WO2024251694A1 - Device for handling and installing a photovoltaic module on a supporting structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for handling and installing a photovoltaic module on a supporting structure. This device is noteworthy in that it comprises a gripping device (2) and a pole (3) which is configured to be able to be fastened to said gripping device (2), in that the gripping device (2) comprises a transverse support bar (4), at least one support plate (5) for supporting said photovoltaic module, two clamping devices (6) for clamping along an axis perpendicular to that of the support plate (5), and a device (7) for jointly actuating said clamping devices (6), in that these two clamping devices (6) and said at least one support plate (5) cooperate to allow said photovoltaic module to be clamped and held, and in that said device (7) for joint actuation can be actuated to allow said photovoltaic module to be clamped and held or to allow it to be released.

Description

DESCRIPTION

DEVICE FOR HANDLING AND INSTALLING A PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE ON A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION.

The invention is in the field of construction of a photovoltaic power plant.

The present invention relates to a device for handling and installing a photovoltaic module on a supporting structure.

STATE OF THE ART.

A large part of the construction time of a photovoltaic power plant is taken up by the installation of each of the photovoltaic modules on a generally inclined supporting structure. However, this work is tedious. Indeed, today, most operators install and position the photovoltaic modules "by hand" on these inclined supporting structures, so as to form rows of these modules.

The last module in the row, which is the highest on the inclined supporting structure, is often positioned by two operators, who stand on a ladder or stepladder behind the row and thus manipulate this last module at arm's length. Once the modules are positioned, they are generally fixed to the supporting structure, for example with fixing clamps.

However, for reasons of safety, work ergonomics, prevention of occupational risks (particularly musculoskeletal disorders) and speed of installation of a photovoltaic power plant, it would be desirable to find a solution so that operators can avoid finding themselves in these risky situations.

It would also be desirable to propose a solution that would reduce the number of operators needed to install a photovoltaic plant and/or reduce their working time.

Already known from WO 2018/223624 and WO 2018/223624 are photovoltaic module supports provided with pairs of guide grooves and which allow an operator to slide each module into these grooves, until their final location. However, the positioning of the modules remains manual and takes time especially when it comes to reaching the more difficult to access places of the supports (at the end of the row). STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION.

The invention therefore aims to propose a device for handling and installing a photovoltaic module on a supporting structure, which prevents operators from taking risks and in particular which allows the various photovoltaic modules in a row, including the one located in the upper part of this supporting structure, to be installed from the bottom of this structure.

The invention also aims to propose such a device which makes it possible to take the photovoltaic module, to move it along the supporting structure and to detach it, when this module is positioned where it must be.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a device for handling and installing a photovoltaic module on a supporting structure.

According to the invention, this device comprises a gripping device and a pole, configured to be able to be fixed on said gripping device, the gripping device comprises a transverse support bar, at least one support plate for said photovoltaic module, two clamping devices along an axis perpendicular to that of the support plate and a device for joint actuation of said clamping devices, and these two clamping devices and said at least one support plate are fixed on said support bar, such that each clamping device cooperates with said at least one support plate to allow the pinching and holding of said photovoltaic module and said joint actuation device can be actuated to allow the pinching and holding of said photovoltaic module or to allow the release of said photovoltaic module.

Thanks to these features of the invention, the user can use the gripping device to fix the photovoltaic module, then can manipulate the assembly using the pole to position the photovoltaic module where it needs to be, including at height, while remaining on the ground.

Then, the user can act on the joint actuation device of the two clamping devices, to move them into a position where they release the photovoltaic panel.

Finally, such a handling and installation device is inexpensive.

According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the invention, taken alone or in combination: - each clamping device is a grasshopper clamp which comprises a base, a retaining bracket for a pressure rod and an actuating lever, the base (61) is fixed on the transverse support bar, the joint actuating device of the two clamping devices is an actuating bar which connects the two actuating levers of the two grasshopper clamps, the retaining bracket and the actuating lever of each grasshopper clamp are mounted articulated relative to the base, such that the movement of the actuating bar in one direction causes the movement of the pressure rod towards the support plate and allows the pinching and holding of said photovoltaic module and that the movement of the actuating bar in an opposite direction causes the pressure rod to be separated from the support plate and allows the release of said photovoltaic module;

- the pole is removable, the gripping device comprises a connection tube fixed to said support bar and the pole and the connection tube are provided with complementary coupling means, such as a thread and a tapping or at least one lug and at least one notch for receiving said lug;

