Bearing apparatus, photovoltaic tracking support, and mounting method therefor

Abstract

The embodiments of the present specification provide a bearing apparatus. The bearing apparatus comprises a supporting structure, a bearing housing, and a ball bearing. The bearing housing is supported by the supporting structure. The bearing housing is disposed outside the ball bearing in a sleeved manner, the ball bearing is disposed outside the shaft structure in a sleeved manner, and an outer surface of the ball bearing mates with an inner surface of the bearing housing by means of a spherical surface.

Description

Bearing device, photovoltaic tracking bracket and installation method thereof

[0001] Cross-references

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese application No. 202311190126.5 filed on September 15, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This specification relates to the photovoltaic field, and in particular to a bearing device used in a photovoltaic tracking bracket. Background Art

[0004] The bearing housing of a photovoltaic tracking system connects its main shaft to its columns. To save land costs and improve enterprise competitiveness, photovoltaic power plants are often deployed on sloped land rather than flat ground. Installing a photovoltaic tracking system on sloped land means the main shaft and columns are not perpendicular to each other, aligning the photovoltaic panels with the direction of the sun. Therefore, the bearing housing connecting the main shaft and columns needs to have a certain degree of angle adjustment to accommodate this need.

[0005] However, the existing bearing seat structures in the industry still have the following problems: the angle adjustment range of the bearing seat is limited and cannot meet the angle adjustment requirements within a large range between the spindle and the column; in addition, the clearance between the bearing seat and the spindle is very small and the precision requirements are high, which makes it difficult to install the spindle and affects the installation efficiency. The manufacturing difficulty of the bearing seat is also greatly increased, making it difficult to achieve the required dimensional accuracy, which affects the transmission stability and reliability.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to propose a bearing device that can meet the requirements of a wide range of angle adjustment between the main shaft and the column, has good transmission stability, and is convenient for main shaft installation.

[0007] Summary of the Invention

[0008] One of the embodiments of this specification provides a bearing device, including a support structure, a bearing shell and a ball bearing; the support structure supports the bearing shell; the bearing shell is sleeved outside the ball bearing, and the ball bearing is sleeved outside the shaft structure, and the outer surface of the ball bearing and the inner surface of the bearing shell are spherically matched.

[0009] In some embodiments, the bearing shell includes a first bearing shell, a second bearing shell and a positioning structure, and the first bearing shell and the second bearing shell are spliced ​​through the positioning structure.

[0010] In some embodiments, the bearing shell further includes a locking structure, which locks the spliced ​​first bearing shell and the second bearing shell.

[0011] In some embodiments, the ball bearing includes a first bearing part and a second bearing part, and the first bearing part and / or the second bearing part are provided with an installation groove. The first bearing part and the second bearing part can be spliced ​​so that the installation groove forms an installation space for installing the shaft structure.

[0012] In some embodiments, the structure of the spliced ​​first bearing part and the second bearing part includes a convex spherical surface, the first bearing shell includes a first concave spherical surface, and the second bearing shell includes a second concave spherical surface. The convex spherical surface can respectively achieve spherical fit with the first concave spherical surface and the second concave spherical surface.

[0013] In some embodiments, an elastic member is provided in the mounting groove, and the elastic structure abuts between the ball bearing and the shaft structure.

[0014] In some embodiments, a reinforcement structure is provided on the bearing shell, and the reinforcement structure includes a groove and / or a reinforcement rib.

[0015] In some embodiments, the support structure also includes a bearing seat, which is sleeved outside the bearing shell. The bearing seat includes a first bearing seat, a second bearing seat and a connecting structure, and the first bearing seat and the second bearing seat are connected by the connecting structure.

[0016] In some embodiments, the connection structure includes a hook-shaped portion and a fixing portion, the hook-shaped portion is provided on the first bearing seat, and the fixing portion is provided on the second bearing seat; the hook-shaped portion is hooked on the fixing portion.

[0017] In some embodiments, the connection structure further includes a baffle, which is disposed on the second bearing seat and is located on a side close to the hook tip of the hook portion.

[0018] In some embodiments, a pressure sensing mechanism is provided on a side of the baffle facing the hook tip of the hook portion.

[0019] In some embodiments, the second bearing seat includes a first plate body and a side plate, the first plate body supports the bearing shell, and the fixing portion is connected to the side plate.

[0020] In some embodiments, the side plate includes a first side plate and a second side plate, and the first side plate and the second side plate are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the first plate body in the axial direction of the bearing device; a first step is provided on the outer surface of the bearing shell, and the first step is limited between the first side plate and the second side plate.

