A structurally stable photovoltaic racking

Abstract

A kind of stable photovoltaic support structure, including column and rotating setting on column and being used for fixing photovoltaic frame, photovoltaic frame is equipped with arc ring, arc ring is concentric with the rotation center of photovoltaic frame, multiple first positioning holes are equipped with interval on arc ring, second positioning hole is equipped with on column, second positioning hole can be positioned with one of first positioning hole after being inserted and fixed by positioning pin, and the pitch angle of photovoltaic frame is positioned, further including a counterweight, counterweight is slidably matched with arc ring, counterweight is used to lower the gravity center of the overall structure consisting of photovoltaic frame, photovoltaic panel, arc ring and counterweight to below the rotation center of photovoltaic frame.The utility model aims at realizing the stable controllable adjustment of photovoltaic panel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of photovoltaic technology, specifically a structurally stable photovoltaic support. Background Technology

[0002] Solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation, as a clean and renewable energy source, is increasingly widely used. PV support structures are key infrastructure in PV power generation systems, used to support and secure PV panels and maintain them at the optimal tilt angle to maximize solar energy reception efficiency. A common PV support structure includes a base fixed to the ground, a column vertically mounted on the base, and a PV frame hinged to the upper end of the column via a rotating mechanism. This PV frame supports the PV panels. To adjust the tilt angle of the PV panels according to different seasons and times of day, an arc-shaped ring concentric with the rotation center of the PV frame is typically fixed to the PV frame. This arc-shaped ring has multiple first positioning holes spaced along its arc, while a second positioning hole is formed on the component fixed to the column. By sequentially inserting positioning pins into the second positioning hole and the first positioning hole corresponding to the desired angle, the PV frame and the PV panels on it can be locked at a specific angle.

[0003] However, the aforementioned traditional structure has a long-overlooked but crucial safety hazard and operational inconvenience. In-depth analysis by the applicant's personnel revealed that this problem stems from the overall center of gravity distribution of the system: the rotating part, consisting of the photovoltaic panels, photovoltaic frame, and arc ring, typically has its center of gravity located above the rotation center of the photovoltaic frame (i.e., the fixed axis). This results in the entire rotating part forming a top-heavy, unstable system, inherently possessing a tendency to lower the center of gravity to its lowest point; that is, the photovoltaic panels have a natural tendency to rapidly tip forward (usually towards the ground).

[0004] When operators need to adjust the angle, they must first remove the locating pin. At the moment the locating pin is removed, the rotating part, freed from mechanical constraints, will suddenly accelerate under the influence of gravitational torque, attempting to reach a new equilibrium position with a lower center of gravity. This sudden, often highly inertial, rapid rotation or oscillation can easily cause serious injuries such as impacts or crushing to operators. More importantly, it poses a serious structural risk to the equipment itself. This uncontrolled oscillation generates enormous impact momentum. When the oscillation abruptly stops due to reaching mechanical limits or being blocked by unexpected obstacles, the enormous impact force directly acts on the fixed shaft, bearing housing, and the connection structure of the photovoltaic frame. This can lead to loose bolts and deformed connectors, or even bent fixed shafts, broken bearings, or cracked welds, severely weakening the structural integrity and lifespan of the support structure. Furthermore, when attempting to insert the locating pin during the oscillation process, the pin and hole are prone to misalignment, causing violent impacts and scraping between the pin and the edge of the hole, resulting in pin hole deformation and enlargement (commonly known as "brushing"), rendering the locating function ineffective and preventing precise angle fixing. Utility Model Content

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a structurally stable photovoltaic support to achieve stable and controllable adjustment of photovoltaic panels.

[0006] To solve the above technical problems, the specific solution adopted by this utility model is as follows: a structurally stable photovoltaic support, including a column and a photovoltaic frame rotatably mounted on the column for fixing photovoltaic panels. The photovoltaic frame is provided with an arc ring, which is concentric with the rotation center of the photovoltaic frame. Multiple first positioning holes are spaced apart on the arc ring. A second positioning hole is provided on the column. The second positioning hole can be fixed to one of the first positioning holes by inserting a positioning pin to position the pitch angle of the photovoltaic frame. It also includes a counterweight block, which slides with the arc ring. The counterweight block is used to lower the center of gravity of the overall structure composed of the photovoltaic frame, photovoltaic panels, arc ring and counterweight block to below the rotation center of the photovoltaic frame. The first positioning hole is vertically opened in the middle of the arc ring, and a horizontal plate is provided on the column. The second positioning hole is opened on the horizontal plate. A handle for personnel to hold is provided on the arc ring or photovoltaic frame.