- the actuating bar is provided with locking means on the connection tube, the actuating bar being provided with a permanent magnet and the connection tube being made of a ferromagnetic material or vice versa, the permanent magnet and the ferromagnetic material forming said locking means;

- the connection tube is provided on its outer face with a groove for receiving a part of the actuating bar and the permanent magnet is positioned either in the bottom of the groove or on the part of the actuating bar which is received in the groove;

- said at least one support plate comprises a rear transverse edge fixed to the transverse support bar and an opposite front transverse edge and this front transverse edge is curved towards the clamping devices, so that said support plate has the shape of a spatula;

- the pole is telescopic;

- the gripping device comprises two handling handles fixed on the transverse support bar;

- the pole is equipped with a positioning guide in the form of a ring positioned around the pole and configured to be able to slide along it.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES. Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, which is purely illustrative and non-limiting, and which must be read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram showing photovoltaic modules mounted on a supporting structure and the handling and installation device according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the gripping device and the pole of the handling and laying device, this gripping device being in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the gripping device and the pole of the handling and laying device, this gripping device being in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but in which the pole and gripping device are assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

As can be seen by referring to Figure 1, the invention relates to a device 1 for handling and installing a photovoltaic module M, on a supporting structure S, in particular an inclined supporting structure.

The device 1 comprises a gripping device 2 and a pole 3.

Generally speaking, the gripping device 2 comprises a transverse support bar 4, at least one plate 5 for supporting said photovoltaic module, two clamping devices 6 along an axis X-X’ perpendicular to the support plate 5, and a device 7 for jointly actuating said clamping devices 6.

Furthermore, the two clamping devices 6 and said at least one support plate 5 are fixed on said support bar 4, such that each clamping device 6 cooperates with said at least one support plate 5 to thus form a clamp which makes it possible to hold a photovoltaic module M (not visible in FIG. 2).

The presence of two clamping devices 6 makes it possible to better maintain the module M during its movement.

The transverse support bar 4 is for example a profile, of square cross-section (as visible in the figures) or rectangular. This bar 4 comprises four longitudinal faces, respectively an upper face 41 and an opposite lower face 42 and a front face 43 and an opposite rear face 44. By convention, in the remainder of the description and claims, “the rear” designates a part of the device oriented towards the pole 3 and the terms “upper” or “lower” are to be considered in relation to the position of the device 1 shown in Figure 2.

Optionally, the transverse support bar 4 may also comprise a longitudinal groove on one of its faces. For example, here, each face 41, 42, 43 and 44 is provided with a longitudinal groove, respectively 410, 420, 430 and 440. These longitudinal grooves may be used for fixing, positioning and possibly moving the various components of the gripping device 2.

The gripping device 2 comprises at least one support plate 5 and preferably two, as shown in FIG. 2. These two plates 5 are fixed on the support bar 4 so as to be slightly spaced from each other.

Preferably, each support plate 5 has a square or rectangular shape and comprises a rear transverse edge 51 and an opposite front transverse edge 52.

Advantageously, this front transverse edge 52 is slightly curved towards the clamping device 6 (upwards in FIG. 2) so that the support plate 5 has the shape of a spatula.

The clamping device 6 is, for example, a toggle clamp (also known as a vertical clamp or “toggle clamp”).

The grasshopper clamp 6 comprises a base 61, a bracket 62 for retaining a pressure rod 63 and an actuating lever 64.

The base 61 is fixed (for example screwed) to the upper face 41 of the support bar 4 and is therefore integral with the latter.

The pressure rod 63 comprises at its lower end a pressure head 630 advantageously equipped with a pad 631, for example made of rubber, which extends in a plane parallel to that of the support plate 5.

The pressure rod 63 is mounted in a slot 620 of the stirrup 62, a slot which extends along an axis Y-Y’ perpendicular to the axis X-X’.

Advantageously, the pressure rod 63 is for example threaded, which allows a height adjustment of its position along the axis X-X'. This makes it possible to adapt the distance between the pad 631 and the support plate 5 to adjust it to the thickness of the module M to be handled, or even to modify the clamping pressure exerted on this module. Also advantageously, the pressure rod 63 can be moved along the Y-Y' axis inside the slot 620 depending on the specific features of the module M to be handled.

