The invention is directed to a solar tracking apparatus containing a polar axis aligned shaft which rotates continuously or intermittently at a rate simulating the apparent approximate fifteen degree per hour movement of the sun across the sky. A Fresnel lens, photovoltaic panel, parabolic dish or other solar collection/concentration device is adjustably mounted to about twenty three degrees either side of perpendicular to the axis of the shaft and directly at the Sun, collecting, focusing or concentrating the solar radiation on a receiving device, which stores the solar energy in the form of heat, re-directs the light or converts the energy into electricity.

In an example, a system to facilitate installation of a drive linkage in a solar array at or below an installation surface includes a housing and first and second interconnection assemblies. The housing is installed on or below the installation surface on which the entire solar array is installed and is configured to at least partially enclose and protect the drive linkage at or below the installation surface. The first interconnection assembly extends between a first drive assembly of a first solar tracker supported above the installation surface by a support structure and a first end of the drive linkage at or below the installation surface. The second interconnection assembly extends between a second drive assembly of a second solar tracker supported above the installation surface by the support structure and a second end of the drive linkage at or below the installation surface.

An embodiment for a solar tracker assembly includes a component having multiple pulleys or slide surfaces. A first torque tube is connected with the component. The first torque tube includes a cable slot. A first pull cable is connected to a first and a second pulley of the multiple pulleys or to a first and a second slide surface of the multiple slide surfaces. A second pull cable is connected to a third and a fourth pulley of the multiple pulleys or to a third and a fourth slide surface of the multiple slide surfaces. A first post is connected with the torque tube. The first post includes a connection point connected to the first pull cable and the second pull cable.

The solar heating apparatus includes at least one optical element and a drive assembly for selectively moving the at least one optical element along multiple axes of rotation, the drive assembly having an elevation shaft and an azimuth rotation shaft. The solar heating apparatus also includes a support frame positioned in communicating relation with the drive assembly, the support frame being configured for supporting the at least one optical element. The support frame includes a main shaft, at least one branch holder pivotally attached to an end of the main shaft, the at least one branch holder being adapted for supporting the at least one optical element, and at least one belt drive for pivoting the at least one branch holder, the at least one belt drive being actuated by the elevation shaft.

The solar heating apparatus includes driven and controllable reflectors for concentrating solar radiation on a solar tower or the like. Each of the reflectors provided in an array of reflectors is selectively driven to rotate about multiple axes of rotation. A plurality of groupings of optical reflectors, such as mirrors or the like, are mounted about a single, common longitudinally extending shaft, providing simultaneous rotation of the optical reflectors about a longitudinal axis. Through a two-axis bearing associated with each grouping of optical reflectors, the optical reflectors are also mounted on a laterally extending shaft associated with each individual reflector grouping. The laterally extending shafts are linked, each to the other, by a continuous belt or the like, providing selective simultaneous rotation of the optical reflectors about the lateral axis in addition to the simultaneous rotation about the longitudinal axis.

An anti-torsion device of a solar tracker with a rotation axis, and solar tracker comprising the anti-torsion device, the device having a coupling part fixedly attached rotationally with respect to the rotation axis of the solar tracker; an extension element arranged mechanically and fixedly attached to the coupling part, further extending radially and externally with respect to the coupling part; and, an actuator and a counter-actuator arranged in a locked position, where they are in contact with the extension element, and a released position, where they are separated with respect to the extension element, when the anti-torsion device is fixedly arranged with respect to the rotation axis and in accordance with the locked position, the extension element is rotationally immobilized so that the rotation of the coupling part is further prevented.

The solar heating apparatus has a base box and a main axle mounted on the base box. At least one mirror support arm is mounted orthogonal to the main axle and supports a plurality of mirrors. In a first embodiment, a circular plate on the side of the base box rotates the main axle to bank the mirrors to track azimuth and a belt or chain drive rotates the mirror support arms to track elevation. In a second embodiment, the main axle is a beam mounted on a rotating circular plate on top of the base box to track azimuth and bevel gears drive a belt or chain drive that rotates the mirror support arms to track elevation. In a third embodiment, the mirror support arms are driven to rotate by bevel gears and the main axle through belt or chain drives.

Provided herein is a solar energy light collecting device, which includes a light reflection module, a sun tracking module, and a control module. The light reflection module includes reflection units, reflection unit support beams and a support wheel frame assembly. The sun tracking module includes an angle adjustment set, a height adjustment set, and a supporter set. The control module includes a sense control unit and a driving motor. The sense control unit senses the direction of the sunlight and controls the driving motor to drive the sun tracking module, such that the light reflection module faces the direction of the sunlight. Moreover, an additional balance adjustment module can also be adopted to resolve the spatial disposition problem.

A tracking photovoltaic solar system, and methods for installing or for using such tracking comprising at least a dual axis tracker unit maintaining an array of photovoltaic modules aligned to the sun. Said tracker unit includes: a pair of sub-frames supporting photovoltaic modules, a torque tube supporting said subframes rotating around a primary rotation axis, a pole structure fixed and extending vertically above an anchoring basis and being rotatively connected to said longitudinal support, secondary rotating means controlling the orientation of said sub-frames around corresponding secondary rotation axis of said sub-frames, said secondary rotation axis being orthogonal to said primary rotation axis and actuators means for controlling said primary and secondary rotating means. The secondary rotation axis are located at each end of said torque tube, said pole structure being central with regard to said sub-frames and said actuators means of both primary and secondary rotating means are linear.

A heat collector includes a body including a hollow portion extending from a first end to a second end of the body and being a metal-extruded body having a light-receiving surface to receive sunlight, a pair of lids adjacent to the first end and the second end and covering the hollow portion, an inlet located in one of the pair of lids to allow a heating medium to enter the hollow portion, and an outlet located in one of the pair of lids to allow the heating medium to exit the hollow portion.