A self-variable force hydraulic damper including a housing assembly, a piston rod and a piston assembly. The piston assembly is mounted on the piston rod and includes a first washer, a first disc spring, a first valve plate, a variable displacement piston, a second valve plate, a second disc spring and a second washer; the piston has a first end face and a second end face, and is further provided with a first flow hole and a second flow hole penetrating the first end face and the second end face respectively; the first valve plate is pressed against the first end face, and the first valve plate closes the first flow hole and does not close the second flow hole; the second valve plate is pressed against the second end face, and the second valve plate closes the second flow hole and does not close the first flow hole.

The solar tracker includes a pivoting assembly (2) having solar panels (3) fixed to a rotating shaft (1), a fixed structure with support elements (4, 5, 6) rotationally supporting the rotating shaft (1), a motor-reducer assembly (7) having an irreversible reducer (24) connected to the rotating shaft (1) at a motor connection point (12), and a torsional vibration damping device (8) having a moving member (9) rigidly connected to the rotating shaft (1) at a damper connection point (13) spaced apart from the motor connection point (12) and a stationary member (10) rigidly attached to the fixed structure. Both the moving member (9) and the stationary member (10) comprises elements capable to generate a magnetic field when a movement of the moving member (9) relative to the stationary member (10) occurs, resulting in a damping torque on the rotating shaft (1).

A solar tracker having a brake function is disclosed. The solar tracker according to an embodiment of the present invention relates to a technology having a dual position sensing device provided at a part at which altitude adjustment and horizontal rotation of a solar collector plate respectively end, such that a brake is accurately operated for a driving motor, which is respectively in charge of altitude adjustment and horizontal rotation.

The invention relates to a solar plant (1) having at least one pivotable module table (2a, 2b, 2c) which supports at least one photovoltaic solar module (3), preferably multiple photovoltaic solar modules (3), and is coupled in such a manner to at least one gear element (4) pivotable about an axis (A) that pivoting the gear element (4) causes the module table (2a to 2c) to be pivoted so that the solar modules (3) track the motion of the sun, the gear element (4) being driven and thus pivoted by an electrically driven drive shaft (5), at least one actuation element (8) being integrated in the drive shaft (5), the gear element (4) being both driven and blocked by the actuation element (8), the actuation element (8) engaging into the toothing (11) of the gear element (4) for driving or blocking the gear element (4).

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.