A method of using a solar panel support apparatus for selectively positioning a solar panel contained thereon comprises securing forward and rearward legs to the ground or an affixed structure. A solar panel is supported by a rack having an end pivotally attachable to the forward leg. First and second arms pivotally connected to one another pivotally attach to the forward leg and the rack permitting the rack to be positionable relative the forward leg. A locking mechanism locks the first arm and the second arm at a selected angle relative to one another, whereupon securing the rearward and the forward leg to the ground or an affixed structure the rack is pivotal to position the solar panel. Upon positioning the rack to place the solar panel at a selected position, the locking mechanism is engaged to retain the solar panel at the selected position.

Solar tracking systems and methods that do not require external power are provided. The systems have a support surface for attachment to a solar collector device and a pivot member positioned therebeneath. One or more pistons are also positioned beneath the support surface to tilt the support surface around the pivot member when deployed. A reservoir is in fluid communication with each piston such that a pressure increase within the first reservoir automatically deploys the associated pistons, tilts the support surface about the pivot member, and thus positions the solar collector device to face the light source.

A solar tracking system for tracking the orientation of solar energy is disclosed. The solar tracking system may be integrated with solar cells and solar concentrators. The solar tracking system may have a first (22) and second (24) tracker module array that are opposite from another, aligned in substantially identical orientation, and form a tracker module pair array (1000). Tracker module pairs (12, 14; 12, 144) may allow motion relative to one another while maintaining substantially identical orientation. Solar concentrators may be attached to opposing tracker modules of a tracker module pair forming an array of solar concentrators. A base bar array (28) may be coupled to at least one tracker module pair. A transmission may operably rotate the base bar array and the tracker module pair array simultaneously.

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.

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 generator apparatus includes: a generator module having first to fourth corner portions; a middle column mounted on a fixed structure and pivotally connected to the generator module; first and second winding devices attached to the middle column; first to fourth cables; and first to fourth elastic anchors. The first to fourth cables have first ends respectively connected to the first to fourth corner portions. The first and third cables are wound around the first winding device. The second and fourth cables are wound around the second winding device. The first to fourth elastic anchors are elastically mounted on the fixed structure. The first to fourth cables respectively pass through the first to fourth elastic anchors to form two W-shaped structures. Each elastic anchor includes an elastic member and a restricting member connected in parallel. The restricting member restricts a maximum deformation amount of the elastic member.

An articulating solar energy and wind power harvesting apparatus optimizes harnessing of solar energy and wind power by rotatably and pivotally articulating a solar thermal collector plate to track the sun, and air foils to follow the changing direction of the wind. The air foils also directionally funnel wind to cool a heat exchange system and the solar thermal collector plate. The solar thermal collector plate captures solar radiation for conversion to electricity. A solar lens directs the solar radiation towards the solar thermal collector plate. Air foils are disposed in a radial, spaced-apart relationship around the solar thermal collector plate, pivoting up to 90 to optimize capture of wind. The solar thermal collector plate and the air foils are controllably articulated up to 360 about a vertical plane, and up to 180 about a horizontal plane to optimize capture of solar radiation and wind.

An articulable solar concentrator assembly for solar power generation is provided. The assembly includes a base; a plurality of articulating joint arms rotatably pinned to the base at respective torque joints; and a lens assembly operably coupled to the base through the plurality of articulating joint arms. The lens assembly can have a plurality of semicircular lens sections arranged to form a circle and each including an array of arc reflectors. Each semicircular lens section can have a slot therebetween configured to receive one of the plurality of articulating joint arms during articulation. The lens assembly can include a receiver for receiving solar energy positioned at the focal point of the array of arc reflectors. The lens assembly can be configured to articulate in a complete hemispherical range of motion. Motors can be positioned at the torque joints to automate the articulation of the lens assembly.

An articulable solar concentrator assembly for solar power generation is provided. The assembly includes a base; a plurality of articulating joint arms rotatably pinned to the base at respective torque joints; and a lens assembly operably coupled to the base through the plurality of articulating joint arms. The lens assembly can have a plurality of semicircular lens sections arranged to form a circle and each including an array of arc reflectors. Each semicircular lens section can have a slot therebetween configured to receive one of the plurality of articulating joint arms during articulation. The lens assembly can include a receiver for receiving solar energy positioned at the focal point of the array of arc reflectors. The lens assembly can be configured to articulate in a complete hemispherical range of motion. Motors can be positioned at the torque joints to automate the articulation of the lens assembly.

A support structure for maximizing solar-panel efficiency and facilitating solar-panel installation reduces the effort of installing solar-panels. The support structure includes a support pole, a primary panel-supporting bracket, an extension arm, and an extension leg. The support pole pivots about a first rotation axis to lower the primary panel-supporting bracket for the solar-panel installation process. The primary panel-supporting bracket is designed to support a variable number of solar-panels depending on the budget constraints and power generation demands. An extension arm raises the primary panel-supporting bracket over the support pole, allowing the primary panel-supporting bracket to rotate about the support pole. The extension leg secures the support structure to the ground and provides a fulcrum for the support pole to pivot about.