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 truss foundation for supporting single-axis solar tracker drive motors and center structures. An adapter joins a pair of adjacent truss legs and provides a mounting platform to support a drive motor and/or center structure of a solar tracker. The adapter has a pair of connecting portions that are received in the legs of the truss foundation. The adapter may be a unitary structure or consist of a pair of slidably connected members that are joined with fasteners to accommodate truss legs spaced apart at different distances.

A truss foundation for single-axis trackers that distribute forces into the foundation through the torque tube. A truss adapter joins a pair of adjacent truss legs driven at angles to one another on either side of a tracker row so that the legs are perpendicular to the tracker torque tube. A third leg aligned with the torque tube is connected to the adapter to help resist axial forces in the torque tube. One or more collars placed on either side of a torque tube bearing include set screws to prevent axial slippage of the torque tube.

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.

Disclosed are a rope transmission structure, a solar energy tracker and the application method thereof, relating to the technical field of solar power generation. The rope transmission structure includes a driving wheel, a driven wheel, a main transmission rope and a plurality of tracking units. The main transmission rope is connected end to end, and one end of the main transmission rope is sleeved on the driving wheel and the other end thereof is sleeved on the driven wheel. The plurality of tracking units are provided at intervals along a lengthwise direction of the main transmission rope. A rotating member is hinged on a mounting bracket, and one end of a first branch rope is connected to the rotating member and the other end thereof is connected to the main transmission rope.

Multi-point parallel synchronous drive device, which includes a drive mechanism and several stages of driven mechanisms drivingly connected. The drive mechanism comprises a first power output for rotatably connecting with a power output shaft, and a second power output disposed below the first power output and parallel to the first power output along a power output direction. The several stages of the driven mechanism are arranged at intervals in the power output direction. The second power output of the drive mechanism is drivingly connected with a power input of the adjacent driven mechanism along the power output direction, and the adjacent two-stage driven mechanisms are drivingly connected along the power output direction. The driven mechanism at any stage comprises a power output for rotatably connecting with the power output shaft. The device can be applied to the a solar tracking system, with the main shaft as the power output shaft.

A solar tracker apparatus includes an adjustable hanger assembly that has a clam shell hanger assembly. The clam shell hanger assembly may hold a torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end. A center of mass of the solar tracker apparatus may be aligned with a center of rotation of the torque tubes, in order to reduce a load of a drive device operably coupled to the torque tube. Solar modules may be coupled to the torque tubes. The solar tracker includes an energy system that includes solar panel, a DC to DC converter, a battery, and a micro-controller. The energy system may facilitate full operation movement of the tracker apparatus without any external power lines.

A truss foundation for supporting single-axis solar tracker drive motors and center structures. An adapter joins a pair of adjacent truss legs and provides a mounting platform to support a drive motor and/or center structure of a solar tracker. The adapter has a pair of connecting portions that are received in the legs of the truss foundation. The adapter may be a unitary structure or consist of a pair of slidably connected members that are joined with fasteners to accommodate truss legs spaced apart at different distances.

A solar tracker apparatus includes an adjustable hanger assembly that has a clam shell hanger assembly. The clam shell hanger assembly may hold a torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end. A center of mass of the solar tracker apparatus may be aligned with a center of rotation of the torque tubes, in order to reduce a load of a drive device operably coupled to the torque tube. Solar modules may be coupled to the torque tubes. The solar tracker includes an energy system that includes solar panel, a DC to DC converter, a battery, and a micro-controller. The energy system may facilitate full operation movement of the tracker apparatus without any external power lines.

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.