Foldable Photovoltaic Panel Support Assembly for Compact Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing support assemblies for photovoltaic panels are difficult and inconvenient to assemble, requiring numerous bolts and taking up significant space during transport and installation.
Innovation Solution
A foldable support assembly design featuring pivotably mounted components, including support beams, standing posts, and horizontal beams, which are secured using connecting shafts and cotter pins, allowing for compact packaging and easy assembly by forming a triangular structure with adjustable inclination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the support assembly is designed as individual components requiring multiple bolts for assembly, then the structure can be disassembled for transport, but the assembly process becomes difficult and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple components into integrated assemblies. The support beam integrates the first standing post, second standing post, and strengthening bar into a single assembled unit. The horizontal beam connects to the support beam through a unified connection structure involving the connecting shaft and cotter pin, reducing the number of separate fastening operations required.
Solution Approach 2:
The support assembly is divided into modular segments that can be easily connected and disconnected. The main support assembly includes the support beam with integrated standing posts and strengthening bar, while the horizontal beam forms a separate but compatible module. This segmentation allows for simplified transport and reduced assembly complexity compared to fully disassembled components.
2Volume of moving object
If the support assembly is designed to be foldable for compact transport, then space requirements are reduced, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first standing post and second standing post are received within the support beam structure, with the strengthening bar positioned between them. The horizontal beam connects to the support beam in a manner that allows compact folding. This nesting arrangement enables the entire assembly to collapse into a compact configuration for transport while maintaining structural integrity when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The support assembly incorporates pivotable connections that allow the structure to transition between deployed and folded states. The connecting shaft with cotter pin provides a dynamic connection point that enables the horizontal beam to rotate relative to the support beam, facilitating compact folding for transport while maintaining stability when installed.
3Strength
If multiple standing posts and strengthening bars are used to ensure structural stability, then the support strength is improved, but the number of components and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The first standing post, second standing post, and strengthening bar are integrated into a single assembled unit attached to the support beam. This merging of multiple structural elements into one assembly reduces the number of separate components that need to be handled and connected, while still providing the structural stability of having multiple load-bearing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The first standing post, second standing post, and strengthening bar are pre-assembled into an integrated unit before attachment to the support beam. This preliminary assembly reduces the complexity of the final installation by reducing the number of connection operations required at the installation site, while ensuring proper structural configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
A support assembly (1000) for supporting photovoltaic panels (60) includes a plurality of support units (11) connected one by one. Each of the plurality of support units (11) includes a support beam (10), a pair of standing posts (20), a strengthening bar (30) and at least one horizontal beam (40). The pair of standing posts (20), the strengthening bar (30) and the at least one horizontal beam (40) are pivotably mounted on the support beam via connecting members (50). When used, the strengthening bar (30) rotates relative to the support beam and collectively constitutes a triangle with the support beam and one of the pair of standing posts (20) to avoid distortion. When packaged, the pair of standing posts and the strengthening bar rotate relative to the support beam to be received in the receiving groove (102) respectively, and the at least one horizontal beam rotates relative to and is disposed in parallel to the support beam (10).