F24S2030/11

Cable and pole supported solar panel array
11683004 · 2023-06-20 · ·

A solar panel assembly where a solar panel(s) is mounted on a support pole that is pivotally attached to a footing. By adjusting the angle of the support pole relative to ground, the orientation of the solar panel can be changed in full-axis directions. A plurality of the solar panel assemblies can be arranged into an array of rows and columns. Each row includes a row support cable that is connected to each one of the solar panel assemblies in the row to simultaneously adjust an angle of each of the solar panels in the row. In addition, each column includes a column support cable that is connected to each one of the solar panel assemblies in the column which may be used to simultaneously adjust an angle of each of the solar panels in the column.

Photovoltaic tracker driveline joint

A driveline joint may include a driveline shaft that has a plurality of slots and a shaft coupling positioned in an interior of the driveline shaft in which the shaft coupling includes one or more openings with each of the openings corresponding to one or more respective slots of the plurality of slots included in the driveline shaft. The driveline joint may include one or more spherical bearings that are each positioned between an interior lateral surface of the driveline shaft and an exterior lateral surface of the shaft coupling and against one of the openings of the shaft coupling. The driveline joint may include one or more fasteners, wherein each of the fasteners extends through one of the slots and one of the openings of the shaft coupling.

SINGLE AXIS IN-LINE GEARBOX MODULAR TRACKER SYSTEM
20170353146 · 2017-12-07 ·

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.

Thrust surface bearing
11515832 · 2022-11-29 · ·

Solar trackers that may be advantageously employed on sloped and/or variable terrain to rotate solar panels to track motion of the sun across the sky include bearing assemblies and other mechanical features configured to address mechanical challenges posed by the sloped and/or variable terrain that might otherwise prevent or complicate use of solar trackers on such terrain.

Pneumatic parabolic mirror solar energy collector and grids made thereof
09823454 · 2017-11-21 ·

A scalable parabolic or disc shaped mirror, that is formed and maintained by inflating, with air or inert gas, a rigid polymer membrane envelope, that is pre-formed, and such that when inflated, forms this parabolic or disc shape, governed by a center supporting pole, and ring around circumference of the mirror. The top half of the ballooned envelope is made of a clear transparent membrane through which the sun's rays pass through and on to the lower inner lower surface, which is coated with reflective surface. The balloon is skewered through the middle of each membrane, and clamped with flanges to hermetically seal the envelope. The pole or center structure is anchored and hinged at the base so the Pneumatic Mirror can be articulated to face towards the sun, thus focussing the energy to whatever device is at the focal point.

ARRANGEMENT FOR ANGULARLY DISPLACING SOLAR PANELS

The present disclosure relates to the field of solar tracking systems. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an arrangement for angularly displacing solar panels. In accordance with the present disclosure, the arrangement angularly displaces and tracks plurality of solar panels together. Furthermore, the arrangement envisaged in the present disclosure is not complex and expensive and also requires less power during operation and less maintenance. The primary application of the arrangement envisaged in the present disclosure is in solar tracking systems.

SOLAR-OPERATED ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR A SOLAR INSTALLATION
20170310274 · 2017-10-26 ·

Solar-operated adjustment device for a solar installation including, at least one retaining element for fixing at least one solar element, a swivel device which is designed and intended to swivel the retaining element around a support point, wherein the swivel device includes at least one liquid tank, wherein a float of the retaining element is arranged at least in part beneath a filling level of the liquid tank and the float is supported on a perimeter of the liquid tank, and the retaining element can only be swiveled around a support point with respect to a longitudinal axis of the liquid tank by means of its buoyancy and is mounted above the filling level, at least indirectly on the edge of the liquid tank.

SINGLE AXIS ROTATION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A SOLAR DEVICE
20170307258 · 2017-10-26 ·

The present disclosure is drawn to single axis rotation systems for use with a solar device, as well as related methods and sun movement targeting devices. The single axis rotation system can include an actuator with a movable arm, a pulley system, and a rotatable shaft. The pulley system can include a base pulley, a collaborative pulley, and a compliant band about the base pulley and the collaborative pulley. The movable arm can be attached to the compliant band such that when the movable arm actuates, the compliant band causes the base pulley and the collaborative pulley to move. The rotatable shaft is attached to the base pulley and is configured to rotate when the base pulley rotates, as well as rotate a solar device along a single axis in an outward orientation with respect to the rotatable shaft.

Adjustable support for panel
11242952 · 2022-02-08 · ·

An adjustable support for a panel is provided to allow control of the height and the tilt angle of the panel. The support includes a hollow cylindrical base having an outer diameter D.sub.1; a first hollow piston having an outer diameter D.sub.2 threadably engaged with the base; a second hollow piston having an outer diameter D.sub.3 threadably engaged with the first piston; a third piston having an outer diameter D.sub.4 threadably engaged with the second piston, such that D.sub.1>D.sub.2>D.sub.3>D.sub.4. A ball pod extends from the third piston and accommodates a ball attached to the panel. One or more stepper motors are provided, where each stepper motor is coupled to a bottom portion of a respective piston, and a rotor of each stepper motor is configured to rotate the corresponding piston, thereby causing the piston to move along a longitudinal axis of the support.

Dynamic stabilizer for solar trackers

A non-drive dynamic stabilizer includes a damper and an actuator. The dynamic stabilizer provides multiple states of support to a solar tracker structure. These states may include 1) flexible movement and/or damping during normal operation (i.e. tracking) and/or 2) rigid or locked, whereby the dynamic stabilizer acts as a restraint. The dynamic stabilizer is actuated by a control system according to the real-time demands on the structure. Sensors to provide input to the control system may include wind speed sensors, wind direction sensors, snow sensors, vibration sensors and/or displacement sensors.