BEARING FRAME FOR A PANEL SUCH AS A PHOTOELECTRIC PANEL AND BUILDING EXTERNAL WALL INCLUDING SUCH FRAMES

• US 20100162641A1
• Filed: 04/17/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aperam Alloys Imphy (ArcelorMittal SA), SOLARTE
• Original Assignee: Arcelormittal-Stainless and Nickel Alloys, SOLARTE
• Inventors: Reyal, Jean-Pierre, Jautard, Yves
• Granted Patent: US 8,549,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/173.300
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/20 Peripheral frames for modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/40 using plate-like mounting elements, e.g. profiled or corrugated plates; Plate-like module frames extending in directions away from a supporting surface F24S25/10
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/63 for fixing modules or their peripheral frames to supporting elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 40/44 Draining rainwater or condensation
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 40/80 Accommodating differential expansion of solar collector elements
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/10 Frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

The invention relates to a bearing frame for a panel, of the type comprising a peripheral structure (1, 1′) for receiving a panel (20), including at least three mounts (2, 3, 4, 5, 2′, 3′, 4′, 5′) defining a frame in which the lower face defines a reference plane (P, P′), in which at least one mount (2, 5; 5) includes a wing (90,100; 90′) extending on the entire length thereof towards the outside of the frame in parallel with the upper face of the frame, the frame comprising at least one precut metal strip (30) stamped, folded and assembled by welding, in particular laser welding, characterised in that the peripheral structure (1, 1′) is hollow and in that it further comprises inner and outer connection means (14, 16, 17) and an electric linking means (18) between the inner and outer connection means, provided inside the hollow peripheral structure.

Claims

1. Supporting frame for a panel, comprising a peripheral structure for receiving a panel consisting of at least three uprights forming a framework of which the lower face forms a reference plane of which at least one upright comprises a fin extending along the entire length thereof and toward the exterior of the framework, parallel to the upper face of the framework, the framework consisting of at least one precut, stamped and folded metal strip which is assembled by welding, in particular by laser welding, characterized in that the peripheral structure is hollow and in that it further comprises internal and external connection means and an electrical linking means between the internal and external connection means disposed inside the hollow peripheral structure.

2. Supporting frame for a panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the height between the lower face of the fin extending on the exterior of the framework and the reference plane of the framework is greater than the height between the reference plane of the framework and the upper face of the upright located opposite the upright comprising the fin extending toward the exterior of the framework.

3. Supporting frame for a panel according to claim 1, characterized in that two adjacent uprights each comprise a fin extending along the entire length thereof and toward the exterior of the framework, parallel to the upper face of the framework.

4. Supporting frame for a panel according to claim 3, characterized in that at the joint between two uprights of the framework which carry fins extending toward the exterior of the framework, at least one fin extends toward the exterior of the framework parallel to the longitudinal direction of the upright carrying said fin so as to form a joint between the two adjacent fins in such a way that the two adjacent fins form a continuous fin extending along the corner of the framework formed by the two adjacent uprights.

5. Supporting frame for a panel according to claim 4, characterized in that the joint between the two fins comprises a stamped region toward the top of the framework and adapted to be fitted on at least one end of a fin extending toward the exterior of a framework.

6. Supporting frame for a panel according to claim 4, characterized in that the corners of the ends of the adjacent fins located opposite the region of the joint between the two fins are cut at 45°

.

7. Supporting frame for a panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the central portion thereof delimited by the peripheral structure is open.

8. Supporting frame for a panel according to claim 1, characterized in that it is intended to receive an electrically active panel such as a panel of photovoltaic cells and in that the internal and external connection means and the electrical linking means between the external connection means are adapted to electrically connect an electrically active panel carried by the frame to a circuit external to the frame.

9. Supporting frame for a panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral structure comprises, at its upper portion, a groove extending over the entire internal periphery thereof and intended to receive the periphery of a panel.

10. Supporting frame for a panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal strip consists of an optionally lacquered, galvanized low-carbon steel.

11. Supporting frame for a panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal strip consists of austenitic stainless steel.

12. Supporting frame for a panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal strip is an alloy having controlled expansion of the iron nickel type or of the ferritic stainless steel type.

13. Supporting frame for a panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal strip consists of a material having a coefficient of expansion of between 4×

10<sup>−

6</sup>/K and 11×

10<sup>−

6</sup>/K, compatible with that of glass.

14. External wall of a building comprising a frame assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembly forms a paving.

15. External wall of a building comprising a frame assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that the assembly comprises at least one column of rectangular frames disposed one above the other, and in that an adjacent upper frame and lower frame are disposed in such a way that the framework upright located at the lower portion of the upper frame comprises fin which extends above the framework upright located at the upper portion of the lower frame.

16. External wall of a building according to claim 15, characterized in that the frames comprise a single fin extending along an upright, in that the assembly of frames comprises at least two adjacent columns of frames and in that a gutter extending over the entire height of the assembly of frames is disposed against the lateral edges of the frames facing one another, so as to overlap the space located between the two columns.

17. External wall of a building according to claim 15, characterized in that the frames comprise two fins extending along two adjacent uprights of the frame, in that the assembly of frames comprises at least two adjacent columns of frames and in that, along the line joining two adjacent columns, the frames of one column comprise fins which extend above side uprights of the frames of the other column.

18. External wall of a building according to claim 15, characterized in that masks extend at least along the lateral edges and the upper horizontal edge of the assembly, overlapping the uprights of the frames located at the periphery of the assembly.

19. External wall of a building according to claim 15, characterized in that seals are disposed between the uprights of frames and the fins, gutters and masks overlapping these uprights so as to provide the seal.

20. External wall of a building according to claim 15, characterized in that it forms a roof and in that the frames support photoelectric panels.