Solar tracker variable connection angle orientation

Abstract

A solar tracker bearing housing includes: a housing; a pin hole at the housing; a rotatable ring rotatably seated at the pin hole; and a pin received at the rotatable ring. The pin is configured to be rotatably connected to at least one torque tube to rotate the pin with the torque tube in a first plane, and the pin is configured to pivot with the rotatable ring in a second, different plane to change an angular orientation of the pin relative to the pin bore.

Description

Solar tracker variable connection angle orientation

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 517,147, filed August 2, 2023, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure generally relates to embodiments of apparatus, systems, and methods for facilitating a range of connection orientations between components of a solar tracker. The embodiments disclosed herein can be configured to facilitate one or more connections between solar tracker components at a given local topography adapted to a given local connection location along the extent of the solar tracker. Background Technology

[0004] One of the most important, expensive, and time-consuming aspects associated with the manufacture and installation of solar trackers is the requirement for a substantially flat site. While some sites are indeed generally flat, most terrain is undulating, and in some cases, the slope is quite steep. In practice, this necessitates extensive earthwork excavation and movement by the installers. Such earthwork is time-consuming, requires heavy machinery, and is subject to considerable regulation. In fact, some projects have been suspended due to the environmental impact of the earthwork movement required to create relatively flat sites for solar tracker installation.

[0005] An alternative to large-scale earthmoving projects is the use of custom-built pillars. Solar trackers typically consist of torque tubes that support the solar panels and are themselves supported by pillars embedded in the ground. A second approach to handling varying terrain is to use pillars specifically designed for their placement in the ground. In this way, the torque tubes can be kept at a consistent level without the need to move or remove earth. However, while reducing earthmoving costs, there are additional financial and time costs associated with custom-built pillars. First, these are custom-built pillars of a determined length. Next, the custom pillars need to be accurately identified and categorized according to the site so that they can be installed in their custom locations. All of this requires significant resources and ultimately increases installation costs.

[0006] To alleviate the logistical and financial burden associated with using custom-length struts, an alternative is to utilize struts of equal length that allow the solar tracker to follow the natural contours of the terrain. It will be understood that this requires allowing the torque tubes extending between each strut to rotate, and enabling the rotation of adjacent torque tubes, which may or may not be coaxially aligned due to the terrain's shape. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This disclosure generally describes embodiments of apparatus, systems, and methods for facilitating a range of connection angular orientations between components of a solar tracker. The embodiments disclosed herein can be configured to facilitate one or more connections between solar tracker components to adapt to any of a variety of angular orientations at a given local terrain at a given local connection location along the range of the solar tracker. Thus, the embodiments disclosed herein can allow a given connection between solar tracker components to be made with an angular orientation adapted to a given terrain gradient at that given connection location. In this way, solar trackers can be installed and utilized in relatively high-gradient terrain by allowing connections between solar tracker components during the assembly and installation of the solar trackers, the solar tracker components being tailored to the local terrain gradient at that specific location of the connection between the components via the angular orientation of the connection between the components.

[0008] One embodiment includes a solar tracker bearing housing assembly. This embodiment of the solar tracker bearing housing includes: a housing; a pin hole therein; a rotatable ring rotatably seated at the pin hole; and a pin received at the rotatable ring. The pin is configured to be rotatably connected to at least one torque tube to allow the pin to rotate together with the torque tube in a first plane, and the pin is configured to pivot together with the rotatable ring in a second, different plane to change the angular orientation of the pin relative to the pin hole.

[0009] In a further embodiment of this assembly, the assembly additionally includes a bracket defined at the pin hole. The rotatable ring is rotatably seated at the bracket. For example, the bracket may include an upper ring retaining fit at the pin hole and a lower ring retaining fit at the pin hole. The upper ring retaining fit may define at least an upper portion of the pin hole at a position above the pin, and the lower ring retaining fit may define at least a lower portion of the pin hole at a position below the pin. The upper and lower ring retaining fits may be configured to maintain the rotatable ring rotatably seated at the pin hole. In a further example, the rotatable ring may define a curved outer surface, the upper ring retaining fit may define a first curved surface at the upper portion of the pin hole to receive the curved outer surface of the rotatable ring, and the lower ring retaining fit may define a second curved surface at the lower portion of the pin hole to receive the curved outer surface of the rotatable ring. In this example, the rotatable ring can be configured to rotate at the first curved surface of the upper ring retaining fit and at the second curved surface of the lower ring retaining fit, causing the pin to pivot in the second plane to change the angular orientation of the pin relative to the pin hole. For example, according to a further, more specific example, the housing may include a first hoop coupled to a second hoop. The upper ring retaining fit may be formed by each of the first and second hoops, the lower ring retaining fit may be formed by each of the first and second hoops, and the rotatable ring can be rotatably positioned at the interface between the first and second hoops.

[0010] In a further embodiment of this assembly, the bracket may further include a first interference stop at the upper portion of the pin hole at the location above the pin and a second interference stop at the lower portion of the pin hole at the location below the pin. The first and second interference stops may be configured to limit the range within which the pin is configured to pivot in the second plane with the rotatable ring to change the angular orientation of the pin relative to the pin hole. For example, the first interference stop may be located at or adjacent to a first side end portion of the pin hole at the upper portion, and the second interference stop may be located at or adjacent to a second opposite side end portion of the pin hole at the lower end portion. In a further embodiment, the bracket may additionally include a third interference stop at the upper portion of the pin hole at the location above the pin and a fourth interference stop at the lower portion of the pin hole at the location below the pin. The first and second interference stops may be configured to limit, in a first pivoting direction, the range within which the pin is configured to pivot together with the rotatable ring. The third and fourth interference stops may be configured to limit, in a second opposing direction, the range within which the pin is configured to pivot together with the rotatable ring. The third interference stop may be located at or adjacent to the second side end portion of the pin hole at the upper portion of the pin hole, and the fourth interference stop may be located at or adjacent to the first side end portion of the pin hole at the lower portion of the pin hole.

[0011] In a further embodiment of this assembly, the pin may be configured to translate relative to the rotatable ring in each of a first radial direction away from the housing and a second relative radial direction away from the housing.

[0012] In a further embodiment of this assembly, the first plane may be normal to the second plane. For example, the pin may be configured to be rotatably connected to a first torque tube to suspend the first torque tube at a first side of the housing, such that when the pin, together with the rotatable ring, pivots in the second plane, the pin causes a change in the angular orientation of the first torque tube relative to the pin hole. And the pin may be configured to be rotatably connected to a second torque tube to suspend the second torque tube at a second opposite side of the housing, such that when the pin, together with the rotatable ring, pivots in the second plane, the pin causes a change in the angular orientation of the second torque tube relative to the pin hole.

[0013] Another embodiment includes a variable angle oriented torque tube connector assembly. This assembly includes a central tubular connector assembly, a first end connector assembly, and a second end connector assembly. The central tubular connector assembly includes a central tube body, a first central tube flange at a first end of the central tube body, and a second central tube flange at a second opposite end of the central tube body. The first end connector assembly is coupled to the central tubular connector assembly. The first end connector assembly includes a first end assembly body and a first end assembly flange. The first end assembly flange is located at a first end of the first end assembly body. The second end connector assembly is coupled to the central tubular connector assembly. The second end connector assembly includes a second end assembly body and a second end assembly flange. The second end assembly flange is located at a first end of the second end assembly body.

[0014] In a further embodiment of this assembly, the first end component flange and the first central tube flange abut each other, and the first end component flange and the first central tube flange are configured to change the angular orientation between the first end connector assembly and the central tubular connector assembly when rotated relative to each other therebetween. Similarly, the second end component flange and the second central tube flange abut each other, and the second end component flange and the second central tube flange are configured to change the angular orientation between the second end connector assembly and the central tubular connector assembly when rotated relative to each other therebetween.

[0015] In a further embodiment of this assembly, the first central tube flange projects outward from the central tube body at the first end of the central tube body, and extends along the entire periphery of the central tube body at the first end. Similarly, for this further embodiment, the second central tube flange projects outward from the central tube body at the second end of the central tube body, and extends along the entire periphery of the central tube body at the second end. For example, the first end component flange may project outward from the first end component body at the first end of the first end component body, and the first end component flange may extend along the entire periphery of the first end of the first end component body. Similarly, the second end component flange may project outward from the second end component body at the first end of the second end component body, and the second end component flange may extend along the entire periphery of the first end of the second end component body.

[0016] In some further embodiments, the first central tube flange may define a first planar surface, the second central tube flange may define a second planar surface, the first end assembly flange may define a planar surface, and the second end assembly flange may define a planar surface. The first planar surface defined by the first central tube flange may be a first skew-oriented planar surface, the second planar surface defined by the second central tube flange may be a second skew-oriented planar surface, the planar surface defined by the first end assembly flange may be a third skew-oriented planar surface, which is a reverse skew of the first skew-oriented planar surface at the first central tube flange, and the planar surface defined by the second end assembly flange may be a fourth skew-oriented planar surface, which is a reverse skew of the second skew-oriented planar surface at the first central tube flange.

[0017] In other further embodiments of this kind, the first central tube flange may define a first curved surface, the second central tube flange may define a second curved surface, the first end assembly flange may define a curved surface, and the second end assembly flange may define a curved surface. The first curved surface defined by the first central tube flange may be curved toward the central tube body, the second curved surface defined by the second central tube flange may be curved toward the central tube body and toward the first curved surface, the curved surface defined by the first end assembly flange may be curved away from the first end assembly body and toward the central tube body, and the curved surface defined by the second end assembly flange may be curved away from the second end assembly body and toward the central tube body.

[0018] In a further embodiment of this assembly, the first central tube flange includes a first plurality of fastening holes, and the second central tube flange includes a second plurality of fastening holes, the first end assembly flange includes a third plurality of fastening holes, such that the first end connector assembly is coupled to the central tubular connector assembly at at least one of the first plurality of fastening holes and at least one of the third plurality of fastening holes, and the second end assembly flange includes a fourth plurality of fastening holes, such that the second end connector assembly is coupled to the central tubular connector assembly at at least one of the second plurality of fastening holes and at least one of the fourth plurality of fastening holes.

[0019] An additional embodiment includes a flexible torque tube connector. This flexible torque tube connector embodiment includes: a central tube region, a first tube end portion, a second tube end portion, and one or more flexible features. The first tube end portion extends from one end of the central tube region and is configured to couple to a first torque tube of a solar tracker device. The second tube end portion extends from the other opposite end of the central tube region and is configured to couple to a second torque tube of the solar tracker device. The one or more flexible features are located in the central tube region and are configured such that the first tube end portion is oriented at multiple angles to the first torque tube and the second tube end portion is oriented at multiple angles to the second torque tube.

[0020] In a further embodiment of this flexible tube connector, the first tube end portion includes one or more torque tube fastening holes, and the second tube end portion includes one or more torque tube fastening holes. The one or more flexible features may be located between the one or more torque tube fastening holes at the first tube end portion and the one or more torque tube fastening holes at the second tube end portion.

[0021] In a further embodiment of this flexible tube connector, the one or more flexible features may be configured such that the first tube end portion is oriented at multiple angles relative to the central tube region to the first torque tube, and the one or more flexible features may be configured such that the second tube end portion is oriented at multiple angles relative to the central tube region to the second torque tube.

[0022] In a further embodiment of this flexible tube connector, the one or more flexible features include a series of corrugations in the central tube area.

[0023] As an example, the series of corrugations at the central tube area may comprise a plurality of recesses on the outer surface of the central tube area, and the plurality of recesses may be spaced apart from each other along at least a portion of the length of the central tube area. In some such examples, each of the plurality of recesses may extend around the entire periphery of the outer surface of the central tube area. Alternatively, as in some such examples, the central tube area may include a non-corrugated region along a portion of the length of the central tube area, and this non-corrugated region may be delimited on one side by the plurality of recesses on the outer surface of the central tube area and on the opposite side by the plurality of recesses on the outer surface of the central tube area.

[0024] As another example, the series of corrugations at the central tube area may include multiple protrusions on the outer surface of the central tube area, and the multiple protrusions are spaced apart from each other along at least a portion of the length of the central tube area. In some such examples, the central tube area may include a non-corrugated region along a portion of the length of the central tube area, and this non-corrugated region may be demarcated on one side by the multiple protrusions on the outer surface of the central tube area and on the opposite side by the multiple protrusions on the outer surface of the central tube area.

