US 8,895,834 B1Granted

Solar tracker assembly

OwnerJack Nachamkininventor

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Abstract

An assembly is disclosed for adjusting the position of a solar array or device to enable it to maintain a desired solar energy reception throughout each day's operation of the assembly. Solar panels are mounted on a first axle and a second axle, and the axles are mutually orthogonal. The assembly also includes a first motor for rotating the array and the panels relative to the first axle in a direction providing azimuth angle position adjustment and a second motor for rotating the array and the panels and the second axle in a direction providing elevation angle position adjustment. The motors are electrically connected to and powered by their respective solar panels. Divider circuits control the current fed into the motors to control the rotational movement in order to control the azimuth and elevation orientation of the panels and also control the orientation of the array so that it continually faces the sun throughout the diurnal operation of the assembly and so that it maintains the desired degree of solar energy reception throughout the day. The orientation of one of the panels enables it to reposition the assembly for operation at each successive sunrise.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A solar tracker assembly, comprising:

a solar driver panel including a set of interconnected solar photovoltaic cells;
an axle, said solar panel mounted on said axle, said axle oriented to position said solar panel for receiving rays from the sun throughout diurnal operation of the assembly;
an electric motor rotatably connected to said axle for rotational movement between said electric motor and said axle to enable rotational movement of said solar panel on said axle corresponding to movement of the earth relative to the sun to optimize positioning of said solar panel relative to the sun to enhance solar ray reception of said solar panel throughout the day;
means for controlling electrical output from said solar panel to control solar panel output fed into said electric motor, said means for controlling electrically connected to said electric motor for only operational control thereof, said means for controlling consisting of only electronic components so that it receives only electrical input and provides only electrical output without including physical structures defining apertures used to locate solar panels relative to the sun;
wherein said means for controlling electrical output selectively controls the output voltage from said solar panel in order to control operation of said motor and thereby control rotation of said solar panel in order that said solar panel maintains a desired angular orientation relative to direction of propagation of the solar rays throughout diurnal operation of the assembly;
wherein said means for controlling includes a voltage divider circuit receiving electrical output from said solar panel, said voltage divider circuit providing an electrical output responsive to said solar panel electrical output and selected according to electrical power requirement of said motor for operational control of said motor;
wherein said voltage divider circuit includes a first resistor, a second resistor and a zener diode, said first resistor and said second resistor electrically connected together in series, said zener diode electrically connected to said first resistor and between said first resistor and said second resistor so that said zener diode taps into current flowing between first and second resistor, said second resistor being variable in order to control its resistance so that flow of electrical current through said zener diode is dependent on the resistance of the second resistor;
electrical wires directly interconnecting only said solar panel, said means for controlling and said electric motor to provide electrical power produced by said solar panel to said means for controlling and to said electric motor, said solar panel providing sufficient voltage and amperage to drive said electric motor without requiring introduction of electrical power from generating or capacitive devices needed to drive said electric motor;
a solar array rigidly mounted on said axle for rotational movement thereof relative to said motor.

6 more elements

A solar tracker assembly, comprising:

a first solar panel including a set of interconnected solar photovoltaic cells;
a second solar panel including a set of interconnected solar photovoltaic cells;
a first axle;
a second axle orthogonal to said first axle, said first solar panel rigidly mounted directly on said second axle such that said first solar panel is in physical contact with said second axle, said second solar panel rigidly mounted on said second axle, said second axle oriented to position said second solar panel for receiving rays from the sun throughout diurnal operation of the assembly;
a first electric motor rotatably connected to said first axle for rotational movement of said first electric motor relative to said first axle to enable azimuth rotational movement of said first solar panel on said first motor and relative to said first axle corresponding to rotational movement of the earth relative to the sun to optimize positioning of said first solar panel relative to the sun to enhance solar ray reception of said first solar panel throughout the day;
a first set of electrical wires interconnecting said first solar panel and said first electric motor to provide electrical power produced by said first solar panel to said first electric motor;
a second electric motor rotatably connected to said second axle for rotational movement of said second axle relative thereto to enable elevation rotational movement of said second solar panel on said second axle corresponding to axis tilt movement of the earth relative to the sun to optimize positioning of said second solar panel relative to the sun to enhance solar ray reception of said second solar panel throughout the day;
a second set of electrical wires interconnecting said second panel and said second electric motor to provide electrical power produced by said second solar panel to said second electric motor;
the solar tracker assembly further including a first and second means for selectively controlling an output voltage from said first solar panel and said second solar panel, respectively, in order to control operation of said first and second motor and thereby control rotation of said first solar panel and said second solar panel in order that said first solar panel and said second solar panel maintain a desired angular orientation relative to direction of propagation of solar rays throughout diurnal operation of the assembly;
wherein said first and second means for controlling the output voltage includes a first and second voltage divider circuit receiving electrical output from said first solar panel and said second solar panel, respectively, said first and second voltage divider circuit providing an electrical output responsive to said first and second solar panel electrical output and selected according to an electrical power requirement of said first motor and said second motor, respectively, for operational control of said first and second motor;
wherein said first voltage divider circuit includes a first resistor, a second resistor and a zener diode, said first resistor and said second resistor electrically connected together in series, said zener diode electrically connected to said first resistor and between said first resistor and said second resistor so that said zener diode taps into current flowing between first and second resistor, said second resistor being variable in order to control its resistance so that flow of electrical current through said zener diode is dependent on the resistance of the second resistor.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.