[0021] In some embodiments, the first bearing seat includes a second plate body, a first limit rib and a second limit rib, and the first limit rib and the second limit rib are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the second plate body in the axial direction of the bearing device; the outer surface of the bearing shell is provided with a second step, and the second step is limited between the first limit rib and the second limit rib.

[0022] In some embodiments, the support structure further includes a support seat, which supports the bearing seat, and the support seat is connected to the column through a position adjustment component.

[0023] In some embodiments, the support seat and the bearing seat are connected by a fastening structure; the fastening structure includes a waist-shaped hole provided on the support seat and a fastener cooperating with the waist-shaped hole; the fastener can move along the length direction of the waist-shaped hole to adjust the fixed position of the bearing seat relative to the support seat.

[0024] In some embodiments, a barrier structure is provided on the outer surface of the bearing shell, and the barrier structure is located between the shaft structure and the bearing shell.

[0025] In some embodiments, the ball bearing and the bearing housing are made of plastic, and the support structure is made of metal.

[0026] In some embodiments, a limiting structure is provided between the ball bearing and the shaft structure.

[0027] In some embodiments, an anti-slip structure is provided between the ball bearing and the shaft structure.

[0028] One of the embodiments of the present specification provides a method for installing a photovoltaic tracking bracket, wherein the installation method installs a shaft structure on a column through multiple bearing devices; there are multiple columns, and the bearing devices are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the columns; the bearing device includes a support structure, a bearing shell and a ball bearing; the bearing shell is sleeved outside the ball bearing, and the ball bearing is sleeved outside the shaft structure, and the outer surface of the ball bearing and the inner surface of the bearing shell are spherically matched; the installation method includes the following steps: arranging the columns at intervals along a preset direction; installing at least part of the components of the bearing device to the top of the column; at least part of the components of the bearing device include at least part of the support structure, at least part of the bearing shell and at least part of the ball bearing; adjusting the axial position of the support structure on the column, and / or the relative positions of different components in the support structure; installing the shaft structure into the ball bearing; installing other components of the support structure and other components of the bearing shell to at least part of the components of the bearing device.

[0029] In some embodiments, the bearing shell includes a first bearing shell and a second bearing shell, and the ball bearing includes a first bearing part and a second bearing part; the support structure also includes a bearing seat and a support seat, the support seat supports the bearing seat, and the bearing seat is sleeved outside the bearing shell, and the bearing seat includes a first bearing seat, a second bearing seat and a connecting structure; the support seat is connected to the top of the column through a position adjustment component; installing at least part of the components of the bearing device to the top of the column, including: installing the second bearing seat, the second bearing shell and the second bearing part to the top of the column; adjusting the axial position of the support structure on the column, and / or the relative positions of different components in the support structure, including: adjusting the axial position of the support seat relative to the column in the column through the position adjustment component, and / or adjusting the position of the bearing seat relative to the support seat; installing the shaft structure into the ball bearing, including: installing the shaft structure on the second bearing part, and installing the first bearing part on the shaft structure, so that the ball bearing is sleeved outside the shaft structure; installing other components of the support structure and other components of the bearing shell to at least part of the components of the bearing device, including: installing the first bearing shell on the second bearing shell, and connecting the first bearing seat to the second bearing seat through the connecting structure.

[0030] One of the embodiments of this specification provides a photovoltaic tracking bracket, including the above-mentioned bearing device.

[0031] In some embodiments, a photovoltaic tracking bracket includes a plurality of bearing devices, a plurality of columns, an axis structure and an auxiliary mounting device; the plurality of columns are arranged at intervals along a preset direction; the plurality of bearing devices and the plurality of columns are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence; the auxiliary mounting device includes a positioning assembly; the positioning mechanism is used to determine the position information of each bearing device; the position information is used to reflect the position of a reference point of each bearing device in the plurality of bearing devices.

[0032] In some embodiments, the auxiliary installation device includes a drive assembly and a controller; the drive assembly includes multiple drive mechanisms, and the multiple drive mechanisms are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with multiple bearing devices; the drive assembly and the positioning mechanism are both connected to the controller; the positioning mechanism is used to determine the position information of each bearing device; based on the position information, the controller controls at least one drive mechanism of the drive assembly to drive a preset component of the bearing device to move in a direction perpendicular to the axis structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] This specification will be further described in the form of exemplary embodiments, which will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are not limiting, and in these embodiments, like numbers represent like structures, wherein:

[0034] FIG1A is a schematic structural diagram of a bearing device according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0035] FIG1B is a schematic structural diagram of a bearing device according to some embodiments of this specification during rotation;

