Azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker

Abstract

Azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for solar trackers, which provides an azimuthal rotation around a vertical pedestal to an azimuthal rotating support on which a support structure of solar panels is in turn mounted with elevation rotation capacity around a horizontal shaft linked to the azimuthal rotating support. The azimuthal rotation is obtained by means of a single azimuthal linear actuator and the elevation rotation is obtained by means of a single elevation linear actuator, such that only two linear actuators are needed to obtain all the positions of the solar panels required for a complete solar tracking.

Claims

1. An azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker comprising: a supporting structure of solar panels; a fixed vertical shaft arranged on a vertical pedestal; an azimuthal rotation means comprising a fixed part rigidly attached to the pedestal, and an azimuthal rotating support, the azimuthal rotating support configured to rotate around the fixed vertical shaft arranged on the vertical pedestal and attached to the fixed part by a rotating element, an elevation rotation means configured to elevate and rotate in a forward and backward direction around a movable horizontal elevation shaft, the movable horizontal elevation shaft arranged on the azimuthal rotating support by an elevation linear actuator perpendicular to the movable horizontal elevation shaft and articulated to the azimuthal rotating support and to the supporting structure; a single horizontal azimuthal linear actuator articulated by means of a first vertical joint to the azimuthal rotating support, wherein a piston is attached by means of a second vertical joint around which a first articulated assembly can rotate, the first articulated assembly comprising a first articulated rod, which is attached to the fixed part rigidly attached to the pedestal by means of a third fixed vertical joint, and a second articulated rod, which is attached to the first articulated rod by means of a second vertical joint and to the azimuthal rotating support by means of a fourth vertical joint, wherein the azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism is configured to support the supporting structure of solar panels and provide azimuthal rotation and elevation rotation of the supporting structure.

2. The azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker according to claim 1, wherein the azimuthal linear actuator, the first articulated rod and the second articulated rod are arranged on the same plane.

3. The azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker according to claim 1, wherein the azimuthal linear actuator, the first articulated rod and the second articulated rod are arranged on different planes.

4. The azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker according to claim 1, wherein the azimuthal linear actuator is attached to the first articulated rod and to the second articulated rod of the first articulated assembly directly by means of the second vertical joint, which coincides with the joint attaching the first rod and the second rod to each other.

5. The azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker according to claim 1, wherein the azimuthal linear actuator is attached to the first articulated rod or to the second articulated rod of the first articulated assembly by means of the second vertical joint, and the two articulated rods are attached to each other by means of an additional fifth vertical joint different from the second vertical joint.

6. The azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker according to claim 1, wherein the rotating element is a slewing bearing comprising an inner ring and an outer ring.

7. The azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker according to claim 6, wherein the inner ring of the slewing bearing is affixed to the fixed part and the outer ring is affixed to the azimuthal rotating support.

8. The azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker according to claim 6, wherein the inner ring of the slewing bearing is affixed to the azimuthal rotating support and the outer ring is affixed to the fixed part.

9. The azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker according to claim 1, wherein the fixed part is integral to the vertical pedestal of the solar tracker.

10. The azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker according to claim 1, wherein the elevation linear actuator is articulated by means of a first horizontal joint to the azimuthal rotating support and in that the piston of said elevation linear actuator is attached by means of a second horizontal joint around which the supporting structure can rotate.

11. The azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker according to claim 1, wherein the elevation linear actuator is articulated by means of a first horizontal joint to the azimuthal rotating support and in that the piston of said elevation linear actuator is attached by means of a second horizontal joint around which a second articulated assembly can rotate, which in turn comprises a third articulated rod, which is attached to the supporting structure by means of a third horizontal joint, and a fourth articulated rod, which is attached to the third articulated rod by means of a horizontal joint and to the azimuthal rotating support by means of a fourth horizontal joint.

12. The azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker according to claim 11, wherein the elevation linear actuator, the third articulated rod and the fourth articulated rod are arranged on the same plane.

13. The azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker according to claim 11, wherein the elevation linear actuator, the third articulated rod and the fourth articulated rod are arranged on different planes.

14. The azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker according to claim 11, wherein the elevation linear actuator is attached to the third articulated rod and to the fourth articulated rod of the second articulated assembly directly by means of the same horizontal joint attaching the two rods.

