In an example, the system has a mechanical isolator comprising an elastic material configured to separate the panel rail from the torque tube cause destructive interference with a natural resonant frequency of the system without the mechanical isolator to reduce a mechanical vibration of the system.

A photovoltaic support includes a first vertical upright column (110) and a second vertical upright column (120) on a foundation, and a beam (10) respectively hinged with a first end of the first vertical upright column (110) and a first end of the second vertical upright column (120). The photovoltaic support further includes a first movable connecting piece (140) provided on the foundation and connected with a second end of the first vertical upright column (110). The first movable connecting piece (140) is automatically adjusted according to the wind intensity, such that the first vertical upright column (110) moves in a vertical direction to adjust an inclination angle of the beam (130). The photovoltaic support can adjust the angle adaptively in the case of a strong wind, and restore automatically after the strong wind has passed.

A movement control apparatus for a heliostat device may include a step motor, a decelerating motor, a ball screw assembly, a nut, a connecting shaft, and a linear moving shaft. In one embodiment, the nut is movably connected with the ball screw assembly and is secured on a first connecting board and a second connecting board through the connecting shaft. The nut is driven by the ball screw assembly to travel along the screw shaft and since the nut is connected to the connecting boards through the connecting shaft, and the connecting boards are connected to the moving shaft, the movement of the nut can further drive the connecting shaft to rotate to drive the moving shaft to move in a linear manner on the sliding rail to rotate a mirror assembly of the heliostat around a post.

A rotation locking device for use in a row-level sun tracking solar energy collection system includes a housing, a first locking member, a second locking member, and an actuator. The housing is configured to be mounted to a pile and configured to permit a torque tube to extend through the housing. The first locking member has a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections attached to and rotatable with the torque tube. The second locking member is connected to the housing and has a plurality of mating elements for engaging projections of the first locking member. The actuator is configured to relatively move the first and second locking members between an unlocked position in which the mating elements are disengaged from the projections and a locked position in which the mating elements are engaged with the projections to inhibit rotation of the torque tube with respect to the housing.

A single axis slew driving system with integrated sensors and transducers including a housing defining a cavity, a rotor assembly rotatably mounted within the cavity supporting an axle with a gear plate affixed thereto and gear teeth positioned along a periphery thereof, a driving gear rotatably mounted in the housing meshing with the gear teeth, and a drive motor attached to the driving gear for rotation of the driving gear and one of: a thermocouple embedded in the housing to provide an indication of the temperature adjacent the driving gear; an absolute position sensing system including a movement tracking device mounted in the housing and extending into the cavity of the housing; limit switches mounted on the outer periphery of the housing; an integrated accelerometer and communication assembly; and an integrated torque routing solenoid mounted on an outer periphery of the housing.

The invention relates to a swivel and fanning drive for solar panels, comprising a base support, a rotary table, which is mounted on the base support pivotingly about a substantially vertical first axis, a swivel plate, which is mounted on the rotary table pivotingly about a substantially horizontal second axis, and a fanning shaft, which is mounted on the swivel plate pivotingly about a third axis and on which the solar panels can be mounted so as to be able to be fanned in and out about the aforesaid third axis, wherein the rotary table mounts one end of the swivel plate about the aforesaid second axis and, at a distance therefrom, mounts at least one crank, which is coupled by means of a connecting rod to the other end of the swivel plate to form a crank-rocker linkage.

A solar tracker assembly is provided which includes a support column, a torque tube or torsion beam connected to the support column, a mounting mechanism attached to the torque tube or torsion beam, a drive system connected to the torque tube or torsion beam, and a spring counter-balance assembly connected to the torque tube or torsion beam. An exemplary spring counter-balance assembly comprises a bearing housing and a bushing disposed within the bearing housing and configured to be slideably mounted onto the torque tube or torsion beam, and one or more compressible cords made of a flexible material. The compressible cords are located between the bushing and the bearing housing and provide damping during rotational movement of the solar tracker assembly. An exemplary spring counter-balance assembly is provided including at least one top bracket and at least one bottom bracket, at least one spring, a damper, and a bracket. An exemplary spring counter-balance assembly comprises a bearing housing and a bushing disposed within the bearing housing and configured to be slideably mounted onto the torque tube or torsion beam. The spring counter-balance assembly may include at least one coil spring and a rotational stop. The bushing may be made of an elastomeric material and define one or more air spaces.

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 support device may include a body that includes a surface. The surface may be configured to physically engage with at least a first surface section of a torque tube. In addition, at least a second surface section of the torque tube may be configured to engage with a surface of an attachment structure. The body and the attachment structure may together define an aperture configured to receive the torque tube.

Described herein are improved solar tracker systems having variable profiles and related operating methods thereof. Solar-tracking PV systems with variable twisted or aerodynamic profiles offer several advantages including improved wind stability, improved shading characteristics and/or capability to correct system component misalignment. In an embodiment, motor drives (and locking devices if present) of a PV system can be driven against each other to cause a desirable twisted or aerodynamic profile of a torque tube and associated PV modules mounted on the torque tube. The desired twisted or aerodynamic profiles can range from a substantially flat horizontal plate to a twisted helix-like profile and combinations thereof so as to establish improved wind and/or shading characteristics. Advantages can also include a reduction in structural materials, increased structural strength, increased solar energy yield or a combination thereof.