[0036] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of a bearing device according to some embodiments of this specification with the first bearing seat hidden;

[0037] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a bearing device according to some embodiments of this specification with the first bearing seat and the first bearing shell hidden;

[0038] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of a second bearing portion according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0039] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of a second bearing portion according to other embodiments of this specification;

[0040] FIG6A is a schematic structural diagram of a ball bearing according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0041] FIG6B is a schematic structural diagram of a ball bearing according to other embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0042] FIG6C is a schematic structural diagram of a ball bearing according to yet other embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0043] FIG7A is a schematic structural diagram of a second bearing portion according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0044] FIG7B is a schematic structural diagram of a shaft structure according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0045] FIG7C is a schematic diagram of the structure of the bearing device and the shaft structure according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0046] FIG8A is a schematic structural diagram of a second bearing portion according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0047] FIG8B is a schematic structural diagram of the cooperation between a bearing device and a shaft structure according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0048] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of a bearing housing according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0049] FIG10A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a bearing housing according to some embodiments of the present specification;

[0050] FIG10B is a partial enlarged schematic diagram of point A in FIG10A;

[0051] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of a bearing housing according to yet other embodiments of the present invention;

[0052] FIG12 is a schematic structural diagram of a second bearing shell according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0053] FIG13 is a schematic top view of a second bearing shell according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0054] FIG14 is a schematic structural diagram of a first bearing shell according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0055] FIG15 is a bottom view of a first bearing shell according to some embodiments of the present specification;

[0056] FIG16 is a schematic diagram of the bottom structure of the second bearing shell according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0057] FIG17 is a schematic structural diagram of a first bearing seat according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0058] FIG18 is a schematic structural diagram of a second bearing seat according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0059] FIG19 is a schematic top view of a second bearing seat according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0060] FIG20 is a schematic structural diagram of a first bearing seat according to yet other embodiments of this specification;

[0061] FIG21 is a schematic structural diagram of a second bearing seat according to yet other embodiments of this specification;

[0062] FIG22 is a schematic structural diagram of a support base according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0063] FIG23 is a schematic structural diagram of the support seat, the second bearing seat, and the second bearing shell when they are installed according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0064] FIG24 is a schematic diagram of a structure in which a support seat, a second bearing seat, and a second bearing shell are installed on a column according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0065] FIG25 is a schematic structural diagram of a photovoltaic tracking bracket according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0066] FIG26 is a structural block diagram of an auxiliary installation device according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0067] FIG27 is a flow chart of a method for installing a photovoltaic tracking bracket according to some embodiments of this specification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for describing the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely examples or embodiments of this application. Those skilled in the art can apply this application to other similar scenarios based on these drawings without inventive effort. Unless otherwise apparent from the context or otherwise noted, the same reference numerals in the figures represent the same structure or operation.

[0069] It should be understood that the terms "system," "device," "unit," and / or "module" used herein are a method for distinguishing different components, elements, parts, portions, or assemblies at different levels. However, if other terms can achieve the same purpose, the terms may be replaced by other expressions.

[0070] As used in this application and the claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the words "a," "an," "an," and / or "the" are not intended to refer to the singular but may include the plural. Generally speaking, the terms "comprises" and "include" only indicate the inclusion of the steps and elements specifically identified, and these steps and elements do not constitute an exclusive list. A method or apparatus may also include other steps or elements.

[0071] This specification provides a bearing device, a photovoltaic tracking bracket, and an installation method thereof. The bearing device includes a ball bearing and a bearing shell that are spherically matched. Because the ball bearing and the bearing shell are spherically matched, the relative rotational freedom between the ball bearing and the bearing shell is greater than that of a cylindrical match. The bearing device can be applied to a photovoltaic tracking bracket. In some embodiments, the photovoltaic tracking bracket may include an axis structure and a column. The column is a structure that stands upright on the ground and is used to support the bearing device. The axis structure is a structure supported by the bearing structure and is used to set the photovoltaic panels. In some embodiments, there may be multiple bearing devices, and the multiple bearing devices may be arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the axis structure. Since the installation site of the photovoltaic tracking bracket may not be flat (such as a sloped site), by using the above-mentioned bearing device with a higher degree of relative rotational freedom between the ball bearing and the bearing shell, the photovoltaic tracking bracket can be conveniently installed even in uneven places. It should be noted that the bearing device can also be applied to other equipment as a bearing device for the axis structure, and this application does not impose further limitations on this.