[0025] Another embodiment includes a system. This system embodiment includes: a bearing housing assembly configured to rotatably support a first torque tube and a second torque tube; and a flexible tube connector configured to be angularly oriented to the first torque tube and the second torque tube. The bearing housing assembly may include: a housing; a pin hole therein; a rotatable ring rotatably seated at the pin hole; and a pin received at the rotatable ring. The pin may be configured to rotatably connect to at least one torque tube such that the pin rotates together with the torque tube in a first plane, and the pin may be configured to pivot together with the rotatable ring in a second, different plane to change the angular orientation of the pin relative to the pin hole. The flexible tube connector may include: a central tube region, a first tube end portion, a second tube end portion, and one or more flexible features. The first tube end portion extends from one end of the central tube region and is configured to couple to a first torque tube of a solar tracker device. The second tube end portion extends from the opposite end of the central tube area and is configured to couple to the second torque tube of the solar tracker device. One or more flexible features are located in the central tube area and are configured such that the first tube end portion is oriented at multiple angles to the first torque tube and the second tube end portion is oriented at multiple angles to the second torque tube.

[0026] In a further embodiment of this system, the pin is received at the rotatable ring spaced apart from and above the flexible tube connector. The housing of the bearing housing assembly is movable relative to the central tube area of ​​the flexible tube connector.

[0027] In a further embodiment of this system, the system further includes: a first track coupled to the pin at a first side of the housing of the bearing housing assembly; and a second track coupled to the pin at a second opposite side of the housing of the bearing housing assembly. The first track may be configured to couple to one of the first torque tube and the central tube region to rotatably support the first torque tube, and the second track may be configured to couple to one of the second torque tube and the central tube region to rotatably support the second torque tube. The first tube end portion may include one or more torque tube fastening holes at a location longitudinally offset from a first end of the pin along the first tube end portion, and the second tube end portion may include one or more torque tube fastening holes at a location longitudinally offset from a second end of the pin along the second tube end portion. In one example, the one or more flexible features may be located between the one or more torque tube fastening holes at the first tube end portion and the one or more torque tube fastening holes at the second tube end portion.

[0028] In a further embodiment of this system, the one or more flexible features may be configured such that the first tube end portion is oriented at multiple angles relative to the central tube region to the first torque tube, and the one or more flexible features may be configured such that the second tube end portion is oriented at multiple angles relative to the central tube region to the second torque tube. The one or more flexible features may include a series of corrugations in the central tube region.

[0029] In a further embodiment of this system, the pin may be configured to translate relative to the rotatable ring in each of a first radial direction away from the housing and a second relative radial direction away from the housing.

[0030] Details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objectives, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, as well as from the claims. Attached Figure Description

[0031] The following drawings illustrate specific embodiments of the invention and therefore do not limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are intended to be used in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements. Examples of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0032] Figures 1A and 1B illustrate embodiments of the solar tracker device. Figure 1A is a standalone schematic perspective view of the solar tracker device, and Figure 1B is a schematic front view of the solar tracker device installed on relatively high gradient terrain.

[0033] Figures 2A to 2G illustrate embodiments of a bearing housing assembly, for example, for facilitating the installation of a solar tracker in relatively high-gradient terrain. Figure 2A is a perspective view of the bearing housing assembly; Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view of the bearing housing assembly taken along line AA in Figure 2A; Figure 2C is a perspective view of the pin assembly of the bearing housing assembly of Figure 2A; Figure 2D is a perspective view of the ring assembly of the bearing housing assembly of Figure 2A; Figure 2E is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2B showing the pin oriented at a horizontal angle; Figure 2F is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2B showing the pin oriented at a skew angle between horizontal and vertical, as shown in Figure 2F, but also showing the pin translation.

[0034] Figures 3A to 3D illustrate embodiments of the flexible tube connector. Figure 3A is a perspective view of the flexible tube connector installed at the solar tracker assembly, Figure 3B is a perspective view of the flexible tube connector connecting the two torque tubes of the solar tracker assembly as shown in Figure 3A, Figure 3C is a separate perspective view of the flexible tube connector, and Figure 3D is a cross-sectional view of the flexible tube connector taken along line BB in Figure 3C.

[0035] Figures 4A to 4G illustrate embodiments of a variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly, for example, for connecting two torque tubes in a solar tracker. Figure 4A is a front view of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly installed to connect the two torque tubes at a first angle; Figure 4B is a front view of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly installed to connect the two torque tubes at a second different angle; Figure 4C is a separate close-up perspective view of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly connected at one angle; Figure 4D is a separate close-up perspective view of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly connected at another different angle; Figure 4E is a perspective view of the central tubular connector assembly of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector; Figure 4F is a perspective view of the end connector assembly of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector; and Figure 4G is a perspective view of the guide ring assembly of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector.

[0036] Figures 5A to 5G illustrate another embodiment of a variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly, for example, for connecting two torque tubes in a solar tracker. Figure 5A is a perspective view of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly mounted to connect the two torque tubes in a first angular orientation; Figure 5B is a front view of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly connected in a first angular orientation as shown in Figure 5A; Figure 5C is a separate perspective view of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly in the first angular orientation; Figure 5D is a front view of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly connected in a second, different angular orientation as shown in Figure 5D; Figure 5E is a perspective view of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly connected in a second, different angular orientation as shown in Figure 5D; Figure 5F is a perspective view of the central tubular connector assembly of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector; and Figure 5G is a perspective view of the end connector assembly of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector.

[0037] Figures 6A to 6C illustrate another embodiment of a bearing housing assembly, for example, used to facilitate the installation of a solar tracker in relatively high-gradient terrain. Figure 6A is a cross-sectional view showing the pin oriented at a horizontal angle, Figure 6B is a cross-sectional view showing the pin oriented at an angle between horizontal and vertical, and Figure 6C is a cross-sectional view showing the pin oriented at an angle between horizontal and vertical, as in Figure 6B, but also showing the pin being translated.

[0038] Figures 7A and 7B illustrate another embodiment of the flexible tube connector. Figure 7A is a perspective view of a system including a flexible tube connector and a bearing housing assembly of two torque tubes configured for rotatable connection to a solar tracker. Figure 7B is a separate perspective view of an embodiment of the flexible tube connector.

[0039] Figures 8A and 8B illustrate additional embodiments of the flexible tube connector. Figure 8A is a perspective view of a system including an embodiment of the flexible tube connector and a bearing housing assembly configured for rotatable connection of two torque tubes to a solar tracker. Figure 8B is a separate perspective view of an embodiment of the flexible tube connector.

[0040] Figure 9 is a front view of another embodiment of the flexible tube connector incorporated into the system, which includes an embodiment of the flexible tube connector and a bearing housing assembly configured for rotatably connecting two torque tubes to a solar tracker.

[0041] Figures 10A and 10B illustrate further embodiments of the flexible tube connector. Figure 10A is a perspective view of a system including an embodiment of the flexible tube connector and a bearing housing assembly configured for rotatable connection of two torque tubes to a solar tracker. Figure 10B is a separate perspective view of an embodiment of the flexible tube connector.

[0042] Figures 11A to 11D illustrate another embodiment of the flexible tube connector. Figure 11A is a separate perspective view of the flexible tube connector embodiment, Figure 11B is a front view of a system including the flexible tube connector embodiment and a bearing housing assembly configured for rotatably connecting two torque tubes of a solar tracker, Figure 11C is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC at Figure 11B, and Figure 11D is a front view showing the bearing housing and the flexible tube connector of Figures 11B and 11C rotatably connecting the two torque tubes at an exemplary angle. Detailed Implementation

[0043] The following detailed description is exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides some practical illustrations for carrying out examples of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many of the described examples have various suitable alternatives.

[0044] The embodiments disclosed herein include various means, systems, and methods configured to facilitate one or more connections between solar tracker components at a given local terrain location adapted to the extent of the solar tracker. Therefore, such embodiments disclosed herein can be used to allow connections of solar tracker components in relatively non-uniform, high-gradient terrain, thereby enabling the deployment of solar trackers in a wider variety of geographical locations and reducing the costs associated with such deployments. For example, the embodiments disclosed herein can facilitate a first angular connection between solar tracker components at a first terrain location of the solar tracker and a second, different angular connection between solar tracker components at a second, different terrain location of the solar tracker having a different terrain gradient than the first terrain location.

[0045] Figures 1A and 1B illustrate embodiments of the solar tracker device 10. Figure 1A shows the solar tracker device 10 independently, and Figure 1B shows a schematic front view of the solar tracker device 10 installed on relatively high gradient terrain.

[0046] A solar tracker device 10 may include a plurality of supports 12 spaced apart from each other and embedded in the earthwork. The solar tracker device 10 may include one or more torque tubes 14 that extend between adjacent supports 12 and are rotatably supported at each support 12. The solar tracker device 10 may further include a plurality of solar modules 16 (e.g., solar panels with photovoltaic cells) supported at the respective torque tubes 14. The one or more torque tubes may be rotatable in direction 15 to change the angle of the solar modules 16 (e.g., changing with the position of the sun relative to the solar modules 16 throughout the day). A bearing housing assembly 17 may be configured to rotatably connect the torque tubes 14 along the span of the solar tracker device 10. The span between two adjacent supports 12 is referred to as the pitch 18, and its length is typically in the range of approximately 8 meters, for example, in some applications. Multiple solar tracker devices 10 may be arranged in a north-south longitudinal orientation to form a solar array.

[0047] Figure 1B illustrates a solar tracker device 10 installed on undulating, relatively high-gradient terrain. Each of the plurality of supports 12 can be driven into the earthwork such that there is substantially the same amount of exposure for each. In this way, the distance between the upper portion 12a of each support and the surface of the earthwork can be substantially the same. In this way, the total length of each support 12 can be substantially similar, thereby eliminating the need to determine a customized length for each support at a specific location. Furthermore, by maintaining substantially similar exposure, the total length of each support 12 can be reduced because the length of the support 12 does not need to adapt to depressions in the terrain to ensure that an appropriate number of supports 12 are driven into the ground while maintaining a substantially level height with adjacent supports 12.

[0048] As will be understood, given that the exposure of each support 12 is substantially similar, the torque tubes 14 extending between each adjacent support 12 must follow the different heights of the support 12, resulting in the torque tubes 14 being substantially parallel to the contours of the terrain. As will be understood, the change in slope along the torque tubes 14 defines a corresponding angle with respect to each respective support 12. In this way, the angle of the torque tube 14 on one side of the support 12 may differ from the angle of an adjacent torque tube 14 on the other side of the support 12. As disclosed herein, to accommodate this angular difference between each adjacent torque tube 14 and the other torque tube, the solar tracker device 10 may include one or more components configured to facilitate variable-angle connections at specific component connection locations within the solar tracker device 10, tailored to a given local terrain gradient.

[0049] Figures 2A to 2G illustrate embodiments of a bearing housing assembly 17, for example, used to facilitate the installation of a solar tracker in relatively high-gradient terrain, and thus, the bearing housing assembly 17 may be referred to as a variable-angle oriented bearing housing assembly 17. The bearing housing assembly 17 may be configured to be rotatably connected to one or more torque tubes 14. For example, the bearing housing assembly 17 may be configured to be connected to one torque tube 14 on one side of the bearing housing assembly 17 and to another torque tube 14 on the opposite side of the bearing housing assembly 17. In this arrangement, the bearing housing assembly 17 may be configured to transfer torque from one torque tube 14 on one side of the bearing housing assembly 17 to another torque tube 14 on the opposite side of the bearing housing assembly 17.

[0050] Figure 2A is a perspective view of the bearing housing assembly 17, and Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view of the bearing housing assembly 17 taken along line AA in Figure 2A. The bearing housing assembly 17 may include a bearing housing 102, a pin 104, and a ring 106. In the illustrated embodiment, the bearing housing 102 may be formed by a first clamp 107 and a second clamp 108, which together define the interior of the bearing housing 102. The pin 104 can be rotatably seated within a pin hole 105 defined in the bearing housing 102. Furthermore, in some instances, the pin 104 may be configured to connect to and rotatably suspend a torque tube on one side of the bearing housing 102, and to connect to and rotatably suspend another torque tube on the opposite side of the bearing housing 102. In this manner, pin 104 can be configured to rotate in direction 109 relative to pin hole 105 and bearing housing 102 to transfer torque from a torque tube connected (e.g., indirectly) on one side of pin 104 to another torque tube connected on the opposite side of pin 104. In other embodiments, pin 104 can be configured to connect to and rotatably suspend a single torque tube, wherein a portion of the single torque tube is on one side of bearing housing 102 and another portion of the single torque tube is on the opposite side of bearing housing 102. Ring 106 can be rotatably seated within bearing housing 102, and ring 106 can be configured to receive pin 104. Ring 106 can be rotatably seated within bearing housing 102 to allow pivoting relative to bearing housing 102 in direction 111. The pivoting direction 111 of ring 106 can be in a plane normal to the plane in which it is seated in direction 109. Therefore, pin 104 can rotate in direction 109 within a first plane to transfer torque between torque tubes, while ring 106 can pivot in direction 111 within a second plane (e.g., perpendicular to the first plane). As ring 106 pivots in direction 111, pin 104 can pivot relative to bearing housing 102 via its coupling with ring 106.

