Roof mounting system for solar modules

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular, self-supporting mounting system for mounting an arbitrary number of flat modules ( 170 ) on flat roofs, wherein the modular, self-supporting mounting system comprises at least one base element for mounting a single flat module ( 170 ), wherein the base element comprises the following: a first and second module strut ( 110 ) disposed in parallel next to each other; a first and second front module support ( 120 ) having a first length, wherein a first end of the first front module support ( 120 ) is attached to a first area ( 111 ) of the first module strut ( 110 ), and wherein a first end of the second front module support ( 120 ) is attached to a first area ( 111 ) of the second module strut ( 110 ); a first and a second rear module support ( 130 ) having a second length, wherein a first end of the first rear module support ( 130 ) is attached to a second area ( 112 ) of the first module strut ( 110 ), wherein a first end of the second rear module support ( 130 ) is attached to a second area ( 112 ) of the second module strut ( 110 ); wherein the first length is greater than the second length, and wherein the second ends of the first and second, front and rear module supports ( 120, 130 ) are provided for attaching the flat module ( 170 ), so that the flat module ( 170 ) forms a prescribed angle to the module struts ( 110 ), said angle being defined by the first and second length and greater than zero; a front cover ( 150 ) covering the space between the two front module supports ( 120 );

1 . A modular, self-supporting mounting system for mounting of plane modules ( 170 ) of an arbitrary type on flat roofs, wherein the modular, self-supporting mounting system comprises at least one base element for mounting a single plane module ( 170 ), the base element comprising:
 a first and a second module rail ( 110 ), disposed in parallel alongside to each other;   a first and a second front module support ( 120 ) having a first length, wherein a first end of the first front module support ( 120 ) is attached to a first area ( 111 ) of the first module rail ( 110 ), and wherein the first end of the second front module support ( 120 ) is attached to a first area ( 111 ) of the second module rail ( 110 );   a first and a second rear module support ( 130 ) having a second length, wherein a first end of the first rear module support ( 130 ) is attached to a second area ( 112 ) of the first module rail ( 110 ), and wherein a first end of the second rear module support ( 130 ) is attached to a second area ( 112 ) of the second module rail ( 110 );   wherein the first length is greater than the second length, and wherein the second ends of the first and second front and rear module supports ( 120 ,  130 ) are adapted for mounting the plane module ( 170 ) so that the plane module ( 170 ) forms a prescribed angle to the module rails ( 110 ), said angle being defined by the first and second length and being greater than zero;   a front cover ( 150 ) covering the space between the two front module supports ( 120 ); and   a rear cover ( 140 ) covering the space between the two rear module supports ( 130 ),   wherein the base element comprises an attaching device for mounting at least one of a further base element and an extension element of the modular, self-supporting mounting system.   
     
     
         2 . The modular, self-supporting mounting system according to  claim 1 , wherein each module rail ( 110 ) is mounted on at least two supporting devices ( 160 - 1 ,  160 - 2 ) being able to keep the module rail ( 110 ) at a prescribed distance from a roof surface. 
     
     
         3 . The modular, self-supporting mounting system according to  claim 2 , which is configured so that a gap ( 50 ) is formed between the plane module ( 170 ) and the rear cover ( 140 ), said gap being greater than the prescribed distance between the module rail ( 110 ) and the roof surface. 
     
     
         4 . The modular, self-supporting mounting system according to  claim 2  or  3 , wherein the supporting device ( 160 - 1 ,  160 - 2 ) is provided with screws ( 161 - 2 ,  161 - 4 ), and the module rail ( 110 ) being fitted onto said screws and screwed together with the supporting device ( 160 - 1 ,  160 - 2 ). 
     
     
         5 . The modular, self-supporting mounting system according to one of the  claims 1  to  4 , further comprising an extension element, wherein the extension element comprises the following:
 a third module rail ( 110 ), disposed in parallel alongside to the base element; 
 a third front module support ( 120 ) having the first length, the first end of which is attached to a first area ( 111 ) of the third module rail ( 110 ); 
 a third rear module support ( 130 ) having the second length, the first end of which is attached to a second area ( 112 ) of the third module rail ( 110 ), 
 wherein the second ends of the third front and rear module supports ( 120 ,  130 ) together with the second ends of a front and a rear module support of at least one of a neighboring base element and an extension element are adapted for mounting a second plane module ( 170 ) so that the second plane module ( 170 ) forms the prescribed angle to the module rails ( 110 ); 
 a second front cover ( 150 ) covering the space between the third front module support ( 120 ) and a neighboring base element or extension element; 
 a second rear cover ( 140 ) covering the space between the third rear module support ( 130 ) and the neighboring base element or extension element. 
 
