WO2021079032A1

WO2021079032A1 - Arrangement for fastening of solar panels

Info

Publication number: WO2021079032A1
Application number: PCT/FI2020/050702
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rauli WATHEN
Original assignee: Suomen Aurinkotekniikka Oy
Priority date: 2019-10-25
Filing date: 2020-10-23
Publication date: 2021-04-29
Also published as: WO2021079030A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for mounting solar panels on a roof of a building, the arrangement comprising mounting rails for the solar panels and roof mounts (2) for mounting the mounting rails in place. The roof mount (2) comprises a base part (5a) to rest against the surface of the roof and a supporting part (5b) projecting upwards from the surface of the roof, as well as a fastening plate (6a) for fastening the mounting rail to the roof mount (2). The roof mount (2) is provided with one or more fastening structures (7, 8), in order to fasten it to different kinds of roof constructions, and is made of a metal sheet having a substantially uniform thickness so that its base part (5a) and supporting part (5b), as viewed from the end of the roof mount (2), form a monolithic structure substantially in the shape of an L-profile.

Description

ARRANGEMENT FOR FASTENING OF SOLAR PANELS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an arrangement for mounting solar panels as defined in the preamble of claim 1.

Being versatile, the invention is especially applicable for fastening structures, such as solar panels installable on profiled and seamed roof, to the roofs. The solution accord ing to the invention is well-suited for mounting solar panels on finished tile-patterned metal roofs and corrugated metal sheet, profiled metal sheet as well as substantially flat metal sheet and bitumen roofs. Retrofitting roofs with dif- ferent kinds of structures is usually difficult due to the flat and planar nature of the roofs. It is a high-risk task to drill holes in the roof and it must be done in a manner ensuring that the roof stays sealed throughout its service life.

Profiled and seamed roofs are constructed on an assembly of roof trusses and battens. The purpose of the roof is to provide a weatherproof and watertight structure to protect the building. Any retrofitting done to the roof may have an adverse effect on the protection provided by the roof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional ways of attachment for attaching solar panels to a roof are previously known but these ways of attachment suffer from various technical deficiencies. The known solu tions use a different mount for each roofing material type. Thus, the problem of the known ways of attachment is that a specific mount is needed for each roof type. Learning to fasten each mount type to its assigned roofing material type is a learning process per se. This makes the installation of the prior-art roof mounts intended for mounting solar panels a slow task requiring expertise. Further, another drawback is that the previously known mounts are usually designed in such a way that their roof-facing bearing surface is sub stantially narrow, resulting in that the load carried by the mounts causes a higher stress to the battens or other struc tures underneath the roof. This may lead to the roof becoming damaged at the mounts.

As a drawback of the prior-art attachment solutions, for profiled and seamed roof installations, can be seen the fact that the rail profile used for fastening the solar panels and acting as a mounting rail must be installed by using manual tools, due to a lack of space arising from that the T-screws used for fastening the rail profile to the roof mounts are directed towards the surface of the roof and are located in a tight gap between the rail profile and the roof, the gap being too small to receive a machine tool. Therefore, the fastening nuts must be threaded onto the T-screws by using manual tools which is slow and hard work.

A prior-art solution is presented in US patent specification No. 2014338273 A1. It describes a short solar panel roof mount fixable to a standing seam of a metal sheet roof, or directly to the roof structure, by means of screws. The substantially short roof mount has an integrated fastening member equal in length and parallel with the roof mount, a solar panel being directly fixable thereto by means of a separate bolt and a small retainer. However, this US solution does not disclose separate long mounting rails capable of mounting several solar panels, and there is no specific spot on the roof mount assigned to a long mounting rail like this.

Another prior-art solution can be found in US patent appli cation No. 2011271611 A1 describing a universal mount for solar panels. It is a solar panel roof mount usable for mounting panels on a roof and directly fixable to the roof structure by means of screws, or, pressable against the roof ridges by means of screws. However, the universal mounts of this patent specification are not intended as a platform for separate mounting rails allowing several panels to be mounted thereon and, therefore, show no mounting rail part for mount ing long mounting rails.

