A carrier for photovoltaic module installation

Abstract

The application discloses a carrier for photovoltaic module installation, comprising: a width-expandable folding base assembly, a flat-laying lifting assembly, a posture self-locking adjusting bearing assembly, the width-expandable folding base assembly comprising a longitudinal main beam, a transverse folding beam and a running wheel, the flat-laying lifting assembly comprising a scissor arm support, a lead screw driving mechanism and a sliding base, the lead screw driving mechanism being threadedly connected with the sliding base and clamped on a linear guide rail, when the lead screw driving mechanism is rotated, the sliding base is driven to horizontally slide along the linear guide rail, and the scissor arm support is forced to vertically rise, and the posture self-locking adjusting bearing assembly comprising a top supporting table, a turnover bearing frame and a worm and gear mechanism angle. The width-expandable folding base assembly is used for realizing wheel track adjustment and folding storage, the flat-laying lifting assembly is used for providing vertical lifting and flat-laying functions, and the posture self-locking adjusting bearing assembly is used for supporting pitching angle turnover and self-locking fixation, so that the problems of insufficient damping, no lifting adjustment, poor compatibility and low portability of traditional carrying equipment are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of photovoltaic module installation equipment technology, specifically a transport vehicle for photovoltaic module installation. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the global new energy industry, the construction scale of photovoltaic power plants continues to expand. Especially in complex terrain scenarios such as mountain photovoltaic, agricultural-photovoltaic complementary, and distributed rooftop photovoltaic systems, the handling and installation of photovoltaic modules have become a core part of the construction process. As the main structure of solar panels, photovoltaic modules are typically assembled from large-area glass panels, silicon wafers, and aluminum alloy frames. They are characterized by their large size, heavy weight, and fragility, placing stringent requirements on stability and safety during transportation and installation. Currently, construction sites commonly use manual handling or simple four-wheeled flatbed carts for module transport. These methods have several technical drawbacks. Regarding shock absorption, traditional flatbed carts lack any cushioning mechanism. When traversing uneven construction site surfaces, vibration energy is directly transmitted to the module body, easily causing microcracks or breakage of the glass panels, leading to performance degradation or even module failure. Regarding installation assistance, existing handling equipment can only achieve horizontal transport and cannot support the lifting and angle adjustment of modules. Workers must lift heavy modules by hand and repeatedly bend over to adjust their posture to match the tilt angle of the photovoltaic support. This process not only significantly increases physical exertion and reduces construction efficiency, but also threatens the safety of operators due to the risk of module slippage. In terms of equipment compatibility and portability, with the diversification of photovoltaic module sizes, fixed-structured carts are difficult to flexibly adapt to different module specifications. At the same time, existing trolleys are bulky and non-foldable, resulting in excessive space requirements when transporting between different construction areas. They cannot be easily loaded into the trunk of ordinary construction vehicles, severely restricting the mobility and applicability of the equipment. Therefore, a new type of handling vehicle for photovoltaic module installation has become a problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a transport vehicle for installing photovoltaic modules, including: Expandable foldable base assembly for use as a load-bearing foundation for transport vehicles; A flat lifting assembly is positioned directly above the expandable foldable base assembly; And a posture self-locking adjustment bearing assembly, disposed on top of the flat lifting assembly; The expandable folding base assembly includes a longitudinal main beam, a transverse folding beam, and wheels. At least two sets of transverse folding beams are provided, respectively hinged to both sides of the longitudinal main beam and wheels installed at the bottom of the transverse folding beams. The transverse folding beam is brought closer to and folded with the hinge point as the axial direction of the longitudinal main beam; The upper surface of the longitudinal main beam is provided with a linear guide rail along the axial direction; The flat lifting assembly includes a scissor arm bracket, a lead screw drive mechanism, and a sliding base; one end of the bottom of the scissor arm bracket is hinged to one end of the longitudinal main beam via a fixed pin, and the other end is hinged to the sliding base; The lead screw drive mechanism is arranged parallel to the longitudinal main beam and is threadedly connected to the sliding base, which is engaged with the linear guide rail. When the lead screw drive mechanism is rotated, the sliding base is driven to slide horizontally along the linear guide rail, so that the scissor arm bracket can complete two states: vertically raised or completely flattened and folded above the longitudinal main beam. The attitude self-locking adjustment bearing assembly includes a top support platform, a flip bearing frame, and a worm gear mechanism. The top support platform is fixedly connected to the top of the scissor arm bracket. The middle part of the flip bearing frame is hinged to the top support platform via a horizontal rotation shaft. The worm gear mechanism includes a worm and a worm wheel. The worm is rotatably mounted on the side wall of the top support platform. The worm wheel is coaxially fixed with the horizontal rotation shaft and meshes with the worm. By rotating the worm gear, the worm wheel is driven to rotate the tilting support frame around the horizontal rotation axis to tilt at any set angle, and the self-locking characteristic of the worm wheel and worm gear allows it to remain at any set tilt angle.

[0004] Optionally, the transverse folding beam adopts an inner and outer tube pull-out structure, including an outer square tube and an inner square tube that slides inside the outer square tube; multiple corresponding limiting through holes are opened on the side walls of the outer square tube and the inner square tube, and the telescopic length is locked by a spring pin passing through the limiting through holes, thereby adjusting the wheel distance between the two walking wheels to adapt to photovoltaic modules of different widths.