[0051] To facilitate pivotal movement of pin 104 via ring 106 in direction 111, bearing housing 102 may define a bracket 110 thereon. The bracket 110 may be configured to rotatably receive and retain ring 106 to allow ring 106 to rotate relative to bearing housing assembly 102 in direction 111. For rotatable reception and retention of ring 106, bracket 110 may include one or more ring retaining fits 112 to receive and retain ring 106 at bearing housing 102 (e.g., within bearing housing 102). For example, the illustrated embodiment of bracket 110 includes an upper ring retaining fit 112A and a lower ring retaining fit 112B. Upper ring retaining fit 112A may define at least a portion of pin hole 105 at a location above pin 104, and lower ring retaining fit 112B may define at least a portion of pin hole 105 at a location below pin 104. The upper ring retaining fit 112A can be defined as the upper portion of the pin hole 105 at the first clamp 107 and the upper portion of the pin receiving hole 105 at the second clamp 108, such that when the first clamp 107 and the second clamp 108 are assembled together, the bearing housing 102 can define a bracket 110 having the upper ring retaining fit 112A. Similarly, the lower ring retaining fit 112B can be defined as the lower portion of the pin hole 105 at the first clamp 107 and the lower portion of the pin receiving hole 105 at the second clamp 108, such that when the first clamp 107 and the second clamp 108 are assembled together, the bearing housing 102 can define a bracket 110 having the lower ring retaining fit 112A. In order to allow the ring 106 to rotate relative to the bearing housing 102, the bracket 110 can define a cross-sectional shape that substantially matches the outer surface 121 of the ring 106 (e.g., shown at FIG. 2d). Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment where the cross-sectional shape of the outer surface 121 of the ring 106 is substantially circular, the upper ring retaining fit 112A may define the upper portion of the circular cross-sectional shape at the bracket 110, while the lower ring retaining fit 112B may define the lower portion of the circular cross-sectional shape at the bracket 110.

[0052] Additionally, the bracket 110 may be configured to provide one or more interference stops 114 to limit the upper limit of pivotable movement of the pin 104 relative to the bearing housing assembly 102. For example, the bracket 110 may define a first interference stop 114A at an upper end portion of the pin hole 105 (e.g., at the upper end portion of the pin hole at the first clamp 107) and a second interference stop 114B at an opposite lower end portion of the pin hole 105 (e.g., at the lower end portion of the pin hole at the second clamp 108). The first interference stop 114A and the second interference stop 114B may be configured to limit the range of rotation of the pin 104 relative to the bearing housing 102 in one direction 111. The bracket 110 may further define a third interference stop 114C at an upper end portion of the pin hole 105 (e.g., at the upper end portion of the pin hole at the second clamp 108) and a fourth interference stop 114D at an opposite lower end portion of the pin hole 105 (e.g., at the lower end portion of the pin hole at the first clamp 107). The third interference stop 114C and the fourth interference stop 114D may be configured to limit the range of rotation of the pin 104 relative to the bearing housing 102 in another direction 111 (e.g., in the direction 111 relative to the bearing housing 102, the direction 111 is opposite to the direction in which the first interference stop 114A and the second interference stop 114B limit the range of rotation of the pin 104).

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, pin 104 may also be configured to translate relative to ring 106, and therefore relative to bearing housing 102. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the inner surface 120 of ring 106 (e.g., shown at FIG. 2D) may substantially match the cross-sectional shape of the outer surface 103 of pin 104. In this way, when pin 104 is received at the inner surface 120 of ring 106, pin 104 may be configured to slide in a direction 113 relative to ring 106, which is substantially radial relative to bearing housing 102.

[0054] Figures 2C and 2D show separate perspective views of pin 104 and ring 106, respectively. As illustrated herein, pin 104 includes an outer surface 103, and ring 106 includes an inner surface 120. As described, the outer surface 103 of pin 104 may have a cross-sectional shape that substantially matches the cross-sectional shape of the inner surface 120 of ring 106. In the illustrated embodiment, this matching cross-sectional shape is circular, although in other embodiments, various other matching cross-sectional shapes may be used to facilitate translation of pin 104 relative to ring 106.

[0055] The ability of the bearing housing assembly 17 to facilitate the pivoting and / or translation of the pin 104 via the ring 106 can be used to accommodate different angles of the torque tube connection under varying terrain gradients. Figures 2E to 2G show cross-sectional views of Figure 2B, where the pin 104 is moved relative to the bearing housing 102 to various exemplary positions. Specifically, Figure 2E shows the pin 104 at the same position relative to the bearing housing 102, as in Figure 2B, where the pin 104 is generally oriented at a horizontal angle relative to the bearing housing 102 (e.g., the pin 104 extends at the bearing housing 102 generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pin hole 105). Figure 2F shows the pin 104 pivoting relative to the bearing housing 102 such that the pin 104 is oriented at an skew angle relative to the bearing housing 102, between horizontal and vertical (e.g., the pin 104 extends through the pin hole 105 at an skew angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the pin hole 105). Figure 2G shows pin 104 at the pivot position of Figure 2F, but pin 104 is now translated relative to ring 106 and bearing housing assembly 102 in the direction toward hoop 107 (e.g., such that pin 104 protrudes further from pin hole 105 from hoop 107 side of bearing housing 102 than from hoop 108 side of bearing housing 102).

[0056] Because the bearing housing assembly 17 allows for a variety of positions of the pin 104 relative to the bearing housing 102 (e.g., a variety of pivotable positions of the pin 104 relative to the bearing housing 102 and / or a variety of translational positions of the pin 104 relative to the bearing housing 102), the bearing housing assembly 17 can be used to facilitate a connection between two torque tubes or portions of the same torque tube (e.g., at opposite sides of the pin 104) oriented at various angles relative to the bearing housing 102. This can be used to allow such torque tube connections via the bearing housing assembly 17 at various terrain gradients at a given location along the bearing housing assembly 17 of the solar tracker device. Furthermore, this configuration of the bearing housing assembly 17 allowing for a variety of positions of the pin 104 relative to the bearing housing 102 facilitates a generally vertical mounting of the bearing housing assembly 17 at a given support, rather than a more complex skewed mounting at a given support.

[0057] Figures 3A to 3D illustrate embodiments of the flexible tube connector 300. Figure 3A shows a perspective view of the flexible tube connector 300 mounted on the solar tracker device 10 and relative to the bearing housing assembly 17 (with tracks on each side of the bearing housing assembly 17 to receive pins of the bearing housing assembly 17, for example, to help hold the pins in brackets of the bearing housing assembly 17 as they translate). Figure 3B shows a perspective view of the flexible tube connector 300 connecting the two torque tubes 14A, 14B of the solar tracker device 10 as shown in Figure 3A. Figure 3C shows a separate perspective view of the flexible tube connector 300, and Figure 3D is a cross-sectional view of the flexible tube connector 300 taken along line BB in Figure 3C.

[0058] The flexible tube connector 300 can be configured to connect two torque tubes 14A, 14B at a solar tracker device 10 in various angular orientations. The flexible tube connector 300 may include a central tube region 302, a first tube end portion 304, and a second tube end portion 306. The first tube end portion 304 may extend outward from one end of the central tube region 302, and the second tube end portion 306 may extend outward from the opposite end of the central tube region 302. The flexible tube connector 300 may also include one or more flexible tube features 310, and at least some (e.g., all) of the flexible tube features 310 may be located at the central tube region 302. The first tube end portion 304 may include one or more torque tube fastening members shown herein as holes 305, and the second tube end portion 306 may include one or more torque tube fastening members shown herein as holes 307. As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, a torque tube 14A can be connected to a first tube end portion 304 via one or more torque tube fastening holes 305, and the one or more torque tube fastening holes 305 can be configured to pass through their respective receiving fastening members and allow the fastening members to enter the torque tube 14A, and another torque tube 14B can be connected to a second tube end portion 306 via one or more torque tube fastening holes 307, and the one or more torque tube fastening holes 307 can be configured to pass through their respective receiving fastening members and allow the fastening members to enter the torque tube 14B. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3B, the central tube region 302, which may include one or more flexible tube features 310, may lack any torque tubes present therein, and therefore may be substantially free of torque tubes inside it, wherein the torque tube 14A terminates at its connection with the first tube end portion 304 and terminates at a distance from one or more flexible tube features 310 in the central tube region 302, and wherein the torque tube 14B terminates at its connection with the second tube end portion 306 and terminates at a distance from one or more flexible tube features 310 in the central tube region 302.

[0059] One or more flexible tube features 310 may be configured to facilitate a range of angular orientation of the first tube end portion 304 relative to the central tube region 302 and / or a range of angular orientation of the second tube end portion 306 relative to the central tube region 302. Furthermore, one or more flexible tube features 310 may be configured to facilitate a range of angular orientation between the torque tubes 14A, 14B connected to the flexible tube connector 300. For example, one or more flexible tube features 310 at the central tube region 302 of the flexible tube connector 300 may be configured to facilitate movement of the first tube end portion 304 relative to the central tube region 302 in direction 313, and one or more flexible tube features 310 at the central tube region 302 of the flexible tube connector 300 may be configured to facilitate movement of the second tube end portion 306 relative to the central tube region 302 in direction 315. Therefore, the flexible tube connector 300 can be configured to facilitate an angularly oriented connection between torque tubes 14A and 14B across a certain range of torque tubes 14A and 14B, the angular orientation corresponding to the movement of the first tube end portion 304 in direction 313 and the movement of the second tube end portion 306 in direction 315.

[0060] As described, one or more flexible tube features 310 may be configured to facilitate a range of angular orientation of the first tube end portion 304 relative to the central tube region 302 and / or a range of angular orientation of the second tube end portion 306 relative to the central tube region 302. Depending on the specific embodiment of the flexible tube connector 300, one or more flexible tube features 310 may take various forms. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the flexible feature 310 takes the form of a series of corrugations at the central tube region 302. In the illustrated embodiment, this series of corrugations at the central tube region 302 includes recesses at the outer surface 316 of the central tube region 302 and protrusions at the inner surface 318 of the central tube region 302. Other embodiments within the scope of this disclosure may include a reverse arrangement, wherein the series of corrugations at the central tube region 302 includes protrusions at the outer surface 316 of the central tube region 302 and recesses at the inner surface 318 of the central tube region 302, or any or various other suitable structural mechanisms configured at the central tube region 302 to allow movement of the end portions 304, 306 relative to the central tube region 302. In some such instances, one or more flexible tube features 310 may be formed at the central tube region 302 by deforming the central tube region 302 (e.g., by stamping, subtractive processing, etc.). In some embodiments, the flexible tube connector 300 (e.g., including the central tube region 302 and each of the end portions 304, 306) may be made of a composite metal and / or polymer material adapted to produce one or more flexible tube features 310 and allow the described movement of the end portions 304, 306 relative to the central tube region 302.

[0061] One or more flexible tube features 310 at the central tube area 302 (e.g., in the form of a series of corrugations as described in the illustrated embodiment) may extend some or all of the periphery (e.g., the outer periphery) of the central tube area 302. As an example, the illustrated embodiment of the flexible tube connector 300 includes flexible tube features 310 at some, but not all, of the outer periphery of the central tube area 302. That is, the illustrated embodiment of the flexible tube connector 300 includes flexible tube features 310 at two spaced-apart areas surrounding the outer periphery of the central tube area 302, while the two areas between these two areas having flexible tube features 310 and separating these two areas along this periphery lack flexible features 310. The arrangement and extent of the flexible tube features 310 along the outer periphery of the central tube area 302 can vary to achieve the desired degree of movement of the end portions 304, 306 relative to the central tube area 302 according to the needs of a given terrain gradient at the location of the torque tube connection facilitated by the flexible tube connector 300.

[0062] Figures 4A to 4G illustrate one embodiment of the variable angle oriented tubular connector assembly, and Figures 5A to 5G illustrate another different embodiment of the variable angle oriented tubular connector assembly.

