# US 2018/0023668 A1 · Panel driving device and heliostat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0023668 A1 - Document ID: US20180023668A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/546,863 - Filed: 2016-01-21 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-30 - Assignees: Nabtesco Corporation - Applicants: Nabtesco Corporation - Inventors: Shingo MIWA; Toshiharu HIBINO; Shinji INOUE; Motohiro TANAKA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023668A1 ## CPC - F16H 1/32: in which the central axis of the gearing lies inside the periphery of an orbital gear - F16H 21/16: for interconverting rotary motion and reciprocating motion - F16H 21/44: for conveying or interconverting oscillating or reciprocating motions - F24S 30/452: Vertical primary axis - F24S 50/20: for tracking - H02S 20/32: specially adapted for solar tracking - F16H 2001/323: {comprising eccentric crankshafts driving or driven by a gearing} - F16H 2001/325: {comprising a carrier with pins guiding at least one orbital gear with circular holes} - F24S 23/77: with flat reflective plates - F24S 2030/131: {in the form of articulated bars} - F24S 2030/137: {for deriving one movement from another one, e.g. for deriving elevation movement from azimuth movement} - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - F16H: GEARING - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A panel driving device rotates a panel structure to vary a tilt thereof or turns the panel structure about a vertical axis, the panel structure including a panel for receiving sunlight, the panel driving device including: a drive source including a rotational portion capable of rotating; and a transmission mechanism including a connection portion connected to the panel structure, and configured to convert a rotational movement of the rotational portion into rotation or turning of the panel structure without converting the rotational movement of the rotational portion into a linear movement, wherein the connection portion is offset from a rotation axis of the rotational portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A panel driving device for rotating a panel structure to vary a tilt thereof or turning the panel structure about a vertical axis, the panel structure including a panel for receiving sunlight, the panel driving device comprising: a drive source including a rotational portion capable of rotating; and a transmission mechanism including a connection portion connected to the panel structure, and configured to convert a rotational movement of the rotational portion into rotation or turning of the panel structure without converting the rotational movement of the rotational portion into a linear movement, wherein the connection portion is offset from a rotation axis of the rotational portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The panel driving device of claim 1, wherein the rotation axis of the rotational portion is parallel to an axis of rotation or turning of the panel structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The panel driving device of claim 1, wherein the transmission mechanism includes a panel-side rotational portion configured to rotate integrally with the panel structure and a transmitting portion configured to transmit operation between the panel-side rotational portion and the rotational portion, and a rotation radius of the panel-side rotational portion is larger than a rotation radius of the rotational portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The panel driving device of claim 1, wherein the transmission mechanism is a link mechanism. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The panel driving device of claim 1, wherein the drive source includes a motor and a speed reducer, the motor having a drive shaft and configured to rotate the drive shaft, the speed reducer being configured to reduce a rotation speed of the drive shaft and rotate the rotational portion at the reduced rotation speed, and the speed reducer includes an internal gear and an external gear, the external gear being configured to rotate inside the internal gear while meshing with the internal gear, the speed reducer being configured to reduce the rotation speed of the drive shaft in accordance with a difference in a number of teeth between the internal gear and the external gear. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The panel driving device of claim 5, wherein the speed reducer is an eccentric oscillating speed reducer, the eccentric oscillating speed reducer including a crankshaft, the crankshaft having an eccentric portion engaged with the external gear and configured to rotate because of the rotation of the drive shaft transmitted thereto, and the external gear oscillates eccentrically and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the crankshaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The panel driving device of claim 5, wherein the speed reducer includes a casing provided fixedly, the rotational portion includes a carrier and a drive-side rotational portion, the carrier being rotatably supported in the casing, the drive-side rotational portion being connected to the transmission mechanism and configured to rotate integrally with the carrier, the carrier includes a projecting portion projecting outward of the casing in a direction of a rotation axis of the carrier, and the drive-side rotational portion extends in a radial direction of the casing at a position on the side where the projecting portion projects from the casing, and is coupled to the projecting portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The panel driving device of claim 4, further comprising: a counterweight attached to the link mechanism, wherein the link mechanism is configured to convert the rotational movement of the rotational portion into rotation of the panel structure for varying the tilt of the panel structure, and the counterweight is configured to apply a load to the link mechanism, the load being resistant to the rotation of the panel structure in a direction to erect the panel, while the load being assistive to the rotation of the panel structure in a direction to level the panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A heliostat comprising: a support column erected at a desired place; a panel structure having a panel made of a mirror receiving and reflecting sunlight and supported at an upper end of the support column; and the panel driving device of claim 1.