A solar tracker provides sun tracking to solar panels, and includes several gearboxes for one single motor. In an embodiment, the solar tracker includes a torsion beam. defining a longintudinal direction of rotation and rotating the solar panels; motor, with motor shaft; first gearbox, at torsion beam at first position, and connected to motor shaft for transmitting to torsion beam rotation of motor shaft; second (Tarbox, mounted to torsion beam at second position further from motor than first position; and primary shaft, coaxial to motor shaft, and connected to second gearbox, for transmitting to second gearbox rotation of the motor shaft. Gearboxes define embedments withstanding torsion moment caused by wind loads for restricting rotation of torsion beam. It provides higher resistance to wind loads and allows for longer solar trackers.

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.

A mounting assembly may include an arced connecting member that includes a first drive chain along a bottom surface of the arced connecting member, a second drive chain positioned adjacent to the first drive chain, and a third drive chain in a gap between the first and the second drive chains. The mounting assembly may include an intermittent-motion drive system that has a drive wheel with a nub extending from a lateral surface of the drive wheel, the nub being shaped to interface with notches included along the third drive chain. The intermittent-motion drive system may include a first and a second protrusion shaped to interface with surfaces of the first and second drive chains, respectively. Rotation of a drive axle extending through the drive wheel may affect rotation of the drive wheel, rotational movement of the nub extending from the drive wheel, and movement of the arced connecting member.

Device for securing an orientation of photovoltaic panels includes a stem for supporting an array assembly of photovoltaic panels for producing an electrical current when exposed to sunlight. The array assembly also includes eye blades positioned on a side opposite to a photovoltaic panel carrying side. The device further includes a joint interconnecting the stem and the eye blades of the array assembly. The joint includes a hollow horizontal conduit and a bolting mechanism for adjustably coupling the eye blades to lateral ends of the horizontal conduit. A side of each eye blade facing the horizontal conduit carries an eye blade gear that cooperatively meshes with a conduit gear carried at or near a lateral end of the horizontal conduit to secure the array assembly at a predetermined angle relative to a longitudinal axis passing through the stem.

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 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 rotation apparatus of a pole system for photovoltaic power generation, the rotation apparatus comprising: a first tubular body connected to a solar panel array; a second tubular body coupled to a lower portion of the first tubular body and fixed on the upper end of a pole; a gear unit for transferring rotating force to the first tubular body; a driving motor for providing the gear unit with the rotating force; and a contact part of at least 3-points of contact, which is installed on coupling portions of the first tubular body and the second tubular body and maintains a contact state during the relative rotation of the first and second tubular bodies to transfer the power or a signal.

A drive arrangement has a rotary driveshaft (1) bearing a drive finger (10) parallel and offset in the radial direction in relation to the axis of rotation and a locking device (11) offset radially with respect to the finger (10). The drive arrangement also has a coupling unit with a device in the shape of an arc which bears the drive or locking recesses disposed in alteration so as to enable relative rotation/prevent rotation between the unit and the driveshaft (1) when the finger (10) engages in one of the drive/locking recesses. The locking device (11) and the finger (10) are offset along the axis of rotation, and the coupling device has a part bearing the locking recesses and a part bearing the drive recesses, the two parts being positioned parallel and offset along the axis of rotation so as to be able to interact with the locking device (11) or the finger (10), respectively.

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 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.