CARPORT STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION THEREFOR

• US 20120304552A1
• Filed: 12/06/2010
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fontenergy Limited
• Original Assignee: Fontenergy Limited
• Inventors: Cox, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US13/513,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20120304552A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/73
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/3416 Structures comprising mainly a central support column and a cantilevered roof
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/025 in the form of an overhead canopy, e.g. carports
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/12 using posts in combination with upper profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/00 Supporting structures for PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/22 specially adapted for buildings
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a modular carport structure comprising one upright member (2), a cantilever roof structure (3) designed to be supported by this upright member (2), and star-like connecting means (4) designed to support and connect the cantilever roof structure (3) to the upright member (2).

Claims

1-49. -49. (canceled)

50. A modular carport structure comprising one upright member, a cantilever roof structure supported by said upright member, and star-like connecting means supporting and connecting said cantilever roof structure to said upright member,

said upright member, in use, extending upwards from ground inclined forward or backward with respect to a vertical axis;

said cantilever roof structure extending, in use, on one plane inclined with respect to an horizontal plane, thereby having a forward upper edge and a back lower edge;

said star-like connecting means comprising;

a plurality of bracket members angularly spaced form one another around said upright member and secured to said upright member, and

a plurality of beam elements each having a proximal end securable to a respective bracket member on said upright member, and wherein the proximal end of each beam element is connectable to a respective bracket member through a clevis-pin arrangement, and a distal end of each beam element is securable to said cantilever roof structure, and in that at least two tie members are secured to said roof structure, and to said upright member thereby forming therewith a triangular rigid structure.

51. A structure as claimed in claim 50, wherein said distal ends of said beam elements are secured to said roof structure through cross members delimiting a support plane for said roof structure.

52. A structure as claimed in claim 50, wherein said star-like connecting means comprises a plurality of beam elements each having a distal end pivoted to a respective cross member.

53. A structure as claimed in claim 51, wherein said cross members extend along at least one circumference section having its center on the upright member.

54. A structure as claimed in claim 51, wherein said cross members extends along at least one side of a polygon centered on the upright member.

59. A structure as claimed in claim 50, wherein the upper portion of said main upright member acts as a rotational fulcrum for said roof structure, the roof structure being offset from the top of said upright member by said plurality of beam elements.

60. A structure as claimed in claim 50, wherein said cantilever roof structure comprises a plurality of longitudinal and cross rafters defining a support grid for a plurality of plate-like elements and each having a “

U”

-shaped cross section with concavity facing upwards, thereby delimiting a receiving channel for at least one matching portion of at least one plate-like element.

61. A structure as claimed in claim 50, wherein said cantilever roof structure comprises a plurality of longitudinal rafters and a plurality of PV mounting rails defining a support grid for a plurality of plate-like elements.

62. A structure as claimed in claim 61, wherein

said PV mounting rails are secured to at least one of said longitudinal rafters by means of at least one couple of PV brackets members and a locking means, and in that

each PV bracket member comprises

a “

U-shaped”

plate-like main body delimiting a coupling area for connection with said PV mounting rail, the free ends of said PV bracket member being orthogonally bent with respect to said main body and each being provided with a lower tongue also orthogonally bent with respect to main body in opposite direction, and

a lower tongue bent according to said free ends of main body, and where a through hole for receiving suitable locking means is formed therein.

63. A structure as claimed in claim 62, wherein said locking means are U-bolts, said U-bolts being designed to secure said couple of PV bracket members mounted on a respective PV mounting rail to a longitudinal rafter.

64. A structure as claimed in claim 60, wherein said plate-like elements are connectable with one another by means of a sealant means.

65. A method for assembling a carport structure according to claim 50, wherein the forward-backward inclination of said main upright with respect to a vertical axis is adjustable to minimize the portion of said cantilever roof structure and the cantilever load onto said roof structure.

66. A method according to claim 65, wherein a variation of the inclination of roof structure with respect to ground is achieved by varying the length of said beam elements.

67. A method according to claim 65, when said carport structure comprises

a roof structure provided with a plurality of longitudinal rafters and cross members, and star-like connecting means comprising beam elements, each having a proximal end connectable to a respective bracket member of said star-like connecting means through a clevis-pin arrangement, and

a distal end pivoted to a respective cross member, wherein a desired inclination of roof structure with respect to ground is achieved by changing the position of said cross members along said longitudinal rafters.

55. A modular carport structure comprising one upright member extending, in use, along a substantially vertical axis, a cantilever roof structure supported by said upright member, and star-like connecting means supporting and connecting said cantilever roof structure to said upright member, said cantilever roof structure cantilever-wise extending forwards and backwards with respect to said upright member, and comprising two planes or pitches inclined with respect to one another and converging towards a horizontal line in a vertical plane containing said upright member located at a lower level than said planes or pitches;

said star-like connecting means comprising;

a plurality of bracket members angularly spaced form one another around said upright member and secured to said upright member, and

a plurality of beam elements each having a proximal end securable to a respective bracket member of said upright member, and

wherein the proximal end of each beam elements is connectable to a respective bracket member through a clevispin arrangement, and a distal end of each beam element is securable to said cantilever roof structure, and in that at least two tie members secured to said star-like connecting means, and to roof structure, thereby forming therewith a triangular rigid structure.

56. A structure as claimed in claim 55, wherein said distal ends of said beam elements are secured to said roof structure through cross members extending along at least one circumference section having its center on said upright member.

57. A structure as claimed in claim 55, wherein said distal ends of said beam elements are secured to said roof structure through cross members extending along at least one side of a polygon centered on the upright member.

58. A structure as claimed in claim 56, wherein said star-like connecting means comprises a plurality of beam elements each having a distal end pivoted to a respective cross member.