[0005] Optionally, a U-shaped limiting seat is provided at the hinge joint between the transverse folding beam and the longitudinal main beam; When the transverse folding beam is unfolded vertically, its end is inserted into the U-shaped limiting seat to form an interference fit, and is locked through by the set bolt to limit the longitudinal sway of the transverse folding beam during the pushing process.

[0006] Optionally, the scissor arm support includes an inner arm and an outer arm that cross each other and are hinged at the middle. The inner arm and the outer arm have a multi-stage X-shaped hinge structure to increase the overall lifting height. The sliding base is fitted with a trapezoidal nut that matches the lead screw drive mechanism.

[0007] Optionally, the end of the lead screw drive mechanism extends out of the tail of the longitudinal main beam and is fixedly connected to a hand crank or an external hexagonal connector, the external hexagonal connector being used to adapt to an external power tool for rapid drive.

[0008] Optionally, the flip-over support frame is formed as a rectangular frame structure with an inner groove or an H-shaped frame structure; the top surface and inner sidewall of the flip-over support frame are covered with a corrugated flexible rubber buffer pad to absorb vibration during transportation and avoid scratching the aluminum alloy frame and glass panel of the photovoltaic module.

[0009] Optionally, slidable clamping claws are symmetrically arranged on the slide rails on both sides of the flipping support frame. The clamping claws have an inverted L-shaped structure, and their ends are connected to the flipping support frame through spring connecting rods or screws. Rotating the screw drives the clamping jaws to retract inward, fixing the photovoltaic module onto the flip-up support frame.

[0010] Optionally, a row of supporting baffles is vertically welded to the bottom edge of the flipping support frame. When the flipping support frame is flipped to an inclined or vertical state by the worm gear mechanism, the supporting baffles are used to support the bottom edge of the photovoltaic module and prevent the photovoltaic module from sliding down under the action of gravity.

[0011] Optionally, the traveling wheels include at least two swivel wheels with foot-operated parking brake pads, and a pair of push handles extend obliquely upward from the rear side of the longitudinal main beam. The push handles are connected to the longitudinal main beam via folding hinges and can be folded forward and flat against the top of the longitudinal main beam when stored.

[0012] Optionally, mechanical limiting blocks are respectively provided on the longitudinal main beam at both ends of the linear guide rail; when the sliding base slides to contact the front mechanical limiting block, the scissor arm bracket reaches the maximum safe lifting height; when the sliding base slides to contact the rear mechanical limiting block, the scissor arm bracket presents the lowest folded thickness with complete flatness.

[0013] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows: the wheel track adjustment and folding storage are realized through the expandable folding base assembly, the flat lifting assembly provides vertical lifting and flat laying functions, and the posture self-locking adjustment bearing assembly supports pitch angle flipping and self-locking fixation. It solves the problems of insufficient shock absorption, lack of lifting adjustment, poor compatibility and low portability of traditional handling equipment, and has the advantages of lifting function, angle adjustable function, high compatibility and portability. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the main structure of the present invention in its working state of unfolding and lifting. Figure 2 A top view schematic diagram of the expanded and folded structure of the base assembly provided by the present invention; Figure 3 This is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the clamping and buffering structure of the attitude self-locking adjustment bearing component of the present invention; In the diagram: 11. Longitudinal main beam; 121. External square tube; 122. Internal square tube; 13. Traveling wheel; 14. Linear guide rail; 15. U-shaped limit seat; 16. Push handle; 17. Mechanical limit block; 21. Scissor arm bracket; 22. Screw drive mechanism; 23. Sliding base; 24. Hand crank turntable; 31. Top support platform; 32. Tilting support frame; 33. Worm gear mechanism; 34. Flexible rubber buffer pad; 35. Clamping claw; 36. Support baffle. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0016] Traditional photovoltaic module handling methods suffer from several drawbacks during construction. Insufficient shock absorption leads to module damage; lack of auxiliary installation features results in high labor intensity and safety hazards for workers; and poor compatibility and portability prevent adaptation to diverse module sizes and easy relocation. These issues significantly impact construction efficiency, increase costs, and introduce safety risks.

[0017] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 As shown, this application proposes a photovoltaic module installation transport vehicle, which aims to provide a solution integrating safe transportation, assisted lifting, tilt docking, and high portability. The transport vehicle mainly includes a deployable foldable base assembly 1, a flat lifting assembly 2, and a self-locking adjustable bearing assembly 3. The deployable foldable base assembly 1 serves as the load-bearing foundation of the transport vehicle. Through the hinged and folding design of its longitudinal main beam 11, transverse folding beam 12, and traveling wheels 13, it achieves the functions of widening and folding the base. The flat lifting assembly 2 is located directly above the deployable foldable base assembly 1. Through the cooperation of the scissor arm bracket 21, the lead screw drive mechanism 22, and the sliding base 23, the scissor arm bracket 21 can be vertically raised or completely flattened. The self-locking adjustable bearing assembly 3 is located on top of the flat lifting assembly 2. Through the coordinated action of the top support platform 31, the tilting bearing frame 32, and the worm gear mechanism 33, the tilting bearing frame 32 can be tilted at any angle and self-locked.

[0018] This embodiment provides a photovoltaic module installation transport vehicle, whose overall structure includes a deployable foldable base assembly 1, a flat lifting assembly 2, and a self-locking adjustable bearing assembly 3. The deployable foldable base assembly 1 serves as the bearing base of the transport vehicle. The flat lifting assembly 2 is positioned directly above the deployable foldable base assembly 1 to achieve vertical lifting. The self-locking adjustable bearing assembly 3 is positioned on top of the flat lifting assembly 2 to support the photovoltaic module and adjust its attitude.

