IP Library Granted Patent US 12,500,545
Granted Patent B2
US 12,500,545 · App. 18/017,202 · Granted Dec 16, 2025

Supporting structure for supporting solar modules and ceiling elements

Inventor: Michael Richter (Rechlinghausen, DE)
H02S20/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,500,545
App. No.
18/017,202
Granted
Dec 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A supporting including at least two supporting frameworks with supporting masts which are respectively connected to one another by means of a supporting cable, on which supporting cable the solar modules or ceiling elements are supported by means of vertical pressure rods which are connected to the supporting cable by means of fastening elements and which have a pretensioning force applied to them via at least one pretensioning cable, which pretensioning force pushes the pressure rods in the downward direction towards the supporting cable which is connected to said pressure rods, is distinguished in that the fastening elements comprise cable rollers or sliding elements by means of which the pressure rods are displaceably coupled to the supporting cables and pretensioning cables, and in that the pressure rods are coupled to the supporting masts non-displaceably in the horizontal direction by means of positioning cables in order to prevent a horizontal movement.

Claims (13)

1 . A supporting structure ( 1 ) for supporting a plurality of solar modules or ceiling elements ( 32 ), comprising at least two supporting frameworks ( 2 ) with each of the supporting frameworks having at least two supporting masts ( 4 , 4 a , 4 i ) wherein the at least two supporting masts are connected to one another by a supporting cable ( 6 ), the plurality of solar modules or ceiling elements ( 32 ) are supported by vertical compression bars ( 12 ) which are connected to the supporting cable ( 6 ) by fasteners ( 14 ), and which are subjected to a pretensioning force by at least one pretensioning cable ( 8 ), a pretensioning force applied to the pretensioning cable pushes the vertical compression bars ( 12 ) in a downward direction toward the supporting cable ( 6 ) which is connected to said vertical compression bars,

characterized in that

the fasteners comprise cable pulleys ( 14 a ) or sliding elements ( 14 b ), and are configured to displaceably couple the vertical compression bars ( 12 ) to the supporting cables ( 6 ) and pretensioning cables ( 8 ) and in that the vertical compression bars ( 12 ) are coupled to the supporting masts ( 4 , 4 a , 4 i ) non-displaceably in a horizontal direction by positioning cables ( 10 ) in order to avoid a horizontal movement of the vertical compression bars.

2 . The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the sliding elements ( 14 b ) comprise sliding shoes ( 14 b ) or eyes which encompass the supporting cables ( 6 ) and/or pretensioning cables ( 8 ).

3 . The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the fasteners ( 14 ) can be positioned at different heights on the vertical compression bars ( 12 ) and/or a length of the vertical compression bars ( 12 ) is adjustable.

4 . The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the pretensioning cables ( 8 ) and/or the supporting cables ( 6 ) comprise two or more cable sections which are connected together by shackles.

5 . The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the supporting cables ( 6 ) and/or the pretensioning cables ( 8 ) are multi-cables, wherein each multi-cable comprises two or more individual cables running in parallel to one another.

6 . The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the supporting cables ( 6 ) of two supporting frameworks ( 2 ) run in parallel to one another, when viewed in a longitudinal direction of the supporting structure ( 1 ), and in that the vertical compression bars ( 12 ) of the two supporting frameworks ( 2 ), when viewed in a transverse direction of the supporting structure ( 1 ), are arranged by means of spacer rods ( 16 ) at a fixed distance from one another and/or braced together by transverse cables ( 18 ).

7 . The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the supporting structure ( 1 ) comprises a plurality of outer masts ( 4 a ) at least one inner mast ( 4 i ), wherein the at least one inner mast has a first lower mast part ( 22 u ) and a second upper mast part ( 22 o ), wherein a lower face of the second upper mast part ( 22 o ) slidably engages with and upper end of the first lower mast part ( 22 u ) so as to be movable in the horizontal direction.

8 . The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the at least two supporting frameworks are positioned adjacent to one another and wherein the masts of the at least two adjacent supporting frameworks are connected by a continuous supporting cable ( 6 ) and/or pretensioning cable ( 8 ) which is guided between the at least two supporting frameworks ( 2 ), by a common cable pulley ( 24 ), and is subjected to the pretensioning force by a tensioner, wherein the tensioner comprises a tensioning weight ( 26 ) and/or a motor-operated actuator ( 26 a ).

9 . The supporting structure as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the plurality of solar modules or ceiling elements ( 32 ) are arranged on auxiliary frames ( 30 ) which are pivotably connected to the vertical compression bars ( 12 ) of the two supporting frameworks ( 2 ) by a link ( 34 ).

10 . The supporting structure as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the link ( 34 ) comprises eyes, chains and/or cables, the auxiliary frames ( 30 ) being able to be fastened thereby to the vertical compression bars ( 12 ).

11 . A solar roof having a plurality of solar modules ( 32 ) which are received on a supporting structure ( 1 ) spanning an area at a distance, characterized in that the supporting structure ( 1 ) is configured as claimed in claim 1 .

Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2020 004 452.2 · Jul 23, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230291348A1 · Sep 14, 2023
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