Solar tracker system
AssigneeFCX Solar LLC
InventorsChristopher Thomas Needham, Frank Carl Oudheusden
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Abstract
A photovoltaic system includes a collection of photovoltaic modules, a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules, and a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base. The damper resists movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base. The damper has a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, and the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio.
Claims21
A system comprising:
- a positionable device;
- and
- a damper coupled to the positionable device, the damper including a damping ratio that is variable based on a current loading force on the positionable device.
A photovoltaic system, comprising:
- a photovoltaic module;
- a mount supporting the photovoltaic module;
- an actuator configured to set an angular position of the photovoltaic module relative to the base;
- and
- a damper coupled to the photovoltaic module and resisting angular position adjustment of the photovoltaic module, wherein the damper exhibits a variable damping ratio based on a current loading condition of the photovoltaic module.
A method comprising:
- setting, by an actuator, an angular position of a photovoltaic module relative to a mount;
- and
- resisting angular position adjustment, by a damper of the photovoltaic module, wherein said resisting applies a variable damping ratio based on a current loading condition on the photovoltaic module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.