AU2023263458A1 - Cable clamp for photovoltaic power plant - Google Patents

Abstract

A cable clamp for a photovoltaic power plant, comprising an upper clamp plate, a middle plate, and a lower clamp plate arranged successively from top to bottom of the cable clamp; the upper clamp plate and the lower clamp plate are connected to two ends of the middle plate respectively; a 5 substrate clamping cavity is defined by a space enclosed by the upper clamp plate and the middle plate, and a cable clamping cavity is defined by a space enclosed by the lower clamp plate and the middle plate; one of the upper clamp plate and the middle plate comprises position limiting parts on two sides thereof respectively, and the position limiting parts extend along a direction towards another one of the upper clamp plate and the middle plate; said another one of the upper clamp 10 plate and the middle plate is provided with an inverted hook extending towards said one of the upper clamp plate and the middle plate; the inverted hook and the position limiting parts clamp against two opposite surfaces of a substrate inserted into the substrate clamping cavity. The inverted hook and the position limiting parts are provided on opposite surfaces of the upper clamp plate and the middle plate respectively, such that when the substrate is inserted into the substrate 15 clamping cavity, the inverted hook and the position limiting parts can limit the movement of the substrate along an insertion direction of the substrate into the substrate clamping cavity and along a direction perpendicular thereto respectively. This achieves relative fixation between the cable clamp and the substrate, providing substantial clamping force to prevent movement of the cable clamp relative to the substrate, and enhancing post-installation structural stability. 20 DRAWINGS OF THE SPECIFICATION 5 9 10 14 13 \12 16 FIG.1I

Description

DRAWINGS OF THE SPECIFICATION

5

9 10

14 13 \12 16

FIG.1I

SPECIFICATION CABLE CLAMP FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANT TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the assembling technique of a photovoltaic power plant, and in

particular to a cable clamp for a photovoltaic power plant.

BACKGROUND

In the technical field of photovoltaic power generation, cables of photovoltaic power generation

equipment need to be gathered into combiner boxes or inverters, and fixed to substrates such as

photovoltaic support structures or photovoltaic module frames in the photovoltaic power plant.

This is to ensure orderly cable routing and ease of maintenance. Therefore, a cable clamp capable

of simultaneously clamping at least one cable and a substrate such as a photovoltaic support

structure or a photovoltaic module frame has emerged.

An existing cable clamp in the prior art is designed to have accommodating spaces on an upper

surface and a lower surface of the cable clamp respectively. The accommodating spaces are

elastically deformable to grip and fix a substrate and at least one cable respectively. Typically, a

cable clamp clamps onto an edge of the substrate. To prevent the cable clamp from being

disengaged from the edge of the substrate, inverted hooks are provided inside the accommodating

space intended for clamping the substrate. Assuming that the substrate is positioned horizontally,

and the substrate is inserted into the cable clamp along an X-axis, the inverted hooks can serve a

position limiting effect of the substrate in the cable clamp along an X-axis direction. However, the

inverted hooks in the prior art have almost no limiting effect along a Y-axis direction (vertical

direction) of the substrate and are therefore unable to prevent the cable clamp from moving along

the Y-axis direction of the substrate. Accordingly, when the substrate is thin or an area of the

substrate being clamped is small, the inverted hooks cannot provide sufficient clamping force. If

the cable clamp is subjected to external factors such as gravitational force of the cable(s) or tilting

of the substrate, it can easily displace on the substrate, leading to looseness, affecting structural stability, and posing safety hazards.

SUMMARY

An objective of the present invention is to provide a cable clamp for a photovoltaic power plant,

addressing issues present in the prior art. When the cable clamp clamps the substrate, position

limitations can be achieved in multiple directions, resulting in a more secured clamping effect to

prevent cable clamp movement.

To attain the above objective, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

A cable clamp for a photovoltaic power plant, comprising an upper clamp plate, a middle plate,

and a lower clamp plate arranged successively from top to bottom of the cable clamp; the upper

clamp plate and the lower clamp plate are connected to two ends of the middle plate respectively; a

substrate clamping cavity is defined by a space enclosed by the upper clamp plate and the middle

plate, and a cable clamping cavity is defined by a space enclosed by the lower clamp plate and the

middle plate; one of the upper clamp plate and the middle plate comprises position limiting parts

on two sides thereof respectively, and the position limiting parts extend along a direction towards

another one of the upper clamp plate and the middle plate; said another one of the upper clamp

plate and the middle plate is provided with an inverted hook extending towards said one of the

upper clamp plate and the middle plate; the inverted hook and the position limiting parts clamp

against two opposite surfaces of a substrate inserted into the substrate clamping cavity.

