CONNECTING MEMBER

• US 20110070765A1
• Filed: 07/09/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yanegijutsukenkyujo Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Yanegijutsukenkyujo Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Shuichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,382,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/387
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/022 Sealing means between support elements, e.g. overlapping arrangements; Gap closing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/6003 by clamping
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/20 Peripheral frames for modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/35 by means of profiles with a cross-section defining separate supporting portions for adjacent modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/61 for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/65 for coupling adjacent supporting elements, e.g. for connecting profiles together
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/67 for coupling adjacent modules or their peripheral frames for fixing modules or their peripheral frames to supporting elements F24S25/63
• 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: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

There is provided a connecting member capable of eliminating displacement between ends, preventing a cost of installation from increasing and making the appearance of an installed photovoltaic cell module excellent only by being attached to the ends of predetermined members such as the photovoltaic cell module and a decorative cover.

A connecting member 10 for connecting ends of adjacently arranged photovoltaic cell modules 4 fixed in a state in which the ends of the photovoltaic cell modules 4 each obtained by supporting an outer periphery of a photovoltaic cell panel 2 by frame bodies 3a and 3b are floating, including a plate-like upper piece 11, a plate-like lower piece 12 opposed to the upper piece 11 and a connecting piece 13 for connecting end sides on the same side of the lower piece 12 and the upper piece 11, the connecting member 10 capable of being fitted to the ends of the frame bodies 3a facing the same direction in the adjacent photovoltaic cell modules 4 so as to sandwich the same from a direction perpendicular thereto by the upper piece 11 and the lower piece 12.

Claims

1. A connecting member for connecting ends of adjacently arranged photovoltaic cell modules each obtained by supporting an outer periphery of a photovoltaic cell panel by a frame body, or connecting ends of adjacently arranged decorative covers each arranged on an outer peripheral edge of the photovoltaic cell module, the ends of the photovoltaic cell modules and the ends of the decorative covers fixed in a state where the ends of the photovoltaic cell modules and the ends of the decorative covers are floating, the connecting member comprising:

a plate-like upper piece;

a plate-like lower piece arranged so as to be opposed to the upper piece;

a connecting piece connecting the same sided edges of the lower piece and the upper piece; and

a disengagement prevention portion formed on the upper piece or the lower piece, the disengagement prevention portion configured to prevent release of fit by biting into the photovoltaic cell modules or the decorative covers,

the connecting member formed of an electrically conductive material and capable of being fitted to the ends of the adjacently arranged photovoltaic cell modules or decorative covers, both edges of which are arranged in the same direction, so as to sandwich the ends by the upper piece and the lower piece in a direction perpendicular to the edges arranged in the same direction.

4. The connecting member according to claim 1, wherein

each of the photovoltaic cell modules or each of the decorative covers includes a concave portion opening outward at each edge thereof,

the connecting member is capable of being fitted to the ends of the adjacently arranged photovoltaic cell modules or decorative covers so as to sandwich the concave portions and bottom portions of the photovoltaic cell module or the decorative cover by the upper piece and the lower piece.

5. The connecting member according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cable holding portion configured to hold an electric cable extending from the photovoltaic cell module on a position below the photovoltaic cell modules or the decorative covers.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)