[0019] The expandable folding base assembly 1 includes a longitudinal main beam 11, transverse folding beams 12, and wheels 13. The longitudinal main beam 11 is typically a rectangular steel tube, serving as the main frame of the base. At least two sets of transverse folding beams 12 are provided, with each set's ends hinged to both sides of the longitudinal main beam 11. Wheels 13 are mounted on the bottom of each set of transverse folding beams 12. When folding or reducing width is required, the transverse folding beams 12 can be folded towards the centerline of the longitudinal main beam 11, using their hinge point with the longitudinal main beam 11 as an axis. When unfolding is required, the transverse folding beams 12 unfold outwards and are secured in the unfolded position using simple pins or bolts. A linear guide rail 14, which can be a T-slot or dovetail groove, is provided along the upper surface of the longitudinal main beam 11 to guide the sliding of subsequent components.

[0020] The flat lifting assembly 2 includes a scissor arm bracket 21, a screw drive mechanism 22, and a sliding base 23. The scissor arm bracket 21 is composed of multiple cross-hinged rods, with one end hinged to one end of the longitudinal main beam 11 via a fixed pin, and the other end hinged to the sliding base 23. The screw drive mechanism 22 is arranged parallel to the internal space of the longitudinal main beam 11, and its screw portion engages with a threaded hole inside the sliding base 23. The bottom structure of the sliding base 23 matches the linear guide rail 14, allowing it to engage with the linear guide rail 14 and slide along its direction. When an external power source rotates the screw drive mechanism 22, the rotational motion of the screw drives the sliding base 23 to slide horizontally along the linear guide rail 14 via a threaded connection. The horizontal movement of the sliding base 23 forces a relative displacement of the hinge point of the scissor arm bracket 21, thereby enabling the scissor arm bracket 21 to be raised vertically or completely flattened and folded above the longitudinal main beam 11 to achieve the minimum storage height.

[0021] The attitude self-locking adjustable bearing assembly 3 includes a top support platform 31, a tilting bearing frame 32, and a worm gear mechanism 33. The top support platform 31 is fixedly connected to the top of the scissor arm bracket 21 by welding or bolting, serving as the base of the entire bearing assembly. The middle part of the tilting bearing frame 32 is hinged to the top support platform 31 via a horizontal rotating shaft, allowing the tilting bearing frame 32 to rotate around this shaft. The worm gear mechanism 33 consists of a worm and a worm wheel. The worm is rotatably mounted on the side wall of the top support platform 31, with one end extending outwards for operation. The worm wheel is coaxially fixed to the horizontal rotating shaft and meshes with the thread of the worm. By manually rotating the worm, the rotational motion drives the worm wheel to rotate, thereby causing the tilting bearing frame 32 to tilt around the horizontal rotating shaft at a pitch angle. Due to the inherent self-locking characteristic of the worm gear mechanism 33, once the rotation of the worm stops, the tilting bearing frame 32 can stably remain at any set tilt angle without the need for an additional locking device.

[0022] The transverse folding beam 12 adopts an inner and outer tube pull-out structure, including an outer square tube 121 and an inner square tube 122 that is slidably inserted into the outer square tube; multiple corresponding limiting through holes are opened on the side walls of the outer square tube 121 and the inner square tube 122, and the extension length is locked by a spring pin passing through the limiting through holes, thereby adjusting the wheel distance between the two walking wheels 13 to adapt to photovoltaic modules of different widths.

[0023] Specifically, the transverse folding beam 12 is designed as a telescopic structure, the core of which is the use of an inner and outer tube pull-out structure. This structure typically consists of two or more tubes with the same or similar cross-sectional shapes, one of which can slide along the axial direction of the other. This design allows the effective length of the transverse folding beam 12 to be adjusted within a certain range. To achieve precise and reliable length locking, multiple corresponding limiting through holes are formed on the side walls of the outer square tube 121 and the inner square tube 122 along their length direction. These through holes can be aligned with the through holes on the outer square tube 121 when the inner square tube 122 slides. When a certain telescopic length needs to be locked, the inner square tube 122 and the outer square tube 121 can be fixed together by passing a spring pin through these aligned limiting through holes, thereby locking the telescopic length of the transverse folding beam 12. The spring pin usually has a self-locking function, is easy to operate, and can quickly achieve locking and unlocking. By adjusting the telescopic length of the transverse folding beam 12, the distance between the traveling wheels 13 installed at the bottom of the transverse folding beam 12 can be changed, that is, the wheel track of the transport vehicle can be adjusted.

[0024] The expandable folding base assembly 1 has a transverse folding beam 12 that can be folded or unfolded with the longitudinal main beam 11 centered on the hinge point. However, when the transverse folding beam 12 is fully unfolded and carries photovoltaic modules for transport, the hinge structure alone may not be able to effectively resist the impact and vibration generated during the pushing process, causing the transverse folding beam 12 to wobble longitudinally, thereby affecting the overall stability and operational safety of the transport vehicle.

