Spring Wire Cable Hangers for Solar Tracker Cable Movement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable management systems are inadequate for securing and managing electrical cables on solar tracking units, leading to issues like pinching, shadowing, and damage due to their inability to support the weight and movement of cables effectively.
Innovation Solution
The development of electrical cable hangers with a cable holding portion, a hook-like portion for securing to structures, and a locking clip-like portion for stable attachment, utilizing spring steel wire with a circular cross-section that can be coated for enhanced friction and protection, allowing cables to move freely while preventing shadowing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing cable management systems (clips, ties) are used to secure cables to solar tracking structures, then cables can be attached to the frame, but the cables become pinched, damaged, or cause shadowing due to inability to support weight and movement
Solution Approach 1:
The cable management system is divided into separate functional components: a cable hanger with hook-like portion for attaching to the solar tracking structure, a cable holding portion for securing cables, and a locking clip-like portion for stable attachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively, preventing cable pinching and damage while maintaining cable integrity during solar tracker movement.
2Stability of the object's composition
If cables are secured rigidly to prevent movement, then cable position is stable, but cables cannot accommodate solar tracker movement and become pinched or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The cable hanger incorporates a flexible wire construction with spring-like properties that provides dynamic adaptation. The wire can flex and move with the solar tracking system while maintaining cable security, allowing the cable management system to adapt to changing positions during tracker operation without causing cable pinching or damage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cables are allowed to move freely to accommodate tracker motion, then cable damage is prevented, but cables may drape and cause shadowing on solar panels
Solution Approach 1:
The cable hanger provides localized support at specific attachment points along the cable path. By securing cables at strategic locations while allowing movement in other areas, the system prevents cable draping and shadowing on solar panels while still accommodating necessary cable movement for tracker operation.
4Device complexity
If simple cable ties or clips are used for cable management, then installation is easy and device complexity is low, but the systems cannot support cable weight and movement on solar trackers
Solution Approach 1:
The cable hanger merges multiple functions into a single integrated component: the hook-like portion for structural attachment, the cable holding portion for cable security, and the locking clip-like portion for stable mounting. This combination provides robust cable support capability while maintaining relatively simple installation procedures.
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 cable hangers provide secure, reliable, and durable support for electrical cables, preventing pinching and shadowing, and allowing for movement without damaging the cables, thus enhancing the integrity and efficiency of solar tracking systems.
Implementation Method 1
spring steel wire with a circular cross-section that can be coated for enhanced friction and protection, allowing cables to move freely
Implementation Method 2
coated for enhanced friction and protection
Data Source
AI summary
A hanger for securing electrical cabling to a structure, the hanger including a cable holding portion provided at a distal end of the hanger for holding one or more cables to be secured, a hook-like portion provided at a proximal end portion of the hanger for securing to the structure and a locking clip-like portion provided intermediate of the cable holding portion and the hook-like portion for clipping the hanger to and securing the hanger to the structure.