[0063] As described, Figures 4A to 4G illustrate, for example, an embodiment of a variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly 400 for connecting two torque tubes 14A and 14B of a solar tracker device 10. Figure 4A shows a front view of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly 400 installed to connect the two torque tubes 14A and 14B at a first angular orientation; Figure 4B shows a front view of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly 400 installed to connect the two torque tubes 14A and 14B at a second different angular orientation; Figure 4C is a separate close-up perspective view of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly 400 connected at one angular orientation; Figure 4D shows the two torque tubes 14A and 14B connected at another different angular orientation. A separate close-up perspective view of the variable angle oriented tubular connector assembly 400 of 14B, Figure 4E is a perspective view of the central tubular connector 402 of the variable angle oriented tubular connector 400, Figure 4F is a perspective view of the first end connector 404 of the variable angle oriented tubular connector 400 (e.g., where the second end connector 406 has the same configuration as shown here with respect to the first end connector 404), and Figure 4G is a perspective view of the guide ring 408 which may optionally be included as an assembly of the variable angle oriented tubular connector 400.

[0064] The variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly 400 can be configured to connect two torque tubes 14A, 14B at a solar tracker device 10 in any of a variety of angular orientations by applying relative rotation between two or more components of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly 400. The variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly 400 may include a central tubular connector 402, a first end connector 404, and a second end connector 406. The central tubular connector 402 may include a body 409, a first central tubular flange 410, and a second central tubular flange 412. The first central tubular flange 410 may be located at a first end portion of the body 409 and extend outward from the body 409 at that first end portion, and the second central tubular flange 412 may be located at a second opposite end portion of the body 409 and extend outward from the body 409 at that second end portion. For example, each of the flanges 410, 412 may define a planar surface (e.g., on each side of each of the flanges 410, 412). The first connector 404 may include a body 420 and a first connector flange 422. The first connector flange 422 may be located at an end portion of the body 420 and extend outward from the body 420 at that end portion. Similarly, the second connector 406 may include a body 424 and a second connector flange 426. The second connector flange 426 may be located at an end portion of the body 424 and extend outward from the body 424 at that end portion. In some instances, as will be apparent from the following description, the first connector 404 and the second connector 406 may independently have the same configuration and may be mounted relatively oriented on opposite sides of the central tubular connector 402 to provide inventors with manufacturing efficiency.

[0065] Each of the first central tube flange 410 and the second central tube flange 412 may be oriented with respect to the central longitudinal axis 411 of the body 409. For example, each of the first central tube flange 410 and the second central tube flange 412 may extend outward from the body 409 at an angle greater than zero degrees and less than ninety degrees relative to the central longitudinal axis 411 of the body 409. In one example, the skew angle of the first central tube flange 410 relative to the central longitudinal axis 411 may have the same magnitude as the skew angle of the second central tube flange 412 relative to the central longitudinal axis 411, but with opposite orientation. In other words, when assembling the variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly 400, the first central tube flange 410 can be obliquely moved away from the first end connector 404 in a first direction toward the body 409 at a given angular value relative to the central longitudinal axis 411, and the second central tube flange 412 can be obliquely moved away from the second end connector 406 in a second opposite direction toward the body 409 at the same given angular value relative to the central longitudinal axis 411. The flange 422 of the first end connector 404 and the flange 426 of the second end connector 406 can similarly each have the described oblique orientation (e.g., relative to a central longitudinal axis, such as the central longitudinal axis 413 of the body 420), such that flange 422 can mat (e.g., flush contact) with flange 410 of the central tube connector 402, and flange 426 can mat (e.g., flush contact) with flange 412 of the central tube connector 402.

[0066] The central tube connector 402 can be configured to connect to the first end connector 404 at a first central tube flange 410, and the central tube connector 402 can be configured to connect to the second end connector 406 at a second central tube flange 412. Thus, when assembling the variable angular orientation tubular connector assembly 400, the first central tube flange 410 can mat (e.g., contact) with the first end connector flange 422, and the second central tube flange 412 can mat (e.g., contact) with the second end connector flange 426. When mated, the relative orientation of the first central tube flange 410 and the first end connector flange 422 defines the angular orientation of the first end connector 404 relative to the central tube connector 402. And, when mated, the relative orientation of the second central tube flange 412 and the second end connector flange 426 defines the angular orientation of the second end connector 406 relative to the central tube connector 402.

[0067] The flanges 410, 412 of the central tubular connector 402 and the corresponding flanges 422, 426 of the end connectors 404, 406 respectively allow adjustment of the angular orientation between the torque tubes 14A, 14B during installation of the variable angular orientation tubular connector assembly 400. For example, applying relative rotation between the first central tubular flange 410 of the central tubular connector 402 and the first end connector flange 422 of the first end connector 404 can change the angular orientation of the torque tube 14A relative to the post 12 (e.g., and relative to the torque tube 14B). Similarly, for example, applying relative rotation between the second central tubular flange 412 of the central tubular connector 402 and the second end connector flange 426 of the second end connector 406 can change the angular orientation of the torque tube 14B relative to the post 12 (e.g., and relative to the torque tube 14A). Therefore, when connecting torque tubes 14A and 14B in the field via the variable angle orientation tubular connector assembly 400, the installer can keep the central tube connector 402 stationary while rotating each of the first end connector 404 (relative to the central tube connector 402) and the second end connector 406 (relative to the central tube connector 402) to induce relative movement between mating flanges 410 and 422 and between mating flanges 412 and 426, thereby changing the angular orientation between the torque tubes 14A and 14B to be connected via the variable angle orientation tubular connector assembly 400. For example, different angular orientations of torque tube 14A relative to torque tube 14B (as shown in Figures 4C and 4D) can originate from different rotational orientations between mating flanges 410 and 422 and mating flanges 412 and 426. That is, a first relative rotational orientation between each of the mating flanges 410, 422 and mating flanges 412, 426 can correspond to and cause an angular orientation of torque tubes 14A, 14B as shown in FIG4C, while a second different relative rotational orientation between each of the mating flanges 410, 422 and mating flanges 412, 426 can correspond to and cause a different angular orientation of torque tubes 14A, 14B as shown in FIG4D.

[0068] Therefore, during field installation, rotational movement can be applied between the central tube connector 402 and the mating connectors 404, 406 until the desired angular orientation between the torque tubes 14A, 14B is achieved (e.g., angular orientation of a given terrain gradient at the location where the adapter variable angular orientation tubular connector assembly 400 connects the torque tubes 14A, 14B). Then, when the desired angular orientation is achieved between the torque tubes 14A, 14B, the mating flanges 410, 422 can be connected via one or more suitable fastening members 430 inserted into one or more corresponding fastening holes 431 defined in each of the respective flanges 410, 422 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 4C), and the mating flanges 412, 426 can be connected via one or more suitable fastening members 432 inserted into one or more corresponding fastening holes 433 defined in each of the respective flanges 412, 426 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 4C). Additionally, the first end connector 404 can be connected to the torque tube 14A via one or more torque tube fastening holes 436 at the first end connector 404, and the second end connector 406 can be connected to the torque tube 14B via one or more torque tube fastening holes 438 at the second end connector 406.

[0069] In some embodiments, the central tube connector 402 and / or the corresponding mating connectors 404, 406 may include one or more visual indicators thereon, wherein the one or more visual indicators correspond to the current angular orientation of one or more torque tubes, the current angular orientation being derived from the orientation corresponding to that visual indicator. For example, at least one of the mating flanges 410, 422 may include multiple visual indicators each corresponding to a different angular orientation of the torque tube 14A connected thereon, the different angular orientations being derived from the alignment of the mating flanges 410, 422 at a given visual indicator. Similarly, at least one of the mating flanges 412, 426 may include multiple visual indicators each corresponding to a different angular orientation of the torque tube 14B connected thereon, the different angular orientations being derived from the alignment of the mating flanges 412, 426 at a given visual indicator. Alternatively or additionally, such a visual indicator may be included corresponding to the relative angular orientation between torque tubes 14a, 14B, the relative angular orientation derived from each of the rotational orientations of the plurality of mating flanges 410, 422 and 412, 426, in order to provide the installer with an indication of the relative angular orientation between torque tubes 14A, 14B, the relative angular orientation being derived from the rotational orientation of flanges 410, 422 and 412, 426 under that given rotational orientation corresponding to a particular visual indicator.

[0070] In some cases, it is helpful to temporarily maintain the rotational orientation of mating flanges 410, 422 and / or temporarily maintain the rotational orientation of mating flanges 412, 426 during the installation of the variable angle oriented tubular connector assembly 400. As an example, to help maintain the rotational orientation of mating flanges 410, 422, a guide ring 408 may be placed at the mating position of flanges 410, 422 to help maintain the desired rotational orientation applied between mating flanges 410, 422 (e.g., until this rotational orientation is secured by fastening member(s) 430). Similarly, in this example, to help maintain the rotational orientation of mating flanges 412, 426, another guide ring 408 may be placed at the mating position of flanges 412, 426 to help maintain the desired rotational orientation applied between mating flanges 412, 426 (e.g., until this rotational orientation is secured by fastening member(s) 432). Figure 4G illustrates an exemplary embodiment of this guide ring 408. The guide ring 408 may (e.g., at the inner surface 440) include a complementary connector 442 configured to be received between mating flanges 410, 422 (or 412, 426, as applicable), and this insertion of the complementary connector 442 therein serves to maintain the relative rotational orientation between the mating flanges 410, 422 (or 412, 426, as applicable). Then, once the variable angle orientation tubular connector assembly 400 is secured to induce the desired angular orientation between the torque tubes 14A, 14B, the guide ring 408 can be removed (or, in an alternative embodiment, the guide ring 408 may be left in place at the mating flanges to help provide additional rotational stability between the mating flanges).

[0071] Figures 5A to 5G illustrate another embodiment of the variable angle orientation tubular connector assembly 500. The variable angle orientation tubular connector assembly 500 can be configured to perform the same function as the variable angle orientation tubular connector assembly 400 previously described herein, but the variable angle orientation tubular connector assembly 500 is configured to adjust the angular orientation between the torque tubes 14A, 14B via translation (e.g., sliding) applied between the mating flanges, rather than via rotation applied between the mating flanges as in the variable angle orientation tubular connector assembly 400. Figure 5A shows a perspective view of a variable angle oriented tubular connector assembly 500 installed to connect two torque tubes 14A, 14B in a first angular orientation. Figure 5B is a front view of the variable angle oriented tubular connector assembly 500 connected in a first angular orientation as shown in Figure 5A. Figure 5C is a separate perspective view of the variable angle oriented tubular connector assembly 500 in a first angular orientation. Figure 5D is a front view of the variable angle oriented tubular connector assembly 500 connected in a second different angular orientation. Figure 5E is a perspective view of the variable angle oriented tubular connector assembly 500 connected in a second different angular orientation as shown in Figure 5D. Figure 5F is a perspective view of the central tubular connector 502 of the variable angle oriented tubular connector 500. Figure 5G is a perspective view of the end connectors 504 (e.g., or 506) of the variable angle oriented tubular connector assembly 500.

[0072] The variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly 500 can be configured to connect two torque tubes 14A, 14B at a solar tracker device 10 in any of various angular orientations by applying relative movement (e.g., translation) between two or more components of the variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly 500. The variable-angle oriented tubular connector assembly 500 may include a central tubular connector 502, a first end connector 504, and a second end connector 506. The central tubular connector 502 may include a body 509, a first central tubular flange 510, and a second central tubular flange 512. The first central tubular flange 510 may be located at a first end portion of the body 509 and extend outward from the body 509 at that first end portion, and the second central tubular flange 512 may be located at a second opposite end portion of the body 509 and extend outward from the body 509 at that second end portion. The first end connector 504 may include a body 520 and a first end connector flange 522. The first connector flange 522 may be located at an end portion of the body 520 and extend outward from the body 520 at that end portion. Similarly, the second connector 506 may include a body 524 and a second connector flange 526. The second connector flange 526 may be located at an end portion of the body 524 and extend outward from the body 524 at that end portion. In some instances, as will be apparent from the following description, the first connector 504 and the second connector 506 may independently have the same configuration and may be mounted relatively oriented on opposite sides of the central tubular connector 502 to provide inventors with manufacturing efficiency.

