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 rack, especially for photovoltaic modules, consists of a rounded, shaped guide, on which a main frame is fitted via at least three bearing-fitted grips, with an upper frame being attached to the top of the main frame in at least two support points, the upper frame being further connected to the main frame via linear actuators. The main frame is based on the guide by means of track rollers, whose number is equal to the number of support points, and at least two anchoring elements are located on the outer perimeter of the guide, the anchoring elements arranged in at least two points within an angular distance not smaller than 15 degrees from each other. A driving chain is anchored in a non-stationary fashion on anchoring elements to the guide, from the outer side of the guide and in the lower part of the guide, and a driving mechanism is attached to the main frame, the driving mechanism consisting of a driving toothed element, connected to a motor, and of tension rollers.

A dual-axis hydraulic joint system includes a vertical shaft, a horizontal shaft, and a hydraulic system. The vertical shaft allows a yaw rotational motion and the horizontal shaft allows a pitch rotational motion, wherein the rotational motion of the vertical shaft and the horizontal shaft is controlled by the hydraulic system. In doing so, the hydraulic system manages a pressure value within a vertical shaft enclosure that holds the vertical shaft, and also manages a pressure value within a horizontal shaft enclosure which holds the horizontal shaft. The pressure value within the vertical shaft enclosure or the horizontal shaft enclosure is either increased or decreased to determine the rotational direction of the vertical shaft or the horizontal shaft. When used for solar panel direction control, the hydraulic system operates according to feedback received from a light-sensor unit, a first encoding unit, and a second encoding unit.

A dual-axis hydraulic joint system includes a vertical shaft, a horizontal shaft, and a hydraulic system. The vertical shaft allows a yaw rotational motion and the horizontal shaft allows a pitch rotational motion, wherein the rotational motion of the vertical shaft and the horizontal shaft is controlled by the hydraulic system. In doing so, the hydraulic system manages a pressure value within a vertical shaft enclosure that holds the vertical shaft, and also manages a pressure value within a horizontal shaft enclosure which holds the horizontal shaft. The pressure value within the vertical shaft enclosure or the horizontal shaft enclosure is either increased or decreased to determine the rotational direction of the vertical shaft or the horizontal shaft. When used for solar panel direction control, the hydraulic system operates according to feedback received from a light-sensor unit, a first encoding unit, and a second encoding unit.

A motorized platform comprising one or more rails of solar panels is disclosed. The motorized platform includes one or more solar panel support devices. The solar panel support devices include a solar panel base configured to support one or more solar panels. The solar panel support devices include a compression ball joint connected to the solar panel base comprising axial rotational movement. The solar panel support devices include a plurality of wire rods configured to provide tension to the solar panel base. The motorized platform also includes one or more motors and springs.

A solar energy collection system for converting solar energy to electricity that includes solar arrays mounted on a frame. Each array is set on a tracker head that is supported on a pedestal; each pedestal mounts onto a beam. Elevators pivot the arrays, where each elevator is made up of a shaft with a threaded end coupled to a drive nut. An upper end of each drive nut gimbal mounts to a portion of the tracker head; rotating a lower end of each shaft raises or lowers the drive nut, thereby pivoting each array. The vertical shafts are ganged together and driven by a single motor. Further included with each pedestal are azimuth orientation shafts that also mount to each tracker head. Rotating each orientation shaft adjusts an azimuth of an associated array. The orientation shafts are ganged together and are rotated by a single motor.

An integrated wind and solar solution is provided, including a solar energy collection assembly (100) and a vertical axis wind turbine (400), combined to provide an integrated power output. In preferred embodiments, the vertical axis wind turbine is positioned above the solar energy collection assembly. Concentrating solar mirror collectors (116) are used to direct sunlight to a heat engine (250), which converts the collected heat energy into rotary motion. Rotary motion from the heat engine and from the vertical axis wind turbine preferably are on the same rotating axis (600), to facilitate load sharing between these two sources. A dual axis azimuth-altitude solar panel alignment tracking system is used in order to boost the energy conversion capability of the solar energy collectors.

A solar panel assembly where a solar panel(s) is mounted on a support pole that is pivotally attached to a footing. By adjusting the angle of the support pole relative to ground, the orientation of the solar panel can be changed in full-axis directions. A plurality of the solar panel assemblies can be arranged into an array of rows and columns. Each row includes a row support cable that is connected to each one of the solar panel assemblies in the row to simultaneously adjust an angle of each of the solar panels in the row. In addition, each column includes a column support cable that is connected to each one of the solar panel assemblies in the column which may be used to simultaneously adjust an angle of each of the solar panels in the column.

A mounting system for a heliostat is provided that allows the heliostat to move with respect to two orthogonal axes to track the sun. The mounting system has features that allow the heliostat to precisely and accurately move about these axes even as various components degrade during operation in harsh environments and over long time periods. Embodiments of the mounting system can have a frame that supports multiple mirrors and translates forces from the mirrors to multiple hubs that move about a circular track. One of the hubs can include a fewer number of contact points to accommodate a circular track that is out of round. In addition, an actuator that moves the hubs around the circular track can be biased into the track to also accommodate a circular track that is out of round.

A mounting system for a heliostat is provided that allows the heliostat to move with respect to two orthogonal axes to track the sun. The mounting system has features that allow the heliostat to precisely and accurately move about these axes even as various components degrade during operation in harsh environments and over long time periods. Embodiments of the mounting system can have a frame that supports multiple mirrors and translates forces from the mirrors to multiple hubs that move about a circular track. One of the hubs can include a fewer number of contact points to accommodate a circular track that is out of round. In addition, an actuator that moves the hubs around the circular track can be biased into the track to also accommodate a circular track that is out of round.