Trapezoidal rib mounting bracket with flexible legs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for installing structures on standing seam metal panel building surfaces often puncture the panels, leading to costly repairs, leakage, and corrosion issues, and lack flexibility to accommodate different panel configurations and sizes.
Innovation Solution
A mounting bracket with flexible legs that can be deflected up to 5° to accommodate various trapezoidal rib profiles, allowing for secure attachment without puncturing the panel and providing a one-piece construction for ease of installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional mounting methods are used to attach structures to standing seam metal panels, then secure attachment is achieved, but the panel surface is punctured causing leakage and corrosion issues
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket serves as an intermediary component between the solar panel and the building surface. It attaches to the standing seam from the rear of the panel without penetrating the panel surface, thus maintaining panel integrity while providing secure mounting capability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of mounting from the front surface by puncturing through the panel, the invention inverts the approach by accessing and attaching to the standing seam from the rear side of the panel, eliminating the need to puncture the panel surface
2Manufacturing precision
If custom mounting solutions are designed for each specific panel configuration, then precise fit is achieved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket incorporates flexible legs that can dynamically adjust their position and angle to accommodate different trapezoidal rib profiles. This flexibility allows a single bracket design to adapt to various panel configurations without requiring custom designs for each case
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting bracket is designed with universal applicability to work with different trapezoidal rib panel configurations. The flexible legs and adjustable geometry enable one bracket design to serve multiple panel types, eliminating the need for multiple specialized bracket designs
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 flexible legs enable secure attachment to different trapezoidal rib profiles without damaging the panel, reducing installation costs and preventing leakage and corrosion, while allowing for efficient installation of photovoltaic modules and other structures.
Implementation Method 1
Each of these legs is flexible through at least a certain range of motion to allow the mounting bracket to be installed on a number of different trapezoidal rib profiles
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting bracket (320) for trapezoidal rib profiles is disclosed. This mounting bracket (320) includes an upper section (330) and a lower section (350). A first leg (352a) in a second leg (352b) extend from a lower portion of the upper section (330) in diverging relation to one another. Each of these legs (352a, 352b) is deflectable through a certain range of motion to accommodate installation of the mounting bracket (320) on a variety of different trapezoidal rib profiles.