[0072] Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a bearing assembly according to some embodiments of this specification. Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of the structure of a bearing assembly according to some embodiments of this specification during rotation. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a bearing assembly according to some embodiments of this specification with the first bearing seat concealed. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a bearing assembly according to some embodiments of this specification with the first bearing seat and first bearing shell concealed.

[0073] Some embodiments of this specification provide a bearing device 100. As shown in Figures 1A to 3, the bearing device 100 includes a ball bearing 110, a bearing shell 120, and a support structure 130. The support structure 130 supports the bearing shell 120; the ball bearing 110 is sleeved on the outside of the shaft structure 200, and the bearing shell 120 is sleeved on the outside of the ball bearing 110. The outer surface of the ball bearing 110 and the inner surface of the bearing shell 120 are spherically matched. In some embodiments, the shaft structure 200 can be a structure for mounting photovoltaic panels on a photovoltaic tracking bracket. In some embodiments, the bearing structure 100 can be set on the column of the photovoltaic tracking bracket to connect the shaft structure 200 and the column 300.

[0074] As shown in FIG1B , the outer surface of the ball bearing 110 near the bearing housing 120 includes a spherical structure, and the inner surface of the bearing housing 120 near the ball bearing 110 includes a spherical structure that matches the outer surface of the ball bearing 110 near the bearing housing 120. The spherical fit between the outer surface of the ball bearing 110 and the inner surface of the bearing housing 120 allows the axis of the ball bearing 110 and the axis of the bearing housing 120 to be offset at an angle, thereby enabling the shaft structure 200 fixed to the ball bearing 110 to rotate and deflect at multiple angles relative to the bearing housing 120. It should be noted that the outer surface of the ball bearing and the inner surface of the bearing housing may also include other structures that do not affect the spherical fit between the two, such as gaps, grooves, etc. In some embodiments, the outer surface of the ball bearing 110 is provided with a scale along the axial direction (i.e., the X direction) to facilitate recording the deflection angle of the ball bearing 110. The X direction (see FIG1A ) described in this specification refers to the axial direction of the bearing device 100 and the axial direction of the bearing housing 120.

[0075] The ball bearing 110 is a structure for connecting the shaft structure 200 and spherically connected to the bearing shell 120, so that the shaft structure 200 can drive the ball bearing 110 to rotate relative to the bearing shell 120. In some embodiments, the ball bearing 110 is an integral structure surrounding the shaft structure 200. For example, the ball bearing 110 is an annular structure, and the ball bearing 110 is sleeved outside the shaft structure 200. In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 1A to 3, the ball bearing 110 is a split structure, including a first bearing portion 111 and a second bearing portion 112. The first bearing portion 111 can be the same as the second bearing portion 112, or it can be different from the second bearing portion 112. This article will later describe in detail using the first bearing portion 111 and the second bearing portion 112 as an example of the same structure.

[0076] In some embodiments, the first bearing portion 111 can be spliced ​​with the second bearing portion 112 to clamp the shaft structure 200 from both sides (e.g., left and right, top and bottom, etc.). This document will later describe in detail the example of the first bearing portion 111 being located above the second bearing portion 112 along the Z direction. The Z direction (also referred to as the up-down direction) described in this specification refers to the extension direction of the column 300, i.e., the Z-direction distribution shown in Figure 1A, which is perpendicular to the X-direction.

[0077] In some embodiments, the first bearing portion 111 is provided with a mounting groove that is compatible with the outer surface of the shaft structure 200 (the surface near the ball bearing 110). When the first bearing portion 111 and the second bearing portion 112 are spliced ​​together, a mounting space for mounting the shaft structure 200 is formed between the mounting groove on the first bearing portion 111 and the second bearing portion 112, and the shaft structure 200 is restrained within the mounting groove. In some embodiments, the second bearing portion 112 is provided with a mounting groove that is compatible with the outer surface of the shaft structure 200. When the first bearing portion 111 and the second bearing portion 112 are spliced ​​together, a mounting space for mounting the shaft structure 200 is formed between the mounting groove on the second bearing portion 112 and the first bearing portion 111, and the shaft structure 200 is restrained within the mounting groove. In some embodiments, both the first bearing portion 111 and the second bearing portion 112 are provided with mounting grooves adapted to the outer surface of the shaft structure 200. The mounting grooves on the second bearing portion 112 are joined with the mounting grooves on the first bearing portion 111 to form an installation space for mounting the shaft structure 200. The shaft structure 200 is inserted into the mounting grooves to achieve position-limited installation of the shaft structure 200. For more information on the ball bearing 110 and its mounting grooves, please refer to FIG. 4 and related content.

