PV Module Rack Locking Assembly With Self-Positioning Mount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking apparatuses for photovoltaic modules face challenges in correctly and automatically positioning hexagonal nuts during assembly, making the process inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
The proposed locking apparatus includes a pressing member, a mounting member with resilient arms, and a bolt with a threaded portion, which allows for easy alignment and secure mounting of photovoltaic modules to a rack by using a resilient member to facilitate the positioning of the nut and ensure firm attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If hexagonal nuts are received in a slot of the bracket beforehand, then the locking apparatus can be assembled, but the hexagonal nuts cannot be guided to be correctly and automatically positioned
Solution Approach 1:
A guiding structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the bracket slot and the hexagonal nut. This guiding structure receives the hexagonal nut from the bracket slot and guides it to the correct position on the mounting member, enabling automatic positioning while maintaining assembly convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The hexagonal nuts are pre-positioned in the bracket slot before assembly, and the guiding structure is designed to automatically guide them to the correct position during the assembly process. This preliminary positioning combined with automatic guidance resolves the contradiction between ease of manufacture and positioning accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If a resilient member is used to facilitate nut positioning, then correct positioning is ensured, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding structure incorporates a resilient member that utilizes elastic deformation to automatically guide and position the hexagonal nut. The resilient member deforms during the guiding process and returns to its original shape, providing self-service positioning without requiring additional actuators or complex control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member changes its physical state (elastic deformation) during the nut positioning process. By utilizing parameter changes in the material properties of the resilient member, the system achieves precise nut positioning while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables convenient and secure assembly of photovoltaic modules by ensuring correct positioning of the nuts and preventing accidental release, thereby simplifying the assembly process and enhancing the stability of the modules.
Implementation Method 1
Each resilient arm (34) includes a main plate (341), that is parallel to the left and right sidewalls of the head portion (33), and an L-shaped engaging portion (343), extending inward and down from a lower portion of the main plate (341). The width of the base (31) in the fore-and-aft direction is less than the width of the opening (104). The length of the base (31) is greater than the width of the opening 104. Therefore, the mounting member (30) can be laterally put in the rack (100) through the opening (104). The mounting member (30) is then rotated 90 degrees to make the top of the base (31) abut the bottom of the limiting plates (103). The engaging portions (343) resiliently abut upper portions of inner surfaces of the limiting plates (103).
Data Source
AI summary
A locking apparatus is used for mounting a photovoltaic module to a rack. The rack includes a base plate, two sidewalls extending from opposite sides of the base plate, and two limiting plates extending in from tops of the sidewalls respectively. An opening is defined between the limiting plates. The locking apparatus includes a pressing member, a mounting member, and a bolt. The mounting member includes a base, a neck portion, a head portion formed on a top of the neck portion, and two arms extending out from opposite sides of the head portion. The base is received in the rack and abuts bottoms of the arms. The arms are blocked by the limiting plates respectively. The bolt extends through the pressing member and the opening to screw into the mounting member, to fix the photovoltaic module between the pressing member and the rack.