Dynamic stabilizer for solar trackers
AssigneeCoroSolar LLC
InventorsIsaac Riley Joseph Childress, Rob Ward, Patrick Keelin, Lauren Busby, Michael Maulick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A non-drive dynamic stabilizer includes a damper and an actuator. The dynamic stabilizer provides multiple states of support to a solar tracker structure. These states may include 1) flexible movement and/or damping during normal operation (i.e. tracking) and/or 2) rigid or locked, whereby the dynamic stabilizer acts as a restraint. The dynamic stabilizer is actuated by a control system according to the real-time demands on the structure. Sensors to provide input to the control system may include wind speed sensors, wind direction sensors, snow sensors, vibration sensors and/or displacement sensors.
Claims21
A dynamic stabilizer for a solar tracker system, the dynamic stabilizer comprising:
- a damper having a damper shaft, an actuator including a linear actuator, a locking damper pin wherein the locking damper pin is connected to the linear actuator and passed through the damper shaft, and a valve configured to regulate a flow of oil through the damper, wherein the linear actuator and the locking damper pin have a first, depressed position in which the valve is open and the damper is unlocked, and the linear actuator and the locking damper pin have a second, released position in which the valve closes and the damper is locked.
A solar tracker system comprising:
- a plurality of foundation supports;
- a dynamic stabilizer attached to at least one of the plurality of foundation supports, wherein the dynamic stabilizer comprises:
- a damper comprising a valve and damper shaft, an actuator including a linear actuator, and a locking damper pin connected to the linear actuator and passing through the damper shaft, wherein the linear actuator and the locking damper pin have a first, depressed position in which the valve is open and the damper is unlocked, and the linear actuator and the locking damper pin have a second, released position in which the valve closes and the damper is locked, wherein the valve regulates a flow of oil through damper;
- a plurality of solar panels rotatably attached to the plurality of the foundation supports and to the dynamic stabilizer;
- at least one environmental sensor;
- a control system configured to receive a signal from the at least one environmental sensor;
- and
- a tracker controller configured to receive an output signal from the control system;
- wherein the tracker controller is configured to output a signal to the dynamic stabilizer to lock or unlock the dynamic stabilizer, based on the signal from the at least one environmental sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.