CONNECTION SYSTEM OF A TRANSMISSION ROD FOR SOLAR TRACKERS

Abstract

A connection system of a transmission rod for solar trackers of rows of solar panels, the transmission rod of which connects a main rotation shaft to a motorised rotation module to a driven shaft with a rotation module without a motor, being connectable to the rotation modules by universal joints that are fastened to the connection output, wherein the universal joint has at one connection end corresponding to the connection output, and at the other end of the universal joint corresponding to a tubular connection output with a polygonal cross section for connection with the transmission rod correspondingly having a polygonal configuration, and with a first end longitudinally slidably connectable to the connection output of a first universal joint and with a second end fixedly connectable to the connection output of a second universal joint.

Claims

1. A connection system of a transmission rod (1) for solar trackers with at least two rows of solar panels (2) the transmission rod (1) of which connects a main rotation shaft (3) with a motorised rotation module (4) to a driven shaft (3) with a rotation module (4) without a motor, said transmission rod (1) being connectable to the rotation modules (4, 4) by means of universal joints (5, 5) that are fastened to the connection output (4.1, 4.1) of the rotation module (4, 4), wherein the universal joint (5, 5) has at one connection end (5.1, 5.1) corresponding to the connection output (4.1, 4.1) of the rotation module (4, 4), and at the other end of the universal joint (5, 5) corresponding to a tubular connection output (5.2, 5.2) with a polygonal cross section for connection to the transmission rod (1), the transmission rod (1) correspondingly having a polygonal configuration, and with a first end (1.1) of the transmission rod (1) longitudinally slidably connectable to the connection output (5.2) of a first universal joint (5) and with a second end (1.1) of the transmission rod (1) fixedly connectable to the connection output (5.2) of a second universal joint (5).

2. The connection system of a transmission rod (1) for solar trackers according to claim 1, wherein the transmission rod (1) is square.

3. The connection system of a transmission rod (1) for solar trackers according to claim 1, wherein the connection output (5.2) of the first universal joint (5) is adjustable by snap fit of the transmission rod (1).

4. The connection system of a transmission rod (1) for solar trackers according to claim 2, wherein the connection output (5.2) of the second universal joint (5) is fastened by means of a through screw (6) through a through hole (5.3) of the connection output (5.2) of the second universal joint coinciding with a through hole (1.2) of the second end (1.1) of the transmission rod (1).

5. The connection system of a transmission rod (1) for solar trackers according to claim 1, wherein the first universal joint (5) is fastened to the connection output (4.1) of the rotation module (4) by means of a grub screw (8).

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a dual-row solar tracker with the transmission system object of the invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows an elevation view of a transmission rod for connecting a rotation module of a motorised rotation shaft to a rotation module of a driven rotation shaft for an example embodiment of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2.

[0017] FIG. 4 shows an exploded elevation view of one end of the transmission rod joined to the rotation module by means of a first universal joint.

[0018] FIG. 5 shows a view like that of FIG. 4 in the assembled position.

[0019] FIG. 6 shows an exploded elevation view of the other end of the transmission rod joined to the rotation module by means of a second universal joint.

[0020] FIG. 7 shows a view like that of FIG. 6 in the assembled position.

[0021] FIG. 8 shows the detailed view of the first universal joint joined to the connection output of the rotation module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] In light of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the adopted numbering, a non-limiting preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention can be seen therein, which comprises the parts and elements indicated and described in detail below.

[0023] As can be seen in the perspective view of the general installation of solar panels in FIG. 1, due to the orography of the location and to synchronise the rotation of the solar panels (2) of solar trackers in which a rotation shaft (3, 3) supported on the ground by posts (7) transmits the movement to the solar panels (2) themselves; for the practical example of a dual-row tracker, a transmission rod (1) is used, which transmits the movement of rotation of a main rotation shaft (3) driven by a motorised rotation module (4), to a driven shaft (3) through its rotation module (4) without a motor.

