# US 11,114,975 B2 · Solar tracking system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,114,975 B2 - Document ID: US11114975B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/968,694 - Filed: 2019-04-03 - Published: 2021-03-04 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-21 - Assignees: Varun Sachar - Applicants: Varun Sachar - Inventors: Sudipto Mukherjee; Jitendra Prasad Khatait; Nilanjan Sen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11114975B2 ## CPC - F24S 25/12: using posts in combination with upper profiles - H02S 20/32: specially adapted for solar tracking - F24S 30/455: Horizontal primary axis - F24S 50/20: for tracking - G05D 3/105: {Solar tracker} - H02S 30/10: Frame structures - F24S 2030/136: {for moving several solar collectors by common transmission elements} - F24S 2030/15: {Bearings} - F24S 2030/17: {Spherical joints} - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract The present invention relates to a two axis tracking system (100). The present invention includes a frame (102), a solar panel PV module (112), an upper beam (114), a selectively flexible bracket (116), a first supporting pillar (118), a second supporting pillar (140), a lower beam (120), first strut (126), a second strut (146). The first supporting pillar (118) and the second supporting pillar (140) together act as the fixed link. The frame (102) acts as the rotating link and the lower beam (120) acts as the translating link. The first strut (126) and the second strut (146) together act as the fourth link connecting the frame (102) and the lower beam (120). The translation of the lower beam (120) causes rotation of the frame (102) in north-south direction. The PV module (112) is mounted on the frame (102) are rotated in east-west direction by translation motion of the upper beam (114). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dual axis solar tracker system (100), the system (100) comprising: a frame (102), the frame (102) having a frame side one (104), a frame side two (106), the frame side two (106) is parallel to the frame side one (104), a first cross beam (124), the first crossbeam (124) is connected between the frame side two (106) and the frame side one (104) perpendicularly, and a second cross beam (142), the second cross beam (142) is connected between the frame side two (106) and the frame side one (104), and is parallel to the first beam (124), and an at least one frame side one bearing (108), the at least one frame side one bearing (108) is connected to the frame side one (104); an at least one frame side two bearing (110), the at least one frame side two bearing (110) is connected to the frame side two (106) exactly opposite to the at least one frame side one bearing (108); an at least one solar panel (112), the at least one solar panel (112) is coupled to the at least one frame side one bearing (108) on the frame side one (104) and further coupled to the at least one frame side two bearing (110) on the frame side two (106); an upper beam (114), the upper beam (114) is below to the frame side one (102); an at least one selectively flexible bracket (116), the at least one selectively flexible bracket (116) is connected between the upper beam (114) and the at least one frame side one bearing (108); an at least one first supporting pillar (118); an at least one second supporting pillar (140); a lower beam (120), the lower beam (120) forms a perpendicular sliding pair with the at least one first supporting pillar (118) and the at least one second supporting (140); an at least one first supporting pillar bearing (122), the at least one first supporting pillar bearing (122) is connected between the at least one first supporting pillar (118) and the first cross beam (124); an at least one second supporting pillar bearing (144), the at least one second supporting pillar bearing (144) is connected between the at least one second supporting pillar (140) and the second cross beam (142); an at least one first strut (126), the at least one first strut (126) is connected between the first cross beam (124) and the lower beam (120) through an at least one first spherical joint (128) and an at least one second spherical joint (130); an at least one second strut (146), the at least one second strut (146) is connected between the second cross beam (142) and the lower beam (120) through an at least one third spherical joint (148) and an at least one fourth spherical joint (150); an upper beam actuator (132), the upper beam actuator (132) is connected to the upper beam (114) at one end and further connected to the first cross beam (124) at the other end; and a lower beam actuator (134), the lower beam actuator (134) is connected to the lower beam (120) at one end and connected to the at least one first supporting pillar (118) at the other end; wherein, translation motion of the upper beam (114) is along the length of frame side one (104), wherein, the plane of rotation of the at least one frame side one bearing (108) and the at least one frame side two bearing (110) is parallel to translation motion of the upper beam (114), wherein, translation motion of the lower beam (120) is along the length of frame side two (106), wherein, the plane of rotation of the first supporting pillar bearing (122) and the second supporting pillar bearing (144) is perpendicular to translation motion of the lower beam (120), wherein, the at least one first spherical joint (128) connects one end of the at least one first strut (126) and the first cross beam (124) and the at least one second spherical joint (130) connects another opposite end of the at least one first strut (126) and the lower beam (120), wherein, the at least one third spherical joint (148) connects one end of the at least one second strut (146) and the second cross beam (142) and the at least one fourth spherical joint (150) connects another opposite end of the at least one second strut (126) and the lower beam (120), wherein, the system (100) is a four-bar linkage mechanism, such that the at least one first supporting pillar (118) and the at least one second supporting pillar (140) together act as the fixed link, the frame (102) acts as the rotating link and the lower beam (120) acts as the translating link and the at least one first strut (126) and the at least one second strut (126) together act as the fourth link connecting the frame (102) and the lower beam (120) and thus in the designed configuration, the translation of the lower beam (120) causes rotation of the frame (102). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper beam actuator (132) and the lower beam actuator (134) are selected from a pneumatic drive, a pneumatic motor, a hydraulic drive, a hydraulic motor and an electric motor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The frame (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame (102) is able to be rotated in north-south direction with respect to horizontal with a large angle range. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, multiple units of the system (100) are able to be arranged in a row and the rotation of the frame (102) is able to be control through the single lower beam actuator (134). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein multiple units of the at least one solar panel (112) are able to rotated in east-west direction through the single upper beam actuator (132). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper beam actuator (132) and the lower beam actuator (134) are controlled by an electronic control system. ### Claim 7 A dual axis solar tracker system (100), the system (100) comprising: a frame (102), the frame (102) having a frame side one (104), a frame side two (106), the frame side two (106) is parallel to the frame side one (104), a first cross beam (124), the at least one first cross second beam (124) is connected between the frame side two (106) and the frame side one (104) perpendicularly, and a second cross beam (142), the second cross beam (142) is connected between the frame side two (106) and the frame side one (104), and is parallel to the at least one first cross second beam (124); an at least one frame side one bearing (108), the at least one frame side one bearing (108) is connected to the frame side one (104); an at least one frame side two bearing (110), the at least one frame side two bearing (110) is connected to the frame side two (106) exactly opposite to the at least one frame side one bearing (108); an at least one solar panel (112), the at least one solar panel (112) is coupled to the at least one frame side one bearing (108) on the frame side one (104) and further attached to the at least one frame side two bearing (110) on the frame side two (106); an upper beam (114), the upper beam (114) is below to the frame side one (102); an at least one selectively flexible bracket (116), the at least one selectively flexible bracket (116) is connected between the upper beam (114) and the at the at least one frame side one bearing (108); a first supporting pillar (118), top of the at least one first supporting pillar (118) is connected to the at least one first cross second beam (124) through a hinge joint; an at least one second supporting pillar (140), top of the at least one second supporting pillar (140) is connected to the at least one second cross beam (142) through a hinge joint; an at least one first strut (126), the at least one first strut (126) is connected between the first cross beam (124) and the at least one first supporting pillar (118) through a hinge joint; an at least one second strut (146), the at least one second strut (146) is connected between the at least one second cross beam (142) and the at least one second supporting pillar (140) through a hinge joint; an upper beam actuator (132), the upper beam actuator (132) is connected to the upper beam (114) at one end and connected to the first cross beam (124) at the other end; and wherein, translation motion of the upper beam (114) is along the length of frame side one (104), wherein, the plane of rotation of the at least one frame side one bearing (108) and the at least one frame side two bearing (110) is parallel to translation motion of the upper beam (114), wherein, one end of the at least one first strut (126) is connected to the first cross beam (124) through a hinge joint and another opposite end of the at least one first strut (126) is connected to the at least one first supporting pillar (118) through a hinge joint, wherein, one end of the at least one second strut (146) is connected to the at least one second cross beam (142) through a hinge joint and another opposite end of the at least one second strut (126) is connected to at least one second supporting pillar (140) through a hinge joint, wherein, the at least one selectively flexible bracket (116) is designed to transmit rotation, wherein, position of the frame (102) is fixed by restricting the rotation of the frame (102) in North-South direction. ### Claim 8 A method of dual axis solar tracker system (100), the method comprising: a method of rotating the at least one solar panel (112), the step of providing a frame (102), the method having force applied on an upper beam (114) in the direction along the length of a frame side one (104); the upper beam (114) moves in the direction of applied force; the force from the upper beam (114) transfers to an at least one selectively flexible bracket (116); the at least one selectively flexible bracket (116) moves to transfer the force applied to an at least one frame side one bearing (108); the at least one frame side one bearing (108) uses the force applied to rotate; and rotation of the at least one frame side one bearing (108) rotates an at least one solar panel (112); wherein force is applied on the upper beam (114) through an upper beam actuator (132), a method of rotating the frame (102), the method having force is applied on a lower beam (120) in the direction parallel to a frame side two (106); the lower beam (120) moves in the direction of the force applied; the force from the lower beam (120) transfers to an at least one first strut (126) and an at least one second strut (146); the position of the at least one first strut (126) and the at least one second strut (146) is adjusted by the force applied with the help of an at least one first spherical joint (128), an at least one second spherical joint (130), an at least one third spherical joint (148) and an at least one fourth spherical joint (150); the force from the at least one first strut (126) and the at least one second strut (146) is transferred to the frame (102); and the angle of rotation of a frame (102) is changed depending on the force applied; wherein, force is applied on the lower beam (120) through a lower beam actuator (134). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method as claimed in claim 8, the position of the frame (102) is locked in position by a method of locking the frame (102) movement, the method comprising: the frame (102) is held in a position perpendicular to the at least one first supporting pillar (118) and the at least one second supporting pillar (140); the unwanted forces on the frame (102) are balanced by the at least one first strut (126) and the at least one second strut (146) hence locking the position of the frame (102); in case the frame (102) is not perpendicular to the at least one first supporting pillar (118) and the at least one second supporting pillar (140), the frame (102) is moved to position perpendicular to the at least one first supporting pillar (118) and the at least one second supporting pillar (140) through applied force to be locked in position; and in case of moving the frame (102), a method of rotating the frame (102) is executed; wherein, the applied force to be locked in position is through the lower beam actuator (134).