[0025] A U-shaped limiting seat 15 is provided at the hinge joint between the transverse folding beam 12 and the longitudinal main beam 11. The U-shaped limiting seat 15 is a structural component with a U-shaped cross-section, typically made of metal, with its opening direction corresponding to the unfolding direction of the transverse folding beam 12. It is securely installed in the hinge area between the longitudinal main beam 11 and the transverse folding beam 12, for example, by welding or bolting. When the transverse folding beam 12 unfolds vertically from its folded state to its working position, its end can be precisely inserted into or locked into the U-shaped groove of the U-shaped limiting seat 15. Through precise dimensional design, a small interference fit is formed between the end of the transverse folding beam 12 and the inner wall of the U-shaped limiting seat 15, thus achieving an interference fit. This interference fit refers to a certain amount of interference between the mating surfaces of two parts during assembly, resulting in a clamping force between the assembled parts, thereby achieving a firm connection. Based on this, a set bolt is used for locking. The set bolt is a headless bolt or a bolt with an internal hexagonal head, which is screwed into and tightens against one of the parts to achieve locking. Specifically, after the end of the transverse folding beam 12 forms an interference fit with the U-shaped limiting seat 15, the set bolt is screwed in through the pre-set threaded hole, so that it passes through the U-shaped limiting seat 15 and abuts against or passes through the corresponding hole of the transverse folding beam 12. The tightening force of the set bolt will further enhance the fixing strength between the transverse folding beam 12 and the U-shaped limiting seat 15, and firmly lock it in the unfolded position.

[0026] In some embodiments described above in this application, the flat-lifting assembly 2 achieves the lifting operation of the photovoltaic module through the vertical lifting of the scissor arm bracket 21. However, in practical applications, to adapt to the needs of different installation heights, a single-structure scissor arm bracket may not be able to provide a sufficiently large lifting stroke, thus limiting the working range of the transport vehicle. Simultaneously, the threaded connection between the sliding base 23 of the scissor arm bracket 21 and the lead screw drive mechanism 22 may also have room for optimization in terms of transmission efficiency and load-bearing capacity to ensure the smoothness and reliability of the lifting process.

[0027] In this regard, this application further proposes that the scissor arm bracket 21 includes an inner arm and an outer arm that cross each other and are hinged at the middle. The inner arm and the outer arm are multi-stage X-shaped hinge structures to increase the overall lifting height. The sliding base 23 is internally fitted with a trapezoidal nut that matches the lead screw drive mechanism 22.

[0028] It is worth noting that the scissor lift bracket 21 is the core lifting component of the flat-lay lifting assembly 2. Its basic structure consists of intersecting arms connected by hinge points to form an X-shaped unit. To achieve a greater lifting height, this application designs the scissor lift bracket 21 as a multi-stage X-shaped hinged structure. This means that multiple X-shaped units can be stacked vertically, each unit consisting of a pair of inner arms and a pair of outer arms, which intersect and hinge at the middle. When the lead screw drive mechanism 22 drives the sliding base 23 to move horizontally, these multi-stage X-shaped units expand or contract synchronously, thereby significantly increasing the vertical lifting stroke of the scissor lift bracket 21 while maintaining structural compactness. For example, a two-stage or three-stage X-shaped structure can be used, and by optimizing the arm length and hinge point layout, a lifting height several times that of a single-stage structure can be achieved within a limited horizontal space. This design allows the transport vehicle to adapt to the installation needs of photovoltaic modules at higher positions.

[0029] Meanwhile, the sliding base 23 is a key component connecting the scissor arm support 21 and the lead screw drive mechanism 22. It contains a trapezoidal nut that matches the lead screw drive mechanism 22. The trapezoidal nut is a nut with trapezoidal threads, used in conjunction with a lead screw that also has trapezoidal threads. Compared to ordinary threads, trapezoidal threads have a larger contact area and stronger load-bearing capacity, capable of withstanding larger axial loads, and possess excellent self-locking properties, meaning that the nut and lead screw are less likely to slip in the opposite direction when the drive stops. Embedding the trapezoidal nut inside the sliding base 23 ensures a tight and stable connection between the lead screw drive mechanism 22 and the sliding base 23. This allows for efficient and smooth conversion of rotational motion into linear motion when the sliding base 23 slides horizontally along the linear guide rail 14, precisely controlling the lifting and lowering of the scissor arm support 21.

[0030] In some embodiments described above, a sliding base 23 is driven horizontally along a linear guide rail 14 by a lead screw drive mechanism 22, thereby forcing the scissor arm bracket 21 to rise vertically or fold completely flat. However, in practice, relying solely on manual rotation of the lead screw drive mechanism 22 may result in inconvenience and low efficiency, especially when frequent height adjustments or handling of heavy photovoltaic modules are required. This leads to high labor intensity for operators, and the lifting speed is insufficient to meet the demands of rapid operations.

[0031] In this regard, this application further proposes that the end of the lead screw drive mechanism 22 extends out of the tail of the longitudinal main beam 11 and is fixedly connected to a hand crank 24 or an external hexagonal connector, the external hexagonal connector being used to adapt to an external power tool for rapid drive.

[0032] Specifically, the lead screw drive mechanism 22 is the core power component for raising and lowering the scissor arm support 21. Its end extends out to the tail of the longitudinal main beam 11, aiming to bring the drive interface out from the inside of the longitudinal main beam 11 to the outside, thereby providing the operator with a convenient drive operation point. This extended design ensures that the subsequently connected drive components can be easily installed and used, avoiding operational inconvenience caused by structural obstruction.

[0033] The hand crank 24 is a common mechanical operating handle, typically designed to be round or spoked for easy manual gripping and rotation. It is fixedly connected to the shaft end extending from the lead screw drive mechanism 22, allowing the operator to drive the lead screw to rotate in a relatively effortless manner by turning the crank, thereby achieving smooth raising and lowering of the scissor arm support 21. The size and shape of the hand crank 24 can be optimized according to ergonomic principles to provide a comfortable grip and sufficient lever arm, reducing fatigue from manual operation.

