Ground-Mounted Solar Panel Assembly with Eccentric Angle Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solar power assemblies face challenges with high installation costs, limited ground condition compatibility, mechanical wear, and the need for expensive trackers to maintain optimal panel orientation.

Innovation Solution

A ground-mounted solar power assembly with a support beam connected to a plurality of legs featuring a bracket and eccentric handle for adjustable angle positioning, using a triangular leg design and minimal steel for structural strength, allowing for easy installation and mechanical adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If ground mounted solar power assemblies use heavy support members and legs, then structural strength to withstand wind forces is improved, but installation cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidinstallation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is divided into separate components: legs with foot members for ground insertion, support beams for panel mounting, and brackets for connection. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing and installation while maintaining structural integrity through proper connection design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The leg design incorporates foot members that extend into the ground vertically, utilizing the vertical dimension to anchor the structure. This dimensional approach provides stability and wind resistance without requiring excessively heavy horizontal support members, reducing material costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If solar panels are mounted on buildings, then installation cost is reduced, but panels overheat and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation costVSAvoidpanel temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The ground-mounted assembly positions panels at an optimal height and orientation relative to the ground, creating equitable thermal conditions. The panels are elevated enough to allow air circulation for cooling while maintaining accessibility for installation and maintenance, balancing thermal management with installation considerations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

3Productivity

If trackers are used to maintain optimum panel position, then solar energy capture efficiency is improved, but mechanical wear and breakage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy capture efficiencyVSAvoidmechanical durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly includes an adjustable support beam with bracket that allows the panel array to be tilted to different angles. While not a continuous tracker, this dynamic adjustment capability enables optimization of panel orientation for different times of day and seasons, improving energy capture without the mechanical complexity and reliability issues of fully automated trackers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support beam can be adjusted to change the tilt angle parameter of the panel array. This parameter adjustment allows optimization of solar energy capture based on seasonal variations in sun position without requiring complex mechanical tracking systems, maintaining reliability while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Stability of the object's composition

If holes are dug for heavy support members, then structural stability is improved, but excessive spoil dirt and concrete requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidspoil dirt and concrete

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The leg foot members are designed to be inserted into pre-dug holes and then secured with concrete. This preliminary action of creating small insertion holes rather than large foundation holes reduces the volume of spoil dirt and concrete required while maintaining structural stability through proper anchoring of the leg members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 reduces installation costs, enhances compatibility with various ground conditions, and maintains structural integrity while enabling efficient mechanical adjustment of panel angles, improving overall operational efficiency and durability.

Implementation Method 1

an eccentric handle is connected to the bracket to permit selective rotation of the support beam within the bracket and a mechanical adjustment of array angle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEccentric mechanism: Eccentric

Implementation Method 2

an eccentric handle is connected to the bracket to permit selective rotation of the support beam within the bracket and a mechanical adjustment of array angle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS9551508B2Ground mounted solar power assembly

Publication Date: 2017.01.24 STRAETER JAMES E

AI summary

A ground mounted solar power assembly having at least one solar panel having a support beam connected to the back of the solar panel. A plurality of legs have a bracket at one end that receive the support beam. Finally, an eccentric handle is connected to the bracket to permit selective rotation of the support beam within the bracket.