Canopy Corner-Stay Structure for Stable Compressor Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional canopies for compressor or generator installations face limitations in accessibility due to obstructive intermediate stays and potential misalignment of corner stays with the mounting surface, which affects mechanical stability and ease of component removal.
Innovation Solution
The canopy design features corner stays with free ends connected by lateral beams instead of intermediate stays, allowing roof panels to be supported by these beams, and corner stays are mounted through holes in the base plate for improved alignment and stability, enabling easier access and enhanced mechanical stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If intermediate stays are added to the canopy structure, then the mechanical stability and stiffness of the canopy is improved, but the accessibility for removing large components is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy structure is segmented into corner stays and lateral beams, eliminating intermediate stays. The lateral beams connect the corner stays at their free ends, creating a segmented support system that maintains structural integrity while providing clear access paths for component removal.
Solution Approach 2:
Intermediate stays are completely removed from the canopy structure. This extraction eliminates the obstruction to accessibility while the structural needs are met through the lateral beams connecting corner stays, which provide sufficient support without the need for intermediate vertical elements.
2Ease of manufacture
If corner stays are directly mounted onto the mounting surface, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the perpendicular alignment precision is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral beams act as intermediary elements between the corner stays and the roof panels. By connecting the free ends of corner stays, the lateral beams provide a reference plane that ensures perpendicular alignment without requiring precise direct mounting of stays to the base plate, thus maintaining alignment precision while keeping the manufacturing process simple.
3Reliability
If multiple bolts are used to mount corner stays, then the perpendicular alignment and mechanical stability are improved, but the device complexity and assembly time are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral beams merge the support function with the alignment function. By connecting corner stays at their free ends, the lateral beams create a rigid triangular structure that inherently maintains perpendicular alignment, reducing the need for multiple mounting bolts while maintaining mounting reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A canopy for a compressor or generator installation comprising a chassis (2) with—a base plate (3) comprising a body with a mounting surface bounded by a polygonal peripheral edge (4); and—a mounting frame (5) containing this base plate (3) and going around the peripheral edge (4); whereby the canopy (1) further comprises a number of corner stays (6), whereby each corner stay (6) is provided with a mounting end which is configured to be mounted onto the chassis (2), whereby at each corner of the peripheral edge (4), at least one corner stay (6) is mounted with its mounting end onto the chassis (2), whereby each corner stay (6) in a mounted state extends from the mounting surface of the base plate (3) in a direction essentially perpendicular to the mounting surface and outwards from the body of the base plate (3), and whereby each corner stay (6) in a mounted state has a free end which is opposite to the mounting end of this corner stay (6) and which is not mounted onto the mounting surface; and whereby the canopy (1) further comprises at least one roof panel (9), characterised in that at each one corner of the peripheral edge (4), the free end of the at least one corner stay (6) is configured to be connected by means of at least one lateral beam (10) to the free end of the at least one corner stay (6) which is mounted at a corner adjacent to said one corner; and that the canopy (1) further comprises a number of lateral beams (10) such that, at each one corner of the peripheral edge (4), the free end of the at least one corner stay (6) at said one corner is connected to the free end of the at least one corner stay (6) which is mounted at a corner adjacent to said one corner.