Claims:1. A purlin and rafter interconnector system for a solar module mounting structure for use in undulated land terrain comprising :
a. a locking member having atleast two ends with a curved body,
b. atleast one purlin,
c. atleast one rafter, and
d. the said rafter is a cylindrical tube section with circular surface portion against which atleast one purlin may be positioned, a tube sectional wall adapted to engage the locking member in a hooked manner to interlock said atleast one purlin and said atleast one rafter,
the arrangement characterized is that the purlin engages on a selected portion of the circular curved surface plane of the cylindrical rafter.
2. The purlin and rafter interconnector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking member is substantially U-shaped.
3. The purlin and rafter interconnector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking member is a U-bolt.
4. The purlin and rafter interconnector system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the U-bolt is adapted to rotate around the circular tube rafter axis.
5. A solar modules mounting structure comprising of rafters and purlins, the purlins extending transversely across the rafters such that the rafters support the purlins, and the said rafters and purlins interlocked with purlin and rafter interconnector system as claimed in claim 1 to 4.
, Description:FIELD OF INVENTION:

A solar module mounting structure to suit for undulated land terrain, with a contour design for purlin interconnecting assembly.

PRIOR ART :

Typically a standard module mounting fixed tilt structure consists of column / leg, rafters, bracing, purlins and rails. Each component shall be of either cold formed channel steel section, lipped channel steel section or closed hot rolled tubular steel section. All the components shall be interconnected using GI bolts and nuts. Each module mounting structure shall have length of approximately 20m with minimum of 5 legs. The plain land is suitable for normal fixed tilt structure.

In the undulated land, the long integrated structure installation shall be very difficult and uneconomical. Hence the long structure is fragmented and each structure is designed with only two legs. Hence to make the structure erection and installation easier, there is a need for novel approach to meet the challenge existing in prior art.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION :

The first object of the invention is to overcome the problems suffered in prior art and design a novel solar module mounting structure which is suitable for undulated land.

The second object of the invention is to design a simple structure easy for installation.

The third object of the invention is to avoid the large volume of land cutting and disturbing the land from its natural state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION :

The plain or flat land is suitable for the solar module mounting structure erection and installation and that will ease the construction activity. All the structures should be in same elevation to avoid the shadow of adjacent structure and to get the maximum generation. But the possibility of shadow is more in the hilly area and the land requires levelling and grading. The levelling and grading work for the huge tract of land is time consuming, expensive, difficult and need expertise to perform. Another option is increasing the post or leg height to keep all the structures in same level from one end to other end of power plant to avoid shadow. Increasing the post height for all the structures cause the increase in steel weight as well as it exceeds the project timeline and cost. The structure scheme which was adopted to overcome the above problem is ground following structure. Following ground means installing the structure that follows uneven terrain with minimal changes to the natural undulations of the ground.

Figure 1 and 2 shows the arrangement of Purlin, rafter and bracing arrangement with the solar module.

PART NUMBER PART NAME
1 MODULE

2 RAIL
3 RAFTER
4 BRACING 1
5 POST
6 BRACING 2
7 PURLIN
8 U-BOLT

Mainly the section profile of the rafter was changed from channel section to circular section which could ease the connection of structural members in the undulated land profile.

When there is level difference between the legs, the connection of purlin with the rafter is very difficult. Hence as per the invention by changing the rafter section from standard channel to circular tube section, the connection between rafter and purlin is made easier. The purlin is connected to rafter by tilting over it along the slope.

By using an U-bolt, purlin is connected to rafter. Since the U-bolt can rotate about the circular tube rafter axis, it is helpful to connect the purlin with rafter for any level differences between the legs.

To suit the structure to uneven terrain, the contour following structure is designed and unique features are described below.

Benefit of the design as the inventions are:

a. The use of contour following structure helps in maintaining the land in its natural state. Hence it is eco-friendly.
b. The contour following structure reduces the cost of levelling and grading, which is a major task at sloping ground and it consumes part of project timeline. Hence it is cost effective.
c. The contour following structure is a simple structure for assembly at site.

Accordingly the current needs are alleviated or atleast attenuated, or partially or completely satisfied, by novel products, systems and/or methods of the invention.

Preferably the locking member is a flexible joint means and more preferably a flexible U bolt.

This invention focuses on easy assembly of solar modules mounting structure in an uneven terrain, and provides an improved after-purlin interconnector assembly.

In one aspect the invention relates to a purlin and rafter interconnector system, which is typically used for a solar module mounting structure and which structure needs to be used in undulated land terrain. This arrangement comprises of a locking member having atleast two ends with a curved body, atleast one purlin and atleast one rafter. The said rafter will be a cylindrical tube section with circular surface portion against which atleast one purlin may be positioned. A tube sectional wall will be adapted to engage the locking member in a hooked manner to interlock said atleast one purlin and said atleast one rafter. This arrangement is novel to the extent that the purlin is capable of engaging on any selected portion of the circular curved surface plane of the cylindrical rafter.

In another aspect, the locking member is substantially U-shaped which gives the flexibility of multiple engagement and the locking member may be a U-bolt.

In another aspect, the U-bolt will be adapted such that it is capable of rotating around the circular tube rafter axis.

In another aspect, the solar modules mounting structure comprising of rafters and purlins, the purlins extending transversely across the rafters such that the rafters support the purlins, and the said rafters and purlins interlocked with purlin and rafter interconnector system.

The advantages are very apparent upon readying the specification, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in detail herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of the disclosed embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.