Balanced solar tracker clamp
AssigneeNextracker LLC
InventorAlexander W. Au
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an example, the present invention provides a solar tracker apparatus. In an example, the apparatus comprises a center of mass with an adjustable hanger assembly configured with a clam shell clamp assembly on the adjustable hanger assembly and a cylindrical torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end such that the center of mass is aligned with a center of rotation of the cylindrical torque tubes to reduce a load of a drive motor operably coupled to the cylindrical torque tube. Further details of the present example, among others, can be found throughout the present specification and more particularly below.
Claims19
A solar tracker apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a drive device;
- a crank coupled to the drive device and configured in an offset manner to a first end of a continuous torque tube, the continuous torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes, each of the torque tubes being cylindrical in shape;
- a frame assembly coupled to the continuous torque tube, the frame assembly coupled to a plurality of solar modules;
- a clamp assembly comprising a housing coupled to a second end of the continuous torque tube such that the continuous torque tube is suspended from the housing, the housing comprising an opening having a major plane normal to a length of the continuous torque tube, the opening comprising a first inner region and a second inner region, the first inner region acts as a first stop for the continuous torque tube when moved in a first radial direction until contacting the first inner region, and the second inner region acts as a second stop for the continuous torque tube when moved in a second radial direction until contacting the second inner region;
- wherein the drive motor is operable to move the torque tube about a center of rotation and is under a load and moves the torque tube about the center of rotation at substantially a same force from a first radial position to a second radial position;
- wherein the center of rotation is offset from a center of the continuous torque tube via the crank configured in the offset manner.
A solar tracker apparatus comprising a clamp assembly, the clamp assembly comprising a housing having an opening having a major plane normal to a length of a continuous torque tube, the opening comprising a first inner region and a second inner region, the first inner region acts as a first stop for the continuous torque tube when moved in a first radial direction until contacting first inner region, and the second inner region acts as a second stop for the continuous torque tube when moved in a second radial direction until contacting the second inner region, the housing having a pivotable hanger assembly configured to suspend the continuous torque tube such that the continuous torque tube traverse through the major plane,
- wherein the apparatus comprising a center of mass with the pivotable hanger assembly the continuous torque tube comprising a plurality of cylindrical torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end such that the center of mass is aligned with a center of rotation of the cylindrical torque tubes to reduce a load of a drive motor operably coupled to the cylindrical torque tube.
A tracker apparatus comprising:
- a first pier comprising a first pivot device;
- a second pier comprising a drive mount, the drive mount capable of accommodating construction tolerances in at least three-axes, the drive mount being configured to support a drive device having an off-set clamp device coupled to a cylindrical bearing device coupled to a clamp member;
- a cylindrical torque tube operably disposed on the first pier and the second pier, the cylindrical torque tube comprising a first end and a second end, and a notch, the notch being one of a plurality of notches spatially disposed along a length of the cylindrical torque tube;
- and
- a clamp configured around an annular portion of the cylindrical torque tube and mating with the notch to prevent movement of the clamp, the clamp comprising a support region configured to support a portion of a solar module;
- and
- a clamp assembly comprising a housing coupled to the first end of the cylindrical torque tube such that the cylindrical torque tube is suspended from the housing, the housing comprising an opening having a major plane normal to a length of the cylindrical torque tube, the opening comprising a first inner region and a second inner region, the first inner region acts as a first stop for the cylindrical torque tube when moved in a first radial direction until contacting the first inner region, and the second inner region acts as a second stop for the cylindrical torque tube when moved in a second radial direction until contacting the second inner region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.