Articulation joints for terrain following solar tracker
AssigneeNextpower LLC
InventorsRicardo Delgado-Nanez, Kin Tsim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupling system for use with a solar tracker includes a support flange, a swivel flange rotatably supported on the support flange, an articulation joint interposed between each of the support flange and the swivel flange and rotatably supported by each of the support flange and the swivel flange, wherein opposed first and second end portions of the articulation joint are configured to be operably coupled to a respective first and second torque tube, and at least one locking fastener selectively coupled to a portion of the support flange and a portion of the swivel flange, the at least one locking fastener configured to selectively inhibit rotation of the swivel flange relative to the support flange.
Claims14
A coupling system for use with a solar tracker, comprising:
- a support flange;
- a swivel flange rotatably supported on the support flange, the swivel flange configured to pivot about a first axis that is offset from a center portion of the support flange;
- and
- an articulation joint, the articulation joint interposed between each of the support flange and the swivel flange, the articulation joint rotatably supported by each of the support flange and the swivel flange, the articulation joint comprising a constant velocity joint and a stub axle operably coupled to a portion of the constant velocity joint, the constant velocity joint and the stub axle being operably coupled to a respective first torque tube and a second torque tube,
- wherein the support flange is operably coupled to one of the constant velocity joint and the stub axle, and the swivel flange is operably coupled to another of the constant velocity joint and the stub axle, and wherein each of the support flange and the swivel flange is configured to receive a portion of the first torque tube or the second torque tube.
A solar tracker, comprising:
- at least one pier;
- a pair of torque tubes, wherein the at least one pier is interposed between the pair of torque tubes;
- and
- a coupling system, the coupling system including:
- a support flange;
- a swivel flange rotatably supported on the support flange, the swivel flange configured to pivot about a first axis that is offset from a center portion of the support flange;
- and
- an articulation joint, the articulation joint interposed between each of the support flange and the swivel flange, the articulation joint rotatably supported by each of the support flange and the swivel flange, the articulation joint comprising a constant velocity joint and a stub axle operably coupled to a portion of the constant velocity joint, the constant velocity joint and the stub axle being operably coupled to a respective first torque tube and a second torque tube,
- wherein the support flange is operably coupled to one of the constant velocity joint and the stub axle, and the swivel flange is operably coupled to another of the constant velocity joint and the stub axle, and wherein each of the support flange and the swivel flange is configured to receive a portion of the first torque tube or the second torque tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.