[0034] An external hexagonal connector is a connecting component with a standard hexagonal cross-section, designed to match the hexagonal socket interfaces of various external power tools. By fixing the external hexagonal connector to the shaft end of the lead screw drive mechanism 22, this application provides a standardized electric drive interface for the pallet truck. This external hexagonal connector is compatible with commonly available power tools such as electric wrenches and electric screwdrivers, allowing operators to utilize the high speed and high torque of the power tools to quickly drive the lead screw drive mechanism 22, thereby achieving rapid lifting and lowering of the scissor arm bracket 21.

[0035] The flip-over support frame 32 is formed as a rectangular frame structure or an H-shaped frame structure with an inner groove; the top surface and inner sidewall of the flip-over support frame 32 are covered with a wave-shaped flexible rubber buffer pad 34, which is used to absorb vibration and avoid scratching the aluminum alloy frame and glass panel of the photovoltaic module during transportation.

[0036] Specifically, the flipping support frame 32 is designed as a rectangular frame structure with recessed grooves or an H-shaped frame structure. This frame structure provides a stable support surface for the photovoltaic modules, ensuring that the modules remain stable during handling and flipping. The rectangular frame structure typically consists of four beams forming a rectangle, with recessed grooves to accommodate the edges of the photovoltaic modules, providing a restraining effect. The H-shaped frame structure further enhances the support for the modules through a central crossbeam and can also be equipped with recessed grooves to accommodate the modules. Both structures effectively distribute the weight of the photovoltaic modules, avoiding excessive localized stress.

[0037] Meanwhile, the top surface and inner walls of the flipping support frame 32 are covered with corrugated flexible rubber buffer pads 34. The flexible rubber material possesses excellent elasticity, wear resistance, and shock absorption properties, effectively absorbing impact energy. The corrugated design further increases the contact area between the buffer pad and the photovoltaic module, providing more deformation space, thus better dispersing stress upon impact and reducing direct impact on the photovoltaic module. Furthermore, the rubber material increases friction, preventing accidental slippage of the photovoltaic module during handling or flipping. Through this combination of structure and materials, the corrugated flexible rubber buffer pad 34 effectively absorbs vibrations caused by uneven road surfaces or improper operation during handling, preventing vibration transmission to the photovoltaic module. Simultaneously, the flexible rubber pad, acting as a buffer layer between the photovoltaic module and the flipping support frame 32, avoids direct contact between the rigid metal frame and the aluminum alloy frame and glass panel of the photovoltaic module, significantly reducing the risk of scratches, wear, or breakage.

[0038] In some embodiments described above, the flip-over support frame 32 is proposed to be a rectangular frame structure or an H-shaped frame structure with an inner groove, and its top surface and inner sidewalls are covered with corrugated flexible rubber buffer pads 34 to absorb vibrations and prevent scratches on the aluminum alloy frame and glass panel of the photovoltaic module during handling. However, in actual handling and installation, especially when the trolley is moved or the flip-over support frame 32 is adjusted in attitude, the photovoltaic module may still experience relative displacement on the flip-over support frame 32 due to inertia or gravity, and there is even a risk of slipping. This may not only damage the photovoltaic module, but also increase the workload and safety hazards of the operators.

[0039] Therefore, slidable clamping claws 35 are symmetrically arranged on the slide rails on both sides of the flip-up support frame 32. The clamping claws 35 have an inverted L-shaped structure, and their ends are connected to the flip-up support frame 32 through spring connecting rods or screws. By rotating the screws, the clamping claws 35 can be driven to retract inward, thereby fixing the photovoltaic modules on the flip-up support frame 32.

[0040] Specifically, the sliding clamping jaws 35 are a mechanical structure used for actively securing photovoltaic modules. Their sliding nature means that the clamping jaws 35 can move along pre-set slide rails on both sides of the flip-up support frame 32, thus accommodating photovoltaic modules of different widths or sizes. The clamping jaws 35 have an inverted L-shaped structure; the L-shaped design allows them to provide effective support and clamping force from above or the side of the photovoltaic module, preventing displacement of the module in the vertical or horizontal direction. The connection between the end of the clamping jaws 35 and the flip-up support frame 32 can be a spring linkage or a screw. When a spring linkage is used, the spring can provide a certain preload or buffering effect, allowing the clamping jaws 35 to still exert a slight constraint on the photovoltaic module even when not fully locked. When a screw connection is used, the screw typically cooperates with the sliding mechanism of the clamping jaws 35, converting rotational motion into linear movement of the clamping jaws 35 through threaded transmission. By rotating the screw, the direction and distance of movement of the clamping claw 35 can be precisely controlled, causing it to retract inward, thereby applying clamping force to the photovoltaic module and ultimately achieving the purpose of firmly fixing the photovoltaic module to the flip-up support frame 32.

[0041] In some embodiments described above in this application, a photovoltaic module installation transport vehicle is proposed. Its attitude self-locking adjustable bearing assembly 3 can drive the tilting bearing frame 32 to tilt at any set angle via a worm gear mechanism 33, and remain at any set tilt angle. However, when the tilting bearing frame 32 is tilted to a large angle or even a vertical position, the photovoltaic modules placed on the tilting bearing frame 32 may slide or fall due to gravity, posing a safety hazard and potentially damaging the photovoltaic modules.

[0042] To address this, a row of support baffles 36 is vertically welded to the bottom edge of the flipping support frame 32. When the flipping support frame 32 is flipped to an inclined or vertical state by the worm gear mechanism 33, the support baffles 36 are used to support the bottom edge of the photovoltaic module and prevent the photovoltaic module from sliding down under the influence of gravity.