The inverted hook is provided on the upper clamp plate and is positioned along a center line of the

upper clamp plate; the position limiting parts are provided on the two sides of the middle plate.

Preferably, the inverted hook is formed on the upper clamp plate through a stamping process; a

first end portion of the inverted hook which is more proximal to a connecting point between the

upper clamp plate and the middle plate along an X-axis direction is inclined downward along the

X-axis direction so as to insert into the substrate clamping cavity, and an opposite second end

portion of the inverted hook is connected to the upper clamp plate; wherein said X-axis direction is

defined as a direction which the substrate is inserted into the substrate clamping cavity.

Preferably, the position limiting parts are walls defined by the two sides folded upwardly; a free end of the first end portion of the inverted hook is provided with a plurality of spikes, and a line connecting all free ends of the spikes is perpendicular to the position limiting parts.

The position limiting parts are walls defined by the two sides folded upwardly; a recess is defined

by a space enclosed by the position limiting parts and the plate to which the position limiting parts

are connected to; the first end portion of the inverted hook is inserted into the recess.

An end of the upper clamp plate that is not connected to the middle plate is connected to a first

reinforcement plate; the first reinforcement plate is inclined to a direction away from the middle

plate.

Preferably, when the inverted hook is provided on the upper clamp plate, the inverted hook is

positioned at a connection seam between the upper clamp plate and thefirst reinforcement plate;

and the inverted hook is coplanar with the first reinforcement plate.

An arc plate is provided between the upper clamp plate and the middle plate to achieve a curved

transition between the upper clamp plate and the middle plate.

A flat plate is vertically provided between the lower clamp plate and the middle plate to achieve

connection between the lower clamp plate and the middle plate; a first protrusion and a second

protrusion are formed on opposite surfaces of the middle plate and the lower clamp plate

respectively; the first protrusion, the second protrusion and the flat plate define a space in which a

cable is fixed within the cable clamping cavity.

Preferably, an end of the lower clamp plate that is not connected to the flat plate is connected to a

limiting plate; the limiting plate is inclined towards the middle plate.

Preferably, an end of the limiting plate that is not connected to the lower clamp plate is connected

to a second reinforcement plate; the second reinforcement plate is inclined in a direction away

from the middle plate.

Preferably, protruding ribs are formed at connection seam between the flat plate and the middle

plate, and also at connection seam between the flat plate and the lower clamp plate.

Two side openings of the cable clamping cavity along a Y-axis direction are each provided with an

outwardly turned flange around the corresponding side opening; wherein the Y-axis direction is defined as a direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction.

After adopting the above technical solutions, the present invention has the following technical

effects:

The inverted hook and the position limiting parts are provided on opposite surfaces of the upper

clamp plate and the middle plate respectively, such that when the substrate is inserted into the

substrate clamping cavity, the inverted hook and the position limiting parts can limit the movement

of the substrate along an insertion direction of the substrate into the substrate clamping cavity (i.e.

the X-axis direction) and along a direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction (i.e. Y-axis

direction) respectively. This achieves relative fixation between the cable clamp and the substrate,

providing substantial clamping force to prevent movement of the cable clamp relative to the

substrate, enhancing post-installation structural stability. Further, the cable clamping cavity can

clamp a certain number of cables, achieving relative fixation between the cables and the substrate.

Sufficient clamping force can be provided even when the substrate is thin or an area of the

substrate being clamped is small, providing higher adaptability of the product. Furthermore, it is

possible to use fewer cable clamps to achieve better fixation, thus reducing the cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of Embodiment I of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of Embodiment I of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of Embodiment I of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of Embodiment I of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a back view of Embodiment I of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of Embodiment I of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the usage of the present invention according to Embodiment I of

the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of Embodiment II of the present invention.

