Stackable Latching Pin for PV Module Rail Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Photovoltaic modules face detachment from supporting structures due to significant loading, such as wind forces, and require secure fastening to maintain electrical contact and resist deformations, especially in mobile devices that adjust orientation.
Innovation Solution
A pin with a metal body featuring a planar central section, diverging intermediate sections, and latching means for stacking and securing elements in a rail, ensuring continuous electrical contact and high resistance to stresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a pin with lateral extension is used to secure photovoltaic modules to rails, then the resistance to pull-out forces is improved, but the pin is susceptible to sliding and disengagement under bending stresses from module inclination
Solution Approach 1:
The pin is segmented into a central section and two intermediate sections that extend laterally in opposite directions. This segmentation allows the pin to resist pull-out forces through its lateral extensions while the central section maintains stability within the rail, preventing sliding and disengagement under bending stresses.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin features asymmetric geometry with intermediate sections extending laterally from the central section. This asymmetric design creates a configuration where the lateral extensions provide pull-out resistance while the central section's geometry prevents rotation and sliding, simultaneously addressing both strength and reliability requirements.
2Ease of operation
If pins are used individually to secure modules, then the securing function is provided, but the assembly requires multiple separate pins increasing complexity and installation time
Solution Approach 1:
Two separate pin functions are merged into a single pin body by extending intermediate sections laterally from the central section. This merging allows a single pin to perform the securing function that previously required multiple separate pins, reducing device complexity and installation time while maintaining the necessary securing functionality.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional securing devices are used, then fastening is achieved, but the devices can slide and disengage under orthogonal stresses from module bending
Solution Approach 1:
The pin design adds a lateral dimension to the traditional linear pin by extending intermediate sections perpendicular to the central section's elongation axis. This dimensional change allows the pin to resist not only pull-out forces along the elongation axis but also sliding and disengagement caused by orthogonal bending stresses, significantly improving stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A pin comprises a metal body extending along an elongation axis between a first end and a second end, and has an upper face and a lower face opposite to the upper face. The pin includes a substantially planar central section, two intermediate sections each extending laterally from the central section and in a diverging manner with respect to each other, and so as to allow the stacking of at least two pins in a stacking direction perpendicular to the central sections of the pins, and latching means arranged on both of the two intermediate sections and configured to hold the pins together in pairs by latching when they are stacked.