[0078] In some embodiments of this specification, the ball bearing 110 is configured to include a first bearing portion 111 and a second bearing portion 112 , so that the ball bearing 110 can be realized as a split structure, which facilitates quick disassembly and assembly of the ball bearing 110 to the shaft structure 200 .

[0079] The bearing housing 120 supports the ball bearing 110 and mates with the spherical surface of the ball bearing 110. In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 1A and 2, the bearing housing 120 is a split structure, comprising a first bearing housing 121 and a second bearing housing 122. In some embodiments, the first bearing housing 121 can be identical to the second bearing housing 122 in at least one of structure, size, or shape. In some embodiments, the first bearing housing 121 can be different from the second bearing housing 122 in at least one of structure, size, or shape.

[0080] In some embodiments, the first bearing shell 121 can be combined with the second bearing shell 122 to surround the ball bearing 110. Specifically, the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 can surround the ball bearing 110 from both sides (e.g., left and right sides, top and bottom sides, etc.). In some embodiments, the arrangement direction of the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 can be the same as the arrangement direction of the first bearing portion 111 and the second bearing portion 112. For example, as shown in Figure 1A, the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 are distributed vertically, and the first bearing portion 111 and the second bearing portion 112 are distributed vertically. The vertical distribution here refers to the distribution along the extension direction of the column 300, that is, the Z direction shown in Figure 1A. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 1A, the first bearing shell 121 can be located above the second bearing shell 122 along the Z direction, or the positions of the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 can be interchanged. In other words, any bearing shell hidden in Figure 3 can be the first bearing shell 121 or the second bearing shell 122. This document will hereinafter describe in detail the case where the first bearing shell 121 is located above the second bearing shell 122 along the Z direction as an example.

[0081] In some embodiments, the arrangement direction of the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 may be different from the arrangement direction of the first bearing portion 111 and the second bearing portion 112. For example, the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 are distributed up and down, and the first bearing portion 111 and the second bearing portion 112 are distributed left and right (distributed perpendicular to the Z direction), or distributed obliquely (distributed at a certain angle to the Z direction). In some embodiments, the splicing of the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 may include a detachable connection to achieve rapid disassembly and assembly of the ball bearing 110 by the bearing shell 120. In some embodiments, the bearing shell 120 includes a positioning structure, which is used to limit the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 so that the first bearing shell 121 is aligned with the second bearing shell 122, and the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 are spliced ​​through the positioning structure. For more information about the bearing shell 120 and its positioning structure, please refer to Figures 9-11 and related content.

[0082] In some embodiments of this specification, the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 are spliced ​​together through a positioning structure, so that the bearing shell 120 can be quickly assembled and disassembled from the ball bearing 110 . The positioning structure can align the first bearing shell 121 with the second bearing shell 122 .

[0083] The support structure is used to support the bearing housing 120. In some embodiments, the support structure 130 may include a bearing seat 131, which is sleeved outside the bearing housing 120. In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 1A-3, the bearing seat 131 included in the support structure 130 is also a split structure, including a first bearing seat 1311 and a second bearing seat 1312. In some embodiments, the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 have at least one of the same structure, size, or shape. In some embodiments, the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 have at least one of the same structure, size, or shape.

[0084] In some embodiments, the first bearing seat 1311 can be combined and spliced ​​with the second bearing seat 1312 to surround the bearing shell 120. Specifically, the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 can surround the ball bearing 110 from both sides of the bearing shell 120 (for example, the left and right sides or the upper and lower sides, etc.). In some embodiments, the arrangement direction of the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 can be the same as the arrangement direction of the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122. For example, as shown in Figure 1A, the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 are distributed up and down, and the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 are distributed up and down, and the up and down distribution here refers to the distribution along the Z direction of the column 300. In some embodiments, the arrangement direction of the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 can be different from the arrangement direction of the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122. For example, the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 are distributed up and down, and the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 are distributed left and right (distributed perpendicular to the Z direction), or distributed obliquely (distributed at a certain angle to the Z direction). In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 1A, the first bearing seat 1311 can be located above the second bearing seat 1312 along the Z direction, or the positions of the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 can be interchanged. In other words, any bearing seat hidden in Figure 2 can be the first bearing seat 1311 or the second bearing seat 1312. This article will later describe in detail the example of the first bearing seat 1311 being located above the second bearing seat 1312 along the Z direction.

[0085] In some embodiments, the connection between the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 can include a detachable connection, enabling quick assembly and disassembly of the bearing seat 131 from the bearing housing 120. In some embodiments, the bearing seat 131 includes a connecting structure, connecting the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 via the connecting structure. The connecting structure is detachable. For more information on the bearing seat 131 and its connecting structure, see Figures 17-21 and related content.

