Mast-Mounted Solar Collector Fastening With Portable Winch Lifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of solar collectors in remote or disaster areas is challenging due to the lack of access to cranes and suitable tools, making it difficult to securely fasten them to masts without risking damage or injury.
Innovation Solution
A fastening device comprising a collector support, deflection device, winch device, and pulling element that allows for the secure attachment and detachment of solar collectors to masts using minimal tools, such as a ladder and hand crank, enabling easy alignment and clamping for optimal energy generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a crane is used to lift solar collectors to elevated locations, then installation safety and efficiency are improved, but equipment availability and cost increase significantly in remote areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary lifting mechanism consisting of a winch device, pulling element, and lift body that mediates between the ground-level installation team and the elevated solar collector mounting location. This intermediary system enables safe lifting without requiring heavy crane equipment, making the installation process adaptable to remote areas where cranes are unavailable.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting function is segmented into separate components: a winch device for generating pulling force, a pulling element (rope/cable) for force transmission, and a lift body for directly engaging the solar collector. This segmentation allows each component to be independently optimized and assembled from portable parts, eliminating the need for a single large crane.
2Adaptability or versatility
If solar collectors are manually assembled in individual parts without proper lifting equipment, then equipment requirements are reduced, but installation time and risk of damage or injury increase
Solution Approach 1:
The solar collectors are prepared in advance by attaching them to collector carriers that include integrated lifting interfaces. The lift body is pre-configured with engagement mechanisms that match these interfaces. This preliminary preparation allows the collectors to be lifted as complete assemblies rather than requiring time-consuming on-site assembly of individual parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into integrated components: the collector carrier merges structural support with lifting interface functionality, and the lift body combines the pulling element attachment with the collector engagement mechanism. This merging reduces the number of separate assembly steps required during installation.
3Ease of operation
If solar collectors are mounted on ground-level stands, then accessibility for installation is improved, but theft risk and damage from unwanted access increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the installation approach from ground-level horizontal assembly to vertical elevation using the mast structure. Solar collectors are mounted at elevated positions on vertical masts rather than at ground level, changing the spatial dimension from horizontal accessibility to vertical inaccessibility for potential thieves while maintaining installation feasibility through the portable lifting system.
4Reliability
If complex fastening devices are used to securely attach solar collectors, then mounting reliability is improved, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex lifting and positioning functions from the fastening device itself and places them in separate temporary installation aids (winch device, lift body, pulling element). The fastening device itself is simplified to focus only on its core function of securing the solar collector to the mast, while the lifting function is handled by the removable installation aid system.
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
Facilitates safe and efficient installation and dismantling of solar collectors on masts with minimal equipment, reducing the risk of damage and injury, and enhancing energy production by ensuring proper alignment with the sun.
Implementation Method 1
a winch device (7), a lift body (8) that can be moved along the mast (4), and has a pulling element (9). The pulling element (9) is fastened to the winding device (7) with a first end (10) and fastened to the lift body (8) with a second end (11)
Implementation Method 2
the deflection device (6) deflects the pulling element (9) above the mounting location (3) of the at least one solar collector (2) on the mast (4)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The present invention relates to a fastening device (1) for fastening at least one solar collector (2) at a place of installation (3), preferably to a mast (4), wherein the fastening device (1) comprises a collector support (5) for the at least one solar collector (2), which collector support can be fastened to the mast (4), a deflecting device (6) that can be detachably fastened to the mast (4), a winch device (7), a lift body (8) that can be moved along the mast (4), and a tension element (9), wherein the tension element (9) is fastened to the winch device (7) by means of a first end (10) and is fastened to the lift body (8) by means of a second end (11), wherein the tension element (9) is at least partially guided on the deflecting device (6) between the first end (10) and the second end (11), wherein the tension element (9) is fastened to the winch device (7) in such a way that the length of the tension element (9) between the winch device (7) and the lift body (8) can be reduced by means of the tension element (9) and the deflecting device (6) deflects the tension element (9) above the place of installation (3) of the at least one solar collector (2) on the mast (4). The invention further relates to a method for fastening a fastening device and to a method for dismounting a fastening device.