PV Mounting Rails With Preassembled Slider Clips for Fast Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for installing photovoltaic (PV) systems are labor-intensive and time-consuming, particularly for large-scale installations, due to the need for screwing module edge clips onto rails and tightening them on-site, which slows down the process.
Innovation Solution
A mounting system with a collapsible support structure and prefabricated slider clips that allow easy slide-in insertion of PV modules, enabling preassembly of components off-site and reducing on-site labor costs, with rails and beams pivotally connected for easy transport and quick assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional screw-on module edge clips are used on rails, then secure module positioning is achieved, but installation becomes labor-intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The slider clips are pre-assembled onto the rails in a controlled manufacturing environment before shipment to the installation site. This preliminary action eliminates the need for workers to assemble clips on-site, significantly reducing installation time and labor requirements while ensuring proper assembly quality
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is divided into separate modular components: rails with pre-installed clips, and PV modules. This segmentation allows for independent manufacturing, quality control, and simplified on-site assembly, where workers only need to slide modules into place rather than assemble multiple components
2Loss of time
If preassembly of mounting components is performed off-site, then installation time and labor costs are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slider clips are merged with the rails by pre-attaching them in the manufacturing process. This combination creates a single integrated component that simplifies the on-site installation process, as workers handle one pre-assembled unit rather than multiple separate parts requiring assembly
3Ease of operation
If slider clips are preassembled on rails, then on-site labor requirements are reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clips are preliminarily assembled onto the rails in the manufacturing facility using automated or semi-automated processes. This transfers the complexity from the on-site installation environment to the controlled manufacturing environment, where it can be more efficiently managed and executed
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
The solution significantly reduces labor costs and installation time by allowing preassembly of components, enabling faster and more efficient installation of large-scale PV systems, while maintaining secure module positioning through frictional retention by slider clips.
Implementation Method 1
enabling preassembly of components off-site and reducing on-site labor costs, with rails and beams pivotally connected for easy transport and quick assembly
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are methods of installing one or more photovoltaic structures onto a mounting system and slider clips that support simplified installation of photovoltaic structures. The methods include installing photovoltaic structures on a support element having preassembled slider clips for holding edge portions of the photovoltaic structures.