# US 2015/0144751 A1 · Solar tracking bearing and solar tracking system employing same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0144751 A1 - Document ID: US20150144751A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/586,069 - Filed: 2014-12-30 - Published: 2015-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-12 - Assignees: First Solar, Inc. - Applicants: First Solar, Inc. - Inventors: Matthew Schneider; Jean-Paul Labrosse; Jeffrey Lamb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150144751A1 ## CPC - F24S 30/425: Horizontal axis - F16C 17/02: for radial load only - F16C 17/12: characterised by features not related to the direction of the load - F16M 11/18: with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand - F24S 25/12: using posts in combination with upper profiles - F24S 25/65: for coupling adjacent supporting elements, e.g. for connecting profiles together - F24S 25/70: with means for adjusting the final position or orientation of supporting elements in relation to each other or to a mounting surface; with means for compensating mounting tolerances - F24S 2030/131: {in the form of articulated bars} - F24S 2030/136: {for moving several solar collectors by common transmission elements} - F24S 2030/15: {Bearings} - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract An solar tracker bearing comprising a pair of stationary outer bearing races attached on either side of a bearing support element and a rotatable inner bearing race held by the pair of outer bearing races, the rotatable inner bearing race having an beam slot for seating a torque tube beam therein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solar tracker bearing comprising: a pair of stationary outer bearing races attached on either side of a hearing support element; a rotatable inner hearing race held by the pair of outer bearing races, the rotatable inner bearing race having a beam slot for seating a torque tube beam therein. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solar tracking bearing of claim 1, further including a bearing securing element for mounting the solar tracking bearing to a support post. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The solar tracking bearing of claim 2, wherein the bearing securing element comprises at least one mounting slot through which an attachment means may be passed to mount the bearing securing element to the support post, the slot permitting adjustment of the height of the bearing securing element relative to the support post. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The solar tracking bearing of claim 2, wherein the bearing securing element is integrated with the bearing support element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The solar tracking bearing of claim 2, wherein the bearing support element is mounted to the bearing securing clement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The solar tracking bearing of claim 5, wherein the bearing securing element has an upper flange with at least one mounting slot through which an attachment means may be passed to mount the bearing support element to the bearing securing element, the mounting slot permitting adjustment of the position of the bearing support element relative to the bearing securing element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The solar tracking bearing of claim 1, wherein the pair of outer bearing races are arranged to form a groove between them above a topmost part of the bearing support element, and the rotatable inner bearing race has a tongue to engage the groove. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The solar tracking bearing of claim 1, wherein the beam slot is configured to accept a torque tube beam having a square cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The solar tracking bearing of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of outer bearing races has at least one mounting slot through which an attachment means may be passed to mount each outer bearing race to the bearing support element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The solar tracking bearing of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of outer bearing races is individually detachable from the bearing support element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The solar tracking bearing of claim 1, wherein the pair of outer bearing races are U-shaped and have arcs that extend beyond 180 degrees to prevent the inner hearing race from being lifted out of the solar tracking bearing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The solar tracking bearing of claim 1, wherein the outer bearing races are formed of a low friction metal, polymer or bi-material metal-polymer hybrid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The solar tracking bearing of claim 12, wherein the outer bearing races are formed of polyether ether ketone (PEEK), high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE), or polyoxymethylene (POM). ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The solar tracking bearing of claim 1, wherein the inner bearing race is formed of stainless steel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The solar tracking bearing of claim 1, further including at least one capture strap attached to one of the outer bearing races adapted to open or close the top of the solar tracking bearing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The solar tracking bearing of claim 15, further including a pair of capture straps, one on each outer bearing race. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The solar tracking bearing of claim 1, wherein the rotatable inner bearing race comprises: an inner bearing race housing; and a plurality of tube supports. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The solar tracking bearing of claim 17, wherein at least one tube support of the plurality of tube supports comprises tabs that extend axially from the at least one tube support. