Lock Assembly for Solar Panel Mounting with Remote Angle Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing solar panel mounting systems for recreational vehicles are complex and hazardous to operate, requiring manual adjustment and securing of solar panels on the roof, which can lead to damage and safety risks due to vehicle vibrations during movement.
Innovation Solution
A lock assembly with a driving member, locking member, and latch mechanism that allows for convenient and secure locking and unlocking of a carrier to a fastener, enabling adjustment of the solar panel's angle and position without manual climbing, using a rotatable hook and stop protrusion system for secure attachment and detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual securing of solar panel is used, then safety hazard and operation complexity increase, but device complexity can be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is designed to automatically lock onto the latch when the carrier is positioned on the fastener, and automatically unlock when the driving member actuates it. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual intervention to secure or unsecure the solar panel, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated driving member that uses a locking member with a hook and latch mechanism. This substitution transforms the manual securing process into an automated mechanical system, improving ease of operation while maintaining controlled device complexity through efficient mechanical design.
2Productivity
If electric push rod is used for pitch angle adjustment, then productivity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The driving member serves multiple functions: it actuates the locking member to engage/disengage the latch, and simultaneously enables pitch angle adjustment of the solar panel. This multi-functionality improves productivity by combining securing and positioning operations into a single mechanism, while avoiding the need for separate electric push rods and manual operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the securing function (locking/unlocking) and the positioning function (pitch angle adjustment) into a single integrated driving member mechanism. This consolidation improves productivity by performing both operations through one actuator, while reducing device complexity compared to having separate electric push rods for each function.
3Reliability
If carrier is securely locked to fastener, then reliability improves, but ease of operation for adjustment decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is designed with rotational freedom on the carrier, allowing it to dynamically transition between locked and unlocked states. The hook can rotate to engage the latch for secure connection, and rotate again to disengage for adjustment. This dynamic design maintains high connection reliability when locked while enabling easy adjustment when unlocked, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The driving member enables periodic action by sequentially actuating the locking member to first disengage the latch (for adjustment), then re-engage the latch (for securing). This periodic cycle of unlocking and locking allows the system to alternate between ease of operation for adjustment and reliability for secure connection, with each state being fully achieved during its respective phase.
Data Source
AI summary
A lock assembly includes a driving member, a locking member, and a latch. The driving member includes a connection end, and a driving end movable with respect to the connection end. The connection end is arranged on a fastener. The locking member is rotatably arranged on a carrier through a first rotation shaft. The driving end is rotatably connected to the locking member through a second rotation shaft. The locking member includes a hook. The latch is arranged on the fastener. The hook is capable of hooking the latch. The driving end is configured to capable of driving the hook to disengage from the latch, and driving the carrier to rotate with respect to the fastener, or the driving end is configured to drive the hook to hook the latch so that the carrier is secured to the fastener.