Reference numerals in the figures:

1----upper clamp plate; 2----middle plate; 3----lower clamp plate; 4----position limiting part;

5----inverted hook; 6----spike; 7----recess; 8----first reinforcement plate; 9----arc plate; 10---flat

plate; 11---first protrusion; 12---second protrusion; 13---limiting plate; 14---second reinforcement

plate; 15---rib; 16---flange; a----substrate clamping cavity; b----cable clamping cavity;

c----substrate; d----cable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To further explain the technical solutions of the present invention, a detailed description of the

present invention is provided below through specific embodiments.

Referring to FIGs. 1 to 8, the present invention discloses a cable clamp for a photovoltaic power

plant, comprising an upper clamp plate 1, a middle plate 2, and a lower clamp plate 3 arranged

successively from top to bottom of the cable clamp. Referring to FIG. 3, the upper clamp plate 1

and the lower clamp plate 3 are connected to two ends of the middle plate 2 respectively; a

substrate clamping cavity "a" is defined by a space enclosed by the upper clamp plate 1 and the

middle plate 2, and a cable clamping cavity "b" is defined by a space enclosed by the lower clamp

plate 3 and the middle plate 2.

One of the upper clamp plate 1 and the middle plate 2 comprises position limiting parts 4 on two

sides thereof respectively, and the position limiting parts 4 extend along a direction towards

another one of the upper clamp plate 1 and the middle plate 2. Said another one of the upper clamp

plate 1 and the middle plate 2 is provided with an inverted hook 5 extending towards said one of

the upper clamp plate 1 and the middle plate 2. The inverted hook 5 and the position limiting parts

4 clamp against two opposite surfaces of a substrate inserted into the substrate clamping cavity

"a.

Referring to FIGs. 1 to 7, Embodiment I of the present invention is shown.

In Embodiment I, the position limiting parts 4 are walls defined by the two sides folded upwardly.

In Embodiment I, the inverted hook 5 is provided on the upper clamp plate 1 and is positioned

along a center line of the upper clamp plate 1, while the position limiting parts 4 are provided on

the two sides of the middle plate 2. After the cable clamp clamps the substrate, the middle plate 2

remains substantially parallel to the substrate. Therefore, by providing the position limiting parts 4 on the middle plate 2, it is ensured that upper edges of the position limiting parts 4 are completely in contact with a lower surface of the substrate, thus achieving linear contact between the position limiting parts 4 and the substrate. This ensures the position limiting effect of the position limiting parts 4 on the substrate, i.e., preventing the cable clamp from moving relative to the substrate along a Y-axis direction.

Furthermore, the inverted hook 5 is formed on the upper clamp plate 1 through a stamping process.

A first end portion of the inverted hook 5 which is more proximal to a connecting point between

the upper clamp plate 1 and the middle plate 2 along an X-axis direction is inclined downward

along the X-axis direction so as to insert into the substrate clamping cavity "a", and an opposite

second end portion of the inverted hook 5 is connected to the upper clamp plate 1.

Secondly, a free end of the first end portion of the inverted hook 5 is provided with a plurality of

spikes 6, and a line connecting all free ends of the spikes 6 is perpendicular to the position limiting

parts 4.

In Embodiment I, a recess 7 is defined by a space enclosed by the position limiting parts 4 and the

plate (i.e. the middle plate 2) to which the position limiting parts 4 are connected to. The first end

portion of the inverted hook 5 is inserted into the recess 7, so that the inverted hook 5 is provided

with greater clamping force to clamp an upper surface of the substrate.

An end of the upper clamp plate 1 that is not connected to the middle plate 2 is connected to a first

reinforcement plate 8. The first reinforcement plate 8 is inclined to a direction away from the

middle plate 2 to enhance the structural strength of the upper clamp plate 1, and the first

reinforcement plate 8 also serves as a guide for the substrate to enter the substrate clamping cavity

"a" by facilitating the substrate to push open a gap between the upper clamp plate 1 and the middle

plate 2 so as to be inserted to the substrate clamping cavity "a".

Furthermore, when the inverted hook 5 is provided on the upper clamp plate 1, the inverted hook 5

is positioned at a connection seam between the upper clamp plate 1 and the first reinforcement

plate 8. The inverted hook 5 is also coplanar with the first reinforcement plate 8, thus allowing the

substrate to push aside the inverted hook 5 as it enters the substrate clamping cavity "a", thereby achieving a smoother insertion into the substrate clamping cavity "a".