[0073] Each of the first central tube flange 510 and the second central tube flange 512 is bendable, and each of the first end connector flange 522 and the second connector flange 526 is similarly bendable. For example, the curvature of the first central tube flange 510 may include the same radius of curvature as that included at the first end connector flange 522, and the curvature of the second central tube flange 512 may include the same radius of curvature as that included at the second end connector flange 526. For the illustrated embodiment, the flanges 510, 512 of the central tube connector 502 have the outermost (or, may be referred to as the furthest) flange portions generally located at the central longitudinal axis 511 of the body 509, wherein as each of the flanges 510, 512 travels radially outward from the central longitudinal axis 511, the flanges 510, 512 of the central tube connector 502 bend inward toward the body 509. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the flange 522 of the first end connector 504 and the flange 526 of the second end connector may respectively define flange curvatures complementary to (e.g., matching) the flange curvatures of the flanges 510 and 512. That is, in the illustrated embodiment, the flange 522 may have a most inward (or closest) flange portion generally at the central longitudinal axis 513 of the body 520 (e.g., shown in FIG. 5G), wherein the flange 522 of the first end connector 504 bends away from the body 520 as the flange 522 travels radially outward from the central longitudinal axis 513. Similarly, the flange 526 of the second end connector 506 may have a most inward (or closest) flange portion generally at the central longitudinal axis of the body 524, wherein the flange 522 of the second end connector 506 bends away from the body 524 as the flange 526 travels radially outward from the central longitudinal axis of the body 524.

[0074] The flange 510 at the central connector 502 may have a length greater than that of the flange 522 of the first end connector 504 (e.g., in the radial direction normal to the central longitudinal axis 511), and the flange 512 at the central connector 502 may have a length greater than that of the flange 526 of the second end connector 506 (e.g., in the radial direction normal to the central longitudinal axis 511). While the lengths of flanges 510 and 512 may be longer than the lengths of the corresponding mating flanges 522 and 526, the magnitude of the lengths of flanges 510 and 512 can vary to suit specific terrain gradient applications. For example, the longer the lengths of flanges 510 and 512, the greater the maximum skew angle orientation of the corresponding end connectors 504 and 506 relative to the central connector 502. Therefore, for applications with relatively high terrain gradients, relatively long flanges 510 and 512 can be used.

[0075] The central tube connector 502 can be configured to connect to the first end connector 504 at a first central tube flange 510, and the central tube connector 502 can be configured to connect to the second end connector 506 at a second central tube flange 512. Thus, when assembling the variable angular orientation tubular connector assembly 500, the first central tube flange 510 can mat (e.g., contact) with the first end connector flange 522, and the second central tube flange 512 can mat (e.g., contact) with the second end connector flange 526. When mated, the relative orientation of the first central tube flange 510 and the first end connector flange 522 defines the angular orientation of the first end connector 504 relative to the central tube connector 502. And, when mated, the relative orientation of the second central tube flange 512 and the second end connector flange 526 defines the angular orientation of the second end connector 506 relative to the central tube connector 502.

[0076] The flanges 510, 512 of the central tube connector 502 and the corresponding flanges 522, 526 of the end connectors 504, 506 respectively allow adjustment of the angular orientation between the torque tubes 14A, 14B during installation of the variable angular orientation tubular connector assembly 500. For example, applying a relative translation (e.g., sliding) between the first central tube flange 510 of the central tube connector 502 and the first end connector flange 522 of the first end connector 504 can change the angular orientation of the torque tube 14A relative to the post 12 (e.g., and relative to the torque tube 14B). Similarly, for example, applying a relative translation (e.g., sliding) between the second central tube flange 512 of the central tube connector 502 and the second end connector flange 526 of the second end connector 506 can change the angular orientation of the torque tube 14B relative to the post 12 (e.g., and relative to the torque tube 14A). Therefore, when torque tubes 14A and 14B are connected in the field via the variable angle-oriented tubular connector assembly 500, the installer can apply a relative translation between the flange 510 of the central tube connector 502 and the flange 522 of the first end connector 504 to correspondingly change the angular orientation between the first end connector 504 and the central tube connector 502, and thus change the angular orientation of the torque tube 14A connected or to be connected at the first end connector 504. Similarly, the installer can apply a relative translation between the flange 512 of the central tube connector 502 and the flange 526 of the second end connector 506 to correspondingly change the angular orientation between the second end connector 506 and the central tube connector 502, and thus change the angular orientation of the torque tube 14B connected or to be connected at the second end connector 506.

[0077] Therefore, by changing the relative radial positioning of the mating flanges 510 and 522 (e.g., the relative positioning of flanges 510 and 522 in the direction normal to the central longitudinal axis 511), the angular orientation of the torque tube 14A can be changed accordingly. Similarly, by changing the relative radial positioning of the mating flanges 512 and 526 (e.g., the relative positioning of flanges 512 and 526 in the direction normal to the central longitudinal axis 511), the angular orientation of the torque tube 14B can be changed accordingly. Thus, the desired angular orientation of the torque tubes 14A and 14B to adapt to the terrain gradient at a given installation location can be achieved by applying an appropriate degree of translation between the mating flanges 510 and 522 and by applying an appropriate degree of translation between the mating flanges 512 and 526. The angular orientation of the torque tubes 14A and 14B can be changed by changing the relative radial positioning of the mating flanges 510 and 522 and / or 512 and 526.

[0078] For example, the angular orientation between torque tubes 14A and 14B, as shown in the examples of Figures 5B and 5C, can originate from the first relative radial positioning of mating flanges 510 and 522 and the first relative radial positioning of mating flanges 512 and 526. Furthermore, the different angular orientations between torque tubes 14A and 14B, as shown in the examples of Figures 5D and 5E, can originate from the second different relative radial positioning of mating flanges 510 and 522 and / or the second different relative radial positioning of mating flanges 512 and 526. That is, as seen in the examples of Figures 5B and 5C where the torque tubes 14A and 14B have a first angular orientation, the upper portion 522a of flange 522 is radially offset relative to the upper portion 510a of flange 510, and the lower portion 522b of flange 522 is radially offset relative to the lower portion 510b of flange 510. Similarly, as seen in the examples of Figures 5B and 5C where a first angular orientation is present between torque tubes 14A and 14B, the upper portion 526a of flange 526 is radially offset relative to the upper portion 512a of flange 512, and the lower portion 526b of flange 526 is radially offset relative to the lower portion 512b of flange 512. However, as seen in the examples of Figures 5D and 5E where a second different angular orientation is present between torque tubes 14A and 14B, the upper portion 522a of flange 522 is substantially aligned radially with the upper portion 510a of flange 510, while the lower portion 522b of flange 522 is radially offset relative to the lower portion 510b of flange 510 to a greater extent than the first angular orientation shown in Figures 5B and 5C. Similarly, as seen in the examples of Figures 5D and 5E where a second different angular orientation is present between torque tubes 14A and 14B, the upper portion 526a of flange 526 is substantially aligned radially with the upper portion 512a of flange 512, and the lower portion 526b of flange 526 is radially offset relative to the lower portion 512b of flange 512 to a greater extent than the first angular orientation shown in Figures 5B and 5C. Thus, in this example, by translating the central tube connector 502 in the downward direction relative to the end connectors 504 and 506 to change the relative radial positioning between mating flanges 510 and 512 and between mating flanges 512 and 526, the angular orientation between torque tubes 14A and 14B can be changed from the angular orientation shown in Figures 5B and 5C to the angular orientation shown in Figures 5D and 5E. In other instances, the direction (e.g., radially upward or radially downward) and magnitude of the translation applied between the central tube connector 502 and one or both of the end connectors 504, 506 can be adjusted to achieve the desired angular orientation of the fit between the torque tubes 14A, 14B at a given terrain gradient at a given local mounting location.

[0079] When the desired angular orientation between torque tubes 14A and 14B is achieved, mating flanges 510 and 522 can be connected via one or more suitable fastening members inserted into one or more corresponding fastening grooves 531 (e.g., radially elongated grooves to provide a range of alignment positions) defined at flange 510 and one or more alignment fastening holes 532 defined at flange 522. Similarly, mating flanges 512 and 526 can be connected via one or more suitable fastening members inserted into one or more corresponding fastening grooves 533 (e.g., radially elongated grooves to provide a range of alignment positions) defined at flange 512 and one or more alignment fastening holes 532 defined at flange 526. Additionally, the first end connector 504 can be connected to the torque tube 14A via one or more torque tube fastening holes 536 at the first end connector 504, and the second end connector 506 can be connected to the torque tube 14B via one or more torque tube fastening holes 538 at the second end connector 506.

[0080] As previously described herein, the central tube connector 502 and / or the corresponding mating connectors 504, 506 may include one or more visual indicators thereon, wherein these one or more visual indicators correspond to the current angular orientation of one or more torque tubes, the current angular orientation being derived from the orientation corresponding to that visual indicator. For example, at least one of the mating flanges 510, 522 may include multiple visual indicators each corresponding to a different angular orientation of the torque tube 14A connected thereon, the different angular orientations being derived from various radial alignments of the mating flanges 510, 522 corresponding to various visual indicators. Similarly, at least one of the mating flanges 512, 526 may include multiple visual indicators each corresponding to a different angular orientation of the torque tube 14B connected thereon, the different angular orientations being derived from various radial alignments of the mating flanges 512, 526 corresponding to various visual indicators.

[0081] Figures 6A to 6C illustrate another embodiment of the bearing housing assembly 617. For example, the bearing housing assembly 617 may be configured to facilitate the installation of a solar tracker at relatively high gradient terrain. The bearing housing assembly 617 may be similar to or identical to the bearing housing assembly 17 illustrated and described with reference to Figures 2A to 2G, unless otherwise illustrated or described herein with reference to Figures 6A to 6C. Thus, similar reference characters are used to denote similar elements. More specifically, compared to the structural configurations of the interference stops 114A, 114B, 114C, 114D for the bearing housing assembly 17, the bearing housing assembly 617 may have different structural configurations for the interference stops 614A, 614B, 614C, 614D, but may otherwise be configured similarly or identically and operable to operate in a similar or identical manner.

[0082] Figures 6A to 6C illustrate bearing housing assembly 617 in a similar manner to those described in Figures 2E to 2G. Specifically, Figure 6A is a cross-sectional view showing pin 604 oriented at a horizontal angle, Figure 6B is a cross-sectional view showing pin 604 oriented at an angle between horizontal and vertical, and Figure 6C is a cross-sectional view showing pin 604 oriented at an angle between horizontal and vertical, as shown in Figure 6B, but also showing pin 604 in translation.

[0083] The bracket 110 of the bearing housing assembly 617 may be configured to provide one or more interference stops 614 to limit the upper limit of pivotable movement of the pin 604 relative to the bearing housing 102. For example, the bracket 110 may define a first interference stop 614A at an upper end portion of the pin hole 105 (e.g., at the upper end portion of the pin hole at the first clamp 107) and a second interference stop 614B at an opposite lower end portion of the pin hole 105 (e.g., at the lower end portion of the pin hole at the second clamp 108). The first interference stop 614A and the second interference stop 614B may be configured to limit the range of rotation of the pin 104 relative to the bearing housing 102 in one direction 111 (e.g., to the left in the illustrated orientation). The bracket 110 may further define a third interference stop 614C at an upper end portion of the pin hole 105 (e.g., at the upper end portion of the pin hole at the second clamp 108) and a fourth interference stop 614D at an opposite lower end portion of the pin hole 105 (e.g., at the lower end portion of the pin hole at the first clamp 107). The third interference stop 614C and the fourth interference stop 614D may be configured to limit the range of rotation of the pin 104 relative to the bearing housing 102 in another direction 111 (e.g., in the direction 111 relative to the bearing housing 102, direction 111 is opposite to the direction in which the first interference stop 614A and the second interference stop 614B limit the range of rotation of the pin 604; to the right in the described orientation). However, in addition to including one or more interference stop elements 614, the bracket 110 may also be configured to hold the ring 106 at the bearing housing 102, such that the ring 106 can rotate relative to the bearing housing 102, while the bracket holds the ring 106 at the bearing housing 102.

[0084] In the illustrated embodiment, pin 604 may also be configured to translate relative to ring 106, and therefore relative to bearing housing 102. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the inner surface 120 of ring 106 (e.g., shown at FIG. 2D) may substantially match the cross-sectional shape of the outer surface 103 of pin 604. In this way, when pin 604 is received at the inner surface 120 of ring 106, pin 604 may be configured to slide in a direction 113 relative to ring 106, which is substantially radial relative to bearing housing 102.

