CN223136665U

CN223136665U - Nut retainer for securing purlins to a rotational shaft of a solar tracker

Info

Publication number: CN223136665U
Application number: CN202421723860.3U
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·卡巴列罗鲁伊兹
Original assignee: Trina Solar Spain SL
Current assignee: Trina Solar Spain SL
Priority date: 2023-07-21
Filing date: 2024-07-19
Publication date: 2025-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 2034-07-19
Also published as: ES1304229Y; ES1304229U

Abstract

The utility model relates to a nut positioner for fastening a purlin to a rotating shaft of a solar tracker, the nut positioner comprises: a fastening plate fastened in an inner groove of the purlin, the plate being U-shaped and having a first through hole in its bottom, the first through hole coinciding with a hole of a nut and the nut being retained therein in an operational fastening position, the positioner comprising a body having a second through hole in the operational fastening position, the second through hole having: a geometry corresponding to an external geometry of the nut, the body of the positioner being capable of being assembled in the plate in an installation position; and a positioning device, which is used to maintain the alignment of the first through hole in the plate and the hole in the nut, the hole in the nut being aligned with the screw hole in the purlin.

Description

Nut retainer for securing purlins to a rotational shaft of a solar tracker

Technical Field

The present utility model relates to the technical field of devices or accessories intended for mounting photovoltaic panels or modules. More particularly, the present utility model relates to a piece for facilitating the positioning of components that participate in fastening purlines that hold a photovoltaic panel to the rotational axis of a solar tracker.

Background

In the field of photovoltaic panels, it is known that solar trackers comprise a ground support column and a support structure for the photovoltaic module or panel, which is connected to said column by means of a rotation axis in order to orient the panel optimally against the sun. The above-mentioned support structures may comprise so-called support or fastening purlins, which are U-shaped profiles with wings at the ends, at which the frame of the solar panel is supported and fastened, for example by means of screws, rivets, bolts or the like, and in which the "U" -shaped grooves or cavities face upwards. According to a preferred fastening of the purlin to the rotation shaft, holes are made at the bottom of the grooves of the purlin, through which bolts are inserted to fasten the purlin to the shaft. These bolts are sometimes inserted into holes in the purlins from above and then tightened once the plates surrounding the rotation shaft are arranged, thereby tightening the nuts from below.

However, in other types of installations, the nuts are tightened from above, in other words, the bolts are inserted into holes in the purlins, with the nuts being located inside a groove of the purlins (which groove also has a reinforcement in the form of a U-shaped plate with the nuts placed inside) so that the bolts are then tightened. A complication of this type of installation is that parts as small as the nuts and internal fastening plates must be manually positioned in uncomfortable positions, and furthermore, these parts must coincide exactly in their final position to allow the screw or bolt to pass through cleanly.

In addition to these difficulties, with the aim of shortening the installation time, it has been envisaged that the module will be previously installed to purlins, and then the set of purlins plus the solar panel will be mounted to the rotational axis of the solar tracker arranged in its final position by means of the support columns at the location of the tracker. Thus, there is a problem that in order to achieve this it will be necessary for the nut that enters the interior of the fastening plate and thus the purlin to have been placed in a stable manner and without the possibility of being moved in its installed position so as to coincide with the fastening hole in the purlin, so that the operator only has to pass a bolt or screw through the coinciding holes in the purlin, fastening plate and nut. It would therefore be advantageous for this type of project to have a locating means that would align the hole in the purlin, the first through hole in the fastening plate and the hole in the nut, and at the same time would hold the nut stationary, so that the nut would not have rotational freedom when the corresponding bolt is tightened.

In view of this requirement, a locator is provided that achieves the above-stated objectives at affordable cost due to the time savings it provides in the final installed assembly. Thus, the solar panel can be mounted on the fastening purlin beforehand, and then the operator simply places the entire structure on the rotating shaft and screws the two elements together by usual means.

