WO2019229685A1

WO2019229685A1 - Dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly for solar panels

Info

Publication number: WO2019229685A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/054469
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rakesh CHAUHAN; Vivek Jha
Original assignee: Chauhan Rakesh; Vivek Jha
Priority date: 2018-05-30
Filing date: 2019-05-30
Publication date: 2019-12-05

Abstract

Described herein is a dovetail- attachment floating mounting assembly [102] for mounting and supporting at least one solar panel [104]. The floating mounting assembly [102] includes a first and second primary mounts [108, 110], and a first and second secondary mount [112, 114]. The first and second primary mounts [108, 110] include mortice portions [202]. The first and second secondary mounts [112, 114] includes tenon portions [302,304]. The tenon portions [302,304] of the first and second secondary mounts [112, 114] are attached to the mortice portions [202] of each of the first and second primary mounts [108, 110], for attaching the first and secondary mount [112, 114] to the first and second primary mounts [108, 110] in a dovetail arrangement. The first and second secondary mount [112, 114] supports the at least one solar panel thereon.

Description

DOVETAIL-ATTACHMENT FLOATING MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR SOLAR PANELS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a floating mounting assembly for at least one solar panel. More particularly, the present invention relates to a floating mounting assembly for allowing installation of the at least one solar panel thereon.

BACKGROUND

Although, energy can neither be created nor destroyed; however, conservation of energy has always been a challenge and thus point of discussion from several decades, and thus should be utilized wisely and efficiently. From the inception of earth, the sun has been the primary and natural source of energy and is consumed/utilized in many forms for various purposes, naturally and artificially. Particularly, it is commonly known to employ a solar unit, for conserving solar energy in energy storage devices.

A solar unit commonly employs multiple solar panels that convert solar energy into electrical energy, and later store the electrical energy in the energy storage units. Such solar units may be deployed on either of roof of houses, ships, water bodies, land and any area/structure having direct exposure to the sun, for enabling the energy conservation operation. Amongst all the possible embodiments and implementations, the water-bodies solar units have always been the preferred choice in view of several advantages and cost effectiveness in terms of usage of space since the renewable energy sources require a large spatial footprint. For example, the water-body solar panels utilize space over water bodies, which is otherwise not used for any productive purposes. The water-body solar unit includes a floating mounting assembly and a number of solar panels, such that the solar panels are installed on a floating mounting assembly. Particularly, the floating mounting assembly floats over water, and concurrently enables the solar panels to be exposed to the sunlight.

Currently known floating mounting assemblies have provisions for mounting the solar panels thereon, with use of fastening arrangement. The fastening arrangement is a combination of a nut and bolt arrangement and a clamp arrangement. Particularly, the currently known floating mounting assemblies includes a flat floating base, to which the solar panels are attached with use of the combination of the nut and bolt arrangement and the clamp arrangement. However, such floating mounting assemblies are susceptible to damages caused by a number of factors, such as by continuous vibration due to turbulence in water, by corrosion effect, by degradation from water and dust, by air impact from high flowing winds, and by high tides/waves. For example, the fastening arrangement may be damaged, due to vibrations caused by water turbulence. Moreover, the solar panels supported by such floating mounting assemblies may be damaged, due to high velocity winds flowing against the solar panels. Also, the existing floating mounting assemblies are designed to hold only single solar panel at one part/section of such assemblies. Additionally, the existing floating mounting assemblies are not cost-effective, due to the requirement of large scale of manufacturing material for producing such float mounting assemblies.

Thus, in view of the above and other drawbacks and limitations of the currently known floating mounting assemblies for solar panels, it is essential to develop a floating mounting assembly capable of solving aforementioned problems. The above-mentioned information in the background section is only intended to enhance the understanding of the reader with respect to the field to which the present invention pertains. Therefore, unless explicitly stated otherwise, any of the features or aspects discussed above should not be construed as prior art merely because of its inclusion in this section.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure relates to a dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly for mounting and supporting at least one solar panel thereon. The dovetail- attachment floating mounting assembly being made of a floating material, such that the floating mounting assembly is capable of supporting the at least one solar panel over water surface.