15. The azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker according to claim 10, wherein the elevation linear actuator is attached to the third articulated rod or to the fourth articulated rod of the second articulated assembly by means of the horizontal joint, and the third and fourth articulated rods are attached to each other by means of an additional fifth horizontal joint different from the second horizontal joint, the third horizontal joint and the fourth horizontal joint.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Next, to facilitate the understanding of the invention, an embodiment of the invention referring to a series of figures will be described by way of illustration but not limitation.

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows a solar tracker including an azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism object of the present invention in different positions. FIG. 1a shows a position 1 wherein the tracker is in a horizontal position. FIG. 1b shows a position 2 wherein the tracker is in the position of greatest forward tilt, namely 90, or vertical position. FIG. 1c shows a position 3 wherein the tracker is in a position with a backward tilt, namely 30.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker object of the present invention.

(4) FIGS. 3 and 4 show a front and side view, respectively, of the mechanism of FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the essential components of an embodiment of the azimuthal rotation means of the mechanism.

(6) FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the essential components of an embodiment of the elevation rotation means of the mechanism.

(7) FIGS. 7 to 10 show a plant view of different successive positions of the azimuthal rotation means of FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 11 is an alternative configuration of the azimuthal rotation means.

(9) FIG. 12 is an alternative configuration of the elevation rotation means.

(10) In these figures reference is made to the following set of elements: 1. supporting structure of solar panels 2. pedestal of the solar tracker 3. azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism 4. azimuthal linear actuator 5. elevation linear actuator 6. azimuthal rotating support 7. supports of the linear actuators 8. first vertical joint attaching the azimuthal linear actuator to the azimuthal rotating support 9. first articulated rod of the azimuthal rotation means 10. second articulated rod of the azimuthal rotation means 11. second vertical joint of the azimuthal rotation means 12. third fixed vertical joint attaching the first rod to the fixed part 13. rotating element 14. fixed part of the azimuthal rotation means 15. fourth vertical joint of the azimuthal rotation means 16. first vertical joint attaching the elevation linear actuator to the azimuthal rotating support 17. movable horizontal elevation shaft arranged on the azimuthal rotating support 18. second horizontal joint of the elevation linear actuator 19. inner ring of the rotating element 20. outer ring of the rotating element 21. fifth vertical joint of the azimuthal rotation means 22. fourth articulated rod of the elevation rotation means 23. fifth horizontal joint of the elevation rotation means 24. third articulated rod of the elevation rotation means 25. third horizontal joint of the elevation rotation means 26. fourth horizontal joint of the elevation rotation means

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) The object of the present invention is an azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism for a solar tracker.

(12) As shown in the figures, the rotation mechanism 3 for a solar tracker is configured to support a supporting structure 1 of solar panels and provide said supporting structure 1 with an azimuthal rotation around a fixed vertical shaft arranged on the vertical pedestal 2 of the solar tracker by means of azimuthal rotation means, and elevation rotation in both directions (i.e., forward and backward) around a movable horizontal elevation shaft 17 by means of elevation rotation means. FIG. 1 shows the different positions of the solar tracker allowed by the azimuthal and elevation rotation mechanism object of the present invention.

(13) The azimuthal rotation means are constituted by a fixed part 14 that is rigidly attached to the pedestal 2, and by an azimuthal rotating support 6 attached to the fixed part 14 by means of a rotating element 13.

(14) The azimuthal rotating support 6 is particularly constituted by a cylindrical wall casing, in which an opening is provided for the passage of the azimuthal linear actuator 4, and is configured to rotate around the shaft of the pedestal 2. In addition, the movable horizontal elevation shaft 17, around which the elevation rotation of the supporting structure 1 takes place, is arranged on said azimuthal rotating support 6.

(15) The fixed part 14 can be integral to the vertical pedestal 2 of the solar tracker, or it can be an independent part, as shown in FIG. 5.

(16) As for the rotating element 13, it is preferably formed in a slewing bearing comprising in turn an inner ring 19 and an outer ring 20, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIGS. 7 to 10. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the inner ring 19 of the slewing bearing is affixed to the fixed part 14, while the outer ring 20 is affixed to the azimuthal rotating support 6. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the inner ring 19 of the slewing bearing is affixed to the azimuthal rotating support 6, while the outer ring 20 is affixed to the fixed part 14. As an alternative to the slewing bearing, any other known rotary support system could be used.