[0086] In some embodiments of this specification, the bearing seat 131 is configured to include a first bearing seat 1311 and a second bearing seat 1312 , so that the bearing seat 131 can be realized as a split structure, which facilitates the rapid disassembly and assembly of the bearing seat 131 to the bearing shell 120 .

[0087] In the embodiments of this specification, if the ball bearing 110, bearing housing 120, and bearing seat 131 are all configured as separate structures, the bearing assembly 100 can be quickly assembled and disassembled, improving the installation efficiency of the shaft structure 200 and reducing the installation time. The spherical connection between the ball bearing 110 and the bearing housing 120 allows the shaft structure 200 to be adjusted to a large deflection angle, ensuring that the photovoltaic panels on the shaft structure 200 can rotate synchronously toward the sun and adapt to the slope of sloping land, thereby increasing the applicability of the bearing assembly 100.

[0088] In some embodiments, the support structure 130 may further include a support seat 132. The support seat 132 is used to support the bearing seat 131. In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 1A-3, the first end of the support seat 132 supports the bearing seat 131, and the second end of the support seat 132 is connected to the column 300. The first end of the support seat 132 refers to the end of the support seat 132 closer to the bearing seat 131 along the Z direction, and the second end of the support seat 132 refers to the end of the support seat 132 farther away from the bearing seat 131 along the Z direction. Specifically, the first end of the support seat 132 is connected to the second bearing seat 1312. In some embodiments, the second end of the support seat 132 is connected to the column 300 via a position adjustment assembly. The position adjustment assembly adjusts the connection position of the support seat 132 and the column 300 along the Z direction. In other words, the position adjustment assembly adjusts the height of the support seat 132 on the column 300 along the Z direction. If there is an error in the height of the top of the column, the installation height of the support seat 132 can be fine-tuned to meet installation requirements. For more information about the support base 132 and its position adjustment assembly, please refer to Figures 22-24 and related content.

[0089] For easier understanding, the bearing device 100 will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0090] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of a second bearing portion according to some embodiments of the present specification.

[0091] As shown in FIG4 , the outer surface of the second bearing portion 112 includes a second convex spherical surface 1121. The second bearing portion 112 is provided with a mounting groove 1122. Referring to FIG6A , the opening of the mounting groove 1122 is opened toward the first bearing portion 111, and the opening of the mounting groove 1111 provided on the first bearing portion 111 is opened toward the second bearing portion 112. The mounting grooves 1122 are spliced ​​together to form a hole for accommodating the shaft structure 200. The shaft structure 200 is inserted into the mounting groove 1122 to achieve fixed installation of the shaft structure 200 relative to the ball bearing 110. It should be noted that the first bearing portion 111 has the same structure as the second bearing portion 112 shown in FIG4 . For example, the outer surface of the first bearing portion 111 can include a first convex spherical surface. Only the second bearing portion 112 is used as an example for explanation here.

[0092] In some embodiments, the shape of the mounting groove 1122 is adapted to the shape of the shaft structure 200. For example, the shaft structure 200 is configured as a square structure, and the mounting groove 1122 is configured as a square groove, so as to facilitate the installation of the shaft structure 200. In other embodiments, the shape of the mounting groove 1122, as well as the shape of the first bearing portion 111 or the second bearing portion 112, can also be changed according to the shape adaptability of the shaft structure 200, which will not be repeated here. In some embodiments, the second convex spherical surface 1121 of the second bearing portion 112 can be spliced ​​with the first convex spherical surface provided on the first bearing portion 111 to form a convex spherical surface, and the convex spherical surface is spherically matched with the concave spherical surface formed in the bearing shell 120 (refer to the relevant description of Figures 12-13) to achieve a spherical connection.

[0093] Because the shaft structure 200 is fixedly mounted relative to the ball bearing 110 and the ball bearing 110 and the bearing housing 120 are spherically mated, the ball bearing 110 can undergo spherical rotation within the bearing housing 120. Specifically, the axis of the ball bearing 110 and the axis of the bearing housing 120 can be offset at an angle, causing the shaft structure 200, which is fixed to the ball bearing 110, to undergo spherical rotation. In some embodiments, the size of the convex spherical surface of the ball bearing 110 and the size of the concave spherical surface of the bearing housing 120 can be adjusted as needed to adjust the range of spherical rotation of the ball bearing 110 within the bearing housing 120. The spherical rotation range referred to herein can be considered to be the range of angular offsets between the axis of the ball bearing 110 and the axis of the bearing housing 120. In some embodiments, the spherical rotation range of the ball bearing 110 within the bearing housing 120 is 0°-14°. In some embodiments, the spherical rotation range of the ball bearing 110 within the bearing housing 120 is 0°-12°. In some embodiments, the spherical rotation range of the ball bearing 110 within the bearing housing 120 is 0°-10°. In other embodiments, the spherical rotation range of the ball bearing 110 within the bearing housing 120 is 0°-16°. In other embodiments, the spherical rotation range of the ball bearing 110 within the bearing housing 120 is 0°-18°. In other embodiments, the spherical rotation range of the ball bearing 110 within the bearing housing 120 is 0°-20°.