[0007] Preferably, the cross-section of the arc ring is I-shaped, and the counterweight is slidably engaged with the arc ring via a sliding component. The sliding component includes a U-shaped frame and two rollers respectively rotatably disposed on the inner sides of the two side walls of the U-shaped frame. The two rollers are respectively engaged with the bottom of the two sides of the arc ring, and the counterweight is fixed to the bottom of the U-shaped frame.

[0008] Preferably, a tie rod is hinged to the bottom of the U-shaped frame, and the counterweight is fixed to the lower end of the tie rod.

[0009] Preferably, the photovoltaic frame includes a frame body and a rotating joint. The frame body is used to fix the photovoltaic panels, and the rotating joint is connected to the frame body through multiple diagonal rods. The frame body is provided with shaft holes for the rotating engagement of a fixed shaft fixed on the column.

[0010] Preferably, the arc ring includes an arc segment and straight segments located at both ends of the arc segment. The arc segment is concentrically distributed on the fixed shaft, and the straight segments are used to connect the arc segment to the rotary joint.

[0011] Preferably, the counterweight is a cast cement block or concrete block.

[0012] Preferably, the counterweight has an external frame made of metal.

[0013] Preferably, the mass of the counterweight is 1.2 to 2 times the total mass of the photovoltaic frame, photovoltaic panel, and arc ring.

[0014] Beneficial effects This invention innovatively adds a counterweight that slides along an arc-shaped ring to the traditional structure, successfully solving the safety risks and equipment damage problems caused by the excessively high center of gravity mentioned in the background technology, and producing the following significant beneficial effects: The core effect is that, through the counterweight, the overall center of gravity of the entire rotating part, including the photovoltaic panel, photovoltaic frame, arc-shaped ring, and counterweight, is lowered from above the original center of rotation to below it. This change completely reverses the mechanical characteristics of the system. After the positioning pin is pulled out, the rotating part no longer has the tendency to tip over; instead, because its center of gravity is lower than the fulcrum, it is in a stable "bottom-heavy, top-light" state, similar to a roly-poly toy or a bicycle on a tightrope in a science museum. It will not experience uncontrolled accelerated rotation, but tends to maintain its original posture or can only be moved slowly by external force. This fundamentally eliminates the risk of personnel injury caused by sudden swinging, greatly improving the safety of adjustment operations. Secondly, and crucially, this improvement addresses the issue of equipment damage. By eliminating sudden impact-induced swaying, abnormal loads on rotating mechanisms (such as fixed shafts and bearings) are completely avoided, significantly extending the service life of these critical components and ensuring the overall structural stability and reliability of the support. Simultaneously, the angle adjustment process becomes smooth and controllable, allowing operators to easily and accurately insert the positioning pin into the pin hole, completely preventing pin hole wear and deformation caused by impacts and ensuring the long-term effectiveness of the positioning function.

[0015] Of particular note is the stability revolution brought about by this invention, which makes it possible for a single person to independently, safely, and effortlessly complete the entire angle adjustment operation (including removing the positioning pin, rotating the photovoltaic frame to a new angle, and inserting the positioning pin). This is a significant improvement compared to the traditional support system, which typically requires at least two people (one person struggling to hold and stabilize the support while the other operates the positioning pin). The underlying mechanism is as follows: First, the stable state eliminates reliance on auxiliary personnel. In traditional supports, because the support will instantly tip over after the positioning pin is removed, one person must be specifically responsible for pulling or supporting the support to counteract its downward trend, while another person aligns the pin holes and inserts the pin. In this invention, the support can maintain stability on its own when unrestrained, without the need for a dedicated person to hold it, thus simplifying the operation process to a purely single-person operation. Second, the labor-saving effect makes rotation easy and effortless. With the center of gravity lower than the rotation center, the force required to rotate the photovoltaic frame is mainly used to overcome the static friction at the rotating joint, rather than counteracting the enormous downward torque of the entire photovoltaic panel assembly. In fact, once the static friction is overcome and the system is started, only a small force is needed to make the photovoltaic frame rotate slowly and smoothly. This is because it is pushing a stable, balanced system from one equilibrium state to another, rather than braking an out-of-control system. This significant reduction in operating force allows even operators with limited strength to easily make adjustments. Therefore, this invention not only improves safety and equipment lifespan but also brings unexpected and significant benefits in terms of ease of operation and labor cost savings.

