Solar tracker interface

A solar tracker interface configured to receive a bearing housing assembly and a foundation member, comprising:

• a pivot plate including a top panel and a pair of edge panels,
• the top panel configured to receive the bearing housing assembly, and
• the pair of edge panels extending from lateral edges of the top panel;
• and
• a pair of brackets, each bracket including a central panel, a mounting projection, and a pair of foundation plates,
• the mounting projection extending from a longitudinal end of the central panel,
• the mounting projection configured to be attached to one of the edge panels of the pivot plate,
• the pair of foundation plates extending from lateral edges of the central panel,
• the pair of foundation plates configured to receive the foundation member therebetween, and
• one of the foundation plates includes an alignment lip and the other one of the foundation plates includes a planar edge, the alignment lip providing a planar offset from a remainder of the foundation plate,
• wherein:
• the pair of edge panels extend substantially parallel to each other,
• the pair of edge panels extend substantially perpendicular to the top panel,
• the top panel and the pair of edge panels form a U-shaped cross-section,
• the pivot plate includes a plurality of first apertures, a plurality of second apertures, and a plurality of third apertures,
• the plurality of first apertures is disposed in the top panel,
• each first aperture of the plurality of first apertures is elongated,
• each first aperture of the plurality of first apertures is stadium shaped,
• the plurality of second apertures and plurality of third apertures are disposed in the pair of edge panels,
• each second aperture of the plurality of second apertures is round,
• each third aperture of the plurality of third apertures is square,
• the pair of foundation plates extend substantially parallel to each other,
• the pair of foundation plates extend substantially perpendicular to the central panel,
• the central panel and the pair of foundation plates form a U-shaped cross-section,
• the pair of brackets includes a plurality of fourth apertures, a plurality of fifth apertures, and a plurality of sixth apertures,
• the plurality of fourth apertures is disposed in the pair of foundation plates adjacent to the longitudinal end of the central panel and configured to receive a first fastener extending through one of the plurality of fourth apertures and a corresponding aperture of the foundation member, the one of the plurality of fourth apertures permitting relative rotation of the foundation member about the first fastener,
• the plurality of fifth apertures is disposed in the pair of foundation plates adjacent another longitudinal end of the central panel,
• each fifth aperture of the plurality of fifth apertures is elongated,
• each fifth aperture of the plurality of fifth apertures includes a plurality of engagement features configured to militate against rotation of the foundation member about the first fastener,
• each fifth aperture has a longitudinal axis that is non-parallel to the lateral edges of the central panel,
• the plurality of engagement features comprise teeth formed along a portion of each fifth aperture of the plurality of fifth apertures,
• the plurality of sixth apertures is disposed in the alignment lip and the planar edge and configured to couple the pair of foundation plates,
• a portion of the plurality of sixth apertures is disposed in the alignment lip,
• the plurality of sixth apertures disposed in the alignment lip and the planar edge are coaxial,
• the mounting projection includes a plurality of mounting apertures,
• the plurality of mounting apertures includes a pivot aperture,
• the plurality of mounting apertures further include a pair of adjustment apertures, the pair of adjustment apertures cooperating to define a range of rotation of the pivot plate relative to the mounting projection,
• the pivot aperture and the pair of adjustment apertures form a linear array,
• the adjustment apertures are disposed on opposite sides of the pivot aperture along the linear array,
• each adjustment aperture of the pair of adjustment apertures has a kidney-shaped profile, and
• a plane of the central panel and a plane of the mounting projection form an obtuse angle.

A solar tracking system, comprising:

• a bearing housing assembly;
• a pair of foundation members;
• a pivot plate including a top panel and a pair of edge panels,
• the top panel receiving the bearing housing assembly, and
• the pair of edge panels extending from opposite edges of the top panel;
• and
• a pair of brackets, each bracket including a central panel, a mounting projection, and a pair of foundation plates,
• the mounting projection extending from a longitudinal end of the central panel,
• the mounting projection attached to one of the edge panels of the pivot plate,
• the pair of foundation plates extending from lateral edges of the central panel,
• the pair of foundation plates receiving one of the foundation members therebetween,
• one of the foundation plates includes an alignment lip and the other one of the foundation plates includes a planar edge, the alignment lip providing a planar offset from a remainder of the foundation plate, and
• the alignment lip of each bracket is coupled to the planar edge of the other bracket.