Another object of the present disclosure relates to a dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly for mounting and supporting at least one solar panel thereon. The floating mounting assembly supports the at least one solar panel, while minimizing/ extinction of damages to the dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly, caused by various natural factors, such as but not limited to, continuous vibration due to turbulence in water, air impact from high flowing winds, and high tides/waves.

Yet another object of the present disclosure relates to a dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly for mounting and supporting at least one solar panel thereon, such that the at least one solar panel is supported at a height less than one (1) meter from the water surface. Supporting of the at least one solar panel at such lower heights of under one (1) meter, the at least one solar panel is exposed only to low velocity winds, and thus is not subject to damages caused by the high velocity winds. Also, positioning of the at least one solar panel at such lower heights of under one (1) meter, causes rapid cooling of the solar panels and thus increases an efficiency of the at least one solar panel.

Yet another object of the present disclosure relates to a dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly for mounting and supporting at least one solar panel thereon, which has minimal effect on water life. Particularly, the dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly is so structured and arranged to have a minimal footprint on the water surface, such that water life is minimally disturbed. For example, reduced footprint by the dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly allows a relatively increased receipt of oxygen by water surface.

Yet another object of the present disclosure relates to a dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly for mounting and supporting at least one solar panel thereon, which uses reduced material for production. Particularly, the dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly as disclosed herein, uses minimal material for construction, thereby reducing a manufacturing cost of the dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly and improving packing efficiency of the floating mounting assembly. Also, such structure and arrangement of the dovetail- attachment floating mounting assembly requires less sturdy anchoring arrangement, for installation on the water surface.

The present disclosure relates to a dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly for mounting and supporting at least one solar panel thereon. The dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly including a first and second primary mounts and at least one secondary mount. The first and second primary mount are laterally spaced apart from each other, and includes at least one mortice portion. The at least one secondary mount is laterally positioned between the first and second primary mounts, and includes at least two tenon portions. The at least two tenon portions of the at least one secondary mount is attached to the at least one mortice portion of each of the first and second primary mounts, for attaching the at least one secondary mount to the first and second primary mounts in a dovetail arrangement. The at least one secondary mount mounts and supports the at least one solar panel thereon. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. These and other details of the present invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

Figure 1A illustrates an exemplary top view of a dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly of a solar unit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure IB illustrates an exemplary top view of the solar unit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary top view of a first primary mount, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary top view of a first secondary mount, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary side view of the first secondary mount, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 5A illustrates an exemplary side view of the floating mounting assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5B illustrates an exemplary side view of the solar unit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, various specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. Several features described hereafter can each be used independently of one another or with any combination of other features. An individual feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or might address only one of the problems discussed above. Some of the problems discussed above might not be fully addressed by any of the features described herein. Example embodiments of the present invention are described below, as illustrated in various drawings in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings.

The present invention encompasses systems and methods for providing a water-body type solar unit [100], which can be deployed over a water surface for enabling energy conservation. The solar unit [100] employs a dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly [102] and at least one solar panel [104] For ease in reference and understanding, the dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly [102] will be referred to as the floating assembly [102], interchangeably hereinafter. In a first embodiment of the solar unit [100], the floating mounting assembly [102] includes a single mounting unit [106], which mount and support two (2) solar panels [104] In a second embodiment of the solar unit [100], the floating mounting assembly [102] employs a number of mounting units [106] interconnected with each other, to mount and support a number of solar panels [104] thereon. For ease in reference and understanding, the first embodiment of the solar unit [100], with the floating mounting assembly [102] employing a single mounting unit [106] to mount and support two (2) solar panels [104], is described. Flowever, concepts of the present disclosure may also be applied to the second embodiment of the solar unit [100], in which the floating mounting assembly [102] employs a number of mounting units [106] interconnected with each other to form a floating mount web, for mounting and supporting a number of solar panels [104] thereon.

Fig. 1 illustrates the floating mounting assembly [102], in accordance with the concepts of the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 illustrates the solar unit [100], in accordance with the concepts of the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 should be referred to in conjunction, in order to clear understand the concepts of the present disclosure. In the first embodiment, the solar unit [100] includes the floating mounting assembly [102] and two (2) solar panels [104] supported thereon.