Finally, the retaining bracket 62 and the actuating lever 64 are mounted articulated relative to the base 61, such that the movement of the lever 64 in one direction causes the pressure rod 63 to move towards the support plate 5 (arrow F1) and allows the pinching and holding of said photovoltaic module and that the movement of the lever 64 in the opposite direction causes the pressure rod 63 to move away from the support plate 5 (arrow F2) and allows the release of said photovoltaic module.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the toggle clamp 6 is such that it is by lowering the lever 64 towards the support bar 4 (see arrow F3) that the pressure rod 63 is moved towards the support plate 5 and that it is by raising the lever 64 (see arrow F4), i.e. by moving it away from the bar 4, that the pressure rod 63 is moved away from the support plate 5. The reverse is also possible depending on the type of toggle clamp 6 chosen.

Furthermore, the two levers 64 are connected to each other by the joint actuating device 7, which here is an actuating bar 7 fixed to the two levers 64.

In the example shown in Figure 2, the photovoltaic module is released by manipulating bar 7 upwards (arrow F4) or by manipulating it downwards (arrow F3) this module is clamped.

The pole 3 can be fixedly mounted on the gripping device 2. In this case, the end of the pole 3 is for example fixed directly on the transverse support bar 4. This embodiment is not shown in the figures.

The pole 3 may also be removable. In this case, the gripping device 2 comprises a connection tube 45, fixed on the support bar 4 and the pole 3 and the connection tube 45 are provided with complementary coupling means.

According to a first embodiment shown in Figure 2, these complementary coupling means consist of a thread and a tapping.

Preferably, the end of the pole 3 is provided with a thread 31 and the connection tube 45 is internally provided with a thread 450, so that the pole can be fixed to the connection tube by screwing.

According to a second embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, these complementary coupling means consist of at least one lug and a slot for receiving this lug. Preferably, the end of the pole 3 is provided with two lugs (with mushroom heads) 32 diametrically opposed and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pole and the connection tube 45 is provided with two notches 451, preferably L-shaped with an axial branch and a circumferential branch (see figure 3).

The user can then insert the lugs 32 into the axial branches (position shown in FIG. 4) then by rotating the pole 3 (to the right in the example in FIG. 4) move these lugs 32 into the circumferential branches and thus couple the pole 3 and the gripping device 2.

Advantageously, the two mushroom-headed lugs allow you to play with the angle of inclination of the thrust exerted by the pole.

Advantageously, the pole 3 can be telescopic as shown in FIG. 4, in order to shorten the pole and facilitate the storage of the device 1 when it is not in use or conversely to lengthen the pole 3 when it is in use, in particular to place a photovoltaic module on a high point of a supporting structure.

Advantageously, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it is possible to provide means for locking the actuating bar 7 on the connection tube 45, in order to avoid any untimely and unintentional movement of this bar during use of the handling and installation device 1 and therefore any risk of release of the photovoltaic module, while the latter is not yet positioned or correctly fixed on the supporting structure S.

For this purpose, advantageously, these locking means comprise a magnet associated with a ferromagnetic material.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the actuating bar 7 is provided with a permanent magnet 70 and in that the connection tube 45 is made of a ferromagnetic material. The permanent magnet is for example a neodymium magnet. By "ferromagnetic material" is meant any material attracted by a magnet.

Thus, in this embodiment in which when the actuating bar 7 is in the low position, the actuating levers 64 are brought closer to the support plate 5 to clamp the photovoltaic module, the magnet 70 is in contact with the connection tube 45 and the bar 7 is locked in this low position on the connection tube 45.

It will be noted that the reverse is also possible and in this case, the magnet 70 is fixed on the connection tube 45 and the actuating bar 7 is made of a ferromagnetic material. According to a first embodiment of the invention, the magnet 70 can simply come into contact with the cylindrical outer face of the connection tube 45. However, advantageously and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connection tube 45 can be provided on its outer face with a groove 452 for receiving a portion of the actuating bar 7.

The bar 7 is thus partially embedded in the tube 45 and is better maintained.

Furthermore, in this case, the permanent magnet 70 is preferably positioned either on the part of the actuating bar 7 which is received in the groove 452, or in the bottom of the groove 452, if it is the bar 7 which is made of ferromagnetic material.

In the case where the permanent magnet 70 is positioned on the actuating bar 7, it can be placed in an orifice passing through the bar 7, so that its upper face is also accessible and in this case, the magnet 70 can be used to temporarily fix the gripping device 2 against a ferromagnetic support, for example during its storage or during its transport.

The joint actuation device 7 could also be an electromechanical or electronic device for remote actuation (by wifi connection for example) of the clamps 6.

