A flexible composite torsion shaft for attachment to a drive shaft includes an elongated core element having a circular cross section. A reinforcement comprising at least one polymer layer and multiple layers of reinforcing-fiber wound around the core element inside the at least one polymer layer. Each reinforcing-fiber layer is wound around the core element at a winding angle in a range of 40° to the hoop winding angle, depending on a width of a reinforcing-fiber being wound, relative to a longitudinal direction of the core element. At least one reinforcing-fiber-layer is wound at an opposite angle from another reinforcing-fiber layer inside the at least one polymer layer. The winding angle increases as an average layer diameter of reinforcing-fiber insider the at least one polymer layer increases.

A dual drive shaft solar tracker system comprises a photovoltaic (PV) structure, which includes at least one solar panel, a support structure and first and second drive shafts. The first and second drive shafts comprise first and second belt mechanisms wherein movement of the PV structure occurs by wrapping belts of the first belt mechanism onto the first drive shaft and by wrapping belts of the second belt mechanism onto the second drive shaft so as to provide a non-linear wrapping rate to accommodate the non-linearity of the belt wrapping onto the first and second drive shafts. A linkage, which ties two rows that are unbalanced in opposite directions, cancels out the imbalance as long as both rows have identical components. This allows trackers to use PV modules of any size and weight and the perfect balance is unaffected.

A dual drive shaft solar tracker system comprises a photovoltaic (PV) structure, which includes at least one solar panel, a support structure and first and second drive shafts. The first and second drive shafts comprise first and second belt mechanisms wherein movement of the PV structure occurs by wrapping belts of the first belt mechanism onto the first drive shaft and by wrapping belts of the second belt mechanism onto the second drive shaft so as to provide a non-linear wrapping rate to accommodate the non-linearity of the belt wrapping onto the first and second drive shafts. A linkage, which ties two rows that are unbalanced in opposite directions, cancels out the imbalance as long as both rows have identical components. This allows trackers to use PV modules of any size and weight and the perfect balance is unaffected.

Modular tracker systems that include at least first and second tables or are continuous without the use of tables, a single motor driving the first and second tables, first and second intra-table drive shafts and an inter-table drive shaft. Each table includes a support structure including first and second mounting posts, a frame supported by the support structure, at least one solar panel supported by the frame, and first and second gearboxes being concentrically aligned for each table. The first and second gearboxes are each configured to produce first and second outputs. The first output has a first rotational speed, and the second output has a second rotational speed less than the first rotational speed, and is operatively coupled to the frame. The inter-table drive shaft couples the second gearbox of the first table with the first gearbox of the second table, whereby the first and second tables are rotated synchronously.

A bearing lubricator for lubricating a lubricated bearing is provided. The bearing lubricator includes a reservoir configured to contain lubricant, a bearing lubricator for lubricating a lubricated bearing, a conduit connected to the reservoir and to the bearing; and mechanism and a controller. The mechanism is operably connected to at least one of reservoir and the conduit. The mechanism is adapted to advance the lubricant from the reservoir to the conduit when actuated. The controller stores a triggering value of a parameter. The controller is further adapted to actuate the mechanism when a signal indicative of the triggering value is advanced toward the controller. The bearing lubricator also includes a sensor operably connected to the controller. The sensor is adapted to measure a parameter of a measured bearing and to send a signal to the controller indicative of the value of the parameter.

A torque coil 10 includes a first filar configured in an inner layer 14 that is helically wound in a constricted state such that it defines an inner lumen providing access between a proximal and distal end of the torque coil. A second filar is configured in an outer layer 18 that is helically wound over the inner layer in a constricted state. At least one of the first and second filars includes a signal transmitting material surrounded by an isolating material thereby allowing transmission of signals between the proximal and distal end of the torque coil in one of the layers. At least one of the first and second filars includes a torque transmitting material thereby configuring the torque coil to transfer torque from the proximal to the distal end.

A connection for connecting a first member with a second member, including a torque transmitting connection between the first member and the second member and an axial force transmitting connection between the first member and the second member, wherein the axial force transmitting connection includes a first exterior shoulder on the first member, a second exterior shoulder on the second member, a first collar having a first interior shoulder for engaging with the first exterior shoulder, a second collar having a second interior shoulder for engaging with the second exterior shoulder, and a collar connection between the first collar and the second collar for transmitting an axial force between the first collar and the second collar.

A connection for connecting a first member with a second member, including a torque transmitting connection between the first member and the second member and an axial force transmitting connection between the first member and the second member, wherein the axial force transmitting connection includes a first exterior shoulder on the first member, a second exterior shoulder on the second member, a first collar having a first interior shoulder for engaging with the first exterior shoulder, a second collar having a second interior shoulder for engaging with the second exterior shoulder, and a collar connection between the first collar and the second collar for transmitting an axial force between the first collar and the second collar.

To reduce energy loss to increase power transmission efficiency, as well as to suppress unusual sound resulting from whirling vibration. A driving force transmission mechanism includes a drive unit that generates a rotation force and consists of a motor, as well as an independent rotating mechanism that is disposed between the drive unit and one of a pair of left and right gear mechanisms so as to be connected to the output shaft of the drive unit and has greater kinetic energy than the rotating parts of the gear mechanisms. Flexible shafts that rotate by smaller kinetic energy than any of the kinetic energy of the drive unit, the kinetic energy of the rotating mechanism, and the friction forces and damping forces of the rotating parts of the gear mechanisms connect between the drive unit and rotating mechanism, between the rotating mechanism and one gear mechanism, and between the drive unit and the other gear mechanism.

A method for sensing misalignment of a rotating shaft includes rotating the shaft. A distance from a sensor on the shaft to a first rim of a first coupling mounted to an end of the shaft is sensed as the shaft rotates. A change in the distance from the first sensor to the first rim of the first coupling is determined based on the sensed distance. An angle of the first coupling based on the change in the distance from the first sensor to the first rim of the first coupling during one revolution of the shaft is determined based on the sensed change in the distance from the first sensor to the first rim. An angle of the shaft is determined based on the sensed distance from the first sensor to the first rim of the first coupling representing the sensed change in the distance from the first sensor to the first rim.