An arc plate 9 is provided between the upper clamp plate 1 and the middle plate 2 to achieve a

curved transition between the upper clamp plate 1 and the middle plate 2, providing greater rigidity

to the connection between the upper clamp plate 1 and the middle plate 2.

A flat plate 10 is vertically provided between the lower clamp plate 3 and the middle plate 2 to

achieve connection between the lower clamp plate 3 and the middle plate 2. A height of the flat

plate 10 determines a vertical distance between the lower clamp plate 3 and the middle plate 2,

thereby determining a cable size that the cable clamp can accommodate. A first protrusion 11 and a

second protrusion 12 are formed on opposite surfaces of the middle plate 2 and the lower clamp

plate 3 respectively through stamping processes. The first protrusion 11, the second protrusion 12

and the flat plate 10 define a space in which a cable is fixed within the cable clamping cavity "b".

Furthermore, an end of the lower clamp plate 3 that is not connected to the flat plate 10 is

connected to a limiting plate 13. The limiting plate 13 is inclined towards the middle plate 2. The

limiting plate 13 and the second protrusion 12 define a space in which another cable is clamped, so

that the cable clamp of the present invention can fix more than one cable. If more second

protrusions 12 are provided, the cable clamp can clamp even greater number of cables.

Secondly, an end of the limiting plate 13 that is not connected to the lower clamp plate 3 is

connected to a second reinforcement plate 14. The second reinforcement plate 14 is inclined in a

direction away from the middle plate 2 to enhance the structural strength of the limiting plate 13;

the second reinforcement plate 14 also serves as a guide for cables to enter the cable clamping

cavity "b" by facilitating the cables to push open a gap between the lower clamp plate 3 and the

middle plate 2 so as to be inserted to the cable clamping cavity "b".

Further, protruding ribs 15 are formed through a stamping process at connection seam between the

flat plate 10 and the middle plate 2, and also at connection seam between the flat plate 10 and the

lower clamp plate 3. The protruding ribs 15 can enhance the rigidity of the cable clamp, thereby

providing greater clamping force to clamp the cables.

Two side openings of the cable clamping cavity "b" along the Y-axis direction are each provided with an outwardly turned flange 16 around the corresponding side opening. In other words, the flanges 16 are provided on the middle plate 2 (excluding the portion where position limiting parts

4 are provided), the flat plate 10, the lower clamp plate 3, and the limiting plate 13, so that edges

of the two side openings of the cable clamping cavity "b" are shaped as rounded edges. When a

cable is thick, instead of being inserted into the cable clamping cavity "b" through the gap between

the middle plate 2 and the lower clamp plate 3, it can directly be inserted along an axial direction

of the cable (i.e. the Y-axis direction) into the cable clamping cavity "b". This provides more

assembly options and is suitable for various installation scenarios.

Referring to FIG. 8, Embodiment II of the present invention is shown.

The primary difference between Embodiment I and Embodiment II is as follows: In Embodiment

II, the position limiting parts 4 are a plurality of protruding teeth on the two sides of the upper

clamp plate 1 or the middle plate 2.

In Embodiment II, the inverted hook 5 is provided on the upper clamp plate 1, and the position

limiting parts 4 (protruding teeth) are provided on the two sides of the middle plate 2. Additionally,

a lower end of the inverted hook 5 is lower than upper ends of the position limiting parts 4,

allowing the inverted hook 5 to provide greater clamping force to clamp the surface of the

substrate.

Referring to FIG. 7, according to the above solutions, in the present invention, the inverted hook 5

and the position limiting parts 4 are provided on opposite surfaces of the upper clamp plate 1 and

the middle plate 2 respectively, such that when the substrate c is inserted into the substrate

clamping cavity "a", the inverted hook 5 and the position limiting parts 4 can limit the movement

of the substrate c along an insertion direction of the substrate c into the substrate clamping cavity

"a" (i.e. the X-axis direction) and along a direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction (i.e.

Y-axis direction) respectively. This achieves relative fixation between the cable clamp and the

substrate c, providing substantial clamping force to prevent movement of the cable clamp relative

to the substrate c, enhancing post-installation structural stability. Further, the cable clamping cavity

"b" can clamp a certain number of cables d, achieving relative fixation between the cables d and the substrate c. Sufficient clamping force can be provided even when the substrate c is thin or an area of the substrate c being clamped is small, providing higher adaptability of the product.