The solar panels [104] are conventionally known photovoltaic cells capable of converting the solar energy into electrical energy. The solar panels [104] are connected to one or more energy storage device via a power control unit, which store the electrical energy generated by the solar panels of the solar unit. The solar panels [104] are mounted and supported on the floating mounting assembly [102], to be exposed to sunlight and thus perform the solar energy conservation operation. The floating mounting assembly [102] supports and mounts the two (2) solar panels [104], thereon. In the first embodiment, the floating mounting assembly [102] includes one (1) mounting unit [106], to mount and support the two (2) solar panels [104] Although, the present disclosure describes mounting of the two (2) solar panels [104] on the mounting unit [106] of the floating mounting assembly [102], it may be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the mounting unit [106] of the floating mounting assembly [102] may also support the energy storage device and the power control units of the solar unit [100] The mounting unit [106] of the floating mounting assembly [102] incudes a first primary mount [108], a second primary mount [110], a first secondary mount [112], and a second secondary mount [114] Each of the first primary mount [108], the second primary mount [110], the first secondary mount [112], and the second secondary mount [114] are arranged together to form the mounting unit [106] of the floating assembly [102], for mounting and supporting the two (2) solar panels [104] thereon.

Fig. 2 illustrates the first primary mount [108] of the mounting unit [106] of the floating mounting assembly [102] A structure of the first primary mount [108] will be described hereinafter. Although, structure, arrangement, and material of the first primary mount [108] will be described hereinafter, similar structure, arrangement, and material of the second primary mount [110] may also be contemplated. The first primary mount [108] is made up of floating material, such as but not limited to, polyethylene, rubber, thermoplastic, bamboo, concrete, styrofoam, foam, FRP, and any such material that is obvious to a person skilled in the art. This enables the floating mounting assembly [102] to float on a water surface. The first primary mount [108] of the mounting unit [106] includes two mortice portions [202], three supplementary mortice portions [204], and a supplementary tenon portion [206], defined along a periphery of the first primary mount [108] The two mortice portions [202] are positioned on a bottom side of the first primary mount [108], and enables attachment of the first primary mount [108] with the first and second secondary mounts [112, 114] of the mounting unit [106] One of the supplementary mortice portions [204] is defined on a right side of the first primary mount [108], and enables attachment of the first primary mount [108] with another primary mount of a right-positioned adjacent mounting unit. Two of the supplementary mortice portions [204] are defined on a top side of the first primary mount [108], and enables attachment of the first primary mount [108] with another two supplementary secondary mounts. The supplementary tenon portion [206] is defined on a left side of the first primary mount [108], and enables attachment of the first primary mount [108] with another first primary mount of a left-positioned adjacent mounting unit. It may be noted that the mortice portions [202] and [204] are made up of a cavity formed on a top surface of the first primary mount [108], suitably shaped to receive the mortice portions of the other components of the mounting unit. Further, the tenon portions [206] are extensions from an end, suitably sized to complement the cavity of the mortice portions of other components of the mounting unit [106] Although, the present disclosure discloses inclusion of three supplementary mortice portions [204] and one supplementary tenon portion [206], it may be obvious to a person skilled in the art that any number of the supplementary mortice portions [204] and any number of the supplementary tenon portion [206], may also be included on the first primary mount [108] Similar structure and arrangement of the second primary mount [110] may also be contemplated.

