Torque limiting mechanism for solar tracking systems

A torque limiting mechanism in a solar tracking system comprising:

• a drive motor configured to rotate a drive shaft;
• a worm gear comprising a worm wheel, a worm, an input axle, and an output axle, wherein:
• the output axle includes a first photovoltaic (PV) module mounting structure segment, a second PV module mounting structure segment, and a connector that couples the first PV module mounting structure segment with the second PV module mounting structure segment, and
• the worm gear is configured to translate rotation of the drive shaft into rotation of the output axle;
• and
• a torque limiter, interposed between an interior surface of the worm wheel and an exterior surface of the connector, that is configured to allow the worm wheel to slip relative to the connector when an amount of torque between the interior surface of the worm wheel and the exterior surface of the connector exceeds a threshold.

A torque limiting mechanism in a solar tracking system comprising:

• a drive motor configured to rotate a drive shaft;
• a spur gear comprising a toothed wheel, a pinion, an input axle, and an output axle, wherein the spur gear is configured to translate rotation of the drive shaft into rotation of the output axle;
• and
• a torque limiter, interposed between an interior surface of the pinion and an exterior surface of the input axle, that is configured to allow the interior surface of the pinion to slip relative to the exterior surface of the input axle when an amount of torque between the pinion and the input axle exceeds a threshold.