[0085] The ability of the bearing housing assembly 617 to facilitate the pivoting and / or translation of the pin 604 via the ring 106 can be used to accommodate different angles of the torque tube connection under varying terrain gradients. Figures 6A to 6C show cross-sectional views in which the pin 604 is moved relative to the bearing housing 102 to various exemplary positions. Specifically, Figure 6A shows the pin 604 oriented at a generally horizontal angle relative to the bearing housing 102 (e.g., the pin 604 extends at the bearing housing 102 generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pin hole 105). Figure 6B shows the pin 604 pivoting relative to the bearing housing 102 such that the pin 604 is oriented at an skew angle relative to the bearing housing 102, between horizontal and vertical (e.g., the pin 604 extends through the pin hole 105 at an skew angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the pin hole 105). Figure 6C shows pin 604 at the pivot position of Figure 6B, but pin 604 is now translated relative to ring 106 and bearing housing assembly 102 in a direction toward hoop 107 (e.g., such that pin 604 protrudes further from pin hole 105 from hoop 107 side of bearing housing 102 than from hoop 108 side of bearing housing 102). As with the bearing housing assembly 17 embodiment illustrated and described in Figures 2E to 2G, the bearing housing assembly 617 embodiment illustrated and described in Figures 6A to 6C can be configured to limit the range of rotation of pin 604 by including interference stops 614A to 614D, which can be configured to contact pin 604 and thereby prevent further rotation of pin 604.

[0086] An embodiment of the flexible tube connector was previously illustrated and described with reference to Figures 3A to 3D. Figures 7A to 11D illustrate additional embodiments of the flexible tube connector described below with reference to Figures 7A to 11D. These additional embodiments of the flexible tube connector may be similar to or the same as the embodiments previously disclosed with reference to Figures 3A to 3D, unless otherwise stated below. Therefore, similar reference characters are used to denote similar elements.

[0087] Figures 7A and 7B illustrate another embodiment of the flexible tube connector 700. Figure 7A is a perspective view of a system 750 including the flexible tube connector 700 and a bearing housing assembly 617 configured for rotatably connecting two torque tubes 14A, 14B of a solar tracker (e.g., solar tracker device 10). Specifically, the flexible tube connector 700 can be configured to rotatably connect the two torque tubes 14A, 14B of the solar tracker such that the torque tubes 14A, 14B can be rotatably supported by the bearing housing 102 and rotate relative to the bearing housing 102 in both a first direction 751 and a second opposing direction 752. For example, when the torque tube 14A is rotatably driven by the solar tracker device, the flexible tube connector 700 can function to rotatably connect the torque tube 14B to the torque tube 14A, thereby causing the torque tube 14B to rotate together with the torque tube 14A. Figure 7B is a separate perspective view of the flexible tube connector 700.

[0088] The flexible tube connector 700 can be configured to rotatably connect torque tubes 14A, 14B at a solar tracker device in various angular orientations (e.g., multiple angular orientations relative to bearing housing 102). The flexible tube connector 700 may include a central tube region 702, a first tube end portion 704, a second tube end portion 706, and one or more flexible features 310. Some or all of the flexible features 310 may be located at the central tube region 702. The first tube end portion 704 may extend outward from one end of the central tube region 702, and the second tube end portion 706 may extend outward from the other opposite end of the central tube region 702. As seen in FIG. 7A, the first tube end portion 704 may be configured to couple to torque tube 14A, and the second tube end portion 706 may be configured to couple to torque tube 14B.

[0089] To facilitate coupling of the first tube end portion 704 and the second tube end portion 706 to the respective torque tubes 14A, 14B, each of the first tube end portion 704 and the second tube end portion 706 may include one or more fastening features. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of the flexible tube connector 700, the first tube end portion 704 may include one or more torque tube fastening members shown herein as hole 305, and the second tube end portion 706 may include one or more torque tube fastening members shown herein as hole 307. A torque tube 14A may be connected to a first tube end portion 704 via one or more torque tube fastening holes 305, which may be configured to receive fastening members through and allow the fastening members to enter the torque tube 14A. Another torque tube 14B may be connected to a second tube end portion 706 via one or more torque tube fastening holes 307, which may be configured to receive fastening members through and allow the fastening members to enter the torque tube 14B. For example, torque tubes 14A and 14B may each include complementary fastening holes that align with the fastening holes 305, 307 for inserting fastening members (e.g., bolts, rivets, etc.). The illustrated embodiment of the flexible tube connector 700 may have end portions 704, 706 with outer diameters, which are configured to reside within (e.g., adjacent to) the respective mating end portions of torque tubes 14A, 14B. In some embodiments of the flexible tube connector 700, a central tube region 702, which may include one or more flexible tube features 310, may be configured to lack any torque tubes 14A, 14B present therein, and thus may be substantially absent inside therein, wherein the torque tube 14A terminates at or near its connection with the first tube end portion 704 and terminates at a distance from one or more flexible tube features 310 in the central tube region 702, and wherein the torque tube 14B terminates at its connection with the second tube end portion 706 and terminates at a distance from one or more flexible tube features 310 in the central tube region 702.

[0090] One or more flexible tube features 310 may be configured to facilitate a range of angular orientation of the first tube end portion 704 relative to the central tube region 702 and / or a range of angular orientation of the second tube end portion 706 relative to the central tube region 702. Thus, one or more flexible tube features 310 may be configured to facilitate a range of angular orientation between the torque tubes 14A, 14B connected to the flexible tube connector 700, such that one or more flexible tube features 310 may be configured such that the first tube end portion 704 is connected to the torque tube 14A with multiple angular orientations, for example, adapted to a specific terrain gradient, and the second tube end portion 706 is connected to the torque tube 14B with multiple angular orientations, for example, adapted to a specific terrain gradient. For example, one or more flexible tube features 310 at the central tube region 702 of the flexible tube connector 700 may be configured to facilitate movement of the first tube end portion 704 relative to the central tube region 702 in direction 313, and one or more flexible tube features 310 at the central tube region 702 of the flexible tube connector 700 may be configured to facilitate movement of the second tube end portion 706 relative to the central tube region 702 in direction 315. Therefore, in some cases, the flexible tube connector 700 may be configured to facilitate an angularly oriented connection between torque tubes 14A and 14B across a range of torque tubes 14A and 14B, the angular orientation corresponding to movement of the first tube end portion 704 in direction 313 and movement of the second tube end portion 706 in direction 315. As shown in the illustrated embodiments, one or more flexible tube features 310 may be located between one or more torque tube fastening holes 305 at the first tube end portion 704 and one or more torque tube fastening holes 307 at the second tube end portion 706.

[0091] As described, one or more flexible tube features 310 may be configured such that a first tube end portion 704 is oriented at multiple angles relative to the central tube region 702 to the torque tube 14A, and one or more flexible features 310 may be configured such that a second tube end portion 706 is oriented at multiple angles relative to the central tube region 702 to the torque tube 14B. Depending on the specific embodiment of the flexible tube connector 700, one or more flexible tube features 310 may take various forms. For example, the illustrated embodiment shows a flexible feature 310 in the form of a series of corrugations at the central tube region 702. More specifically, the illustrated embodiment at Figures 7A and 7B shows this series of corrugations at the central tube region 702 comprising multiple recesses 711 on the outer surface 316 of the central tube region 702. As explained herein, the multiple recesses 711 may be spaced apart from each other along at least a portion of the length of the central tube region 702. Similarly, it is explained that each of the plurality of recesses 711 may extend along the length of the central tube region 702 at a given longitudinal position around the entire periphery of the outer surface 316. Including these plurality of recesses 711 can increase the flexibility of the flexible tube connector 700 to help accommodate multiple different angular orientations between the first tube end portion 704 and the second tube end portion 706 and the central tube portion 702.

[0092] Figure 7A illustrates a flexible tube connector 700 applied to rotatably connect torque tubes 14A, 14B for system 750. As described, system 750 may include the flexible tube connector 700 and a bearing housing assembly 617 configured for rotatably connecting two torque tubes 14A, 14B of a solar tracker. Specifically, the flexible tube connector 700 may be configured to rotatably connect the two torque tubes 14A, 14B of the solar tracker such that the torque tubes 14A, 14B are rotatably supported by the bearing housing 102 of the bearing housing assembly 617 and rotate relative to the bearing housing 102 in both a first direction 751 and a second opposing direction 752. As seen in Figure 7A, a pin 604 of the bearing housing assembly 617 may be received at a rotatable ring 106 such that the pin 604 is spaced apart from and above the flexible tube connector 700 (e.g., the pin is at a greater elevation above ground level than the flexible tube connector 700).

[0093] In addition to the flexible tube connector 700 and the bearing housing assembly 617, the system 750 may further include a first track 755 and a second track 756. As shown in the example at FIG7A, the first track 755 may be coupled to the pin 604 at a first side of the housing 102 and the second track 756 may be coupled to the pin 604 at a second opposite side of the housing 102. The first track 755 may be configured to couple to one of the torque tube 14A and the central tube area 702 to rotatably support the torque tube 14A, and the second track 756 may be configured to couple to one of the torque tube 14B and the central tube area 702 to rotatably support the torque tube 14B. When the flexible tube connector 700 is used to rotatably connect torque tubes 14A, 14B for system 750 together (as shown in FIG. 7A, for example), the first tube end portion 704 may have one or more torque tube fastening holes 305 at a position longitudinally offset from the first end of pin 604 by a distance 759 along the first tube end portion 704, and the second tube end portion 706 may have one or more torque tube fastening holes 307 at a position longitudinally offset from the first end of pin 604 by a distance 759 along the second tube end portion 706.

[0094] Figures 8A and 8B illustrate another embodiment of the flexible tube connector 800. Figure 8A is a perspective view of a system 850 including the flexible tube connector 800 and a bearing housing assembly 617 configured for rotatably connecting two torque tubes 14A, 14B of a solar tracker (e.g., solar tracker device 10). Specifically, the flexible tube connector 800 can be configured to rotatably connect the two torque tubes 14A, 14B of the solar tracker such that the torque tubes 14A, 14B can be rotatably supported by the bearing housing 102 and rotate relative to the bearing housing 102 in both a first direction 751 and a second opposing direction 752. For example, when the torque tube 14A is rotatably driven by the solar tracker device, the flexible tube connector 800 can function to rotatably connect the torque tube 14B to the torque tube 14A, thereby causing the torque tube 14B to rotate together with the torque tube 14A. Figure 8B is a separate perspective view of the flexible tube connector 800.

[0095] Unless otherwise stated below, the flexible tube connector 800 may be as disclosed previously with reference to the flexible tube connector 700 in Figures 7A and 7B. That is, the flexible tube connector 800 may be configured to rotatably connect the torque tubes 14A, 14B at the solar tracker device in various angular orientations (e.g., multiple angular orientations relative to the bearing housing 102). The flexible tube connector 800 may include a central tube region 702, a first tube end portion 704, and a second tube end portion 706. As seen in Figure 8A, the first tube end portion 704 may be configured to couple to the torque tube 14A, and the second tube end portion 706 may be configured to couple to the torque tube 14B. A torque tube 14A may be connected to a first tube end portion 704 via one or more torque tube fastening holes 305, the one or more torque tube fastening holes 305 may be configured to pass through their respective receiving fastening members and allow the fastening members to enter the torque tube 14A, and another torque tube 14B may be connected to a second tube end portion 706 via one or more torque tube fastening holes 307, the one or more torque tube fastening holes 307 may be configured to pass through their respective receiving fastening members and allow the fastening members to enter the torque tube 14B.

[0096] Additionally, the flexible tube connector 800, as illustrated in Figures 8A and 8B, may include at least two flexible features 310. As previously described, at least two flexible tube features 310 may be configured such that a first tube end portion 704 is oriented at multiple angles relative to the central tube region 702 to the torque tube 14A, and one or more flexible features 310 may be configured such that a second tube end portion 706 is oriented at multiple angles relative to the central tube region 702 to the torque tube 14B. At least two flexible features 310 may be located in the central tube region 702. For example, the central tube region 702 of the illustrated embodiment of the flexible tube connector 800 may include a non-corrugated region 811 and at least two flexible features 310. The non-corrugated region 811 may define a constant diameter along the length of the outer surface 316 of the central tube region 702. For example, as illustrated, the non-corrugated region 811 may extend along a portion of the length of the central tube region 702, and the non-corrugated region 811 may be demarcated on opposite sides by two flexible features 310. Specifically, where each of the two flexible features 310 defines a plurality of recesses 711, as shown here for the illustrated embodiment, the non-corrugated region 811 may be demarcated on one side by a plurality of recesses 711 on the outer surface 316 of the central tube region 702, and on the other opposite side by a plurality of recesses 711 on the outer surface 316 of the central tube region 702.

