Damping apparatus and method of using same
AssigneeStabilus GmbH
InventorsJAMES T. KULL, TODD A. GREVE, RAHUL CHANDRASHEKAR, CHRISTOPHER NIEMIEC
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Abstract
A damping apparatus for use with a solar panel array and a solar tracking device that is operatively connected to the solar panel array to control positioning of solar panels. The damping apparatus can absorb kinetic energy from movement of the solar panels and convert the kinetic energy to heat energy. The damping apparatus can include one or more sensors that measure collect data corresponding to the heat energy. The damping apparatus can send instructions to the solar tracking device for adjusting the position of the solar panels based on the analysis of the sensor data.
Claims20
A damping apparatus for use with a solar panel and a solar tracking device operatively connected to the solar panel to control positioning of the solar panel, the damping apparatus adapted to absorb kinetic energy from movement of the solar panel and convert the kinetic energy to heat energy, the damping apparatus comprising means for measuring the heat energy, collecting data relating to the measuring of the heat energy, analyzing the data, and sending instructions to the solar tracking device for adjusting the position of the solar panel based on the analysis of the data.
A system for harvesting solar energy comprising:
- (a) a solar panel array comprising at least one solar panel adapted to absorb solar energy for generating electricity;
- (b) a solar tracking device operatively connected to the solar panel array and adapted to position the at least one solar panel in a plurality of positions;
- (c) a damping apparatus operatively connected to the at least one solar panel, the damping apparatus adapted to absorb kinetic energy from movement of the at least one solar panel and convert the kinetic energy to heat energy, the damping apparatus comprising a computing device operatively connected to the solar tracking device to communicate with the solar tracking device, the damping apparatus further comprising means for measuring the heat energy and sending data relating to the measuring of the heat energy to the computing device, wherein the computing device analyzes the data, and sends instructions to the solar tracking device for adjusting the position of the solar panel based on the analysis of the data.
A damping apparatus comprising:
- (a) a housing defining an interior area, the housing having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
- (b) a piston rod partially positioned within the interior area of the housing, the piston rod having first and second opposed ends, the first end of the piston rod residing exterior to the housing and the second end of the piston rod residing within the interior area of the housing, the first end of the housing having an opening formed therein for receiving the piston rod therethrough, the piston rod adapted for moving in an extension stroke wherein the piston rod moves toward the first end of the housing and an extension stroke wherein the piston rod moves toward the second end of the housing;
- (c) a piston positioned proximate the second end of the piston rod;
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- (d) an internal temperature sensor configured to measure temperature inside the damping apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.