Disclosure of utility model

For the purposes stated in the previous paragraph, the object of the present utility model is a nut retainer for securing a purlin on the rotational axis of a solar tracker, the nut retainer having a securing plate secured in an inner groove of the purlin, the plate being U-shaped and having a first through hole in the bottom thereof that coincides with the hole of the nut and in which the nut remains in an operative secured position, the retainer comprising a body having a second through hole in the operative secured position, the second through hole having a geometry corresponding to the external geometry of the nut, the body of the retainer being capable of fitting in the plate in an installed position, and positioning means to maintain the first through hole in the plate and the hole in the nut in alignment with the screw hole in the purlin.

It is known that the U-shaped fastening plates are used to reinforce the fastening of purlins, which are also U-shaped with two upper wings for fastening solar panels, and therefore the retainers are fastened inside the purlins by friction fit with the inner surface of the vertical wall of the purlins. Thus, thanks to the positioning means guiding the operator to align the nut with the fastening hole in the purlin, and by leaving the nut inside the second through hole in the locator body, the nut is made to coincide with the fastening hole in the purlin. In this way, since the geometry of the second through hole corresponds to the external geometry of the nut, the nut is arranged in a fixed manner so as to be screwed down from the bottom, thereby facilitating assembly and maintenance tasks.

According to a feature of the utility model, the locating means of the locator is in the form of at least one protrusion which can be snap-fit (snap-fit) into a corresponding hole provided in the purlin to arrange the locator in alignment with a screw hole in the purlin.

Thanks to this projection, and preferably with two projections (one for each side wall of the purlin), which project to fit in recesses or holes in the side walls of the purlin in the operative mounting position. In this way, the operator can guide the retainer along with the nut and fastening plate until it is a clip-fit into the hole in the purlin side wall, thus ensuring that the nut is aligned with the fastening hole.

In order to make it easier to interpret the claims and understand the accompanying description, it should be noted that the "operative position" refers to the position of the device of the utility model when placed to fasten the components involved in said fastening together (and approximately as they would be positioned in order to operate the solar tracker correctly), in other words ignoring the fine repositioning distance after tightening the screws or bolts used.

With respect to the above, modifiers such as "upper", "lower", "upward", "downward" and the like are considered reference to the position of the solar tracker and its support members when the tracker is mounted on its corresponding support column(s).

According to another feature of the utility model, the locator comprises at least one upward flange and preferably two flanges (one on each side of the body) comprising at their ends mating projections of the locator, said upward flange being flexible.

The upward flanges preferably protrude obliquely from the body of the retainer towards each respective side wall of the purlin, in other words the two flanges protrude upward at an inclination in the direction of the vertical wall of the purlin, such that their upper ends (and due to their flexibility) cooperate by placing the retainer and preventing it from moving when the protrusions reach the recesses of the purlin wall.

These recesses or windows in the vertical walls of the purlin are at such a height that when mated with the protrusions described above they align the holes of the nuts at the correct height for tightening.

Preferably, in order to fit the body of the locator in the fastening plate, it is envisaged that the locator comprises two vertically downward flanges (one at each end of the body) so that they frictionally engage the respective ends of the plate.

The two downward flanges of the retainer allow a fastening plate to be placed between them with the free U-shaped edge of the plate in contact with or with minimal clearance or adjustment to the downward flanges of the retainer. Thus, in that position, the fastening plate is immobilized between said downward flanges, and as previously explained, wherein the hole in the nut and the first through hole in the plate are aligned.

According to another feature of the utility model, the locator includes at least two guide baffles projecting downwardly from a second through hole in the body of the locator in such a way that it prevents the nut from rotating. Since the body of the retainer is hollow, it is necessary that the baffle projects with a dimension substantially equal to that of the above-mentioned downward flange, in order to lengthen the mobile tightening of the nut provided by the second through hole having a geometry corresponding to that of the nut. Preferably, the guide baffle has an inner contour in the shape of two adjacent faces of the nut. This prevents the nut from rotating and also allows access to the nut through the gap between the baffles for removal thereof.