[0043] Specifically, the support baffle 36 is a structure located at the bottom edge of the flip-over support frame 32. It is firmly connected to the flip-over support frame 32 by vertical welding, forming an upwardly extending blocking surface. The support baffle 36 can be made of sheet metal, and its height and thickness can be designed according to the size and weight of the photovoltaic modules being transported to ensure sufficient strength and rigidity to withstand the weight of the photovoltaic modules. To avoid scratches or damage to the bottom edge of the photovoltaic modules during transport, the surface of the support baffle 36 can be covered with a flexible cushioning material, such as a rubber pad or polyurethane coating. A row of support baffles 36 can be understood as a continuous baffle, or as a combination of multiple closely arranged independent baffles, designed to provide continuous and uniform support for the bottom edge of the photovoltaic modules.

[0044] The traveling wheels 13 include at least two swivel wheels with foot-operated parking brake pads. A pair of push handles 16 extend obliquely upward from the rear side of the longitudinal main beam 11. The push handles 16 are connected to the longitudinal main beam 11 by folding hinges and can be folded forward and flat against the top of the longitudinal main beam 11 when stored.

[0045] The traveling wheels 13 include at least two swivel wheels with foot-operated parking brake pads. The swivel wheel design gives the transport vehicle flexible steering and movement capabilities, enabling precise positioning and transport in narrow or irregular spaces. The foot-operated parking brake pads are used to lock the wheels when the transport vehicle stops working or needs to be fixed in position, preventing accidental slippage and improving operational stability and safety. The swivel wheels typically consist of a 360-degree rotating bracket and one or more wheels, made of wear-resistant rubber or polyurethane. The foot-operated parking brake pads can be integrated into the swivel wheel bracket, and through a lever mechanism or cam mechanism, braking is achieved by the brake pads rubbing against the wheel surface or axle when the foot is pressed.

[0046] In addition, a pair of pushing handles 16 extend obliquely upwards from the rear side of the longitudinal main beam 11. The pushing handles 16 provide operators with a comfortable and ergonomic push-pull point, facilitating directional control and force application on the transport vehicle. This is particularly beneficial when handling heavy photovoltaic modules, effectively reducing operator workload and improving handling efficiency and safety. The oblique upward extension design allows operators to maintain a relatively upright posture while pushing, reducing fatigue from bending over. The pushing handles 16 can be made of high-strength steel pipes or aluminum alloy profiles, and their surfaces can be treated with anti-slip materials or covered with rubber to increase grip comfort and friction.

[0047] To further optimize the space utilization of the transport vehicle, the push handle 16 is connected to the longitudinal main beam 11 via a folding hinge, allowing it to fold forward and lie flat against the longitudinal main beam 11 when stored. The folding hinge allows the push handle 16 to be folded down when not in use, lying flat against the longitudinal main beam 11, thus significantly reducing the overall length and height of the transport vehicle, facilitating storage, transportation, and movement in confined spaces. This foldable design improves the portability and space utilization of the transport vehicle. The folding hinge can be a heavy-duty hinge with a self-locking function, ensuring the handle is securely locked when unfolded, preventing accidental folding. Additional latches or magnetic devices can be installed after the handle is folded into place to ensure its stability in the stored state.

[0048] In some embodiments described above, the flat lifting assembly 2 drives the sliding base 23 to slide horizontally along the linear guide rail 14 via the lead screw drive mechanism 22, thereby achieving vertical lifting or complete flat folding of the scissor arm bracket 21. However, in actual operation, if there is a lack of effective limitation on the travel of the sliding base 23, the scissor arm bracket 21 may overextend or over-contract, leading to mechanical damage, operational instability, or safety hazards, affecting the reliability and service life of the transport vehicle.

[0049] In this regard, this application further proposes that mechanical limiting blocks 17 be respectively provided on the longitudinal main beam 11 at both ends of the linear guide rail 14. The mechanical limiting block 17 is a device for physically limiting the travel of moving parts. It is typically made of a robust and durable material and can be securely installed at predetermined positions at both ends of the linear guide rail 14 of the longitudinal main beam 11 by means of bolting, welding, or snap-fitting. Its shape can be block-shaped, protruding, or have a buffer slope to ensure that the sliding base 23 can smoothly stop or decelerate upon contact, thereby providing a clear physical boundary for the movement of the sliding base 23.

[0050] Specifically, when the sliding base 23 slides forward under the drive of the lead screw drive mechanism 22 and finally slides to contact the front mechanical limit block 17, the scissor arm bracket 21 reaches its maximum safe lifting height. This means that by accurately calculating the position of the sliding base 23 corresponding to the maximum safe lifting state of the scissor arm bracket 21, the front mechanical limit block 17 is set at that point, thereby effectively preventing the sliding base 23 from continuing to move forward and preventing the scissor arm bracket 21 from becoming unstable or damaged due to overextension.

[0051] Simultaneously, as the sliding base 23 slides backward and eventually contacts the rear mechanical limiting block 17, the scissor arm bracket 21 reaches its minimum folded thickness, completely flat. This is achieved by precisely calculating the position of the sliding base 23 when the scissor arm bracket 21 is fully folded and flat, and setting the rear mechanical limiting block 17 at that point. This ensures that the sliding base 23 can stop accurately, allowing the scissor arm bracket 21 to be fully folded and flat above the longitudinal main beam 11, achieving the minimum folded thickness.