Fig. 3 illustrates a top view of the first secondary mount [112], in accordance with the concepts of the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 4, illustrates a side view of the first secondary mount [112], in accordance with the concepts of the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 may be referred to in conjunction, to clearly understand the structure and arrangement of the first secondary mount [112] The first secondary mount [112] and the second secondary mount [114] are identical in shape, construction, and arrangement. Accordingly, a structure, shape, and arrangement of the first secondary mount [112] will be explained hereinafter, similar structure, shape and arrangement of the second secondary mount [114] may be contemplated. The first secondary mount [112] is made up of floating material, such as but not limited to, polyethylene, rubber, thermoplastic, bamboo, concrete, styrofoam, foam, FRP, and any such material that is obvious to a person skilled in the art. This enables the floating mounting assembly [102] to float on a water surface. The first secondary mount [112] of the mounting unit [106] includes two tenon portions [302] and [304], defined at opposite ends of the first secondary mount [112] One of the two tenon portions [302] of the first secondary mount [112] is attached to one of the two mortice portions [202] of the first primary mount [108], to enable a dovetail attachment therebetween. Further, other of the two tenon portions [304] of the first secondary mount [112] is attached to another of the two mortice portions [202] of the second primary mount [110], to enable a dovetail attachment therebetween. Further, the first secondary mount [112] includes two first mount posts [306] and two second mount posts [308], for mounting and supporting the solar panels [104] thereon. Each of the second mount post [308] is lesser in height than each of the first mount posts [306] of the first secondary mount [112] A pair of the first mount post [306] and the second mount post [308], in conjunction, support at least a portion of one of the two (2) the solar panels [104] For example, the pair of the first mount post [306] and the second mount post [308], in conjunction, support a left portion of one of the two (2) solar panels [104] Moreover, the other pair of the first mount post [306] and the second mount post [308], in conjunction, support a left portion of the other of the two (2) solar panels [104] For ease in reference and understanding, a structure and arrangement of the pair of first mount post [306] and the second mount post [308], for supporting the left portion of one of the two (2) solar panels [104] will be explained hereinafter, however similar structure and arrangement of the other pair of first mount post [306] and the second mount post [308], for supporting the left portion of the other of the two (2) solar panels [104] may eb contemplated. The first mount post [306] supports a channel component [310], which further supports a top-left corner of one of the two (2) solar panels [104] The second mount post [308] support a fastener [312], which further supports a bottom-left corner of one of the two (2) solar panels [104] A structure and arrangement of the second secondary mount [114] may be contemplated to be similar to the first secondary mount [114] for supporting the right portion of the two (2) solar panels.

An assembly of the first embodiment of the solar unit [100] is defined hereinafter. Fig. 5a illustrates an assembled side view of the floating mounting assembly [102] of the solar unit [100] Fig. 5b illustrates an assembled side view of the solar unit [100] Fig. 1, Fig. 5a, and fig. 5b, should be referred to in conjunction to clearly an assembly of first embodiment of the solar unit [100], in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure. In assembly of the first embodiment of the solar unit [100], the first primary mount [108] is initially positioned on floor. Thereafter, the first secondary mount [112] is attached to the first primary mount [108], in a dovetail attachment. For enabling this, the tenon portion [302] of the first secondary mount [112] is attached to one of the mortice portion [202] of the first primary mount [108] A fastener/interconnection bolt is then inserted, extending through each of the tenon portion [302] of the first secondary mount [112] and the mortice portion [202] of the first primary mount [108] The interconnection bolt as described herein may be made-up of at least one of steel, metal, plastic, rubber and any such material that is obvious to a person skilled in the art. After attaching the first secondary mount [112] to the first primary float [108], the second secondary mount [114] is attached to the first primary float [108] For enabling this, the tenon portion [302] of the second secondary mount [114] is attached to the other of mortice portion [202] of the first primary mount [108] After this, the second primary mount [110] is installed to the first secondary mount [112] and the second secondary mount [114]. For enabling this, the two mortice portions [202] of the second primary mount [110] is attached to the tenon portions [304] pf the first secondary mount [112] and the second secondary mount [114]. With such arrangement, the mounting unit [106] of the floating mounting assembly [102] is prepared, to mount and support the two (2) solar panels [104] of the solar unit [100] Mounting of the two (2) solar panels [104] of the solar unit [100] will be explained hereinafter.