According to another feature of the utility model, the material of the retainer is flexible and resistant such that it allows bending and stress experienced by the downward flange and upward flange in its adjustment or cooperation with the fastening plate and purlin (and inferred from the previous features).

Finally, preferably, though not exclusively, the locator of the utility model is made of a single piece.

Drawings

The figures illustrate by way of non-limiting example an embodiment of the retainer of the present utility model for a nut on a purlin fastening plate.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing two locators of the present utility model mounted on respective fastening plates and ready for insertion into a supporting purlin.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the assembly of fig. 1 with the retainer having been inserted into a supporting purlin.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the retainer of the present utility model aligned with a nut and a fastening plate ready to be assembled together.

Fig. 4 is a view from one end of the retainer of the present utility model mounted on a fastening plate and both elements inserted into a supporting purlin.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the view in fig. 4.

Detailed Description

In the following detailed description, specific details are set forth as examples in order to provide a thorough explanation of the scope of the claims with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present teachings may be practiced without the details or with modifications to the details without affecting the scope as defined by the claims.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of two locators 100 having two corresponding internal fastening plates 200 and supporting purlins 400 for a solar panel. The fastening plate 200 is better shown in more detail in fig. 3. The plate 200 has a first through hole 230 in its intermediate face 220 and two side walls 210, 210 'such that they constitute a U-shaped fastening plate 200 (in fig. 3, said first through hole 230 is hidden by one of the side walls 210, 210' of the plate 200 and said first through hole is shown in cross section in fig. 5).

In a typical fastening procedure, the operator must place the inner fastening plate 200 inside the groove 401 of the purline 400 such that the first through hole 230 coincides with another corresponding hole provided in the bottom of the purline 400 and also shown in fig. 5 as being just below the hole 230. Next, the installer passes a screw or bolt under purlin 400, passing through the two aligned holes, and tightens the nut 300 on the upwardly projecting end of the bolt until the nut 300 tightens against the middle face 220 of the plate 200 about the first through hole 230.

In an item for which the locator 100 of the present utility model is intended to be implemented, a solar panel will have been installed on a purlin 400, particularly on its horizontal wing as shown in fig. 1, with its respective mounting hole. For this reason, the final attachment via the nut 300 must be carried out by manually acting (using a tool, but manually performed by an operator) from below the purlin 400 acting on the bolt or nut, whereby it is essential to have means such as the object locator 100 of the present utility model, which retain the nut 300 in its tightened position, as discussed below, so that the bolt can be screwed to the nut.

A preferred embodiment of the positioner 100 is shown in fig. 3. In one aspect, it has two downward flanges 120, 120 'positioned with a distance therebetween such that the distance generally corresponds to the length of the fastening plate 200, such that the two flanges 120, 120' encase the plate 200, as better shown in fig. 1. In one of the preferred embodiments, this distance may be such that the downward flange 120, 120' fits against the free edge 240, 240' of the fastening plate 200 by friction and/or with some elasticity provided by a possible bending of the flange 120, 120 '.

On the other hand, the locator 100 further includes a second through hole 110 and a downward baffle 150 for guiding and receiving the nut 300 such that its hole is aligned with the first through hole 230 of the plate 200. In other words, the baffles 150 are arranged in such a way that they retain the nut 300 without freedom of movement (in particular in its direction of rotation) and wherein the through holes are aligned. Fig. 1 illustrates such an assembly of retainer 100, fastening plate 200, and nut 300, each assembled for insertion such that first through-hole 230 of plate 200 is also aligned with groove 401 of purlin 400 or another corresponding hole at the bottom of the opening.