Furthermore, it is possible to use fewer cable clamps to achieve better fixation, thus reducing the

cost.

The above embodiments and illustrations are not intended to limit the form and types of the

product of the present invention. Any appropriate variations or modifications made by those of

ordinary skills in the art within the scope of the present invention shall be considered as falling

within the scope of the patent.

Claims (13)

Claims

1. A cable clamp for a photovoltaic power plant, comprising:

an upper clamp plate, a middle plate, and a lower clamp plate arranged successively from top

to bottom of the cable clamp; the upper clamp plate and the lower clamp plate are connected to

two ends of the middle plate respectively; a substrate clamping cavity is defined by a space

enclosed by the upper clamp plate and the middle plate, and a cable clamping cavity is defined by

a space enclosed by the lower clamp plate and the middle plate;

one of the upper clamp plate and the middle plate comprises position limiting parts on two

sides thereof respectively, and the position limiting parts extend along a direction towards another

one of the upper clamp plate and the middle plate; said another one of the upper clamp plate and

the middle plate is provided with an inverted hook extending towards said one of the upper clamp

plate and the middle plate; the inverted hook and the position limiting parts clamp against two

opposite surfaces of a substrate inserted into the substrate clamping cavity.

2. The cable clamp of claim 1, wherein the inverted hook is provided on the upper clamp plate

and is positioned along a center line of the upper clamp plate; the position limiting parts are

provided on the two sides of the middle plate.

3. The cable clamp of claim 2, wherein the inverted hook is formed on the upper clamp plate

through a stamping process; a first end portion of the inverted hook which is more proximal to a

connecting point between the upper clamp plate and the middle plate along an X-axis direction is

inclined downward along the X-axis direction so as to insert into the substrate clamping cavity, and

an opposite second end portion of the inverted hook is connected to the upper clamp plate; wherein

said X-axis direction is defined as a direction which the substrate is inserted into the substrate

clamping cavity.

4. The cable clamp of claim 3, wherein the position limiting parts are walls defined by the two sides folded upwardly; a free end of the first end portion of the inverted hook is provided with a plurality of spikes, and a line connecting all free ends of the spikes is perpendicular to the position limiting parts.

5. The cable clamp of claim 1, wherein the position limiting parts are walls defined by the two

sides folded upwardly; a recess is defined by a space enclosed by the position limiting parts and

the upper clamp plate or the middle plate to which the position limiting parts are connected to; a

free end of the inverted hook is inserted into the recess.

6. The cable clamp of claim 1, wherein an end of the upper clamp plate that is not connected to the

middle plate is connected to a first reinforcement plate; the first reinforcement plate is inclined to a

direction away from the middle plate.

7. The cable clamp of claim 6, wherein when the inverted hook is provided on the upper clamp

plate, the inverted hook is positioned at a connection seam between the upper clamp plate and the

first reinforcement plate; and the inverted hook is coplanar with the first reinforcement plate.

8. The cable clamp of claim 1, wherein an arc plate is provided between the upper clamp plate and

the middle plate to achieve a curved transition between the upper clamp plate and the middle plate.

9. The cable clamp of claim 1, wherein a flat plate is vertically provided between the lower clamp

plate and the middle plate to achieve connection between the lower clamp plate and the middle

plate; a first protrusion and a second protrusion are formed on opposite surfaces of the middle plate

and the lower clamp plate respectively; the first protrusion, the second protrusion and the flat plate

define a space in which a cable is fixed within the cable clamping cavity.

10. The cable clamp of claim 9, wherein an end of the lower clamp plate that is not connected to the flat plate is connected to a limiting plate; the limiting plate is inclined towards the middle plate.

11. The cable clamp of claim 10, wherein an end of the limiting plate that is not connected to the

lower clamp plate is connected to a second reinforcement plate; the second reinforcement plate is

inclined in a direction away from the middle plate.

12. The cable clamp of claim 9, wherein protruding ribs are formed at connection seam between

the flat plate and the middle plate, and also at connection seam between the flat plate and the lower

clamp plate.

13. The cable clamp of claim 1, wherein two side openings of the cable clamping cavity along a

Y-axis direction are each provided with an outwardly turned flange around the corresponding side

opening; wherein the Y-axis direction is defined as a direction perpendicular to an X-axis direction

being a direction which the substrate is inserted into the substrate clamping cavity.