[0097] Figure 8A illustrates a flexible tube connector 800 applied to rotatably connect torque tubes 14A, 14B for system 850. As described, system 850 may include the flexible tube connector 800 and a bearing housing assembly 617 configured for rotatably connecting two torque tubes 14A, 14B to a solar tracker, as previously described with reference to system 750 in Figure 7A. In addition to the flexible tube connector 800 and bearing housing assembly 617, system 850 may further include a first rail 755 and a second rail 756. As shown in the example in Figure 8A, the first rail 755 may be coupled to pin 604 at a first side of housing 102 and the second rail 756 may be coupled to pin 604 at a second opposite side of housing 102. A first track 755 may be configured to couple to one of the torque tube 14A and the central tube region 702 (e.g., at the non-corrugated region 811) to rotatably support the torque tube 14A, and a second track 756 may be configured to couple to one of the torque tube 14B and the central tube region 702 (e.g., at the non-corrugated region 811) to rotatably support the torque tube 14B. When the flexible tube connector 800 is used to rotatably connect the torque tubes 14A and 14B for system 850 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 8A), the first tube end portion 704 may have one or more torque tube fastening holes 305 at a position longitudinally offset from the first end of the pin 604 by a distance 859a along the first tube end portion 704, and the second tube end portion 706 may have one or more torque tube fastening holes 307 at a position longitudinally offset from the first end of the pin 604 by a distance 859b along the second tube end portion 706. For some applications, distances 859a and 859b can be roughly equal.

[0098] Figure 9 is a front view of another embodiment of the flexible tube connector 900 incorporated in system 950, which includes an embodiment of the flexible tube connector 900 and a bearing housing assembly 617 configured for rotatably connecting two torque tubes 14A, 14B to a solar tracker. Unless otherwise stated below, the flexible tube connector 900 may be as disclosed previously with reference to the flexible tube connector 700 in Figures 7A and 7B. Specifically, the flexible tube connector 900 may be similar to or the same as the flexible tube connector 700 previously described and illustrated with reference to Figures 7A and 7B, except that the flexible tube connector 900 may (as illustrated) have a central tube region 702 with a flexible feature 310 that is instead shifted from a more central position at the central tube region 702 (as illustrated for the flexible tube connector 700) to a more end region at the central tube region 702 that is closer to one of the first tube end portions 704 and the second tube end portion 706. The illustrated embodiment of the flexible tube connector 900 includes a flexible feature 310 in the end region of the central tube region 702 adjacent to the second tube end portion 706. As also illustrated with respect to the flexible tube connector 900 in FIG9, the flexible tube connector 900 may include a flexible feature 310 in the first side end region of the central tube region 702 adjacent to the second tube end portion 706 and a non-corrugated region 811 in the second opposite side end region of the central tube region 702 adjacent to the first tube end portion 704.

[0099] Figure 9 further illustrates a flexible tube connector 900 applied to rotatably connect torque tubes 14A, 14B for system 950. System 950 may include the flexible tube connector 900 and a bearing housing assembly 617 configured for rotatably connecting the two torque tubes 14A, 14B of a solar tracker, as previously described with reference to system 750 in Figure 7A. In addition to the flexible tube connector 900 and bearing housing assembly 617, system 950 may further include a first rail 755 and a second rail 756. As shown in the example in Figure 9, the first rail 755 may be coupled to pin 604 at a first side of housing 102 and the second rail 756 may be coupled to pin 604 at a second opposite side of housing 102. A first track 755 may be configured to couple to one of the torque tube 14A and the central tube region 702 (e.g., at the non-corrugated region 811) to rotatably support the torque tube 14A, and a second track 756 may be configured to couple to one of the torque tube 14B and the central tube region 702 (e.g., at the non-corrugated region 811) to rotatably support the torque tube 14B. When the flexible tube connector 900 is used to rotatably connect the torque tubes 14A and 14B for system 950 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 9), the first tube end portion 704 may have one or more torque tube fastening holes 305 at a position longitudinally offset from the first end of the pin 604 by a distance 959a along the first tube end portion 704, and the second tube end portion 706 may have one or more torque tube fastening holes 307 at a position longitudinally offset from the first end of the pin 604 by a distance 959b along the second tube end portion 706. For some applications, distance 959a may be less than distance 959b. Similarly, for some applications, flexible feature 310 (e.g., and multiple recesses 711) may be spaced from the first end of pin 604 but less than distance 959b.

[0100] Figures 10A and 10B illustrate further embodiments of the flexible tube connector 1000. Figure 10A is a front view of a system 1050 including the flexible tube connector 1000 and a bearing housing assembly 617 configured for rotatable connection of two torque tubes 14A, 14B to a solar tracker. Figure 10B is a separate perspective view of the flexible tube connector 1000.

[0101] Unless otherwise stated below, the flexible tube connector 1000 may be as disclosed previously with reference to the flexible tube connector 900 in FIG. 9. Specifically, the flexible tube connector 1000 may be similar to or the same as the flexible tube connector 900 previously described and illustrated with reference to FIG. 9, except that the flexible tube connector 1000 may (as illustrated) have a flexible feature 310 with a series of corrugations formed in the central tube region 702 by a plurality of protrusions 1012 instead of the plurality of recesses 711 used for the flexible tube connector 900. For example, the flexible tube connector 1000 may (as illustrated) have the flexible feature 310 with the series of corrugations formed in the central tube region 702 by a plurality of protrusions 1012 at the outer surface 316 of the central tube region 702 (e.g., adjacent to the second tube end portion 706 as illustrated herein). The plurality of protrusions 1012 may be spaced apart from each other along at least a portion of the length of the central tube region 702. For example, the portion of the central tube region 702 at a common elevation may be located between a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions 1012, as a portion of the central tube region adjacent to the first tube end portion 704. The flexible tube connector 1000 may include a non-corrugated region 811 along a portion of the length of the central tube region 702 (e.g., adjacent to the first tube end portion 704), while the plurality of spaced-apart protrusions 1012 may be adjacent to the second tube end portion 706.

[0102] The system 1050 illustrated in Figure 10A shows a flexible tube connector 1000 used to rotatably connect torque tubes 14A, 14B together. System 1050 may include the flexible tube connector 1000 and a bearing housing assembly 617 configured for rotatably connecting the two torque tubes 14A, 14B of a solar tracker, as previously described with reference to system 750 in Figure 7A. In addition to the flexible tube connector 1000 and bearing housing assembly 617, system 1050 may further include a first rail 755 and a second rail 756. As shown in the example in Figure 10A, the first rail 755 may be coupled to a pin 604 at a first side of housing 102 and the second rail 756 may be coupled to a pin 604 at a second opposite side of housing 102. A first track 755 may be configured to couple to one of the torque tube 14A and the central tube region 702 (e.g., at the non-corrugated region 811) to rotatably support the torque tube 14A, and a second track 756 may be configured to couple to one of the torque tube 14B and the central tube region 702 (e.g., at the non-corrugated region 811) to rotatably support the torque tube 14B. When the flexible tube connector 1000 is used to rotatably connect the torque tubes 14A and 14B for system 1050 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 10A), the first tube end portion 704 may have one or more torque tube fastening holes 305 at a position longitudinally offset from the first end of the pin 604 by a distance 959a along the first tube end portion 704, and the second tube end portion 706 may have one or more torque tube fastening holes 307 at a position longitudinally offset from the first end of the pin 604 by a distance 959b along the second tube end portion 706. For some applications, distance 959a may be less than distance 959b. Similarly, for some applications, flexible feature 310 (e.g., and multiple protrusions 1012) may be spaced apart from the first end of pin 604 but less than distance 959b.

[0103] Figures 11A to 11D illustrate another embodiment of the flexible tube connector 1100. Figure 11A is a freestanding perspective view of the flexible tube connector 1100, Figure 11B is a front view of a system 1150 including the flexible tube connector 1100 and a bearing housing assembly 617 configured for rotatably connecting two torque tubes 14A, 14B to a solar tracker, Figure 11C is a cross-sectional view of the system 1150 taken along line CC in Figure 11B, and Figure 11D is a front view showing the bearing housing assembly 617 and the system 1150 of the flexible tube connector 1100 rotatably connecting the two torque tubes 14A, 14B at an exemplary skew angle relative to the housing 102 of the bearing housing assembly 617.

[0104] Unless otherwise stated below, the flexible tube connector 1100 may be as disclosed previously with reference to the flexible tube connector 800 in Figures 8A and 8B. Specifically, the flexible tube connector 1100 may be similar to or identical to the flexible tube connector 800 previously described and illustrated with reference to Figures 8A and 8B, except that the flexible tube connector 1100 may (as illustrated) have two or more flexible features 310 at a central tube region 702, wherein a series of corrugations are formed at the central tube region 702 by a plurality of protrusions 1012 rather than by a plurality of recesses 711 as in the flexible tube connector 800. For example, the central tube region 702 of the illustrated embodiment of the flexible tube connector 1100 may include a non-corrugated region 811 and at least two flexible features 310, each including a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions 1012. The non-corrugated region 811 may define a substantially constant diameter along the length of the outer surface 316 of the central tube region 702. For example, as illustrated, the non-corrugated region 811 may extend along a portion of the length of the central tube region 702, and the non-corrugated region 811 may be demarcated on opposite sides by two flexible features 310. Specifically, where each of the two flexible features 310 defines a plurality of protrusions 1012, as shown here with respect to the illustrated embodiment in Figures 11A to 11D, the non-corrugated region 811 may be demarcated on one side by a plurality of protrusions 1012 on the outer surface 316 of the central tube region 702, and on the other opposite side by a plurality of protrusions 1012 on the outer surface 316 of the central tube region 702.

[0105] Figures 11B to 11D illustrate a flexible tube connector 1100 applied to rotatably connect torque tubes 14A and 14B for system 1150. As described, system 1150 may include the flexible tube connector 1100 and a bearing housing assembly 617. Additionally, system 1150 may further include a first rail 755 and a second rail 756 coupled to pin 604 at opposite sides of housing 102. The first rail 755 may be configured to couple to one of torque tube 14A and central tube region 702 (e.g., at non-corrugated region 811) to rotatably support torque tube 14A, and the second rail 756 may be configured to couple to one of torque tube 14B and central tube region 702 (e.g., at non-corrugated region 811) to rotatably support torque tube 14B.

[0106] As illustrated with an example at FIG11D, system 1150 can utilize embodiments of the bearing housing assembly 617 and flexible tube connectors (e.g., flexible tube connector 1100 shown at FIG11B to 11D) to accommodate various angular orientations of torque tubes 14A and / or torque tubes 14B relative to the bearing housing 102 of the bearing housing assembly 617. For example, system 1150 can utilize embodiments of the bearing housing assembly 617 and flexible tube connectors (e.g., flexible tube connector 1100 shown at FIG11B to 11D) to accommodate various skew angle orientations of torque tubes 14A and / or torque tubes 14B relative to the bearing housing 102 of the bearing housing assembly 617.

[0107] The example at Figure 11D illustrates an exemplary skew orientation of torque tubes 14A and 14B relative to bearing housing 102, which is facilitated by the movement of pin 604 relative to bearing housing 102 to a skew angle orientation between horizontal and vertical. In addition to the ability of pin 604 to move relative to bearing housing 102 to various angular orientations, embodiments of the flexible tube connector (e.g., flexible tube connector 1100 shown in Figures 11B through 11D) can further facilitate additional various angular orientations between torque tubes 14A and 14B (e.g., relative to bearing housing 102). For example, pin 604 can move relative to bearing housing 102 to various angular orientations to set the relative angular orientation between bearing housing 102 and the coupled collective flexible tube connector (e.g., flexible tube connector 1100), torque tubes 14A, and torque tubes 14B. Furthermore, the flexible tube connector (e.g., flexible tube connector 1100) can utilize one or more flexible tube features to set the relative angular orientation between the bearing housing 102 and the torque tube 14A, and between the bearing housing 102 and the torque tube 14B. Therefore, the features disclosed herein can, for example, be used to provide the ability to customize the relative angular orientation between interconnected and movable solar tracker assemblies to fit the specific terrain gradient of a given solar tracker site.

