on the lower end section of the pole member to fix the pole member on the pole supporting member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The photovoltaic system according to claim 10, wherein the pole supporting member includes a third fitting section on a back side of a surface which faces the outer peripheral surface of the pole member, and the second fastening member includes a contact surface that is in contact with the third fitting section, the contact surface being provided with a fourth fitting section that fits with the third fitting section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The photovoltaic system according to claim 11, wherein the third fitting section is a third serration section, and the fourth fitting section is a fourth serration section that is capable of fitting with the third serration section at a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction of the pole member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic system according to claim 1, wherein the pole member includes a first pole member located on a side of the photovoltaic cell module and a second pole member located on a side of the installation surface, a pole connecting member located between the first pole member and the second pole member and a third fastening member that fixes the pole connecting member on at least one of the first pole member and the second pole member are further provided, the pole connecting member includes a side plate that covers a portion of at least one of the first pole member and the second pole member, and the third fastening member is inserted into a third elongate hole which extends in the longitudinal direction of at least one of the first pole member and the second pole member on the side plate to fix the pole connecting member on at least one of the first pole member and the second pole member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The photovoltaic system according to claim 13, wherein the side plate includes a fifth fitting section on an inner peripheral surface of the third elongate hole, the third fastening member includes a contact surface that is in contact with the fifth fitting section, the contact surface being provided with a sixth fitting section that fits with the fifth fitting section. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The photovoltaic system according to claim 14, wherein the fifth fitting section is a fifth serration section, and the sixth fitting section is a sixth serration section that is capable of fitting with the fifth serration section at a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction of the pole member.