Solar Table Clamp for Transport Stability and Torque Tube Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of large-scale solar panel systems is cost-prohibitive due to the complexity and inefficiency of transporting and assembling solar tables across large, remote areas, where access to torque tubes is obstructed by solar panels.
Innovation Solution
The development of clamps that securely attach solar panels to torque tubes, allowing for safe transport and efficient removal at installation points, thereby facilitating the integration of solar tables into large-scale solar systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If solar panels are attached to torque tubes using traditional mounting equipment, then the solar panels are securely fixed for long-term deployment, but access to torque tubes is obstructed and installation becomes time-consuming and cost-prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into two distinct components: temporary clamps for transport and permanent mounting equipment for installation. The temporary clamp can be quickly attached and removed without obstructing torque tube access during installation, while the permanent mounting equipment provides long-term secure attachment. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without the trade-offs of a single integrated system.
2Reliability
If solar tables are assembled and installed at each location within the larger system, then proper integration is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires heavy equipment for torque tube connections
Solution Approach 1:
Solar tables are pre-assembled with torque tubes connected using heavy-duty bolts at a centralized location before deployment to the remote site. This preliminary action allows the time-consuming and equipment-intensive torque tube connections to be performed once during manufacturing, rather than repeatedly at each installation location. The pre-assembled tables are then transported and quickly installed using the temporary clamp system, dramatically improving installation efficiency while maintaining proper integration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all mounting equipment is individually assembled and installed at deployment site, then site-specific installation is achieved, but cost-effectiveness decreases as system size increases to large-scale deployments
Solution Approach 1:
Solar tables are pre-assembled at a centralized manufacturing location with all necessary mounting equipment and torque tube connections already in place. This preliminary assembly allows for standardized, cost-effective manufacturing processes to be used at scale, rather than performing individual assembly operations at each remote deployment site. The pre-assembled tables maintain adaptability to site-specific requirements while achieving cost-effectiveness through centralized production.
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp is described that couples a torque tube and at least one solar panel within a solar table. The clamp provides an efficient attachment when in a closed position that allows transportation of the solar table from a centralized assembly location to an installation point within a large-scale solar system. The clamp further provides an efficient process solar table mobile transport is described that moves a solar table to a point of installation. The clamp may be efficiently opened by personnel at the installation point to enable access to a section of the torque tube.