Since neither of the above-stated US patent specifications employs elongated mounting rails allowing several solar pan els to be mounted thereon, the mounts defined therein do not suffer from the same mounting-related problems as the solu tions where the solar panels are mounted on long mounting rails, which are the subject of the invention according this application. On the other hand, the solution according to the above-stated US patent specifications suffer from the problem that, if several solar panels are to be mounted, several universal mounts are needed, which makes the instal lation slow, more fastening holes must be made in the roof and the material costs increase.

The arrangement for mounting solar panels according to the invention is characterized in what set forth in the charac terizing part of claim 1. Other embodiments of the invention are characterized in what set forth in the rest of the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an arrangement for mounting solar panels on a roof of a building, for example, the arrangement comprising solar panel mounting rails and roof mounts for mounting the mounting rails in place, the roof mount com prising, in the arrangement, a base part to rest against the surface of the roof and a supporting part projecting upwards from the surface of the roof, as well as a fastening plate for fastening the solar panel mounting rail to the roof mount, the roof mount being provided with two or more fas tening structures in order to fasten the roof mount to dif ferent kinds of roof constructions. Preferably, the roof mount is made of a metal sheet having a substantially uniform thickness, by cutting, punching and bending, in such a way that the base part and the supporting part of the roof mount, when viewed from the end of the roof mount, stand at a substantially right angle to each other and form a monolithic structure substantially in the shape of an L-profile where the base part is adapted to positioned substantially in par allel with the upper surface of the roof.

In the arrangement according to the invention, the roof mount is designed to be easily fixable, the fastening surface of the fastening plate being angled such that a battery-driven drill, for example, can be used for fastening the solar panel mounting rail to the roof mount.

A major advantage of the solution according to the invention is that the good working position and the possibility of using machine tools make it fast and easy to install. Thus, the mounting rail used for mounting the solar panels is effortless to fasten to the roof mount, by means of a bat tery-driven drill, for example, since the fastening surface between the roof mount and the mounting rail is not parallel to the roof but substantially perpendicular to the surface of the roof, allowing a T-screw acting as a fastening screw to be fastened substantially in parallel with the upper sur face of the roof. Besides, the arrangement makes it possible to visually check that the T-screw is in the right position, based on the position of the groove provided in the head of the T-screw. Another advantage is that the roof mount is simple and monolithic in structure as well as easy and in expensive to manufacture, simply by cutting a piece of the right shape out of a metal sheet, by providing it with nec essary holes and openings as well as by bending the sheet into the cross-sectional shape of an L profile and by doing any other necessary bends.

LIST OF FIGURES In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying simplified and schematic drawings where

Figure 1 is an oblique top view of a preferred arrangement according to the invention, on a roof of a building,

Figure 2 is an oblique top and lateral view of one of the roof mounts shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a top view of the roof mount according to Figure

2, Figure 4 is an end view the roof mount according to Figure 2, at an initial stage of attaching the roof mount to a seam of a metal sheet roof,

Figure 5 shows the roof mount according to Figure 2, viewed from the end of the roof mount, at a final stage of attaching the roof mount to the seam of the metal sheet roof,

Figure 6 is an oblique top and lateral view of a clamping element with a partially cross-sectioned side and used in the arrangement according to the invention for attaching the roof mount to the seam of the metal sheet roof, and

Figure 7 is a lateral view of the roof mount according to Figure 2, attached to a bitumen roof and with a solar panel mounting rail fastened to the roof mount .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 is an oblique top view of an arrangement according to the invention, installed on a roof 1 of a building. The arrangement includes roof mounts 2, especially suitable for bitumen and metal sheet roofs or the like, and mounting rails

3 provided with one or more T-grooves and having solar panels

4 mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is an oblique top and lateral view of one the inventive roof mounts 2 shown in Figure 1. The inventive versatile roof mount 2 is made by cutting, punching and bending a straight, planar metal sheet having a uniform thickness and comprises a base part 5a created by bends, a supporting part 5b and preferably two fastening plates 6a resembling fastening lugs and intended for the mounting rail 3 of the solar panels 4. As viewed from the end of the roof mount 2, the base part 5a and the supporting part 5b stand at a right angle to each other and form a monolithic struc ture substantially in the shape of an L profile, the base part 5a thereof being adapted to positioned substantially in parallel with the upper surface of the roof 1.

