# US 2019/0170402 A1 · Solar panel tracking system

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- Number: US 2019/0170402 A1
- Document ID: US20190170402A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/324,258
- Filed: 2017-09-01
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-20
- Assignees: Solarisfloat, Lta.
- Applicants: Solarisfloat, Lta.
- Inventors: Nuno CORREIA; Carla GOMES; Ricardo PINTO; Luis PINA; Nuno MOITA; Jorge TEIXEIRA DA SILVA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170402A1

## CPC

- F24S 20/70: Waterborne solar heat collector modules (for working fluids forming pools or ponds F24S10/10)
- F24S 30/425: Horizontal axis
- H02S 20/32: specially adapted for solar tracking
- F24S 2025/019: {Means for accommodating irregularities on mounting surface; Tolerance compensation means}
- F24S 2030/115: {Linear actuators, e.g. pneumatic cylinders}
- F24S 2030/135: {in the form of threaded elements}
- F24S 2030/16: {Hinged elements; Pin connections}
- Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking
- 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 tracking system for performing a movement control of a solar panel is provided, having a single axis solar tracking solution allowing an individual actuation of a solar panel and its respective rotation axis. The tracking system is applied in an individual solar panel, and has a local control unit, an electrical motor, a tracking actuator mechanism, a blockage unit and a tracking support mechanism, which is useful for solar power plant installations where individual panel tracking is an advantage due to site conditions such as irregular grounds or unstable locations as in aquatic sites or locations with variable slopes.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

-6. (canceled)

### Claim 7

A solar panel tracking system comprising:
a local control unit, configured to establish a communication network with a remote central control unit;
a tracking actuator mechanism;
a blockage unit;
a tracking support mechanism comprising a support structure, where a solar panel is fixed by means of a panel structure which is connected to the tracking actuator mechanism, and two hinge assemblies for providing the connection of the support structure to a base platform;
wherein,
the tracking actuator mechanism comprises:
an electrical motor, a threaded shaft which is assembled to the blockage unit, a lock pin and a flange bearing;
the electrical motor is configured to activate the movement of the threaded shaft, by means of the lock pin and the flange bearing, to position the panel structure according to an activation message sent by the remote central control unit to the local control unit, and
the blockage unit comprises a nut mechanism which blocks the movement of the threaded shaft, said nut mechanism comprising two half nut supports attached to a nut-locking cap for fixing the unit to a base platform.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The solar panel tracking system according to claim 7, wherein the panel structure comprises two horizontal beams for fixing the tracking actuator mechanism by means of two lower half clamps and two top half clamps.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The solar panel tracking system according to claim 7, wherein the support structure comprises two vertical beams for fixing the panel structure, said vertical beams connecting to the two hinge assemblies.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The solar panel tracking system according to claim 7, wherein each hinge assembly comprises a hinge support with a round hole or with a slotted hole.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The solar panel tracking system according to claim 7, wherein one hinge assembly has a round hole hinge support and the other hinge assembly has a slotted hole hinge support.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The solar panel tracking system according to claim 7, wherein the local control unit comprises:
a communication module; and
a processor unit, configured to actuate the tracking actuator mechanism upon receiving and processing the activation message sent by the remote central control unit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The solar panel tracking system according to claim 7, wherein the electrical motor is connected to the threaded shaft by means of a bearing joint.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The solar panel tracking system according to claim 10, wherein each hinge assembly comprises additionally:
a hinge part with two half clamps, adapted to fix one vertical beam of the support structure;
at least two switches installed on each half clamp for defining movement limits of the tracking actuator mechanism; and
two half hinge connectors for fixing the hinge assembly to a base platform.