BRACKET AND PHOTOVOLTAIC APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME

• US 20140366931A1
• Filed: 06/18/2014
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Inventors: CHIU, Sih-Siou, KUO, Min-Chien
• Application Number:
  US14/307,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20140366931A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/251
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/10 Frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/32 comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/34 comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A Photovoltaic apparatus includes a photovoltaic panel, a frame, a bracket and a T-shaped electrical junction. The frame is defined with a receiving space therein. The photovoltaic panel is disposed in the receiving space. The bracket couples on the frame, and the bracket includes a connection portion and a hanging portion. The T-shaped electrical junction is electrically connected to the photovoltaic panel and two external devices. The connection portion fixes the bracket on the frame, and the hanging portion supports the T-shaped electrical junction.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic apparatus, comprising:

a frame having a accommodating space;

a photovoltaic panel disposed in the accommodating space;

a T-shaped electrical junction for electrically connecting the photovoltaic panel to two external devices; and

a bracket comprising a connection portion and at least one hanging portion, wherein the connection portion is in a slab shape for fixing the bracket on the frame, and the at least one hanging portion is used for supporting the T-shaped electrical junction.

2. The photovoltaic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the T-shaped electrical junction comprises:

a horizontal portion, comprising;

a first section electrically connected to one of the external devices;

a second section electrically connected to the other of the external devices; and

a middle section disposed between the first section and the second section; and

a vertical portion connected to the middle section of the horizontal portion, and electrically connected to the photovoltaic panel,

wherein at least one of the horizontal portion and the vertical portion is supported by the at least one hanging portion.

3. The photovoltaic apparatus of claim 2, wherein the number of the at least one hanging portion is a pair for respectively supporting the first section and the second section of the horizontal portion of the T-shaped electrical junction, and allowing the vertical portion of the T-shaped electrical junction to pass through a gap between the hanging portions.

4. The photovoltaic apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the hanging portions comprises a C-shaped hook defining a holding space, for respectively receiving at least one portion of the first section and at least one portion of the second section of the horizontal portion of the T-shaped electrical junction therein.

5. The photovoltaic apparatus of claim 4, wherein the bracket further comprises:

at least one pair of first guide ribs respectively connected to a free end of the C-shaped hooks; and

at least one pair of second guide ribs respectively obliquely connected between the connecting portion and the C-shaped hooks, and an included angle formed between the connecting portion and each of the second guide ribs is an obtuse angle.

6. The photovoltaic apparatus of claim 2, wherein the hanging portion comprises:

a body connected to the connecting portion; and

at least one arc elastic arm, wherein an accommodating space is mutually defined by the body and the at least one arc elastic arm for receiving at least one portion of the vertical portion of the T-shaped electrical junction therein.

7. The photovoltaic apparatus of claim 6, wherein the bracket further comprises:

a transverse rib obliquely connected between the body and the connecting portion, and an included angle formed between the transverse rib and the connecting portion is an obtuse angle.

8. The photovoltaic apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one arc elastic arm is a pair of arc elastic arms respectively connected to two opposite sides of the body, and each of the arc elastic arms is defined with a free end, and a minimum distance between the free ends of the arc elastic arms is smaller than an outer diameter of the vertical portion of the T-shaped electrical junction.

9. The photovoltaic apparatus of claim 8, wherein the bracket further comprises:

at least one pair of guide ribs respectively connected to the free ends of the arc elastic arms and extending in a direction away from the body.

10. The photovoltaic apparatus of claim 6, wherein the body is defined with two opposite sides, and the arc elastic arm is connected to one side of the body, and a minimum distance between a free end of the arc elastic arm and the other side of the body is smaller than an outer diameter of the vertical portion of the T-shaped electrical junction.

11. The photovoltaic apparatus of claim 10, wherein bracket further comprises:

a guide rib disposed on the free end of the arc elastic arm.

12. The photovoltaic apparatus of claim 2, wherein the hanging portion comprises a position-limiting hook connected to the connecting portion, a accommodating groove is defined in the position-limiting hook for receiving at least one portion of the horizontal portion of the T-shaped electrical junction, and the position-limiting hook has at least one through hole for allowing the vertical portion of the T-shaped electrical junction to pass through.