[0052] In the actual implementation process, workers need to move large-sized photovoltaic modules from the storage area to the installation point and assist them in accurately connecting them to the high-level supports. Traditional handling methods are inefficient and pose safety hazards.

[0053] At this time, in the transportation state, the expandable foldable base assembly 1 of a photovoltaic module installation transport vehicle is in a folded state, the transverse folding beam 12 moves closer to the longitudinal main beam 11 and folds, and the push handle 16 is also folded forward and flat against the longitudinal main beam 11 through the folding hinge. The overall structure is compact and easy to load onto ordinary construction vehicles.

[0054] Upon arrival at the installation site, the workers first unfolded the transport vehicle. The transverse folding beam 12 was extended outwards to form a perpendicular structure with the longitudinal main beam 11. To ensure stability during transport, the end of the transverse folding beam 12 was inserted into a U-shaped limiting seat 15 with an interference fit and locked with set bolts, thus limiting longitudinal swaying of the transverse folding beam 12 during pushing. Due to the varying widths of the photovoltaic modules on site, the workers needed to adjust the wheel track of the transport vehicle to accommodate them. The transverse folding beam 12 employs an inner and outer tube pull-out structure, including an outer square tube 121 and an inner square tube 122 that slides inside the outer square tube. By operating spring pins, the workers aligned the limiting through holes on the side walls of the outer square tube 121 and the inner square tube 122, thereby adjusting the extension length of the transverse folding beam 12 and changing the wheel track between the two traveling wheels 13, achieving good compatibility with photovoltaic modules of different widths.

[0055] After adjusting the wheel track, the staff pushed the transport vehicle to the photovoltaic module stacking area. At this time, the flat-lay lifting module 2 was in its lowest state, completely flattened and folded above the longitudinal main beam 11. The staff placed a photovoltaic module smoothly on the tilting support frame 32 of the attitude self-locking adjustable support module 3. The tilting support frame 32 is a rectangular frame structure with an inner groove, and its top surface and inner sidewalls are covered with corrugated flexible rubber cushioning pads 34. These cushioning pads 34 provide effective cushioning protection when placing the module, avoiding scratches or microcracks to the aluminum alloy frame and glass panel of the module due to vibration or collision during transportation, significantly reducing the "breakage rate" and solving the problem of insufficient shock absorption protection of traditional flatbed trucks. To ensure the stability of the module during transportation and subsequent operations, the staff rotated the screws on the slide rails on both sides of the tilting support frame 32, driving the sliding clamping claws 35 with an inverted L-shaped structure to retract inward, firmly clamping and fixing the photovoltaic module to the tilting support frame 32.

[0056] After the components are secured, workers push the transport vehicle by pushing the handle 16. The wheels 13 installed at the bottom of the transport vehicle include swivel wheels with foot-operated parking brakes, allowing the transport vehicle to steer flexibly and move stably on uneven construction surfaces. During movement, because the components are clamped and secured and protected by the cushioning pads 34, the components remain stable even when encountering bumps, preventing damage.

[0057] When the transport vehicle arrives at the photovoltaic bracket installation point, the worker depresses the foot-operated parking brake on the wheels 13 to securely park the vehicle in the designated position. Next, the photovoltaic modules need to be lifted to the same height as the bracket installation. The worker rotates the screw drive mechanism 22 using a hand crank 24. The screw drive mechanism 22 is parallel to the longitudinal main beam 11 and threadedly connected to the sliding base 23. The sliding base 23 is engaged with a linear guide rail 14 on the longitudinal main beam 11. When the screw drive mechanism 22 rotates, it drives the sliding base 23 to slide horizontally along the linear guide rail 14, forcing the scissor arm bracket 21 to rise vertically. The scissor arm bracket 21 employs a multi-stage X-shaped hinge structure, consisting of intersecting inner and outer arms hinged at the top. This structure effectively increases the overall lifting height, allowing the modules to easily reach the installation position of the high bracket. When the sliding base 23 slides to contact the front mechanical limit block 17, the scissor arm bracket 21 reaches the maximum safe lifting height, preventing overload or overturning and improving operational safety.

[0058] After the photovoltaic modules are lifted into position, workers need to adjust their pitch angle to precisely match the tilt angle of the photovoltaic support. By rotating the worm gear mechanism 33, the worm wheel, coaxially fixed to the horizontal rotation axis, is driven to rotate, thereby causing the tilting support frame 32 to tilt around the horizontal rotation axis. During the tilting process, the support baffle 36, vertically welded to the bottom edge of the tilting support frame 32, plays a role in supporting the bottom edge of the photovoltaic modules and preventing them from sliding down under gravity while tilted. The self-locking characteristic of the worm gear mechanism 33 allows the tilting support frame 32 to remain at any set tilt angle without the need for additional locking devices, greatly simplifying the installation process and solving the problem of traditional manual handling requiring workers to lift and tilt the modules by hand to align them, significantly reducing the labor intensity and safety risks for workers.

[0059] The above description is merely a few embodiments of this application and is not intended to limit this application in any way. Although this application discloses preferred embodiments as described above, it is not intended to limit this application. Any changes or modifications made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the technical solution of this application using the disclosed technical content are equivalent to equivalent implementation cases and fall within the scope of the technical solution.