Each fastening plate 6a is bent out of the upper portion of the supporting part 5b, preferably into a right angle to the supporting part 5b, leaving, between the fastening plates 6a, an accommodation space 6 having a supporting surface 6c and capable of accommodating the mounting rail 3 of the solar panels 4. Preferably, the face of the fastening plate 6a to which the mounting rail 3 of the solar panels 4 is fastened is substantially perpendicular to the base part 5a. Each fastening plate has a fastening hole 6b for fastening the mounting rail 3 of the solar panels 4 to the roof mount by means of a fastener, such as a T-screw. Preferably, the fastening plate 6a is made of the same material as the base part 5a and the supporting part 5b.

In practice, the mounting rail 3 of the solar panels 4 only needs to be fastened to one fastening plate 6a, but the second fastening plate 6a is provided, inter alia, to allow for easy adjustment of the location and position of the mounting rail 3. Besides, the two fastening plates make it possible to fasten the mount to the roof, with either side facing out, should this be necessary due to the roof shapes or roof battens. Thus, the fastening holes can be positioned in different ways. The roof mount 2 according to the invention comprises two different fastening structures 7, 8 for fastening the roof mount 2 to different kinds of the roof constructions. This allows for a versatile use of the roof mount 2.

The first mounting structure 7 of the roof mount 2 comprises at least two spaced-apart fastening holes 7a which are pro vided in the base part 5a and through which the roof mount 2 is adapted to be fastened, through the surface structure of the roof 1, to the support structures of the roof, by means of appropriate fasteners, such as screws. Preferably, the fastening holes 7a are more than two in number, making it easier to fit the roof mount 2 in place on roofs with different batten spacings, for example.

Figures 3 to 6 show the same roof mount 2 as in Figure 2 but, now, the second fastening structure 8 of the roof mount 2 is in use, enabling the roof mount 2 to be fastened to a standing seam 11 of a metal sheet roof, for example. In this case, no penetrations, possibly causing water leaks, for example, are needed in the surface of the roof 1, such as in the metal sheet 12a constituting the outer face thereof.

The second fastening structure 8 of the roof mount 2 com prises at least two separate clamping elements 8i and two spaced-apart through-hole arrays 8a made in the supporting part 5b and adapted to be fitted with the clamping element 8i in order to fasten the roof mount 2 to the standing seam of the metal sheet roof. The through-hole array 8a of the second fastening structure 8 comprises one or more, preferably two, through-holes 8b in the upper portion of the supporting part 5b to retain the upper end of the clamping element 8i in place. In addition, each through-hole array 8a comprises a threaded fastening hole 8c to tighten the clamping element 8i against the roof mount 2, and one or more, preferably two, openings 8d in the lower portion of the supporting part 5b, intended for one or more, preferably two, projections 8f provided in the lower end of the clamping element 8i and directed towards the supporting part 5b of the roof mount 2.

Preferably, the positioning and interspacing of the through- holes 8b and the openings 8d are chosen to allow, as the clamping element 8i is fixed in place, at the fastening hole 8c, by means of a fastener 8h, such as a screw, the hook like support members 8e provided in the upper portion of the clamping element 8i can be inserted into the through-holes 8b, the projections 8f of the lower portion of the clamping element 8i being aligned to the openings 8d.

