Spring counter-balance assemblies and solar trackers incorporating spring counter-balance assemblies

Abstract

A solar tracker assembly is provided which includes a support column, a torque tube or torsion beam connected to the support column, a mounting mechanism attached to the torque tube or torsion beam, adrive system connected to the torque tube or torsion beam, and a spring counter-balance assembly connected to the torque tube or torsion beam. An exemplary spring counter-balance assembly comprises abearing housing and a bushing disposed within the bearing housing and configured to be slideably mounted onto the torque tube or torsion beam, and one or more compressible cords made of a flexible material. The compressible cords are located between the bushing and the bearing housing and provide damping during rotational movement of the solar tracker assembly. An exemplary spring counter-balanceassembly is provided including at least one top bracket and at least one bottom bracket, at least one spring, a damper, and a bracket. An exemplary spring counter-balance assembly comprises a bearinghousing and a bushing disposed within the bearing housing and configured to be slideably mounted onto the torque tube or torsion beam. The spring counter-balance assembly may include at least one coil spring and a rotational stop. The bushing may be made of an elastomeric material and define one or more air spaces.

Description

[0001] Related application [0002] This application claims the priority and rights of US patent application serial number 62 / 466,235 filed on March 2, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical field [0003] The present disclosure relates to a spring balance assembly. The present disclosure also relates to a spring assembly for balancing the rotation of the solar tracker and the solar cell array. Background technique [0004] Solar tracking systems are used in photovoltaic and solar thermal applications to increase the collection of sunlight by aiming photovoltaic panels or collectors at the sun during the daily movement of the sun in the sky. In doing so, the tracking system includes a pivot point or bearing that rotates on it. These bearings can be placed at the center of gravity of the tracking system, or they can be located below the photovoltaic or collector array. [0005] The array balancing method, that is, the technique of placing the bear...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

When used in large photovoltaic panel solar farms or thermal collectors, these dead zones in the north / south length of tracker rows are multiplied by the required east / west spacing between trackers and result in a density throughout the field reduced considerably

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