Furthermore, optionally, the gripping device 2 may comprise two handling handles 8, fixed to the transverse support bar 4, preferably close to the two ends thereof.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, these handles 8 are fixed on the rear face 44 of the bar 4 and in the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, they are fixed on the upper face 41 of this bar 4.

In addition, the pole 3 may be equipped with a positioning guide 9 (or marker), visible only in FIG. 1 . This guide 9 is for example a ring mounted sliding around the pole 3 (for example a rubber ring). The position of this guide 9 may advantageously be adjusted on the pole 3, so that when the module M is in place on the structure S (for example at the top of the row in FIG. 1 ), the positioning guide 9 rests against the crosspiece T below, which makes it possible to indicate easily, visually and simply to the user of the device 1 that the module M is correctly positioned.

Operation and use of the device. The user operates the actuation bar 7 to open the clamping devices 6 and inserts the photovoltaic module between these devices 6 and the support plate(s) 5, then operates the actuation bar 7 to close the clamping devices 6 and clamp the photovoltaic module.

He can then manipulate the assembly with the handles 8 if they are present and fix the pole 3 if it is removable.

The user can then position the photovoltaic module M on the supporting structure S and slide it along the slides or guides with which it is generally equipped, until reaching the position that this module M must occupy (for example the high position in figure 1).

To this end, it will be noted that the spatula shape of the support plates 5 advantageously facilitates the sliding of these plates 5 on the supporting structure S, in particular when the latter is equipped with horizontal crosspieces T.

Then, the user can operate the actuation bar 7 to act simultaneously on the two clamping devices 6 and release the module M.

Furthermore, even when the gripping device 2 is at a height, as shown in Figure 1, the user can operate (lift) the bar 7 from the ground, for example using an additional pole.

Claims

1. Device (1) for handling and installing a photovoltaic module on a supporting structure, characterized in that it comprises a gripping device (2) and a pole (3), configured to be able to be fixed on said gripping device (2), in that the gripping device (2) comprises a transverse support bar (4), at least one plate (5) supporting said photovoltaic module, two clamping devices (6) along an axis perpendicular to that of the support plate (5), and a device (7) for joint actuation of said clamping devices (6), in that these two clamping devices (6) and said at least one support plate (5) are fixed on said support bar (4), so that each clamping device (6) cooperates with said at least one support plate (5) to allow the pinching and holding of said photovoltaic module, and in that said joint actuation device (7) can be actuated to allow the pinching and holding of said photovoltaic module or to allow the release of said photovoltaic module. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each clamping device (6) is a grasshopper clamp which comprises a base (61), a bracket (62) for retaining a pressure rod (63) and an actuating lever (64), in that the base (61) is fixed on the transverse support bar (4), in that the device (7) for jointly actuating the two clamping devices (6) is an actuating bar which connects the two actuating levers (64) of the two grasshopper clamps (6), in that the retaining bracket (62) and the actuating lever (64) of each grasshopper clamp (6) are mounted articulated relative to the base (61), so that the movement of the actuating bar (7) in one direction causes the movement of the pressure rod (63) towards the support plate (5) and allows the pinching and holding of said photovoltaic module and that the movement of the operating bar (7) in a reverse direction causes the pressure rod (63) to move away from the support plate (5) and allows the release of said photovoltaic module. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pole (3) is removable, in that the gripping device (2) comprises a connection tube (45) fixed on said support bar (4) and in that the pole (3) and the connection tube (45) are provided with complementary coupling means, such as a thread (31) and a tapping (450) or at least one lug (32) and at least one notch (451) for receiving said lug (32). 4. Device according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the actuating bar (7) is provided with locking means on the connection tube (45), the actuating bar (7) being provided with a permanent magnet (70) and the connection tube (45) being made of a ferromagnetic material or vice versa, the permanent magnet (70) and the ferromagnetic material forming said locking means. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the connection tube (45) is provided on its outer face with a groove (452) for receiving a part of the actuating bar (7) and in that the permanent magnet (70) is positioned either in the bottom of the groove (452) or on the part of the actuating bar (7) which is received in the groove (452). 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one support plate (5) comprises a rear transverse edge (51) fixed to the transverse support bar (4) and an opposite front transverse edge (52) and in that this front transverse edge (52) is curved towards the clamping devices (6), so that said support plate (5) has the shape of a spatula. 7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pole (3) is telescopic. 8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping device (2) comprises two handling handles (8) fixed on the transverse support bar (4). 9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pole (3) is provided with a positioning guide having the shape of a ring (9) positioned around the pole (3) and configured to be able to slide along the latter.