[0024] In order for the transmission of movement to be smooth and without vibrations, the connection system of the transmission rod (1), as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, comprises a first universal joint (5) for joining one end of the rod (1) to the motorised rotation module (4), and a second end of the rod (1) fastenable to the rotation module (4) of the driven shaft (3) by means of a second universal joint (5).

[0025] The particularity of this transmission rod (1) is its polygonal cross section configuration, specifically for the practical example shown in the figures, a square cross section.

[0026] Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 4, the first universal joint (5) comprises a connection end (5.1) with a circular cross section corresponding to the connection output (4.1) of the motorised rotation module (4). This connection output (4.1) preferably has a grooved cylindrical configuration that facilitates the connection of the first universal joint (5) producing a correct transmission of the rotation movement.

[0027] As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, at the other end of the first universal joint (5), it comprises a connection output (5.2) with a square cross section configuration corresponding to the square configuration of the transmission rod (1). A first end (1.1) of the transmission rod (1) thereby being slid longitudinally (in the longitudinal direction of the rod) onto the connection outlet (5.2) of the first universal joint (5). This connection between the transmission rod (1) and the connection output (5.2) of the first universal joint (5) will preferably be adjustable by pressure to facilitate assembly work, such that a prefastening is achieved that prevents the rod (1) from easily coming out of the connection output (5.2).

[0028] Furthermore, and according to FIGS. 6 and 7, the connection system of the transmission rod (1) comprises a second universal joint (5) for fastening the second end (1.1) of the transmission rod (1) to the rotation module (4) of the driven shaft (3). Similarly to the first universal joint (5), the second universal joint (5) comprises a connection end (5.1) with a cylindrical configuration corresponding to the connection output (4.1) of the rotation module (4) of the driven rotation shaft (3). This connection output (4.1) preferably has a grooved cylindrical configuration that facilitates the connection of the second universal joint (5) to the rotation module (4).

[0029] At the other end of the second universal joint (5), it comprises a connection output (5.2) with a square cross section configuration corresponding to the square configuration of the transmission rod (1). The second end (1.1) of the transmission rod (1) is thereby inserted into the connection output (5.2) for fastening by means of a through screw (6) that passes through the through holes (1.2) of the transmission rod (1) and the through holes (5.3) of the connection output (5.2).

[0030] There is therefore a connection system of the transmission rod (1) that facilitates assembly, such that, firstly, the first universal joint (5) is fastened to the motorised rotation module (4) by inserting the connection end (5.1) into the grooved cylindrical connection output (4.1). Next, the first end (1.1) of the transmission rod (1) with a square cross section is slidably inserted into the connection output (5.2) with a square cross section, preferably having an adjustment length of about 125 mm. During this process, the transmission rod (1) is inserted abutting against the universal joint (5) in an inclined position, then the rod (1) is arranged in a horizontal position and the rod slides until it is inserted into the second universal joint (5) which will have previously been fastened to the connection output (4.1) of the rotation module (4) of the driven rotation shaft (3).

[0031] Once the second end (1.1) of the transmission rod (1) has been inserted into the connection output (5.2) of the second universal joint (5), it is fastened using a through screw (6) such that it prevents the longitudinal movement of the rod (1) on the connection output (5.2). This configuration allows the use of a single transmission rod (1) and significantly reduces the screws necessary for assembly, resulting in greater ease of assembly and a smooth transmission of movement without the vibrations that could be produced by the misalignment of the various screws used in the joints of known solutions.

[0032] Furthermore, as can be seen in FIG. 8, it is intended for the fastening between the connection end (5.1) of the first universal joint (5) and the connection output (4.1) of the motorised rotation module (4) to be made with a grub screw (8), providing a good disconnection system of the transmission rod (1). In order to perform the disconnection, first, the grub screw (8) is removed, such that the first adjustable universal joint (1) can be released, leaving the through screw (6) of the second universal joint (5), thus by removing said through screw (6) the transmission rod (1) is disconnected for the replacement or maintenance thereof.