13. The photovoltaic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the bracket further comprises:

a position-limiting portion disposed on a free end of the position-limiting hook and obliquely extending towards the connecting portion for restricting the horizontal portion of the T-shaped electrical junction in the accommodating groove.

14. The photovoltaic apparatus of claim 13, wherein the bracket further comprises:

at least one guide rib connected to a side of the position-limiting portion opposite to the position-limiting hook.

15. The photovoltaic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the bracket further comprises:

a transverse rib obliquely connected between the position-limiting hook and the connecting portion, and an angle included between the transverse rib and the connecting portion is an obtuse angle.

16. A bracket for supporting a T-shaped electrical junction of a photovoltaic apparatus, wherein the T-shaped electrical junction includes a horizontal portion and a vertical portion connected to each other, the bracket comprising:

a connecting portion in a slab shape for fixing the bracket on a frame of the photovoltaic apparatus; and

at least one pair of hanging portions connected to the connecting portions for supporting the horizontal portion of the T-shaped electrical portion, wherein a gap exists between the hanging portions for the vertical portion of the T-shaped electrical junction passing therethrough.

17. The bracket of claim 16, wherein each of the hanging portions comprises a C-shaped hook defining a holding space for receiving at least one portion of the horizontal portion of the T-shaped electrical junction.

18. The bracket of claim 17, further comprising:

at least one pair of first guide ribs respectively connected to a first free end of the C-shaped hook; and

at least one pair of second guide ribs respectively obliquely connected between the connecting portion and the C-shaped hook, and an included angle formed between the connecting portion and each of the second guide ribs is obtuse.

19. A bracket for supporting a T-shaped electrical junction of a photovoltaic apparatus, wherein the T-shaped electrical junction includes a horizontal portion and a vertical portion connected to each other, the bracket comprising:

a connecting portion in a slab shape for fixing the bracket on a frame of the photovoltaic apparatus; and

a single hanging portion connected to the connecting portion for supporting one of the vertical portion and the horizontal portion of the T-shaped electrical junction.

20. The bracket of claim 19, wherein the single hanging portion comprises:

a body connected to the connecting portion; and

at least one arc elastic arm together with the body to define a accommodating space for receiving at least one portion of the vertical portion of the T-shaped electrical junction therein and the at least one portion of the vertical portion of the T-shaped electrical junction supported by the at least one arc elastic arms.

21. The bracket of claim 20, wherein the number of the arc elastic arm is a pair, the arc elastic arms are respectively connected to two opposite sides of the body, each of the arc elastic arms has a free end, and a minimum distance between the free ends of the arc elastic arms is smaller than an outer diameter of the vertical portion of the T-shaped electrical junction.

22. The bracket of claim 20, wherein the bracket further comprises:

a transverse rib obliquely connected between the body of the single hanging portion and the connecting portion, and an included angle formed between the transverse rib and the connecting portion is an obtuse angle.

23. The bracket of claim 20, wherein the body has two opposite side, and one side of the body is connected to the arc elastic arm, and a minimum distance between a free end of the arc elastic arm and the other side of the body is smaller than an outer diameter of the vertical portion of the T-shaped electrical junction.

24. The bracket of claim 19, wherein the single hanging portion comprises:

a position-limiting hook connected to the connecting portion and defined with a accommodating groove for receiving and restricting the horizontal portion of the T-shaped electrical junction, wherein the position-limiting hook has a through hole for allowing the vertical portion of the T-shaped electrical junction to pass through.

25. The bracket of claim 24, further comprising:

a position-limiting portion which is disposed on a free end of the position-limiting hook, and obliquely extends towards the connecting portion for restricting the horizontal portion of the T-shaped electrical junction in the accommodating groove.

26. The bracket of claim 24, further comprising:

a transverse rib obliquely connected between the position-limiting hook and the connecting portion, and an included angle formed between the transverse rib and the connecting portion is an obtuse angle.