[0108] For additional orientation adaptation and applications with increased terrain gradients, system 1150 can movably couple the bearing housing assembly 617 to the strut. For example, as shown in FIG11B, the bearing housing assembly 617 can be coupled to the strut 12 to support the bearing housing assembly 617 and thus the flexible tube connector 1100 and torque tubes 14A, 14B coupled thereto at the ground surface. The illustrated embodiment shows a bracket 1160 for coupling the bearing housing 102 to the strut 12. Also shown here, the bracket 1160 can be movably coupled to the strut 12 such that when the bracket 1160 is coupled to the strut 12, the bracket 1160 can move relative to the strut 12. For example, the illustrated embodiment shows the bracket 1160 can be movably coupled to the strut 12 such that the bracket 1160 can move relative to the strut 12 in directions 1161, 1162. This can in turn cause the bearing housing assembly 617, which includes the bearing housing 102, to be movable relative to the support in directions 1161, 1162 to provide further orientation adaptation and increased terrain gradient application.

[0109] Various examples have been described. These and other examples are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A solar tracker bearing housing assembly, comprising: shell; Pin hole, located in the housing; A rotatable ring, which is rotatably located at the pin hole; A pin, received at the rotatable ring, wherein the pin is configured to be rotatably connected to at least one torque tube to allow the pin to rotate together with the torque tube in a first plane, and wherein the pin is configured to pivot together with the rotatable ring in a second, different plane to change the angular orientation of the pin relative to the pin hole.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: A bracket is defined at the pin hole, and the rotatable ring is rotatably seated at the bracket.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the bracket includes an upper ring retaining fit at the pin hole and a lower ring retaining fit at the pin hole, the upper ring retaining fit defining at least an upper portion of the pin hole at a position above the pin, and the lower ring retaining fit defining at least a lower portion of the pin hole at a position below the pin, the upper ring retaining fit and the lower ring retaining fit being configured to maintain the rotatable ring rotatably seated at the pin hole.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the rotatable ring defines a curved outer surface, wherein the upper ring retaining fit defines a first curved surface at the upper portion of the pin hole to receive the curved outer surface of the rotatable ring, and wherein the lower ring retaining fit defines a second curved surface at the lower portion of the pin hole to receive the curved outer surface of the rotatable ring.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the rotatable ring is configured to rotate at the first curved surface of the upper ring retaining fit and at the second curved surface of the lower ring retaining fit such that the pin pivots in the second plane to change the angular orientation of the pin relative to the pin hole.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the housing includes a first hoop coupled to a second hoop, wherein the upper ring retaining engagement is formed by each of the first hoop and the second hoop, wherein the lower ring retaining engagement is formed by each of the first hoop and the second hoop, and wherein the rotatable ring is rotatably positioned at the interface between the first hoop and the second hoop.

7. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the bracket further includes a first interference stop at the upper portion of the pin hole at the location above the pin and a second interference stop at the lower portion of the pin hole at the location below the pin, wherein the first interference stop and the second interference stop are configured to limit the range within which the pin is configured to pivot in the second plane together with the rotatable ring to change the angular orientation of the pin relative to the pin hole.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the first interference stop is located at or adjacent to a first side end portion of the pin hole at the upper portion of the pin hole, and wherein the second interference stop is located at or adjacent to a second opposite side end portion of the pin hole at the lower portion of the pin hole.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the bracket further comprises a third interference stop at the upper portion of the pin hole at the location above the pin and a fourth interference stop at the lower portion of the pin hole at the location below the pin, wherein the first interference stop and the second interference stop are configured to limit the range within which the pin is configured to pivot with the rotatable ring in a first pivoting direction, wherein the third interference stop and the fourth interference stop are configured to limit the range within which the pin is configured to pivot with the rotatable ring in a second opposing direction, wherein the third interference stop is located at or adjacent to the second side end portion of the pin hole at the upper portion of the pin hole, and wherein the fourth interference stop is located at or adjacent to the first side end portion of the pin hole at the lower portion of the pin hole.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pin is configured to translate relative to the rotatable ring in each of a first radial direction away from the housing and a second relative radial direction away from the housing.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first plane is normal to the second plane, and wherein the pin is configured to be rotatably connected to the first torque tube to suspend the first torque tube at a first side of the housing, such that when the pin, together with the rotatable ring, pivots in the second plane, the pin causes a change in the angular orientation of the first torque tube relative to the pin hole, and wherein the pin is configured to be rotatably connected to the second torque tube to suspend the second torque tube at a second opposite side of the housing, such that when the pin, together with the rotatable ring, pivots in the second plane, the pin causes a change in the angular orientation of the second torque tube relative to the pin hole.

12. A variable angle oriented torque tube connector assembly, comprising: A central tubular connector assembly includes a central tubular body, a first central tubular flange at a first end of the central tubular body, and a second central tubular flange at a second opposite end of the central tubular body; a first-end connector assembly coupled to the central tubular connector assembly, the first-end connector assembly including a first-end assembly body and a first-end assembly flange at a first end of the first-end assembly body; and a second-end connector assembly coupled to the central tubular connector assembly, the second-end connector assembly including a second-end assembly body and a second-end assembly flange at a first end of the second-end assembly body.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the first central tube flange protrudes outward from the central tube body at the first end of the central tube body, and wherein the first central tube flange extends along the entire periphery of the central tube body at the first end, and wherein the second central tube flange protrudes outward from the central tube body at the second end of the central tube body, and wherein the second central tube flange extends along the entire periphery of the central tube body at the second end.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the first end component flange protrudes outward from the first end component body at the first end of the first end component body, and wherein the first end component flange extends along the entire periphery of the first end of the first end component body, and wherein the second end component flange protrudes outward from the second end component body at the first end of the second end component body, and wherein the second end component flange extends along the entire periphery of the first end of the second end component body.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the first central tube flange defines a first planar surface, wherein the second central tube flange defines a second planar surface, wherein the first end assembly flange defines a planar surface, and wherein the second end assembly flange defines a planar surface.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the first planar surface defined by the first central tube flange is a first skew orientation planar surface, wherein the second planar surface defined by the second central tube flange is a second skew orientation planar surface, wherein the planar surface defined by the first end assembly flange is a third skew orientation planar surface, which is a reverse skew of the first skew orientation planar surface at the first central tube flange, and wherein the planar surface defined by the second end assembly flange is a fourth skew orientation planar surface, which is a reverse skew of the second skew orientation planar surface at the first central tube flange.

17. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the first central tube flange defines a first curved surface, wherein the second central tube flange defines a second curved surface, wherein the first end assembly flange defines a curved surface, and wherein the second end assembly flange defines a curved surface.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the first curved surface defined by the first central tube flange is curved toward the central tube body, wherein the second curved surface defined by the second central tube flange is curved toward the central tube body and toward the first curved surface, wherein the curved surface defined by the first end assembly flange is curved away from the first end assembly body and toward the central tube body, and wherein the curved surface defined by the second end assembly flange is curved away from the second end assembly body and toward the central tube body.

19. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the first central tube flange includes a first plurality of fastening holes, wherein the second central tube flange includes a second plurality of fastening holes, wherein the first end assembly flange includes a third plurality of fastening holes such that the first end connector assembly is coupled to the central tubular connector assembly at at least one of the first plurality of fastening holes and at least one of the third plurality of fastening holes, and wherein the second end assembly flange includes a fourth plurality of fastening holes such that the second end connector assembly is coupled to the central tubular connector assembly at at least one of the second plurality of fastening holes and at least one of the fourth plurality of fastening holes.

20. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the first end assembly flange and the first central tube flange are mated, and wherein the first end assembly flange and the first central tube flange are configured to change the angular orientation between the first end connector assembly and the central tubular connector assembly when rotated relative to each other therebetween, and wherein the second end assembly flange and the second central tube flange are mated, and wherein the second end assembly flange and the second central tube flange are configured to change the angular orientation between the second end connector assembly and the central tubular connector assembly when rotated relative to each other therebetween.

21. A flexible tube connector, comprising: Central District; A first tube end portion extends outward from one end of the central tube area, and the first tube end portion is configured to couple to a first torque tube of the solar tracker device. A second tube end portion extending outward from the opposite end of the central tube region, the second tube end portion being configured to couple to a second torque tube of the solar tracker device; and one or more flexible features located in the central tube region, wherein the one or more flexible features are configured to oriented the first tube end portion to the first torque tube at multiple angles and to oriented the second tube end portion to the second torque tube at multiple angles.

22. The flexible tube connector according to claim 21, wherein the first tube end portion includes one or more torque tube fastening holes, and wherein the second tube end portion includes one or more torque tube fastening holes.

23. The flexible tube connector of claim 22, wherein the one or more flexible features are located between the one or more torque tube fastening holes at the first tube end portion and the one or more torque tube fastening holes at the second tube end portion.

24. The flexible tube connector of claim 21, wherein the one or more flexible features are configured to oriented the first tube end portion at a plurality of angles relative to the central tube region to the first torque tube, and wherein the one or more flexible features are configured to oriented the second tube end portion at a plurality of angles relative to the central tube region to the second torque tube.

25. The flexible tube connector of claim 21, wherein the one or more flexible features include a series of corrugations in the central tube area.

26. The flexible tube connector of claim 25, wherein the series of corrugations in the central tube area comprises a plurality of recesses on the outer surface of the central tube area, the plurality of recesses being spaced apart from each other along at least a portion of the length of the central tube area.

27. The flexible tube connector of claim 26, wherein each of the plurality of recessed portions extends around the entire periphery of the outer surface of the central tube region.

28. The flexible tube connector of claim 26, wherein the central tube region includes a non-corrugated region along a portion of the length of the central tube region, and wherein the non-corrugated region is delimited on one side by the plurality of recesses on the outer surface of the central tube region and on the other opposite side by the plurality of recesses on the outer surface of the central tube region.

29. The flexible tube connector of claim 25, wherein the series of corrugations in the central tube area includes a plurality of protrusions on the outer surface of the central tube area, the plurality of protrusions being spaced apart from each other along at least a portion of the length of the central tube area.

30. The flexible tube connector of claim 29, wherein the central tube region includes a non-corrugated region along a portion of the length of the central tube region, and wherein the non-corrugated region is delimited on one side by the plurality of protrusions on the outer surface of the central tube region and on the other opposite side by the plurality of protrusions on the outer surface of the central tube region.

31. A system comprising: A bearing housing assembly configured to rotatably support a first torque tube and a second torque tube, the bearing housing assembly comprising: a housing; a pin hole therein; a rotatable ring rotatably seated at the pin hole; and a pin received at the rotatable ring, wherein the pin is configured to rotatably connect to at least one torque tube such that the pin and the torque tube rotate together in a first plane, and wherein the pin is configured to pivot together with the rotatable ring in a second, different plane to change the angular orientation of the pin relative to the pin hole; and a flexible tube connector configured to be angularly connected to the first torque tube and the second torque tube. The flexible tube connector includes: a central tube region; a first tube end portion extending outward from one end of the central tube region, the first tube end portion being configured to couple to a first torque tube of a solar tracker device; a second tube end portion extending outward from the other opposite end of the central tube region, the second tube end portion being configured to couple to a second torque tube of the solar tracker device; and one or more flexible features located in the central tube region, wherein the one or more flexible features are configured to oriented the first tube end portion to the first torque tube at multiple angles and to oriented the second tube end portion to the second torque tube at multiple angles.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the pin is received at the rotatable ring spaced apart from and above the flexible tube connector.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the housing of the bearing housing assembly is movable relative to the central tubing area of ​​the flexible tubing connector.

34. The system of claim 31, further comprising: A first track, which is coupled to the pin at a first side of the housing of the bearing housing assembly; and a second track, which is coupled to the pin at the second opposite side of the housing of the bearing housing assembly.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the first track is configured to couple to one of the first torque tube and the central tube region to rotatably support the first torque tube, and wherein the second track is configured to couple to one of the second torque tube and the central tube region to rotatably support the second torque tube.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the first tube end portion includes one or more torque tube fastening holes at a position longitudinally offset from the first end of the pin along the first tube end portion, and wherein the second tube end portion includes one or more torque tube fastening holes at a position longitudinally offset from the first end of the pin along the second tube end portion.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the one or more flexible features are located between the one or more torque tube fastening holes at the first tube end portion and the one or more torque tube fastening holes at the second tube end portion.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein the one or more flexible features are configured to oriented the first tube end portion at multiple angles relative to the central tube region to the first torque tube, and wherein the one or more flexible features are configured to oriented the second tube end portion at multiple angles relative to the central tube region to the second torque tube.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the one or more flexible features include a series of corrugations at the central tube area.

40. The system of claim 31, wherein the pin is configured to translate relative to the rotatable ring in each of a first radial direction away from the housing and a second relative radial direction away from the housing.

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