[0094] In some embodiments, the ball bearing 110 is made of a plastic material, which facilitates the formation of a convex spherical surface on the outer surface of the ball bearing 110 by injection molding of a plastic mold, so as to improve the dimensional accuracy of the molding, thereby ensuring the rotational stability and reliability of the shaft structure 200. In some embodiments, grooves and / or reinforcing ribs are distributed on the first bearing portion 111 and / or the second bearing portion 112. Taking the second bearing portion 112 as an example, as shown in FIG5 , grooves 1123 and reinforcing ribs 1124 are distributed on the second bearing portion 112, and the grooves 1123 and / or reinforcing ribs 1124 can ensure the strength of the ball bearing 110. In some embodiments, the first bearing portion 111 and / or the second bearing portion 112 are provided with hollow grooves, which are conducive to reducing the weight of the ball bearing 110, realizing a lightweight design of the ball bearing 110, and thus reducing the cost of the ball bearing 110.

[0095] In some embodiments, the second bearing portion 112 can be a semi-annular structure with a spherical outer surface. Specifically, the ball bearing 110 can be regarded as a hollow sphere with an annular shape after both ends are cut off along the axial direction, and the first bearing portion 111 is a semi-annular structure with a spherical outer surface formed by radially cutting the ball bearing 110 itself, or at least a part of the semi-annular structure. The hollow part can form a mounting groove 1122, and the inner surface of the semi-annular structure forms the inner wall of the mounting groove 1122. In some embodiments, the curvature of the semi-annular structure is 180°, and the curvature range of the first bearing portion 111 can be 120°-180°. In other words, the semi-annular structure can be cut to reduce its curvature to form the second bearing portion 112 structure as shown in Figure 4. When the arc ranges of the second bearing portion 112 and the first bearing portion 111 are both within the range of 120°-180°, the first bearing portion 111 and the second bearing portion 112 are spliced ​​to form an incomplete annular structure with a spherical outer surface. When the ball bearing 110 is sleeved outside the shaft structure 200, there is a gap between the ends of the first bearing portion 111 located in the installation groove 1122 along the Y direction and the ends of the second bearing portion 112 located in the installation groove 1122 along the Y direction, and they cannot be closed at the same time. This ensures that the first bearing portion 111 and the second bearing portion 112 can be tightly wrapped around the outside of the shaft structure 200 under the pressure of the bearing shell 120, avoiding interference between the first bearing portion 111 and the second bearing portion 112 due to processing errors. The Y direction described in this specification is the left-right direction of the bearing device 100, which is perpendicular to the X direction and the Z direction.

[0096] In other embodiments, the first bearing portion 111 and the second bearing portion 112 can be connected by other technical means, so that the ball bearing 110 can be initially fixed to the shaft structure 200, rather than being fixed to the shaft structure 200 only by other components of the bearing device 100 (such as the bearing shell 120), thereby facilitating the installation of the ball bearing 110. In some embodiments, the first bearing portion 111 and the second bearing portion 112 can be connected by a connector. For example, the two ends of the first bearing portion 111 located in the mounting groove 1111 and the two ends of the second bearing portion 112 located in the mounting groove 1122 are connected by a hinge. For another example, the two ends of the first bearing portion 111 located in the mounting groove 1111 and the two ends of the second bearing portion 112 located in the mounting groove 1122 are connected by a snap fastener. In some embodiments, while adding the first bearing portion 111 and the second bearing portion 112 to connect and couple, to ensure that the ball bearing 110 can press against the shaft structure 200, as shown in FIG6A , the ends of the second bearing portion 112 located in the mounting groove 1122 are connected to the ends of the first bearing portion 111 located in the mounting groove 1111 by elastic members 113 (e.g., spring members, rubber members, etc.). Under the elastic force of the elastic members 113, the ball bearing 110 can be tightly wrapped around the outside of the shaft structure 200. In some embodiments, to enable the ball bearing 110 to accommodate shaft structures 200 of various outer diameters, as shown in FIG6B , the ball bearing 110 further includes a third bearing portion 114 and a fourth bearing portion 115. The third bearing portion 114 and the fourth bearing portion 115 are each provided with a mounting groove, which, together with the mounting grooves provided on the first bearing portion 111 and the second bearing portion 112, form an installation space for accommodating the shaft structure 200. The shaft structure 200 is inserted into the installation space. The first bearing portion 111, the second bearing portion 112, the third bearing portion 114, and the fourth bearing portion 115 are connected by an elastic member 113. In some embodiments, the first bearing portion 111, the second bearing portion 112, the third bearing portion 114, and the fourth bearing portion 115 are connected by multiple springs. Arranging the ball bearing 110 into multiple bearing portions and connecting them via springs can increase the elasticity of the ball bearing 110, allowing the ball bearing 110 to more tightly wrap around the shaft structure 200. It can also make the bearing device 100 adaptable to shaft structures 200 of varying specific dimensions within a certain size range.