(17) Furthermore, the azimuthal rotation means have a single horizontal azimuthal linear actuator 4, which is preferably a hydraulic cylinder, which is articulated by means of a first vertical joint 8 to the azimuthal rotating support 6. Supports 7 of the linear actuators rigidly attached to the azimuthal rotating support 6 are used to facilitate the assembly of this first vertical joint 8, as shown in FIG. 5.

(18) The piston of the azimuthal linear actuator 4 is attached by means of a second vertical joint 11 around which a first articulated assembly can rotate. This first articulated assembly in turn comprises a first articulated rod 9, which is attached to the fixed part 14 by means of a third fixed vertical joint 12, and a second articulated rod 10, which is attached to the first articulated rod 9 by means of a vertical joint, and to the azimuthal rotating support 6 by means of a fourth vertical joint 15. This configuration of the azimuthal rotation means can be observed in detail in FIG. 5 and FIGS. 7 to 10.

(19) According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the azimuthal linear actuator 4, the first articulated rod 9 and the second articulated rod 10 are arranged on the same plane, as shown in FIG. 5. Alternatively, the azimuthal linear actuator 4, the first articulated rod 9 and the second articulated rod 10 are arranged on different planes.

(20) FIG. 5 and FIGS. 7 to 10 show a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the azimuthal linear actuator 4 is attached to the first articulated rod 9 and to the second articulated rod 10 of the first articulated assembly directly by means of the second vertical joint 11, which is also used to attach the first articulated rod 9 and the second articulated rod 10 to each other. FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment wherein the azimuthal linear actuator 4 can be attached to the first articulated rod 9 or to the second articulated rod 10 of the first articulated assembly by means of the vertical joint 11, while the two articulated rods 9, 10 are attached to each other by means of an additional fifth vertical joint 21 which is different from the second vertical joint 11, the third vertical joint 12 and fourth vertical joint 15.

(21) As to the elevation rotation means, they are responsible for performing the elevation rotation of the supporting structure 1 around the movable horizontal elevation shaft 17 arranged on the azimuthal rotating support 6, by means of an elevation linear actuator 5, which preferably is a hydraulic cylinder perpendicular to the movable horizontal shaft 17 which, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, is articulated to the azimuthal rotating support 6 and to the supporting structure 1 by means of corresponding joints 16 and 18 parallel to the elevation shaft 17, and which does not intersect with the elevation shaft 17. Since the horizontal elevation shaft 17 is on the azimuthal rotating support 6, is movable and moves together with the azimuthal rotation, all the components and joints governing the elevation rotation rotate around the azimuthal vertical shaft. FIG. 6 shows this embodiment.

(22) According to another particular embodiment of the invention, alternative to the one described above, this elevation linear actuator 5 is articulated by means of a first horizontal joint 16 to the azimuthal rotating support 6, and the piston of said elevation linear actuator 5 is attached by means of a second horizontal joint 18 around which a second articulated assembly can rotate. The first horizontal joint 16 and the second horizontal joint 18 are parallel to the movable horizontal elevation shaft.

(23) This second articulated assembly in turn comprises a third articulated rod 24, which is attached to the supporting structure 1 by means of a third horizontal joint 25, and a fourth articulated rod 22, which is attached to the third articulated rod 24 by means of a horizontal joint, and to the azimuthal rotating support 6 by means of a fourth horizontal joint 26.

(24) According to different embodiments of the invention, the elevation linear actuator 5, the third articulated rod 24 and the fourth articulated rod 22 can be arranged on the same plane, or alternatively, on different planes.

(25) According to a variant of an embodiment of the invention, the elevation linear actuator 5 is attached to the third articulated rod 24 and to the fourth articulated rod 22 of the second articulated assembly directly by means of the horizontal joint 18, which is also used as the horizontal joint attaching the third articulated rod 24 and the fourth articulated rod 22. Alternatively, the elevation linear actuator 5 is attached to the third articulated rod 24 or to the fourth articulated rod 22 of the second articulated assembly by means of the second horizontal joint 18, while the third articulated rod 24 and the fourth articulated rod 22 are attached to each other by means of an additional fifth horizontal joint 23 different from the second horizontal joint 18, the third horizontal joint 25 and the fourth horizontal joint 26. FIG. 12 shows this embodiment.

(26) Having clearly described the invention, it is noted that the particular embodiments described above are subject to detail changes provided they do not alter the fundamental principle and essence of the invention.