A pressure-driven solar photovoltaic panel automatic tracking device includes a photovoltaic panel, a rotating shaft, a rotating wheel, a transmission component, a first counterweight, a second counterweight, a bellow tube, and a gas supply mechanism; the photovoltaic panel is fixed to the rotating shaft, the rotating wheel is fixed to the rotating shaft, the rotating wheel is provided with the transmission component, and both ends of the transmission component are respectively connected to the first counterweight and the second counterweight; the first counterweight is connected to the bellow tube, and the bellow tube is connected to the gas supply mechanism; and the bellow tube is expanded and contracted by controlling he gas supply mechanism, so that the first counterweight moves in the vertical direction, thereby driving the rotating wheel to rotate, so as to realize the automatic tracking of the sunlight by the photovoltaic panel.

Solar tracker systems include a torque tube, a solar panel attached to the torque tube, and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes a housing defining first and second chambers, a first fluid passageway extending between the first and second chambers, and a second fluid passageway extending from the second chamber. A piston is moveable relative to the housing and a valve is positioned within the first chamber and moveable to passively control fluid flow. An active lock includes a shaft extending into the second chamber with a seal attached to the shaft. The shaft is selectively moveable between an unsealed position in which the seal is spaced from a chamber wall and a flow path is defined between the first fluid passageway and the second fluid passageway, and a sealed position in which the seal contacts and seals against the chamber wall to obstruct the flow path.

Various ways of creating polynomial interpolations in one, two and three dimensions using purely mechanical means are disclosed. Various arrangements of gears are disclosed that can constrain certain rotating elements to rotate equal to the average or difference of the rotation angles of other rotating elements. These arrangements are combined in various ways to create mechanical arrangements having a set of rotating elements that are constrained to be linear or polynomial functions in one or many dimensions. Various uses of mechanical polynomial interpolation are disclosed, including focusing rays of the sun onto a target.

A solar tracking system is provided and includes a solar array, a support structure configured to support the solar array, a base configured to rotatably support the support structure, and an articulation system configured to articulate the support structure relative to the base. The articulation system includes a gearbox that is coupled to the support structure and an actuator that is configured to extend and retract. The actuator includes a first end portion and a second, opposite end portion, wherein the first end portion is rotatably coupled to the base and the second end portion is coupled to the gearbox. Extension of the actuator causes the support structure to rotate about the base in a first direction and retraction of the actuator causes the support structure to rotate about the based in a second, opposite direction.

An actuator assembly for a solar tracking system is disclosed. The actuator assembly includes a gearbox housing and a gearbox cover, a motor, and a lead screw. The gearbox housing and gearbox cover cooperate to define an internal chamber for receiving a gear assembly. The motor is mounted to the gearbox housing and is operatively connected to the gear assembly. The lead screw is operatively attached to the gear assembly and mounted inside an inner tube. A thrust bearing assembly is disposed between the gear assembly and the lead screw, with a portion of a thrust bearing nut being positioned within the thrust bearing assembly. A castle nut engages the thrust bearing nut, with the locking washer being frictionally engaged with the castle nut in an interlocking manner. An inner tube is mounted with in an outer tube for linear movement with respect to the outer tube.

A variable length shaft is installed between one of the posts in the single axis tracker and a yardarm extending from the row tube, perpendicular to it. Stops in the variable length shaft correspond to the shaft length when the single axis tracker is at its maximum rotation angle to the east and to the west. The shaft provides a structural support that bears some of the self-weight torque. In this way the tracker table will not exceed the design maximum tilt to the east or west and the tracking accuracy of the system will meet the desired level.

A lock assembly includes a driving member, a locking member, and a latch. The driving member includes a connection end, and a driving end movable with respect to the connection end. The connection end is arranged on a fastener. The locking member is rotatably arranged on a carrier through a first rotation shaft. The driving end is rotatably connected to the locking member through a second rotation shaft. The locking member includes a hook. The latch is arranged on the fastener. The hook is capable of hooking the latch. The driving end is configured to capable of driving the hook to disengage from the latch, and driving the carrier to rotate with respect to the fastener, or the driving end is configured to drive the hook to hook the latch so that the carrier is secured to the fastener.

The present invention relates to an automatic motion system by dilatation of a fluid, said system acting on elements of a compact solar collector with integrated storage tank, said solar collector having least a face exposed to the solar radiation and at least another face not facing the solar radiation, said solar collector comprising a plurality of primary tubes, for containing at least one primary heat carrier element adapted to the storage of thermal energy, and an external collector element arranged movable with respect to each primary conduit, adapted to overlap, at least partially, during its motion, in each primary conduit.

The present application discloses a bidirectional self-locking damper that comprises a cylinder and a piston assembly housed in the cylinder and displaceable along the axial direction of the cylinder. The piston assembly includes a piston rod, a piston and a bidirectional self-locking valve. The bidirectional self-locking valve includes a valve body and a locking assembly. The valve body is provided with a passage chamber, and a first passage channel and a second passage channel that are communicated with the passage chamber, the first passage channel communicating with a recovery pressure chamber, the second passage channel communicating with a compression pressure chamber; the locking assembly is directed to displace in the passage chamber driven by the work medium for establishing/interrupting the communication between the first or second passage channel and the passage chamber.

A rotary actuator has a rotatable platform rotatably supported on a base. The rotatable platform has a friction surface. An actuator band is operated by a band clamp so as to be selectively frictionally engageable with the friction surface. A motion actuator is coupled between the base and the actuator band such that change in length of the motion actuator causes corresponding movement of the actuator band. A brake band is operated by a brake band actuator so as to be selectively frictionally engageable with the friction surface, the brake band anchored to the base.