The invention relates to a device for the concentration of solar radiation in an absorber, comprising an inflatable concentrator cushion, which comprises a cover film element comprising a light-permeable entry window for coupling in solar radiation and a reflector film, which sub-divides the concentrator cushion into at least two hollow spaces, for the concentration of solar radiation in an absorber, comprising a pivoting apparatus, by means of which the concentrator cushion can be pivoted, in particular about its longitudinal axis, and comprising a retaining apparatus secured to the pivoting apparatus, for retaining the concentrator cushion, which retaining apparatus comprises an upper longitudinal member extending in the longitudinal direction of the concentrator cushion, for suspending the absorber, wherein the upper longitudinal member is arranged on a substantially air-tight closed upper passage opening of the concentrator cushion.

The invention relates to an apparatus for reflecting incident light, in particular sunlight, comprising a plurality of reflector units arranged next to one another, in particular next to one another in two directions, each reflector unit comprising at least one reflector surface (4), wherein the reflector surfaces (4) of all of the reflector units are pivotable, wherein each reflector unit (2, 3, 4, 5) comprises a rod (3) and comprises a reflector surface (4) fastened at the upper free end of the rod (3) and a lower spherical hinge (5) at the lower end of the rod (3), with which hinge the rod (3) is connected in articulated fashion to a movable coupling element (6), which is common to all of the reflector units (2, 3, 4, 5), and comprises a spherical hinge (2) in an intermediate region between the upper end and the lower end of the rod (3), said hinge connecting, in articulated fashion, the rod (3) to a stationary base element (1) which is common to all of the reflector units (2, 3, 4, 5) and bearing each reflector unit (2, 3, 4, 5) movably about a dedicated stationary hinge center point thereof and wherein, owing to the movement of the coupling element (6) arranged beneath the base element (1), the reflector surfaces (4) of all of the reflector units (2, 3, 4, 5) are movable simultaneously in the same direction and to the same extent.

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.

Methods and apparatus for concentrating electromagnetic waves coming from a moving source at a focal point fixed to the ground. The invention discloses a tracking system for a device capable of concentrating incoming electromagnetic waves at a fixed focal point. This concentration of the electromagnetic waves may be done by reflection, as in the case of a reflecting dish, or by refraction as in the case of a concentrating lens, which is impeded in a hemisphere, which can be real or imaginary, such that its focal point coincides with the center of the hemisphere and using this apparatus to track such moving source by rotating around said hemisphere's fixed center, so as to face the incoming electromagnetic rays normally. A receiver can be kept at the focal point of the device which uses the concentrated rays for various applications such as melting metals or charging a solar cell.

A robotic coupling joint system and method are discussed herein, which may be utilized with a daylighting system or photovoltaic system to track sunlight. The system may provide a spherical joint allowing axial motion about two or more axes of the spherical joint. The joint comprises a first plate with four or more sockets, a second plate, a connector, and one or more spheres positioned between the first and second plates. The connector secures the sphere between the first and second plates. The system may also include a stand, an end effector coupled to the stand by the spherical joint, and a mobility system that is capable of actuating the end effector. The mobility system includes two or more linking elements coupled to the end effector, and a motor coupled to the linking elements to actuate the end effector to track sunlight.

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.

In an example, the solar tracker has a clamp assembly configured to pivot a torque tube. In an example, the assembly has a support structure configured as a frame having configured by a first and second anchoring region. In an example, the support structure is configured from a thickness of metal material. In an example, the support structure is configured in an upright manner, and has a major plane region. In an example, the assembly has a pivot device configured on the support structure, a torque tube suspending on the pivot device and aligned within an opening of the support, and configured to be normal to the plane region. In an example, the torque tube is configured on the pivot device to move about an arc in a first direction or in a second direction such that the first direction is in a direction opposite to the second direction.

In an example, the solar tracker has a clamp assembly configured to pivot a torque tube. In an example, the assembly has a support structure configured as a frame having configured by a first and second anchoring region. In an example, the support structure is configured from a thickness of metal material. In an example, the support structure is configured in an upright manner, and has a major plane region. In an example, the assembly has a pivot device configured on the support structure, a torque tube suspending on the pivot device and aligned within an opening of the support, and configured to be normal to the plane region. In an example, the torque tube is configured on the pivot device to move about an arc in a first direction or in a second direction such that the first direction is in a direction opposite to the second direction.

Disclosed are a floating photovoltaic panel installation structure and a buoyancy body for the installation of the floating photovoltaic panel, which may have excellent strength and buoyancy performance even while having light-weight characteristics, and stably support a photovoltaic panel on the water even during the flowing of a water surface due to waves. In the floating photovoltaic panel installation structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as the floating photovoltaic panel installation structure including at least one unit floating type structure for supporting a photovoltaic panel on the water, the unit floating type structure includes a plurality of buoyancy bodies arranged to be spaced apart from each other, a photovoltaic panel support structure supported on the plurality of buoyancy bodies, a triangular bracket coupled with a plurality of photovoltaic panel support structures, and a ball joint hinge apparatus for connecting the plurality of photovoltaic panel support structures. At least one buoyancy body among the plurality of buoyancy bodies is made of a material in which Polyethylene and Waste Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics have been blended. For maintaining stable position and posture, the buoyancy body may include a cylindrical body having both side surfaces protruded convexly, and both side surfaces of the cylindrical body may be designed to have a shape in which a curvature radius of an upper area is smaller than a curvature radius of a lower area including a portion positioned below the water surface. In order to stably support the photovoltaic panel against the movement of waves, adjacent unit floating type structures may be connected in a joint structure by the ball joint hinge apparatus of a plastic material connected to the end portion of square tubes of the photovoltaic panel support structure.

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.