[0016] Furthermore, the counterweight is connected to the arc ring via a sliding component, automatically stopping at the lowest point as the angle changes, dynamically providing a stabilizing torque. The structure is ingenious and requires no additional control. An unexpected additional effect is that lowering the center of gravity below the center of rotation enhances the overall wind load resistance of the support structure. When encountering strong winds, especially winds blowing from the front of the photovoltaic panels, a torque is generated that attempts to overturn the photovoltaic frame backward. However, the center of gravity, located below the center of rotation in this invention, generates a gravitational stabilizing torque opposite to the wind load overturning torque, helping to resist wind loads, improving the stability of the support structure in severe weather, and reducing the risk of overall overturning. This is a significant advantage not found in traditional high center of gravity structures. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the AA-direction cross-section structure; Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of Embodiment 2 of the present invention; The markings in the diagram are: 1. Photovoltaic panel, 2. Photovoltaic frame, 201. Frame body, 202. Rotary joint, 203. Diagonal bar, 3. Arc ring, 301. Straight section, 302. Arc section, 4. Sliding component, 401. Roller, 402. U-shaped frame, 403. Pin, 5. Counterweight, 6. Diagonal brace, 7. Base, 8. Horizontal plate, 9. Second positioning hole, 10. Positioning pin, 11. Column, 12. Fixed shaft, 13. First positioning hole, 14. Tie rod. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Example 1

[0019] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment provides a photovoltaic support structure with stable structure. Its core improvement lies in the introduction of a counterweight mechanism to stably lower the center of gravity of the rotating part below the center of rotation, thereby fundamentally solving the safety hazards and equipment damage problems of traditional supports.

[0020] The fixed portion of this embodiment forms the supporting foundation of the entire system. This portion includes a base 7 reliably fixed to the ground or roof structure using anchor bolts or chemical anchors. A vertical column 11 is securely mounted on the base 7, the height of which is determined according to site requirements. At the upper part of the column 11, a horizontally extending outward cross plate 8 is welded or fixed by fasteners. This cross plate 8 serves as a key component for angle locking and has a second positioning hole 9.

[0021] The rotating part of the bracket is the main functional component for angle adjustment. Its core is a frame 201 welded from structural steel, which provides a stable mounting surface for the photovoltaic panel 1. The frame 201 is hinged to the column 11 via a rotating mechanism. Specifically, a horizontally positioned fixed shaft 12 is fixed to the top of the column 11, and the axis of this fixed shaft 12 is the rotation center of the entire rotating part. A rotating joint 202 is provided on the photovoltaic frame 2, and the shaft hole on this joint mates with the fixed shaft 12, allowing the photovoltaic frame 2 to rotate smoothly around the fixed shaft 12. To enhance structural rigidity, multiple diagonal braces 203 connect the rotating joint 202 to the main frame 201.

[0022] The angle adjustment mechanism consists of an arc ring 3 and a positioning pin 10. The arc ring 3 is fixedly installed on the frame 201 with its center coinciding with the axis of the fixed shaft 12. A series of first positioning holes 13 are spaced apart along its arc trajectory. When the photovoltaic frame 2 rotates to the required angle, the second positioning hole 9 on the horizontal plate 8 will align with a certain first positioning hole 13, and the positioning pin 10 can be inserted at this time to achieve mechanical locking.

[0023] The core improvement of this utility model—the counterweight mechanism—consists of a sliding component 4 and a counterweight block 5. The sliding component 4 includes a U-shaped frame 402, with a roller 401 mounted on the inner side of each of its two side walls via short shafts. The arc-shaped ring 3 has an I-shaped cross-section, and the two rollers 401 fit precisely into the I-shaped grooves, making rolling contact with the lower surfaces of the two side flanges of the arc-shaped ring 3. This design ensures that the sliding component 4 can slide smoothly along the trajectory of the arc-shaped ring 3, while the I-shaped structure provides good guidance and load-bearing capacity. A pin 403 hinges the upper end of the pull rod 14 to the bottom of the U-shaped frame 402. The counterweight block 5 is fixedly connected to the lower end of the pull rod 14. In this embodiment, the counterweight block 5 is preferably a cast cement or concrete block, with an external metal frame, through which it is fixed to the pull rod. Its mass needs to be calculated to ensure that the overall center of gravity of the entire rotating part (including photovoltaic panel 1, photovoltaic frame 2, arc ring 3, and counterweight 5) is lowered below the axis of fixed shaft 12. The mass of counterweight 5 is approximately 1.2 to 2.0 times the total mass of photovoltaic panel 1, photovoltaic frame 2, and arc ring 3.

