Solar tracker

A solar tracker comprising:

• a base;
• a solar panel having first and second opposite ends, wherein said first end can be connected to said base by a first shaft and the second end can be connected to the base by a second shaft parallel to the first shaft, such that said solar panel can pivot with respect to the base around said first shaft when the first end is connected to the base and the second end is disconnected from the base and the solar panel can pivot with respect to the base around said second shaft when the second end is connected to the base and the first end is disconnected from the base;
• a lifting mechanism installed in the base and connected to the solar panel in an intermediate region between said first and second ends;
• a lifting/lowering actuator moving said lifting mechanism and thereby pivoting said solar panel around the first shaft or the second shaft between a position parallel to the base and at least two raised positions, said at least two raised positions each having an inclination with respect to the base according to the relative movements of the sun;
• an automatic connection/disconnection device connecting the second end of the solar panel to the base while at the same time disconnecting the first end of the solar panel from the base and connecting the first end of the solar panel to the base while at the same time disconnecting the second end of the solar panel from the base when the solar panel reaches said position parallel to the base for inverting the inclination of the solar panel with respect to the base when the lifting mechanism is driven for moving the solar panel from the position parallel to the base towards one of the at least two raised positions;
• wherein said lifting mechanism comprises:
• first and second movable arms having respective first ends connected by a first articulation to a central region of the solar panel of the based by a first articulation,
• said first movable arm has a second end connected by a second articulation to a first movable support in which a first nut is fixed;
• said second movable arm having a lower end connected by a third articulation to a second movable support in which said second nut is fixed;
• a first nut fixed to said first movable support, and a second nut fixed to said second movable support;
• said first and second nuts are respectively coupled to first and second threaded portions of a screw supported on the base or on the solar panel and rotatably driven by said lifting/lowering actuator, said first and second threaded portions of said screw having opposite thread directions;
• and
• a guide provided in the base, said guide being parallel to said rotation axis of the screw;
• wherein said first and second nuts are respectively coupled to said first and second threaded portions of the screw;
• and
• wherein said first and second movable supports are coupled to the guide such that the first and second movable supports, the first and second nuts and the screw are freely movable along the guide.

A solar tracker comprising:

• a base;
• a solar panel having first and second opposite ends, wherein said first end can be connected to said base by a first shaft and the second end can be connected to the base by a second shaft parallel to the first shaft, such that said solar panel pivots with respect to the base around said first shaft when the first end is connected to the base and the second end is disconnected from the base and the solar panel pivots with respect to the base around said second shaft when the second end is connected to the base and the first end is disconnected from the base;
• a lifting mechanism connected to the base and to the solar panel in an intermediate region between said first and second ends;
• a lifting/lowering actuator moving said lifting mechanism and thereby pivoting said solar panel around the first shaft or the second shaft between a position parallel to the base and at least two raised positions, said at least two raised positions each having an inclination with respect to the base according to the relative movements of the sun;
• an automatic connection/disconnection device connecting the second end of the solar panel to the base and disconnecting the first end of the solar panel from the base and connecting the first end of the solar panel to the base and disconnecting the second end of the solar panel from the base as the solar panel reaches said position parallel to the base for inverting the inclination of the solar panel with respect to the base when the lifting mechanism is driven for moving the solar panel from the position parallel to the base towards one of the at least two raised positions;
• wherein said lifting mechanism comprises:
• first and second movable arms having respective first ends connected by a first articulation to a central region of the base, said first movable arm having a second end connected by a second articulation to a first movable support and said second movable arm having a second end connected by a third articulation to a second movable support;
• a first nut fixed to said first movable support, and a second nut fixed to said second movable support;
• a screw coupled to the base supported on the solar panel and rotatably driven by said lifting/lowering actuator, said screw having a rotation axis perpendicular to the first and second shafts and parallel to the base, and first and second threaded portions having opposite thread directions;
• and
• a guide coupled to the base provided in the solar panel, said guide being parallel to said rotation axis of the screw;
• wherein said first and second nuts are respectively coupled to said first and second threaded portions of the screw;
• and
• wherein said first and second movable supports are coupled to the guide such that the first and second movable supports, the first and second nuts and the screw are freely movable along the guide.