For installing the solar panels [104] on the floating mounting assembly [104], each solar panel [104] is mounted and supported on four (4) points. Particularly, each solar panels [104] is mounted and supported on a pair of first mount post [306] and the second mount post [308] of the first secondary mount [112] and another pair of first mount post [306] and the second mount post [308] of the second secondary mount [114]. Particularly, the bottom of the solar panel [104] is mounted and supported on the second mount posts [308] of each of the first secondary mount [112] and the second secondary mount [114]. Thereafter, the top of the solar panel [104] is mounted and supported on the channels [310] in the first mount posts [306] of each of the first secondary mount [112] and the second secondary mount [114]. A fastener arrangement may be deployed at the second mount posts [308] of each of the first secondary mount [112] and the second secondary mount [114], to fix the solar panel [104] to thereon. As the second mount posts [308] of each of the first secondary mount [112] and the second secondary mount [114] are lesser in height than the first mount posts [306] of each of the first secondary mount [112] and the second secondary mount [114], the solar panel [104] is mounted and supported at an angle to the horizontal plane, for allowing maximum exposure of the solar panel [104] to the sunlight. It may be noted that the first mount posts [306], the second mount posts 308], and the solar panels [104] are so shaped and sized, such that a top of the solar panel is below one (1) meter height form the water level, when supported on a water surface. Thus, the solar panel [104] is positioned relatively closer to the water surface. The solar panel [104] Similar to this, the other solar panel [104] is mounted and supported on the other pair of the first mount post [306] and the second mount post [308] of the first secondary mount [112], and the other pair of first mount post [306] and the second mount post [308] of the second secondary mount [114]. After assembling the entire solar unit [100], it is deployed over a water surface. As the first primary mount [108], the second primary mount [110], the first secondary mount [112], and the second secondary mount [114], are made up of floating material, the solar unit [100] is capable of floating over the water surface. Moreover, the solar unit [100] is installed on the water surface, with use of an anchoring mechanism. After installing the solar unit [100] on the water surface, the first and second primary mount [108, 110] provides a passage for allowing movement of personnel/equipment on the first and second primary mount [108, 110]. Moreover, after such installation of the solar unit [100] on the water surface, the first and second primary mount [108, 110] are utilized for operations and maintenance (O&M) requirements. Further, the first and second primary mount [108, 110] and the first and second secondary mounts [112, 114], provides adequate buoyancy to support the movement of the personnel/equipment.

In the second embodiment, the solar unit [100] employs a number of mounting units [106] as part of the floating mounting assembly [102], and a number of solar panels [104] For such embodiment, each mounting unit [106] is initially assembled in a way as described above for the first embodiment. Thereafter, the solar panels [104] are installed on each mounting unit [106] as described above for the first embodiment of the present disclosure, such that each mounting unit [106] mounts and supports two (2) solar panels [104] Once such mounting units [106] are assembled, they are interconnected with each other. Particularly, a second mounting unit [106] may be attached to a first mounting unit [106], by attaching a supplementary mortice portions [204] of each of the first primary mount [108] and the second primary mount [110] the first mounting unit [106] to the supplementary tenon portions [206] of each of the first primary mount [108] and the second primary mount [110] the second mounting unit [106] This forms a linear array of a number of mounting units [106] Thereafter, a number of linear arrays of a similar number of mounting units [106] are prepared in same manner, as described above for one linear array of a number of mounting units [106] After doing so, a number of supplementary secondary mounts are installed between a first primary mount [108] of one mounting unit [106] of one linear array of mounting units [106] and a second primary mount [108] of another mounting unit [106] of another linear array of mounting units [106] The supplementary secondary mounts are similar in shape and construction, as that of the first secondary mount [112] and the second secondary mount [114]. This is achieved by connecting the tenon portion of the supplementary secondary mounts, to the supplementary mortice portions [204] of the first primary mount [108] of one mounting unit [106] of one linear array of mounting units [106] and a second primary mount [108] of another mounting unit [106] of another linear array of mounting units [106] After installing this, supplementary solar panels [104] are installed on the supplementary secondary mounts, in a manner same as that described for mounting of the solar panels [104] on the first and second secondary mounts [112] and [114]. This allows preparation of a rectangular array of mounting units [106] as part of the solar unit [100] It may be noted that the solar panels [104] are so installed and positioned, such that a top of the solar panels [104] does not reach beyond a height of one (1) meter. Thereafter, a peripheral float assembly is installed on a periphery of the rectangular array of the solar unit [100] The peripheral float assembly acts as a first line of defense against the high wind/waves and any other natural disaster, for the floating mounting assembly [102] The peripheral float assembly is further configured to support the installation of array junction boxes, string inverters and is also configured to serve as the interconnection point of an anchoring and mooring system. The peripheral float assembly is also configured to include one or more cable trays which is pre-embedded into the peripheral float, wherein the cable trays carries the wires of the solar power plant. The peripheral float assembly as described herein may be made-up of a floating material, such as but not limited to, at least one of polyethylene, rubber, thermoplastic, bamboo, concrete, styrofoam, foam, FRP, and any such material that is obvious to a person skilled in the art. After such installation, the entire solar unit [100] is installed on the water surface, with use of an anchoring and mooring mechanism. The anchoring and mooring mechanism helps to maintain south orientation of the solar unit [100], prevent damages of the solar unit [100] due to high winds, restrict any lateral movement of the solar unit [100] due to high winds and changes in water level, and provide right of way to movement of goods and traffic within the water bodies/reservoir. Further, the anchoring and mooring system extends to the one or more edges/periphery of the solar unit [100] In an embodiment, the anchoring and mooring system utilizes earth driven anchors in the reservoir bed. Each earth driven anchor is subsequently secured/locked to the solar unit [100] through at least one anchoring chain and multiple mooring ropes while utilizing a system of dead weights and buoys to maintain tautness of chain and mooring ropes. The number of anchors depend on the scale of the solar unit [100] and the specific site conditions. The anchoring and mooring system/design as mentioned herein is suitable for a reservoir with sandy/muddy bed. Flowever, the anchoring and mooring system/design can also be utilized with concrete/rocky bed and any such water reservoir bed. After installing such second embodiment of the solar unit [100] on the water surface, the first and second primary mounts [108, 110] provides a passage for allowing movement of personnel/equipment on the first and second primary mounts [108, 110]. Moreover, after such installation of the solar unit [100] on the water surface, the first and second primary mounts [108, 110] are utilized for operations and maintenance (O&M) requirements. Further, the first and second primary mounts [108, 110] and the first and second secondary mounts [112, 114], provides adequate buoyancy to support the movement of the personnel/equipment. For ease in reference and understanding, advantages and benefits will be described relative to the first embodiment of the solar unit [100], however, it should be noted that similar advantages and benefits may also be obtained from the second embodiment of the solar unit [100]

