Attachment member and solar cell array using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9478688-B2
Application number	US-201214122868-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2012
Priority date	May 31, 2011
Publication date	Oct 25, 2016
Grant date	Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

An attachment member and a solar cell array are disclosed. The attachment member includes a first member; a second member on the first member; and a fixing member that fixes the first and second members. The first member includes a bottom portion; two first side walls facing each other. The second member includes a top portion; two second side walls facing to each other. The first and the second side walls are alternately arranged and face to each other. Each of the first and second side walls comprises an engagement portion. The engagement portion of one of the first side walls adjustably engages in height direction with the engagement portion of one of the second side walls. The engagement portion of the other one of the first side walls adjustably engages in height direction with the engagement portion of the other one of the second side walls.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An attachment member, comprising:
a first member comprising:
a bottom plate; and
first and second side walls that face each other, that are connected to two sides of the bottom plate opposite to each other, respectively, and that extend upward from the bottom plate, the first and second side walls each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface;

a first engagement portion on the inner surface of the first side wall, comprising a plurality of first engaging elements;
a second engagement portion on the outer surface of the second side wall, comprising a plurality of second engaging elements;
a second member disposed on the first member, and comprising:
a top plate facing the bottom plate; and
third and fourth side walls that face each other, that are connected to two sides of the top plate, and that extend downward from the top plate, the third and fourth side walls each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface;

a third engagement portion on the outer surface of the third side wall, comprising a plurality of third engaging elements that engage with the first engaging elements;
a fourth engagement portion on the inner surface of the fourth side wall, comprising a plurality of fourth engaging elements that engage with the second engaging elements; and
a fixing member that fixes the second member to the first member.

2. The attachment member according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing member:
fixes the first side wall with the third side wall such that the inner surface of the first side wall contacts the outer surface of the third side wall; and
fixes the second side wall with the fourth side wall such that the outer surface of the second side wall contacts the inner surface of the fourth side wall.

3. The attachment member according to claim 2 , wherein either the first and second side walls or the third and fourth side walls comprise a vertical slotted hole elongated in the height direction, and the fixing member is inserted through each of the vertical slotted hole.

4. The attachment member according to claim 1 , wherein the first engagement portion comprises a first serration, and the second engagement portion comprises a second serration engageable with the first serration at a plurality of positions in the height direction.

5. The attachment member according to claim 4 , wherein the first serration and the second serration each comprise:
a plurality of horizontal surface portions substantially parallel to the bottom plate; and
a connecting surface portion that comprises a curved portion and that connects the horizontal surface portions to each other.

6. The attachment member according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second engagement portions comprise a plurality of projections that project from the inner and outer surfaces, respectively, and the third and fourth engagement portions comprise a plurality of holes that receive the plurality of projections.

7. The attachment member according to claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of projections comprises a hook, each of the plurality of holes comprises an engagement portion that is engageable with the hook.

8. The attachment member according to claim 3 , wherein the other pair of the first side walls and the second side walls each comprises a second slotted hole elongated in a direction parallel to the bottom plate and the top plate.

Assignees

• Kanbara Tatsuji
• Kyocera Corp

Inventors

• Kanbara Tatsuji

Classifications

• H10F19/80 Primary

  Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells · CPC title

• F24J2002/4672

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F24J2/5264

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• Y02B10/12

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F24J2/5211

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic