Azimuthal rotation mechanism for solar trackers

Abstract

Azimuthal rotation mechanism for solar trackers having a vertical pedestal (1) on which a rotating support (2) holding the solar panels (7) is mounted, which is actuated by at least three hydraulic cylinders (4, 5 and 6) located in the same horizontal plane and articulated through the casing to the rotating support (2) by a first movable vertical shaft (18), while the piston rods of the three cylinders pass through the wall of the rotating support and are articulated at the same height to the pedestal by a second fixed vertical rotation shaft (21).

Claims

1. An azimuthal rotation device for solar trackers comprising: a vertical pedestal having a cylindrical shape comprising a center and an outer surface defined by a radius; a fixed rotation shaft coupled to the vertical pedestal, the fixed rotation shaft being located at a distance from the center that is smaller than the radius; and a rotating support mounted on the vertical pedestal, the rotating support being adapted to hold one or more solar panels the rotating support comprising: a first plate disposed on the vertical pedestal, the first plate including first, second and third holes; a cylindrical wall disposed on the first plate, the cylindrical wall having a plurality of openings; a second plate disposed on the cylindrical wall, the second plate including fourth, fifth, and sixth holes, wherein the first and fourth holes form a first pair of aligned holes, the second and fifth holes form a second pair of aligned holes, and the third and sixth holes form a third pair of aligned holes; and first, second, and third hydraulic cylinders located in a horizontal plane between the first and second plates, each of the first, second, and third hydraulic cylinders comprising: a movable rotation shaft that passes through a corresponding pair of holes in the first and second plates, thereby connecting the respective hydraulic cylinder to the first and second plates; and a respective piston rod that passes through a corresponding one of the plurality of openings of the cylindrical wall and is connected to the fixed rotation shaft.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein each respective piston rod includes: an end proximate the fixed rotation shaft; a connecting structure adapted to connect the end to the fixed rotation shaft.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein: the first and second hydraulic cylinders are angularly displaced by a first angle, the second and third hydraulic cylinders are angularly displaced by a second angle, and the first and third hydraulic cylinders are angularly displaced by a third angle; and the first, second, and third angles are equal.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein each of the first, second, and third angles equals 120.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein: the first piston rod includes a first end proximate the fixed rotation shaft, the first end having a first fork shape formed by first and second prongs; the second piston rod includes a second end proximate the fixed rotation shaft, the second end having a second fork shape formed by third and fourth prongs; the third piston rod has a third end proximate the fixed rotation shaft; and the third end is disposed between the first and second prongs and between the third and fourth prongs.

6. The device according to claim 3, wherein the first plate includes a second opening; and the fixed rotation shaft passes through the second opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The attached drawings show, as a non-limitative example, a possible embodiment of the azimuthal mechanism of the invention.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a lateral elevational view of a solar tracker, with the solar panels in the vertical position, including the mechanism of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 1, with the solar panels in the horizontal position.

(4) FIG. 3 shows the mechanism of the invention from a higher perspective.

(5) FIG. 4 is a lateral elevational view of the same mechanism.

(6) FIG. 5 shows the rotating support of the mechanism of the invention from a higher perspective.

(7) FIG. 6 shows the arrangement of the three hydraulic cylinders that become part of the mechanism of the invention in perspective.

(8) FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the different components of the mechanism of the invention.

(9) FIGS. 8A to 8F show a plan view of successive positions of the mechanism, obtained with the actuation of the three hydraulic cylinders.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

(10) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a solar tracker composed of a fixed vertical pedestal (1), on which a rotating support (2) is mounted and that can rotate around a vertical shaft, coinciding with the shaft of the vertical pedestal (1). The rotation of the rotating support (2) is achieved by means of the joint actuation of three hydraulic cylinders (3, 4 and 5) preferably arranged in an equidistant angular position and located in the same horizontal plane.

(11) The rotating support (2) holds the structure (6) on which the mirrors (7) are mounted, which receive the direct effects of the solar rays. The structure (6) may pivot around the horizontal shaft (8) between a vertical position, FIG. 1, and a horizontal position, FIG. 2, with the actuation of the elevator cylinder (9) which casing is articulated among the lugs of the support (2) that are joined together.

(12) By means of the elevator cylinder (9), the mirrors (7) may occupy any position between a vertical position, FIG. 1, and a horizontal position, FIG. 2. On the other hand, by means of the joint actuation of the three hydraulic cylinders (3, 4 and 5), the mechanism can move from the position of FIG. 8A to any of the azimuthal and middle positions, as shall be explained below with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8F.

(13) FIG. 3 shows the vertical pedestal (1), comprised of a cylindrical column (10) and a head (11) attached to the column (10), forming the vertical axis pedestal (1) as a whole.

(14) The rotating support (2) is mounted on the pedestal (1) and has the capacity to rotate around the vertical shaft of said pedestal by means of any known rotating support system, for example, by interposing a slewing bearing (12), FIGS. 4 and 7.

(15) The rotation of the support (2) is achieved by means of the actuation of the hydraulic cylinders (3, 4 and 5).

(16) In the embodiment of the example represented in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, the rotating support is constituted by a cylindrical wall (13) and two triangle-shaped parallel plates (14 and 15), affixed to the cylindrical wall in matching positions and protruding from the cylindrical wall at least in the angular portions (16), which have vertically aligned openings (17) for the passage of a first vertical axis (18) that shall serve as the articulating means of the casing of the cylinders (3, 4, and 5) to the rotating support. The three shafts (18) are located outside the contour of the pedestal (1) and can move angularly in a direction perpendicular to said shafts.

(17) Two outer lugs (19) are affixed to the cylindrical wall (13), among which the casing of the hydraulic cylinder (9) is articulated.

(18) The cylindrical wall (13) has three openings (20), through which the hydraulic cylinders (3, 4 and 5) penetrate into the rotating support (2) to articulate the end of their piston rods, at the same height, to a second fixed vertical rotation shaft (21), joined together with the pedestal (1). This second fixed vertical rotation shaft (21) is located inside the contour of the pedestal.

(19) As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the piston rods of the hydraulic cylinders (3, 4 and 5) are topped with structures that can be coupled to each other, which can also adopt the shape of a fork (22). For the arrangement described above, at least the lower plate (15) of the rotating support (2) shall be open in its central area to allow the passage of the second vertical rotation shaft (21) and for it to be affixed to the pedestal (1). Likewise, the upper plate (14) may be open in its central part, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7).

(20) Preferably, the hydraulic cylinders (3, 4 and 5) shall be arranged in the same horizontal plane, in angularly equidistant positions, such that in the case of three cylinders the same shall be separated from each other at 120.

(21) FIGS. 8A to 8F represent different angular positions of the rotating support (2), through the actuation of the hydraulic cylinders (3, 4 and 5).

(22) FIG. 8A represents an azimuth position of 0, based on which successive azimuth positions are represented. 60 in FIG. 8B, 120 in FIG. 8C, 180 in FIG. 8D, 240 in FIG. 8E and 300 in FIG. 8F.

(23) In all cases, the second vertical shaft (21) is located in the same position, since it is affixed to the pedestal (1), while the cylinders (3, 4 and 5) vary in length and position, as well as the first vertical shaft (18), causing the rotation of the rotating support (2) holding the frames (6) that hold the mirrors (7) for orientation purposes.