With such arrangement of the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the solar unit [100], a number of advantages and benefits may be obtained and contemplated. For example, such arrangement of the mounting unit [106] of the floating mounting assembly [102] is modular in nature. Therefore, such structure and arrangement of the mounting unit [106] may enable relatively easy installation, de-installation, and packaging of the mounting unit [106] when required. Such packaging capacities also reduces freight cost of such floating mounting assemblies [102] of the solar unit [100]

In addition to above cited advantages, the specific structure and arrangement of the floating mounting assembly [102] enables the solar unit [100], to have a relatively more aerodynamic structure. Particularly, as the solar panels [104] are supported on the first mount posts [306] and the second mount posts [308], air is allowed to pass through the solar unit [100] from a gap between the first mount posts [306] and the second mount posts [308] This enables relatively lower restriction to airflow, and thus a relatively lower draft is observed at the solar unit [100]

Moreover, the floating mounting assembly [102] as disclosed in the present disclosure mounts and supports the solar panels [104] at a height less than one (1) meter from the water surface. This further enables less exposure of the solar panels [104] to high flowing winds, as the solar panels [104] are placed close to the water surface. Particularly, a drag on the solar panels [104] is further reduced. Moreover, placement of the solar panels [104] close to the water surface enables relatively better cooling of the solar panels [100], which causes increase in efficiency of the solar panels [104]

In addition to the above cited advantages, the specific structure of the floating mounting assembly [102] of the solar unit [100], as disclosed in the present disclosure, provides for covering a relatively lesser foot-area over the water surface. Therefore, the obstruction to the water life is relatively minimized. For example, usage of such floating mounting assembly [102] as part of the solar unit [100], enables better oxygen mixture from environment to the water surface, thereby maintaining ecological balance in water surface.

Further, the specific structure of the floating mounting assembly [102] of the solar unit [100], as disclosed in the present disclosure, provides for requirement of a relatively lesser material to be used for installation of the solar panels [104] thereon. For example, an empty space is provided between the first primary mount [108] and the second primary mount [110]. Therefore, such structure of the floating mounting assembly [102] of the solar unit [100], require optimized amount of raw material for installation of the solar panels [104] thereon. This substantially reduces an overall cost of the floating mounting assembly [102] of the solar unit. Moreover, such less usage of material makes the solar unit relatively less bulky, and thus can be installed on the water surface with a relatively lower standard of anchoring arrangement.

