Spring counter-balance assemblies and solar trackers incorporating springs to balance rotation
AssigneeArray Tech, Inc.
InventorRonald P. Corio
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solar tracker assembly is provided which includes a support column, a torque tube or torsion beam connected to the support column, a mounting mechanism attached to the torque tube or torsion beam, a drive system connected to the torque tube or torsion beam, and a spring counter-balance assembly connected to the torque tube or torsion beam. An exemplary spring counter-balance assembly comprises a bearing housing and a bushing disposed within the bearing housing and configured to be slideably mounted onto the torque tube or torsion beam, and one or more compressible cords made of a flexible material. The compressible cords are located between the bushing and the bearing housing and provide damping during rotational movement of the solar tracker assembly.
Claims9
A solar tracker assembly comprising:
- a torque tube;
- a column supporting the torque tube;
- a solar module attached to the torque tube;
- a drive system attached to the torque tube, the drive system being configured to rotate the torque tube and solar module relative to the column;
- and
- a counter-balance assembly comprising:
- a top bracket secured to the torque tube such that the top bracket rotates with the torque tube,
- a bottom bracket secured to the column supporting the torque tube,
- a damper attached at one end to the top bracket and, at an opposite end, to the bottom bracket, and
- a spring incorporated into the damper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.