Figure 6 shows the clamping element 8i with a partially cross-sectioned side to allow a fastening hole 8g made in the rear wall of the clamping element 8i to be clearly seen. Preferably, the fastening hole 8g is vertically elongated, enabling the fastener 8h of the clamping element 8i to be more easily inserted into the threaded hole 8c. The clamping element 8i is bent out of a single metal sheet, substantially into the shape of the letter U, or, into a similar rectan gular shape, for example. The roof mount 2 is adapted to be fastened to the standing seam 11 of the metal sheet roof by the second fastening structure 8, with the supporting part 5b of the roof mount 2 on one side of the standing seam 11 and with the lower end of the clamping element 8i, and its projections 8f directed towards the supporting part 5b, on the other side of the standing seam 11. Thus, the seam 11 of the metal sheet roof is left between the supporting part 5b and the clamping element 8i.

As the clamping element 8i is fixed in place, the hook-shaped supporting members 8e provided in the upper portion of the clamping element 8i are inserted, from the side of the stand- ing seam 11, through the through-holes 8b of the upper por tion of the supporting part 5b, to the side of the supporting part 5b not abutting the standing seam 11. Thereafter, the clamping element 8i is tightened in place by means of a fastener 8h, such as a screw, by threading the fastener 8h into a threaded through-hole 8c of the through-hole array 8a so tight that the projections 8f of the lower portion of the clamping element 8i are tightly pressed, at the openings 8d, against the standing seam 11 and preferably cause a defor mation of the standing seam 11 by partly pressing the stand- ing seam 11 into the openings 8d. The clamping element 8i acts as leverage, contributing to the tightening force and deformation and having its fulcra on the supporting surfaces 8j of the hook-shaped supports 8e that are pressed against the supporting part 5b.

Figure 7 is a lateral view of the roof mount 2 of Figure 2 fastened to a bitumen roof, with the mounting rail 3 of the solar panels 4 fixed in place in the accommodation space 6 provided in the roof mount 2. The roof mount 2 is adapted to be fastened to the bitumen roof, or some other even roof surface, by means of the first fastening structure 7. Thus, the roof mount 2 is fastened, at its fastening holes 7a, to the upper surface of the roof 1 by using fasteners 7b, such as screws. In the situation shown in Figure 7, the roof mount 2 is fastened, through the bitumen layer 12b of the roof 1, to a substructure 10 of the roof, such as the underlying boards of the roof, by means of the fasteners 7b.

The cross-sectional shape of the mounting rail 3 of the solar panels 4 is a substantially rectangular rail profile, at least one of its lateral faces comprising at least one elon gated T-groove for fastening the mounting rail 3 to the roof mount 2, and its upper surface comprising at least one elon gated T-groove for fastening the solar panels 4 to the mount ing rail 3.

Preferably, the mounting rail 3 is fastened, by using a fastener 9, such as a T-screw, insertable into the T-groove made in the lateral face of the mounting rail 3, to the fastening plate 6a provided on the supporting part 5b and preferably having its fastening surface directed in such way that the T-screw constituting the fastener 9 and inserted into the T-groove of the mounting rail 3 is substantially parallel to the base part 5a of the roof mount 2, and con sequently, to the surface of the roof. This gives the pos sibility of effortlessly tightening the fastener 9 in place by using a battery-driven drill, for example. Further, it is easy to check by eye if the fastener 9 is in the right position in the T-groove since the groove made in the head of the T-screw and indicating the position of the T-screw is clearly visible. At the same, the fastening plate 6a, and its fastening sur face facing the mounting rail, are directed such that the T- groove or the like provided in the upper surface of the mounting rail attaching to the fastening surface of the fas tening plate 6a is open upwards, and, consequently, the upper surface of the mounting rail 3 is substantially parallel to the surface of the roof 1, making it easy and fast to thread in the T-screws used for fixing the solar panels 5 in place.