In a preferred embodiment (which corresponds to the embodiment illustrated in the figures), the locator 100 includes two upward flanges 130, 130' that protrude upward at an inclination (as better shown in fig. 4 and 5) to terminate in recesses or windows 420, 420' in the side walls of the purlins 410, 410' by means of corresponding protrusions 140, 140' such that the recesses 420, 420' define the correct position for aligning the nuts 300 with screw holes 430 in the purlins 400. These flanges 130, 130 'are flexible and have elastic restoring ability to fit into the windows 420, 420'.

Fig. 2 shows the appearance of a purlin 400 from the top with two sheets 200 and their corresponding locators 100 and nuts 300.

The upward flanges 130, 130 'and the downward flanges 120, 120' may have any shape as long as it performs the functions described in the technical features of the claims. However, in the preferred embodiment, the shape is generally rectangular for the downward flanges 120, 120 'and trapezoidal for the upward flanges 130, 130'. The downward flanges 120, 120' may have another shape as long as at least a portion of the flanges 120, 120' are in contact (or nearly in contact with minimal clearance) with a portion of the free edges 240, 240' of the plate 200 to immobilize the plate 200 therebetween. Likewise, the flanges 130, 130 'may have a shape such as triangular, rectangular, or any other shape that accomplishes the task of being stationary using the walls 410, 410' of the purlin 400.

As regards the downward baffles 150, in the preferred embodiment and as better shown in fig. 3, they are composed of two elements that descend from the edge of the second through hole 110 in the locator 100 to the edge of the first through hole 230 in the plate 200. The internal shape of the two baffles 150 partially coincides with the external shape of the nut 300 in order to guide and position said nut accordingly. The baffle 150 may be made of different physical structures (e.g., a number of downward protrusions thinner and larger in number than the baffle 150 shown in the figures) to capture the nut 300 or, in the other extreme, have a fully closed conduit in its profile that has the shape of the nut 300.

Preferably, the positioner 100 is manufactured in one piece, but the positioner may be obtained by assembling two or more separately manufactured parts.

Claims

1. A nut retainer (100) for securing a purlin (400) on a rotational axis of a solar tracker, characterized in that the nut retainer (100) has a securing plate (200) secured in an inner groove (401) of the purlin (400), the securing plate (200) being U-shaped and having a first through hole (230) in its bottom (220), the first through hole (230) coinciding with a hole of a nut (300) and the nut (300) remaining therein in an operative securing position in which the nut retainer (100) comprises a body having a second through hole (110), the second through hole (110) having a geometry corresponding to an outer geometry of the nut (300), the body of the nut retainer (100) being fittable in the securing plate (200) in a mounting position, and positioning means to maintain the first through hole (230) in the securing plate (200) and the hole in the nut (300) aligned with the hole (300) in the nut (300) in the screw hole (430).

2. The nut retainer (100) of claim 1, characterized in that the retaining means is in the form of at least one protrusion (140, 140') that is capable of snap-fitting into a corresponding hole provided in the purlin (400) to arrange the nut retainer (100) in alignment with the screw hole (430).

3. The nut retainer (100) of claim 2, characterized in that it includes at least one upward flange (130, 130 ') on each side of the body, the at least one upward flange having the projection (140, 140 ') at an end thereof, the upward flange (130, 130 ') being flexible.

4. A nut runner (100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that it comprises two vertically downward flanges (120, 120') for fitting in the ends of the fastening plate (200).

5. The nut retainer (100) of claim 4, characterized in that it comprises at least two guide baffles (150) protruding downwardly from a second through hole (110) in the body of the nut retainer (100) in such a way that they prevent the nut (300) from rotating.

6. The nut retainer (100) of claim 5, characterized in that the material of the nut retainer (100) has suitable flexibility and resistance to resist bending and stresses experienced by the downward flange (120, 120 ') and/or upward flange (130, 130') in its adjustment with the fastening plate (200) and the purlin (400).

7. A nut runner (100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that it is made of a single piece.