Tile Roof Solar Mounting Plate for Lateral Load Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current roof support apparatuses for tile roofs are inadequate in providing support against lateral forces and are not rigid enough to prevent movement, leading to potential cracking of tiles and leaks, especially when mounting large loads like solar panels or satellite dishes, due to the uneven surface and brittle nature of ceramic and cement tiles.
Innovation Solution
A roof support apparatus comprising a mounting plate with a track and attachment members that secure to the roof rafters, an upper support member that passes through the tile, and a screw mechanism that allows for adjustment and engagement to prevent rotational forces, providing flexibility and strength in attachment points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If support members are mounted directly on tile roof surface, then installation is simple, but the support is insufficient against lateral forces and may cause tile cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is divided into multiple components: mounting plate, track, support member, and attachment members. The mounting plate distributes loads across multiple attachment points to rafters, while the support member provides vertical support. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both ease of installation and high strength by combining simple individual components into a robust assembled structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from surface-mounted support to rafter-integrated support by extending the mounting plate downward through the roof surface to attach to the structural rafters below. This dimensional change from 2D surface mounting to 3D structural integration provides significantly enhanced lateral force resistance while maintaining installation simplicity through the modular design.
2Strength
If support members are mounted on rafters, then load bearing capacity is improved, but alignment with tiles becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The track is designed to be movable along the mounting plate, allowing the support member to be positioned at different locations. This dynamic adjustment capability enables alignment with various tile patterns and rafter positions, providing adaptability while maintaining the high load-bearing capacity of rafter-mounted support.
Solution Approach 2:
The track serves as an intermediary element between the fixed mounting plate (attached to rafters) and the movable support member. This intermediary allows the support member to be freely positioned along the track to align with tiles while the mounting plate remains securely fixed to the load-bearing rafters, resolving the alignment difficulty.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid support structure is used, then stability is improved, but adjustment for varying roof geometries is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines rigid components (mounting plate, support member) with a movable connection (track that slides along the mounting plate). This creates a dynamically adjustable structure that maintains stability when assembled but allows adjustment during installation to accommodate varying roof geometries, tile patterns, and rafter positions.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a roof support apparatus which may be used for securing a load to a tile-covered roof. The roof support apparatus comprises a mounting plate, a first and second attachment member, an upper support member, and a load. The mounting plate engages its base with an upper surface of the roof. A track of the mounting plate extends parallel to the base and has a width less than a width of said base. The first and second attachment members are adapted to extend downward through an exposed surface of the base on both sides of the track. The upper support member is adapted to pass vertically upward through an opening in a roof covering material, such as tile, and engage a screw which may slide along the tack until the screw and the upper support member are fully engaged.