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The solar tracking bearing of claim 17, wherein at least one tube support of the plurality of tube supports comprises an arcuate contour for contacting the torque tube beam. ### Claim 20 A solar tracking system comprising: at least one solar tracking bearing atop a support post, the solar tracking bearing comprising a pair of stationary outer bearing races attached on either side of a bearing support element, and a rotatable inner bearing race held by the pair of outer bearing races, the rotatable inner bearing race having an beam slot for seating a torque tube beam therein; a torque tube beam seated in the beam slot; a frame on which one or more photovoltaic modules can be mounted, the frame being secured to the torque tube beam; and an electromechanical actuator operable to control the inclination angle of the frame by causing the torque tube beam to rotate in the at least one solar tracking bearing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The solar tracking system of claim 20, wherein the frame is secured to the torque tube beam by one or more brackets. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The solar tracking system of claim 20, wherein the tracker comprises an actuator attached to the torque tube beam by a lever arm adapted to rotate the torque tube beam by extension or retraction of the actuator. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The solar tracking system of claim 20, further including a bearing securing element for mounting the solar tracking bearing to the support post, the bearing securing element comprising at least one mounting slot through which an attachment means may be passed to mount the bearing securing element to the support post, the slot permitting adjustment of the height of the bearing securing element relative to the support post. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The solar tracking system of claim 20, wherein the bearing securing element is integrated with the bearing support element. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The solar tracking system of claim 20, wherein the bearing support element is mounted to the bearing securing element. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The solar tracking system of claim 25, wherein the bearing securing element has an upper flange with at least one mounting slot through which an attachment means may be passed to mount the bearing support element to the bearing securing element, the mounting slot permitting adjustment of the position of the bearing support element relative to the bearing securing element. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The solar tracking system of claim 20, wherein the pair of outer bearing races are arranged to form a groove between them above a topmost part of the bearing support element, and the rotatable inner bearing race has a tongue to engage the groove. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The solar tracking system of claim 20, wherein the beam slot is configured to accept a torque tube beam having a square cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The solar tracking system of claim 20, wherein each of the pair of outer bearing races has at least one mounting slot through which an attachment means may be passed to mount each outer bearing race to the bearing support element. ### Claim 30 (depends on 20) The solar tracking system of claim 20, wherein each of the pair of outer bearing races is individually detachable from the bearing support element. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The solar tracking system of claim 30, wherein the pair of outer bearing races are U-shaped and have arcs that extend beyond 180 degrees to prevent the inner bearing race from being lifted out of the solar tracking bearing. ### Claim 32 (depends on 20) The solar tracking system of claim 20, wherein the outer bearing races are formed of a low friction metal, polymer or bi-material metal-polymer hybrid. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The solar tracking system of claim 32, wherein the outer bearing races are formed of polyether ether ketone (PEEK), high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE), or polyoxymethylene (POM). ### Claim 34 (depends on 20) The solar tracking system of claim 20, wherein the inner bearing race is formed of stainless steel. ### Claim 35 (depends on 20) The solar tracking system of claim 20, further including at least one capture strap attached to one of the outer bearing races adapted to open or close the top of the solar tracking bearing. ### Claim 36 (depends on 20) The solar tracking system of claim 20, further including a pair of capture straps, one on each outer bearing race. ### Claim 37 A solar tracker bearing comprising: a bearing support element; a stationary outer bearing race on a bearing securing element mounted to the bearing support element and providing a bearing surface for seating a torque tube beam therein. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The solar tracking bearing of claim 37, wherein a round torque tube beam operable to be seated directly on the bearing surface. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The solar tracking bearing of claim 37, wherein a square torque tube beam operable to be seated in a rotatable inner bearing race held by the outer bearing race on the bearing surface. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The solar tracker bearing of claim 37, further comprising a second stationary outer bearing race attached on the bearing securing element and providing a second bearing surface for seating a torque tube beam therein, wherein one of the outer bearing races is arranged on one side of the bearing securing element and the other of the outer bearing races is arranged on the other side of the bearing securing element.