Claims

1. A transport vehicle for installing photovoltaic modules, characterized in that, include: Expandable foldable base assembly (1) for use as a load-bearing base for a transport vehicle; The flat lifting assembly (2) is positioned directly above the expandable foldable base assembly (1); And a posture self-locking adjustment bearing assembly (3) is disposed on top of the flat lifting assembly (2); The expandable foldable base assembly (1) includes a longitudinal main beam (11), a transverse folding beam (12) and a traveling wheel (13). The transverse folding beam (12) is provided in at least two sets, which are respectively hinged to both sides of the longitudinal main beam (11) and the traveling wheel (13) is installed at the bottom of the transverse folding beam (12). The transverse folding beam (12) is brought closer to the longitudinal main beam (11) with the hinge point as the axis. The upper surface of the longitudinal main beam (11) is provided with a linear guide rail (14) along the axial direction. The flat lifting assembly (2) includes a scissor arm bracket (21), a screw drive mechanism (22), and a sliding base (23); one end of the bottom of the scissor arm bracket (21) is hinged to one end of the longitudinal main beam (11) by a fixed pin, and the other end is hinged to the sliding base (23); The lead screw drive mechanism (22) is arranged parallel to the longitudinal main beam (11) and is threadedly connected to the sliding base (23), which is engaged on the linear guide rail (14). When the lead screw drive mechanism (22) is rotated, the sliding base (23) is driven to slide horizontally along the linear guide rail (14), so that the scissor arm bracket (21) can be either vertically raised or completely flattened and folded above the longitudinal main beam (11). The attitude self-locking adjustment bearing assembly (3) includes a top support platform (31), a flip bearing frame (32), and a worm gear mechanism (33). The top support platform (31) is fixedly connected to the top of the scissor arm bracket (21). The middle part of the flip bearing frame (32) is hinged to the top support platform (31) through a horizontal rotation shaft. The worm gear mechanism (33) includes a worm and a worm wheel. The worm is rotatably mounted on the side wall of the top support platform (31). The worm wheel is coaxially fixed with the horizontal rotation shaft and meshes with the worm. By rotating the worm gear, the worm wheel is driven to rotate the tilting support frame (32) around the horizontal rotation axis to tilt at any angle, and the worm wheel and worm gear can stay at any set tilt angle through the self-locking characteristics of the worm gear and worm.

2. The photovoltaic module installation transport vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transverse folding beam (12) adopts an inner and outer tube pull-out structure, including an outer square tube (121) and an inner square tube (122) that is slidably inserted into the outer square tube; multiple corresponding limiting through holes are opened on the side walls of the outer square tube (121) and the inner square tube (122), and the extension length is locked by passing a spring pin through the limiting through hole, thereby adjusting the wheel distance between the two walking wheels (13) to adapt to photovoltaic modules of different widths.

3. The photovoltaic module installation transport vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that: A U-shaped limiting seat (15) is provided at the hinge joint between the transverse folding beam (12) and the longitudinal main beam (11). When the transverse folding beam (12) is vertically unfolded, its end is inserted into the U-shaped limiting seat (15) to form an interference fit, and is locked through by the set bolt to limit the longitudinal sway of the transverse folding beam (12) during the pushing process.

4. The photovoltaic module installation transport vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The scissor arm support (21) includes an inner arm and an outer arm that cross each other and are hinged at the middle. The inner arm and the outer arm are multi-stage X-type hinge structures to increase the overall lifting height. The sliding base (23) is internally fitted with a trapezoidal nut that matches the lead screw drive mechanism (22).

5. A photovoltaic module installation transport vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that: The end of the lead screw drive mechanism (22) extends out of the tail of the longitudinal main beam (11) and is fixedly connected to a hand crank turntable (24) or an external hexagonal connector, which is used to adapt to external power tools for rapid drive.

6. The photovoltaic module installation transport vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flip-up support frame (32) is formed as a rectangular frame structure or an H-shaped frame structure with an inner groove; the top surface and inner sidewall of the flip-up support frame (32) are covered with a wave-shaped flexible rubber buffer pad (34) to absorb vibration during transportation and avoid scratching the aluminum alloy frame and glass panel of the photovoltaic module.

7. A photovoltaic module installation transport vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that: The flip-up support frame (32) has symmetrical sliding clamping claws (35) on both sides of the slide rail. The clamping claws (35) are in an inverted L-shaped structure, and their ends are connected to the flip-up support frame (32) through spring connecting rods or screws. Rotating the screw drives the clamping claws (35) to retract inward, fixing the photovoltaic module onto the flip-up support frame (32).

8. A photovoltaic module installation transport vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: A row of supporting baffles (36) is vertically welded to the bottom edge of the flipping support frame (32). When the flipping support frame (32) is flipped to an inclined or vertical state by the worm gear mechanism (33), the supporting baffles (36) are used to support the bottom edge of the photovoltaic module and prevent the photovoltaic module from sliding down under the action of gravity.

9. A photovoltaic module installation transport vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The traveling wheel (13) includes at least two omnidirectional wheels with foot-operated parking brake pads. A pair of push handles (16) extend obliquely upward from the rear side of the longitudinal main beam (11). The push handles (16) are connected to the longitudinal main beam (11) by folding hinges and can be folded forward and flat against the longitudinal main beam (11) when stored.

10. A photovoltaic module installation transport vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: Mechanical limit blocks (17) are respectively provided on the longitudinal main beam (11) and at both ends of the linear guide rail (14); when the sliding base (23) slides to contact the front mechanical limit block, the scissor arm bracket (21) reaches the maximum safe lifting height; when the sliding base (23) slides to contact the rear mechanical limit block, the scissor arm bracket (21) presents the lowest folded thickness with complete flatness.

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