Electrical connectors – Interrelated connectors relatively movable during use – Universal movement
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-03
2001-07-03
Luebke, Renee (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Interrelated connectors relatively movable during use
Universal movement
C052S235000, C052S506050
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254397
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to an attachment device for a glass pane, presenting at least one unifacial voltaic cell with wires conducting the current, at a mounting fixed to a structure with an outside and inside clamping element fixing the glass pane between them, and with a support for the attachment device at the inside clamping element.
2. Background Information:
German Patent No. 195 19 527 A reveals a spatial articulated support for an attachment device, where a girder connected to a mounting fixed to a structure is supported at a clamping element inside the structure. The support is realized by means of a girder mounting head flexibly, elastically supported in a clamping element's mounting chamber in the girder's axial direction, whereby the mounting head is supported in a mounting chamber with additional lateral play, tolerating that the girder, respectively its mounting head, parallel dislocates or can be moved in a parallel direction with regard to the glass pane's plane under the influence of wind pressure. The mounting head's elastic resilience is conceived by means of disc springs or permanently elastic material, which arrangement in the mounting chamber permanently exerts a restoring force on the girder, and therefore, respectively on the glass pane, as well as a positioning of the girder orthogonally with regard to the glass pane, and ultimately results in tension introduced into the glass pane. Moreover, important tolerances between the borehole in the glass pane and the point of connection at the mounting fixed to a structure can not be compensated.
German Patent No. 44 00 979 A1 also reveals a spatial articulated support, where the clamping element (locating bearing) inside the structure presents, at the envelope surface oriented towards the mounting, a ball-shaped surface on which leans a compensating part with a complementing spherical calotte surface. The clamping element is provided with a through borehole for the reception of the clamp screw coupling the clamping elements, and reception of a holding screw that penetrates a liner and the compensating part and engages into the clamping element. The known device can compensate for building tolerances between the borehole in a glass pane and a sub-construction (mounting)—a flexible elastic support for the glass pane at the mounting is not provided—once the assembly is finished.
German Patent No. 44 45 724 A1 describes a similar device, where a clamping element inside the structure presents a ball-shaped surface at its envelope surface oriented towards the mounting, and where a retaining part's pivoting bearing sits close to its complement surface, whereby the pivoting bearing is held with lateral play in a union nut. Once the assembly is finished, no relative motion of the glass pane is possible with regard to the retaining part.
Furthermore, a supporting element for a fastening bolt at a suspension device is published by EP 0 784 129 A1, where a plate of the suspension device is clamped between two planoconvex lenses, the flat surfaces of which indirectly abut against the plate, with one of the lenses being in abutment with its convex surface at a clamping element inside the structure, and the other lens being in indirect abutment with a nut receiving the fastening bolt.
The publication German Patent No. 296 178 70 U1 describes a solar facade panel also suitable for roof covering and comprising a facade element with integrated photovoltaic solar panel. For current conduction, each facade panel is equipped with contact points connectable to a common line.
The European Patent No. 0 417 303 A1 deals with a roof-mountable installation for solar power production, which conception includes an adaptation possibility to process tolerances of the roof or to thermal stress introduced into the roof, especially for bridging the roof ridge. Current drain is not the subject of the application; this is obviously realized by means of a line passing through the roof as usually done with solar cells.
When attaching highly sensible glass panes, for example in connection with silicium panes for photovoltaic power production, the before-mentioned attachment devices do not meet the requirements. Already low wind pressure and respectively relatively inferior deformations due to thermal development will lead to the breaking of the silicium elements and to the loss of the proper purpose of the glass pane.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to improve an attachment device of the before-mentioned species so that on the one hand a stress-free adaptation of the attachment device is possible, taking into account major building tolerances during assembly, and that on the other hand, once the assembly is realized, between the attachment device and the glass pane sufficient elasticity is given, so that wind pressure or thermal stress is absorbed by the attachment device without introducing stress into the glass pane.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an essentially optimum conduction of electric current for a glazing structure at least partially built with glass panes including voltaic cells.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention can be achieved in an attachment device for a glass pane, including at least one unifacial voltaic cell with wires conducting the current, at a mounting fixed to a structure with one outside and one inside clamping element fastening the glass pane between them and a support of the attachment device at the inside clamping element.
Accordingly, an inside clamping element presents, after its envelope surface opposite to the glass pane, a conical or crowned surface built by a permanently elastic spring member surface against which the complement surface of an internal coupling bell's envelope can be adjustable with variable initial tension. Between the coupling bell and an attachment bolt on the one hand, and an attachment bolt and a mounting on the other hand, respectively one stiffening spatial articulation can be arranged and the current conducting lines pass through the attachment device.
According to the inventional solution, wind pressure and thermal stress can be absorbed by the coupling bell's elastic support at the interior clamping element, as also once the assembly is completed, a relative motion of both parts towards each other is thereby possible without introducing restoring forces into the glass pane. This can be essentially guaranteed thanks to the adjustable initial tension between the clamping element and the coupling bell. The repeated partitioning of the attachment device into at least two more spatial articulations may not only provide an advantageous adaptation possibility to major building tolerances, but, once rigidly tightened after the assembly is completed, the individual articulated points of the spatial articulation also form so-called system points having a certain self-elasticity, additionally contributing to the essentially stress-free suspension of the glass pane.
In this case, the attachment device per forms a double function, as the current is conducted through the attachment device, essentially no special collector components are required.
Further features of the present invention are discussed herein below.
With regard to one inventional embodiment, on its envelope surface opposite to the glass pane, the interior clamping element itself can present a conical or crowned surface, basically according to the attachment device for a glass pane, the conical or crowned surface can be formed by the permanently elastic spring member, even though the clamping element has a planar execution. Furthermore, the inside clamping element can be provided with a through borehole with female thread and centering for the reception of a clamp screw linking the clamping elements and a coupling bell regulating screw linking the coupling bell with the inside clamping element. In a further possible execution of the invention the permanently elas
Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
Hammond Briggitte
Luebke Renee
Nils H. Ljungman & Associates
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