Torque limiter devices, systems and methods and solar trackers incorporating torque limiters
AssigneeArray Technologies, Inc.
InventorRonald P. Corio
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar tracker assembly comprises a support column, a torsion beam connected to the support column, a mounting mechanism attached to the torsion beam, a drive system connected to the torsion beam, and a torsion limiter connected to an output of the drive system. When an external force causes a level of torsion on the drive system to exceed a pre-set limit the torsion limiter facilitates rotational movement of the solar tracker assembly in the direction of the torsion, thereby allowing the external force to rotate about a pivot axis extending through the torsion beam. Exemplary embodiments also include methods of aligning a plurality of rows of solar trackers.
Claims21
A solar tracker assembly comprising:
- a support column;
- one or more torque tubes or torsion beams connected to the support column;
- a mounting mechanism attached to the one or more torque tubes or torsion beams;
- a drive system connected to the one or more torque tubes or torsion beams;
- and
- a torque limiter connected to an output of the drive system;
- wherein when a hinge moment force causes a level of torque on the drive system to exceed a pre-set limit the torque limiter passively facilitates rotational movement of the solar tracker assembly in the direction of the torque, thereby allowing the hinge moment force to rotate the solar tracker assembly about a pivot axis into a lower hinge moment position.
A method of aligning a solar array, comprising:
- providing a plurality of rows of solar trackers including multiple rows of linked solar trackers driven by a single motor;
- providing a torque limiter connected to each tracker row;
- receiving a hinge moment force on at least one tracker row such that a level of torque on the at least one tracker row exceeds a pre-set torque limit;
- using the torque limiter to allow the at least one tracker row to stop rotational movement independent of the multiple rows of solar trackers when the at least one tracker row reaches its maximum limit position;
- and
- driving the other multiple rows of solar trackers such that each tracker row reaches its maximum limit position until all of the plurality of rows of solar trackers are aligned.
A solar tracker assembly comprising:
- a support column;
- one or more torque tubes or torsion beams connected to the support column;
- a mounting mechanism attached to the one or more torque tubes or torsion beams;
- a drive system connected to the one or more torque tubes or torsion beams, the drive system comprising a bi-directional gearbox having an input and an output;
- and
- a motor brake located at the input of the bi-directional gearbox;
- wherein when a hinge moment force causes a level of torque on the drive system to exceed a pre-set threshold the motor brake slips to facilitate back-driving of the drive system, thereby allowing the hinge moment force to rotate the solar tracker assembly into a lower hinge moment position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.