A solar energy harvesting assembly having a unique attachment that can be arranged, mounted, moved and attached to new or existing structures. Solar rings are mounted on any vertical structure that may benefit from solar power using an aesthetically pleasing design that is resistant to wind load. The assembly does not require the need for pitch, azimuth or bearing measurements. The assembly is also capable of energy harvesting from reflected light below with the use of bifacial photovoltaic panels. The mounting design allows the solar energy harvest device to be installed on any vertical structure, including light poles, power poles, parking structures and other minimal load bearing structures. Further, the assembly can be attached to water towers, existing radio towers (guyed, monopole, stealth, self-supporting towers) all used to create vast amounts of unshaded vertical space for solar energy harvesting.

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 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.

The present application provides methods for loading and unloading high capacity storage equipment to a solar power canopy. The methods and structures may include horizontal support members have mechanisms to engage corresponding mechanisms on a compartment housing the high capacity storage equipment. The mechanisms may include plates, flanged surfaces, rails, tracks, hook assemblies, and ridges. The methods and structures may include a superstructure that is coupled to an moves with respect to the solar power canopy frame. The superstructure may pivot and/or rotate to allow loading and unloading. The methods and structures also may include cabinets or cubicles sized to receive one or more compartments housing the high capacity storage equipment.

The present application provides methods for loading and unloading high capacity storage equipment to a solar power canopy. The methods and structures may include horizontal support members have mechanisms to engage corresponding mechanisms on a compartment housing the high capacity storage equipment. The mechanisms may include plates, flanged surfaces, rails, tracks, hook assemblies, and ridges. The methods and structures may include a superstructure that is coupled to an moves with respect to the solar power canopy frame. The superstructure may pivot and/or rotate to allow loading and unloading. The methods and structures also may include cabinets or cubicles sized to receive one or more compartments housing the high capacity storage equipment.

A solar table mobile transport is described that moves a solar table to a point of installation. The solar table mobile transport comprises multiple motors that allow movement within a three-dimensional coordinate system as well as provide angular controls of pitch, yaw and roll. These motors enable at least one alignment process used to install the solar table to a mounting structure within a solar system.

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.

The present invention relates to an alternative power generation system, comprising a portable electricity harvesting device for generating electrical power, a power unit coupled to said portable electricity harvesting device including circuitry for processing electrical power generated by said portable electricity harvesting device and storing said electrical power in a battery within said power unit, and a plurality of distribution components in electrical communication with said power unit and a plurality of devices to be electrically powered.

The present invention relates to an alternative power generation system, comprising a portable electricity harvesting device for generating electrical power, a power unit coupled to said portable electricity harvesting device including circuitry for processing electrical power generated by said portable electricity harvesting device and storing said electrical power in a battery within said power unit, and a plurality of distribution components in electrical communication with said power unit and a plurality of devices to be electrically powered.

Various apparatuses and methods are provided for measuring the likely environmental impact of a particular geographic location on power generation properties of potential solar installations at the particular location. In an example embodiment of one such apparatus, a measurement device is provided. The measurement device includes a base portion comprising a base frame element disposed on a plurality of supporting legs, and a top panel comprising a series of connected members and one or more measurement modules whose planar dimensions are defined by the series of connected members. The top panel is connected to the base portion by a joint such that the top panel can rotate about the joint, and a panel support element is configured to fasten the top panel immovably at a desired degree of rotation in relation to the base portion.