A distributed torque, single axis solar tracking system includes a plurality of spaced apart mounting posts with selected posts having an electrically controlled actuator mounted thereon. A torque structure extends between the actuators to distribute rotational torque on the torque structure. A plurality of solar panels is connected to the torque structure. Electrical apparatus is coupled to each actuator and designed to be coupled to a power source so that when the electrical apparatus is coupled to the power source, the plurality of actuators is energized to rotate simultaneously a desired amount. Whereby the plurality of solar panels is rotated the desired amount as the plurality of actuators rotates.

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.

A solar tracking system including a plurality of bases, a torque tube supported by the plurality of bases and configured to support a plurality of solar modules, and a drive device operably connected to the torque tube and arranged to translate the torque tube in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis. The solar tracking system also includes a plurality of helical guides operably connected to the torque tube, and a plurality of cam assemblies, wherein upon linear movement of the torque tube, interaction between the helical guides and cam assemblies causes the torque tube to rotate about its linear axis.

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.

A solar heat collection device for a near-zero energy consumption community, including a heat collection frame, a heat collector, a center of gravity adjusting frame and a self-adaptive angle adjusting assembly, wherein the heat collector is rotatably disposed on the heat collection frame through the self-adaptive angle adjusting assembly; the center of gravity adjusting frame is fixed on one side of the bottom of the heat collector; the self-adaptive angle adjusting assembly includes a fixing cylinder, an angle adjusting cylinder, an inner cylinder and a damping adjusting assembly; the inner cylinder is coaxially fixed inside the angle adjusting cylinder; two ends of the angle adjusting cylinder are respectively coaxially and rotatably connected with the fixing cylinder; and the damping adjusting assembly is arranged between the angle adjusting cylinder and the fixing cylinder.

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.

A solar energy system includes a photovoltaic (PV) assembly and a drive system. The PV assembly comprises a support subassembly and an array of PV panels pivotable therewith about a longitudinal axis of the PV assembly. The drive system comprises a motor assembly comprising an electric motor and a gearing arrangement, and a pivot wheel comprising a hoop-portion and joined to the PV assembly. The hoop portion includes an outer circumferential channel, and two opposing catches defining a maximum pivot range. A chain resides partly within the circumferential channel, is engaged with the two opposing catches, and is also in geared communication with the motor assembly such that the motor is operable to rotate the pivot wheel. In some embodiments, the opposing catches define a maximum pivot range through an arc of more than π radians and less than 2π radians.

A control system for a solar energy system causes motor assemblies to pivot the photovoltaic (PV) arrays of the solar energy system about respective longitudinal axes, e.g., to track the sun across the sky. The solar energy system also has an inverter with a known inverter rating, e.g., for a given output level and ambient temperature. The control system is programmed, inter alia, to determine when a calculated electrical output of the PV arrays, e.g., a future electrical output during an imminent future time period, exceeds the inverter rating. The control system then causes some or all of the PV arrays to pivot out of regular solar tracking mode into a position that introduces higher cosine losses, so as to reduce real-time electrical output from at least the direct normal component of real-time solar irradiance incident on the PV arrays involved in order not to exceed the inverter rating, or to exceed it less.

A mufti-surface stand is disclosed. The stand may comprise a main body, a rotation body connected to the main body and configured to rotate in a horizontal plane, an arm shaft connected to the rotation body, a main arm connected the arm shaft and configured to tilt in a vertical direction, a v-clamp connected to the main arm, a pan knob inserted into the main body and configured to be tightened to cause the rotation body to be prevented from rotating, a leg rotatably connected to the main body, the leg including a hollow portion configured to store therein a stake or auger having a base portion, and an integrated rotatable foot, configured to rotate between a folded position and a ground mount position.

A mechanically powered solar tracking system is disclosed. The mechanically powered solar tracking system may include a carriage, a carriage mount connected to the carriage, a pivot shaft including a pivot gear connected to the carriage or, a complex gearbox, a base including legs, a tracker disposed on the base, the tracker including a mechanical energy storage system and a movement modulating system. The mechanical energy storage system may be configured to store mechanical energy as the carriage is rotated from a first position to a second position, and the movement modulation system may be configured to modulate a rotation of the carriage from the second position to the first position as the mechanical energy storage system exerts a rotational force on the carriage.