It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the different embodiments of the invention are not solely restricted to the example above but may vary within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. An arrangement for mounting solar panels (4) on a roof

(1) of a building, the arrangement comprising mounting rails (3) for the solar panels (4) and roof mounts (2) for mounting the mounting rails (3) in place, wherein, in the arrangement, the roof mount (2) comprises a base part (5a) to rest against the surface of the roof (1) and a supporting part (5b) pro jecting upwards from the surface of the roof, as well as a fastening plate (6a) for fastening the mounting rail (3) of the solar panels (4) to the roof mount (2), the roof mount

(2) being provided with one or more fastening structures (7, 8) in order to fasten the roof mount (2) to different kinds of roof constructions, characterized in that the roof mount (2) is made of a metal sheet having a substantially uniform thickness, by cutting, punching and bending, in such a way that the base part (5a) and the supporting part (5b) of the roof mount (2), when viewed from the end of the roof mount, stand at a substantially right angle to each other and form a monolithic structure substantially in the shape of an L- profile where the base part (5a) is adapted to be positioned substantially in parallel with the upper surface of the roof (1).

2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the first fastening structure (7) of the roof mount (2) comprises at least two spaced-apart fastening holes (7a) made in the base part (5a) through which the roof mount (2) is adapted to be fastened, through the surface structure of the roof (1), to the supporting structures of the roof (1), by means of fasteners (7b), such as screws.

3. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second fastening structure (8) of the roof mount (2) comprises at least two separate clamping elements (81) and two spaced-apart through-hole arrays (8a, 8c, 8d) made in the supporting part (5b) and adapted to be fitted with the clamping element (8i) in order to fasten the roof mount (2) to a standing seam (11) of a metal sheet roof.

4. An arrangement as defined in claim 3, characterized in that the through-hole array (8a, 8c, 8d) of the second fas tening structure (8) comprises one or more through-holes (8b) made in the upper portion of the supporting part (5b) to retain the upper end of the clamping element (8i) in place, and a threaded fastening hole (8c) to tighten the clamping element (8i) against the roof mount (2).

5. An arrangement as defined in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that one or more projections (8f) directed towards the supporting part (5b) of the roof mount (2) are provided in the lower end of the clamping element (8i), and in that the through-hole array (8a, 8c, 8d) of the second fastening structure (8) comprises one or more openings (8d) made in the lower portion of the supporting part (5b), and in that each projection (8f) is adapted to be positioned at one (8d) of the openings.

6. An arrangement as defined in claim 3, 4 or 5, character ized in that the roof mount (2) having the second fastening structure (8) is adapted to be fastened to the standing seam (11) of the metal sheet roof with the supporting part (5b) of the roof mount (2) on one side of the standing seam (11) and with the lower end of the clamping element (8i), and its projections (8f) directed towards the supporting part (5b), on the other side of the standing seam (11).

7. An arrangement as defined in any the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting part (5b) comprises an accommodation space (6) extending below the upper edge of the supporting part (5b) and intended for the mounting rail (3).

8. An arrangement as defined in claim 7, characterized in that the accommodation space (6) has a supporting surface (6c) extending substantially in parallel with the base part (5a) of the roof mount (2) and intended for the mounting rail (3) of the solar panels (4).

9. An arrangement as defined in claim 8, characterized in that the accommodation space (6) comprises at least one fas tening plate (6a) perpendicular to the base part (5a) of the roof mount (2) and intended for fastening the mounting rail (3) of the solar panels (4) to the roof mount (2).

10. An arrangement as defined in claim 9, characterized in that the fastening plate (6a) is made of the same material as the base part (5a) and the supporting part (5b) and bent, at the supporting part (5b), into a substantially right angle to the supporting part (5b).

11. An arrangement as defined in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the fastening plate (6a) bent into a substantially right angle to the supporting part (5b) is provided in each end of the accommodation space (6).

12. An arrangement as defined in any the preceding claims, characterized in that the mounting rail (3) of the solar panels (4) is adapted to be fastened, at its lateral face, to the fastening plate (6a) with a fastener (9), such as a T-screw, provided for the roof mount (2) extending substan tially in parallel with the upper surface of the roof (1).

13. An arrangement as defined in any the preceding claims, characterized in that the mounting rail (3) is adapted to be fastened, at its lateral face, to the fastening plate (6a) with the upper surface of the mounting rail (3) extending substantially in parallel with the upper surface of the roof (1).