Solar power system drive unit
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJames Bertram Blackmon, Frederick S. Gant
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJames Bertram Blackmon, Frederick S. Gant
Estimating the term…
An azimuth drive unit for a solar power system has a multistage sprocket configuration. The drive unit includes an input shaft for receiving an input torque, where the multistage sprocket configuration is coupled to the input shaft. The sprocket configuration converts the input torque into an output torque, and an output shaft is coupled to the sprocket configuration for applying the output torque to a solar reflector. In a highly preferred embodiment, the sprocket configuration includes a tensioning system contacting one or more of the chains and a housing of the drive unit. The tensioning system applies a tension force to the contacted chains such that backlash in the sprocket configuration is reduced. The present invention also provides for a plurality of bearing members coupled to the output shaft for adding stiffness to the output shaft. The use of a multistage sprocket configuration eliminates destructive backlash forces, dampens shock, prevents reflector oscillations, and provides redundancy while reducing the overall cost of the drive unit.
A solar reflector assembly comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.