     
     
         6 . The modular, self-supporting mounting system according to one of the  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the attaching device for mounting at least one of a further base element and an extension element of the modular, self-supporting system is formed by a connecting device between two module rails ( 110 ) so that a rear end part of at least one of the first, second and third module support ( 110 ) can be connected to a front end area ( 110 - 2 ) of a further module rail ( 110 ). 
     
     
         7 . The modular, self-supporting mounting system according to one of the  claims 1  to  6 , wherein the attaching device for mounting a further extension element of the modular, self-supporting system is formed by a device at the front and rear module supports ( 120 ,  130 ) to which neighboring plane modules ( 170 ), neighboring front covers ( 150 ) and neighboring rear covers ( 160 ) can be attached. 
     
     
         8 . The modular, self-supporting mounting system according to one of the  claims 1  to  7 , wherein the front module support ( 120 ) and the rear module support ( 130 ) comprise devices ( 120 - 1 ,  130 - 1 ,  120 - 5 ,  130 - 5 ,  200 ) for attaching the plane modules ( 170 ). 
     
     
         9 . The modular, self-supporting mounting system according to  claim 8 , wherein the devices ( 120 - 1 ,  130 - 1 ,  120 - 5 ,  130 - 5 ,  200 ) for attaching the plane modules ( 170 ) can be adjusted to various module sizes and types. 
     
     
         10 . The modular, self-supporting mounting system according to one of the  claims 8  and  9 , wherein the devices ( 120 - 5 ,  130 - 5 ,  200 ) for attaching the plane modules ( 170 ) each comprises the following:
 a profile rail ( 120 - 5 ,  130 - 5 ) attached to a second end of the module support ( 120 ,  130 ) on which the plane module ( 170 ) can rest; and 
 a module clamp ( 200 ) attached to the profile rail ( 120 - 5 ,  130 - 5 ). 
 
     
     
         11 . The modular, self-supporting mounting system according to one of the  claims 1  to  10 , wherein m base elements and (n−1)×m extension elements are arranged and connected so that they form an m×n matrix array, wherein m and n are a natural number greater than or equal 1. 
     
     
         12 . The modular, self-supporting mounting system according to  claim 11 , further comprising 2×m lateral covers for the m×n matrix array, wherein each lateral cover covers the space between a front cover and a rear cover in order to form an all around closed assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The modular, self-supporting mounting system according to one of the  claims 1  to  12 , wherein the plane modules ( 170 ) are at least one of photovoltaic modules and solar modules. 
     
     
         14 . A base element for a modular, self-supporting mounting system for mounting of plane modules ( 170 ) of an arbitrary type on flat roofs, comprising:
 a first and a second module rail ( 110 ) disposed in parallel alongside to each other;   two front module supports ( 120 ) having a first length, the respective first end of which is each attached to a first area ( 111 ) of the first and second module rail ( 110 ), respectively;   two rear module supports ( 130 ) having a second length, the respective first end of which is each attached to a second area ( 112 ) of the first and second module rail ( 110 ), respectively;   wherein the first length is greater than the second length, and wherein the second ends of the module supports ( 120 ,  130 ) are adapted for mounting the plane module ( 170 ) so that the plane module can form a prescribed angle to the module rails ( 110 ), said angle being defined by the first and second length and being greater than zero;   a front cover ( 150 ) covering the space between the two front module supports ( 120 ); and   a rear cover ( 140 ) covering the space between the two rear module supports ( 130 ); and   wherein the base element comprises an attaching device for mounting at least one of a further base element and an extension element of the modular, self-supporting mounting system.   
     
     
         15 . An extension element for a modular, self-supporting mounting system for mounting of plane modules ( 170 ) of an arbitrary type on flat roofs, comprising:
 a module rail ( 110 );   a front module support ( 120 ) having a first length, the first end of which is attached to a first area ( 111 ) of the module rail ( 110 );   a rear module support ( 130 ) having a second length, the first end of which is attached to a second area ( 112 ) of the module rail ( 110 ),   wherein the first length is greater than the second length, and wherein the second ends of the module supports ( 120 ,  130 ) are adapted for mounting the plane module ( 170 ) so that the plane module ( 170 ) forms a prescribed angle to the module rails ( 110 ), said angle being defined by the first and second length and greater than zero;   a front cover ( 150 ), which can cover the space between the front module support ( 120 ) and a neighboring element; and   a rear cover ( 140 ), which can cover the space between the rear module support ( 130 ) and a neighboring element;   wherein the extension element comprises an attaching device for mounting a further extension element of the modular, self-supporting mounting system.