In addition to the aforementioned advantages, the floating mounting assembly [102], as disclosed in the present disclosure, employs a dovetail attachment between various components. For example, the floating mounting assembly [102] provides a dovetail attachment between the first primary mount [108] and each of the first secondary mount [112] and the second secondary mount [114]. Also, the floating mounting assembly [102] provides a dovetail attachment between the second primary mount [110] and each of the first secondary mount [112] and the second secondary mount [114]. Such dovetail attachment provides a degree of flexibility between the joints, and therefore vibrations due to water vibrations does not impact the floating mounting assembly [102] Also, such attachment simulates the shape of waves formed in the water body without exerting any stress on the installed solar panels and other BoS (i.e. balance of systems includes inverters, string combiner boxes, cables, conduits etc.).

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described hereinabove, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations, and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.

List of Components:

100 - Currently Known Diaphragm Assembly 102 - Floating Mounting Assembly of [100]

104 - Solar Panels of [100] 106 - Mounting Units of [102]

108 - First Primary Mount of [106]

110 - Second Primary Mount of [106]

112 - First Secondary Mount of [106]

114 - Second Secondary Mount of [106]

202 - Mortice Portions of [108, 110]

204 - Supplementary Mortice Portions of [108, 110] 206 - Supplementary Tenon Portion of [108, 110] 302 - First Tenon Portion of [112, 114]

304 - Second Tenon Portion of [112, 114]

304 - First Mount Post of [112, 114]

306 - Second Mount Post of [112, 114]

308 - Channel Component of [304]

308 - Fastener of [306]

Claims

We Claim:

1. A dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly [102] for mounting and supporting at least one solar panel [104], the dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly [102] comprising: - at least one mounting unit [106], including: a first and second primary mounts [108, 110] positioned laterally spaced apart from each other, each of the first and second primary mounts [108, 110] including at least two mortice portion [202]; and a first and second secondary mounts [112, 114] spaced apart from each other and laterally positioned between the first and second primary mounts

[108, 110], each of the first and second secondary mounts [112, 114] including at least two tenon portions [302,304], wherein the at least two tenon portions [302,304] of each of the first and second secondary mounts [112,114] is attached to the at least two mortice portions [202] of each of the first and second primary mounts [108,110], for attaching the first and second secondary mounts [112, 114] to the first and second primary mounts [108,110] in a dovetail arrangement, and the first and second secondary mounts [112, 114] support the at least one solar panel [104], while the dovetail arrangement reduces impact of water vibrations on the at least one solar panel [104]

2. The dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly [102] as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second primary mounts [108, 110] and the first and second secondary mount [112, 114] are made up of a floating material, to enable the dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly [102] to float on a water surface.

3. The dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly [102] as claimed in claim 1, further includes a plurality of mounting units [106] interconnected with each other through a number of dovetail arrangement.

4. The dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly [102] as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and second primary mounts [108, 110] of each of the plurality of mounting units [106] includes a supplementary tenon portion [206] and a supplementary mortice portion [204] at opposite ends.

5. The dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly [102] as claimed in claim 1, 3, and

4, wherein the supplementary mortice portion [204] on each of the first and second primary mounts [108, 110] of one mounting unit [106] is attached to the supplementary tenon portion [206] of each of the first and second primary mounts [108, 110] of an adjacent mounting unit [106], for providing dovetail arrangement therebetween.

6. The dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly [102] as claimed in claim 1, 3, and

4, wherein the supplementary tenon portion [206] on each of the first and second primary mounts [108, 110] of one mounting unit [106] is attached to the supplementary mortice portion [204] of each of the first and second primary mounts [108, 110] of another adjacent mounting unit [106], for providing dovetail arrangement therebetween.

7. The dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly [102] as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second secondary mounts [112, 114] include at least one first mount post [304] and at least one second mount post [306], the second mount post [306] being lesser in height than the first mount post [304]

8. The dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly [102] as claimed in claim 1 and 7, wherein the at least one solar panel [104] is mounted on each of the at least one first mount post [304] and the at least one second mount post [306] of the first and second secondary mounts [112, 114], to be installed on floating mounting assembly [102] while being inclined at an angle from a horizontal plane.

9. The dovetail-attachment floating mounting assembly [102] as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one solar panel [104] are mounted and supported on the floating mounting assembly [102], at a height lesser than one (1) meter.