Photovoltaic module, solar-power generating apparatus, a support member for supporting photovoltaic modules, and method of installing a solar-power generating apparatus
AssigneeKaneka Corporation
InventorsTakeharu Nakajima, Kazunari Iwamoto, Haruhiko Ito, Ichiro Nakajima
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Abstract
Herein described is a photovoltaic module (30) that comprises a rectangular module body (61) and a frame (60) secured to the sides of the body. The frame is composed of an upper bar (63), a lower bar (64) and a pair of side bars (65 and 66). The upper bar (63) has an insertion projection (71) projecting from a part which is middle in thickness direction of the upper bar. The projection (71) is thinner than the upper bar (63).
Claims20
A photovoltaic module having to be secured between an upper support member and a lower support member, the upper support member having an upper groove-wall and a lower groove-wall which define a down-open groove opening downward and slantwise, and the lower support member arranged below the upper support member, spaced from the upper support member and having an upper groove-wall and a lower groove-wall which define an up-open groove opening upwards and slantwise, said photovoltaic module comprising:
- a rectangular module body;
- and
- a frame secured to the sides of the module body and composed of an upper bar, a lower bar and a pair of side bars, the upper bar held by the upper groove-wall of the down-open groove and having an insertion projection protruding from a part of the upper bar, which is middle in the thickness direction of the upper bar, and the lower bar is inserted in the up-open groove.
A photovoltaic module having to be secured between an upper support member and a lower support member, the upper support member having an upper groove-wall and a lower groove-wall which define a down-open groove opening downward and slantwise, and the lower support member arranged below the upper support member, spaced from the upper support member and having an upper groove-wall and a lower groove-wall which define an up-open groove opening upwards and slantwise, said photovoltaic module comprising:
- a rectangular module body;
- and
- a frame secured to the sides of the module body and composed of an upper bar, a lower bar and a pair of side bars, the upper bar held by the upper groove-wall of the down-open groove and having an insertion projection protruding from a part of the upper bar, which is above that part of the upper bar, which is middle in the thickness direction of the upper bar, and the lower bar is inserted in the up-open groove.
A solar-power generating apparatus to be installed on the roof of a building, which performs solar power generation, comprising:
- an upper support member secured on the roof and having an upper groove-wall and a lower groove-wall defining a down-open groove which opens downward and slantwise;
- a lower support member secured on the roof, having an upper groove-wall and a lower groove-wall defining an up-open groove which opens upwards and slantwise, arranged below the upper support member and extending parallel to the upper support member;
- a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each comprising a rectangular module body and a frame secured to the sides of the module body and composed of an upper bar, a lower bar and a pair of side bars, the upper bar held by the upper groove-wall of the down-open groove and having an insertion projection protruding from a part of the upper bar, which is middle in the thickness direction of the upper bar, and the lower bar is inserted in the up-open groove.
A support member to be secured to the roof of a building and designed to support a photovoltaic module installed on the roof, comprising:
- an upper groove-wall and a lower groove-wall defining a down-open groove opening downwards and slantwise and having a closed bottom;
- and
- an upper groove-wall and a lower groove-wall defining an up-open groove, positioned back-to-back with respect to the down-open groove, opening upwards and slantwise and having a closed bottom, wherein
- the down-open groove is deeper than up-open groove.
A method of installing on the roof of a building a solar-power generating apparatus for performing solar power generation, said method comprising the steps of:
- securing an upper support member and a lower support member on the roof, the upper support member having an upper groove-wall and a lower groove-wall defining a down-open groove which opens downward and slantwise, and the lower support member having an upper groove-wall and a lower groove-wall defining an up-open groove which opens upwards and slantwise, arranged below the upper support member and spaced from the upper support member;
- moving a photovoltaic module comprising a rectangular module body and a frame secured to the sides of the module body and composed of an upper bar, a lower bar and a pair of side bars, until an insertion projection protruding from a part of the upper bar is inserted from below into the down-open groove, said part of the upper bar being middle in the thickness direction of the upper bar;
- rotating the photovoltaic module around the upper bar, thereby moving the lower bar toward the lower support member and causing the lower bar to oppose the up-open groove;
- moving the photovoltaic module downwards and slantwise, while holding the insertion projection in the down-open groove, thereby inserting the lower bar into the up-open groove;
- and
- securing a holding member to the upper support member, thereby holding the upper bar from above in the thickness direction of the upper bar, and securing a holding member to the lower support member, thereby holding the lower bar from above in the thickness direction of the lower bar.
A solar-power generating apparatus having a plurality of photovoltaic modules, said apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of support bases arranged parallel to one another, each having an upper wall, an opening made in the upper wall and extending in the lengthwise direction and a groove provided inside the opening, having a bottom broader than the opening and extending in the lengthwise direction;
- a plurality of support members supporting the photovoltaic modules, extending parallel to each other, and arranged on and intersecting with the support bases, each having connection holes at the intersections with the support bases;
- bolt-holding bodies, each having at least one screw hole, so formed not to rotate in the grooves, and so provided movably in the grooves as to pass under the support members;
- and
- bolts driven into the screw holes through the connection holes, from above at the intersections, thereby to couple the support members to the support bases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.