[0024] Based on the above structure, when the angle of the photovoltaic panel 1 needs to be adjusted, the operator first pulls out the positioning pin 10. At this time, because the overall center of gravity is lower than the rotation center, the system is in a stable and balanced state and will not swing suddenly. The operator can easily apply a small force to the handle of the photovoltaic frame 2 or the arc ring 3 with one hand, pushing it to rotate slowly around the fixed axis 12. During this process, the counterweight 5, under the action of gravity, automatically slides along the arc ring 3 to the lowest point at the current angle through the rolling of the roller 401, and always remains vertically hanging down through the pull rod 14. When the photovoltaic panel 1 rotates to the new target angle, the second positioning hole 9 on the horizontal plate 8 will align with the corresponding first positioning hole 13 on the arc ring 3. At this time, inserting the positioning pin 10 will complete the locking. The entire operation process is smooth, safe, and labor-saving, and can be completed independently by one person.

[0025] Example 2

[0026] like Figure 3 As shown, this embodiment shares the same basic principle and core structure as Embodiment 1, with the main difference being the optimization of the structure of the arc ring 3. In this embodiment, the arc ring 3 consists of an effective arc segment 302 in the middle and connecting straight segments 301 at both ends. The arc segment 302 remains concentric with the rotation center and has a first positioning hole 13, while the straight segments 301 are used to connect and fix the arc segment 302 to the rotating joint 202 of the photovoltaic frame 2. This design reduces the weight of the arc ring 3 itself, helping to appropriately reduce the counterweight mass of the counterweight block 5 while ensuring the center of gravity adjustment effect, thereby reducing the total system weight and material cost. The operation of the remaining parts, such as the sliding component 4 and the counterweight block 5, is completely consistent with Embodiment 1.

Claims

1. A structurally stable photovoltaic support, comprising a column (11) and a photovoltaic frame (2) rotatably mounted on the column (11) for fixing a photovoltaic panel (1), wherein the photovoltaic frame (2) is provided with an arc ring (3), the arc ring (3) being concentric with the rotation center of the photovoltaic frame (2), and a plurality of first positioning holes (13) spaced apart on the arc ring (3), and a second positioning hole (9) is provided on the column (11), the second positioning hole (9) being able to position the pitch angle of the photovoltaic frame (2) after being fixed by inserting a positioning pin (10) into one of the first positioning holes (13), characterized in that: It also includes a counterweight (5), which slides with the arc ring (3). The counterweight (5) is used to lower the center of gravity of the overall structure consisting of the photovoltaic frame (2), photovoltaic panel (1), arc ring (3) and counterweight (5) to below the rotation center of the photovoltaic frame (2). The first positioning hole (13) is vertically opened in the middle of the arc ring (3), and a horizontal plate (8) is provided on the column (11). The second positioning hole (9) is opened on the horizontal plate (8). A handle for people to hold is provided on the arc ring (3) or the photovoltaic frame (2).

2. A structurally stable photovoltaic support as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The cross-section of the arc ring (3) is I-shaped. The counterweight (5) is slidably engaged with the arc ring (3) via a sliding component (4). The sliding component (4) includes a U-shaped frame (402) and two rollers (401) that are rotatably disposed on the inner side of the two side walls of the U-shaped frame (402). The two rollers (401) are respectively engaged with the bottom of the two sides of the arc ring (3). The counterweight (5) is fixed to the bottom of the U-shaped frame (402).

3. A structurally stable photovoltaic support as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom of the U-shaped frame (402) is hinged to a pull rod (14), and the counterweight (5) is fixed to the lower end of the pull rod (14).

4. A structurally stable photovoltaic support as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The photovoltaic frame (2) includes a frame body (201) and a rotating joint (202). The frame body (201) is used to fix the photovoltaic panel (1). The rotating joint (202) is connected to the frame body (201) through multiple diagonal rods (203). The frame body (201) is provided with shaft holes for the fixed shaft (12) fixed on the column (11) to rotate and engage.

5. A structurally stable photovoltaic support as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The arc ring (3) includes an arc segment (302) and straight segments (301) located at both ends of the arc segment (302). The arc segment (302) is concentrically distributed on the fixed shaft (12), and the straight segments (301) are used to connect the arc segment (302) to the rotary joint (202).

6. A structurally stable photovoltaic support as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The counterweight (5) is a cast cement block or concrete block.

7. A structurally stable photovoltaic support as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The counterweight (5) has a frame made of metal material on its exterior.

8. A structurally stable photovoltaic support as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The mass of the counterweight (5) is 1.2-2 times the total mass of the photovoltaic frame (2), photovoltaic panel (1) and arc ring (3).

Images