Solar tracking apparatus utilizing photovoltaic flat panels and method

In a system for converting solar energy directly to electrical energy by means of a plurality of photovoltaic or like type flat panels, an arrangement adapted to support said panels for movement with and at a fixed orientation to the sun as the latter moves across the sky from sunrise to sunset, said support arrangement comprising:

• an assembly of components supporting all of said panels for simultaneous rotation about a single horizontal axis and only said axis such that the solar collecting front sides of said panels face in the same direction in direct contact with the sun's rays and are maintained in end-to-end relationship with one another within a common plane which is at all times parallel with said axis during rotation of said panels, said assembly of components including a plurality of rods repectively connected with and extending the length of said flat panels along said axis and a number of support mechanisms disposed between adjacent ends of at least some of the panels for supporting said rods and therefore said panels for rotation about said axis, said adjacent panel ends being spaced from one another only amounts sufficient to accommodate associated ones of said supporting mechanisms whereby to minimize the linear distance between said panels;
• and drive means cooperating with said assembly of components for simultaneously rotating the panels about said axis in tracking relationship with the sun, said drive means including tracking means responsive to the position of the sun as the latter moves across the sky for continuously maintaining said panel front sides at an acute angle with respect to the sun's rays.

A method for converting solar energy directly to electrical energy, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of photovoltaic or like type flat panels each of which includes a solar collecting front side and means for generating electricity directly from the sun's rays as the latter impinge directly on said front side;
• supporting all of said panels for simultaneous rotation about a single axis only such that the solar collecting front sides of said panels are maintained in end-to-end relationship with one another within a common plane and face in the same direction during rotation, said panels being supported by mechanisms which are disposed between adjacent ends of at least some of said panels for supporting the latter for said rotation, said adjacent panels having their adjacent ends spaced from one another only an amount sufficient to accommodate an associated one of said supporting mechanisms whereby to minimize the linear distance between panels;
• simultaneously rotating said panels about said axis in a way which continuously maintains said panel front sides at an acute angle with respect to the sun's rays during movement of the latter across the sky from sunrise to sunset;
• and carrying the electrical energy generated by said panels to a central collecting station.