Solar trackers that may be advantageously employed on sloped and/or variable terrain to rotate solar panels to track motion of the sun across the sky include bearing assemblies and other mechanical features configured to address mechanical challenges posed by the sloped and/or variable terrain that might otherwise prevent or complicate use of solar trackers on such terrain.

Solar trackers that may be advantageously employed on sloped and/or variable terrain to rotate solar panels to track motion of the sun across the sky include bearing assemblies and other mechanical features configured to address mechanical challenges posed by the sloped and/or variable terrain that might otherwise prevent or complicate use of solar trackers on such terrain.

A solar energy system includes a photovoltaic (PV) assembly and a drive system. The PV assembly comprises a support subassembly and an array of PV panels pivotable therewith about a longitudinal axis of the PV assembly. The drive system comprises a motor assembly comprising an electric motor and a gearing arrangement, and a pivot wheel comprising a hoop-portion and joined to the PV assembly. The hoop portion includes an outer circumferential channel, and two opposing catches defining a maximum pivot range. A chain resides partly within the circumferential channel, is engaged with the two opposing catches, and is also in geared communication with the motor assembly such that the motor is operable to rotate the pivot wheel. In some embodiments, the opposing catches define a maximum pivot range through an arc of more than π radians and less than 2π radians.

Solar trackers that may be advantageously employed on sloped and/or variable terrain to rotate solar panels to track motion of the sun across the sky include bearing assemblies and other mechanical features configured to address mechanical challenges posed by the sloped and/or variable terrain that might otherwise prevent or complicate use of solar trackers on such terrain.

A solar tracking system including a plurality of bases, a torque tube supported by the plurality of bases and configured to support a plurality of solar modules, and a drive device operably connected to the torque tube and arranged to translate the torque tube in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis. The solar tracking system also includes a plurality of helical guides operably connected to the torque tube, and a plurality of cam assemblies, wherein upon linear movement of the torque tube, interaction between the helical guides and cam assemblies causes the torque tube to rotate about its linear axis.

A plurality of posts and actuator posts connected to a foundation and to a torque tube on which solar panels are duly mounted is disclosed. The actuator posts include a hinge next to a radial arm that is disposed solidly connected to the torque tube, the arm being hinged at the other end to a linear actuator with screw drive, the bottom end is connected to the actuator post by a joint. Each linear actuator is actuated by a gear that engages with an endless screw solidly connected to a Cardan-type drive shared by all the actuators and is actuated by an electric motor, the Cardan-type drive fitting closely to the torque tube by supports.

The invention relates to a parabolic trough collector comprising a parabolic, trough-shaped main reflector, preferably as a steel girder construction running holding device with a plurality of support arms for holding of the main reflector, an absorber tube, which extends along the focal line of the Main reflector extends and in which a heat transfer medium is heated, and a foundation, wherein the holding device on the foundation by a vertical axis is rotatably mounted.

A solar panel carriage is disclosed. The solar panel carriage may include a cross-piece, a pivot shaft connected to the cross piece, a center hinging mechanism connected to the cross-piece, one or more arms extending outwardly from the cross-piece and connected to the cross piece the center hinging mechanism, a flange disposed at an end of the one or more arms, and, a knobbed bolt configured to be inserted through the flange, and through a first side of a solar panel, and threaded into the flange on a second side of the solar panel. The one or more arms of the solar panel carriage may be configured to fold into a position parallel to the cross-piece via a movement of the center hinging mechanism.

Disclosed is a device with a heat exchanger having a first flow through which a first gaseous heat transfer medium passes and a second flow through which a second gaseous heat transfer medium passes. Upstream of the first flow, there is a combustion chamber, which optionally extends into the first flow. Two feed lines are attached to the first flow, of which the first feed line is connected to a thermal solar installation and the second feed line is connected to a source for a combustible gas-air mixture or for a non-combustible gas, in particular an oxygen-containing gas, such as air.

An actuator comprising a bottom plate, a top-plate and one or more hub assembly extending between and rotatably coupling the bottom and top plates. The actuator also includes one or more bellows units disposed between the top plate and bottom plate, the one or more bellows units comprising a first and second inflatable bellows coupled by a web extending between the first and second bellows, the first and second bellows defining respective and separate first and second bellows cavities, with the first bellows of the bellows units disposed on a first side of the bottom plate, and the second bellows of the bellows units disposed on a second side of the bottom plate, opposing the first side, and between the top and bottom plates.