[0097] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG6C or FIG11 , an elastic structure 116 is disposed within the mounting groove 1111 of the first bearing portion 111, and / or an elastic structure 116 (e.g., a spring, rubber, etc.) is disposed within the mounting groove 1122 of the second bearing portion 112. When the shaft structure 200 is mounted within the mounting groove, the elastic structure 116 abuts between the ball bearing 110 and the shaft structure 200. The elastic force of the elastic structure 116 is directed toward the shaft structure 200 mounted within the mounting groove, and the elastic force of the elastic structure 116 acts on both the ball bearing 110 and the shaft structure 200. To facilitate the installation of the ball bearing 110 within the shaft structure 200, the mounting groove may be slightly larger than the shaft structure 200. The elastic force of the elastic structure 116 can compress the ball bearing 110 against the shaft structure 200, preventing the shaft structure 200 from shaking within the mounting groove. On the other hand, the elastic force of the elastic structure 116 can cause the ball bearing 110 to press against the bearing housing 120 , thereby making the ball bearing 110 and the bearing housing 120 fit more closely.

[0098] In some embodiments, the elastic force of the elastic structure 116 is directed perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft structure 200. In some embodiments, one end of the elastic structure 116 is connected to the mounting slot, while the other end of the elastic structure 116 abuts the shaft structure 200. In some embodiments, a slot is provided within the mounting slot, and the elastic structure 116 is disposed within the slot. One end of the elastic structure 116 is connected to the inner wall of the slot, while the other end of the elastic structure 116 abuts the shaft structure 200. The slot may be a profiled groove 1123 or a separate groove provided for the elastic structure 116. The elastic structure 116 disposed within the slot prevents displacement of the elastic structure 116 under pressure from the ball bearing 110 and the shaft structure 200. When the elastic structure 116 is provided within the mounting slot, the shape of the mounting slot does not need to match the shape of the shaft structure 200. For example, if the shaft structure 200 is configured as a square and the mounting slot 1122 is configured as a circular slot, the mounting slot can still securely attach to the shaft structure 200 under the action of the elastic structure 116.

[0099] The shaft structure 200 is limitedly installed in the installation space formed by splicing the installation groove 1122 on the second bearing part 112 and the installation groove 1111 on the first bearing part 111, but the shaft structure 200 may be displaced relative to the ball bearing 110 along the X direction, affecting the stability between the bearing device 100 and the shaft structure 200. In some embodiments, a limiting structure can be set between the shaft structure 200 and the ball bearing 110 to limit the displacement of the shaft structure 200 relative to the ball bearing 110 along the X direction. For more description of the limiting structure, please refer to the relevant content about Figures 7A-7C. In some embodiments, an anti-slip structure can be set between the shaft structure 200 and the ball bearing 110 to increase the friction between the shaft structure 200 and the ball bearing 110, thereby avoiding displacement of the shaft structure 200 relative to the ball bearing 110, including displacement along the X direction. For more description of the anti-slip structure, please refer to the relevant content about Figures 8A-8B.

[0100] Figure 7A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second bearing portion according to some embodiments of this specification. Figure 7B is a schematic diagram of the structure of a shaft structure according to some embodiments of this specification. Figure 7C is a schematic diagram of the structure of a bearing device and a shaft structure according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0101] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 7A-7C, the limiting structure includes a boss 1125 and a limiting hole 210. The boss 1125 is provided within the mounting groove 1122 of the second bearing portion 112, and the limiting hole 210 is provided at a position on the shaft structure 200 corresponding to the second bearing portion 112. When the shaft structure 200 is installed in the mounting groove 1122, the boss 1125 engages with the limiting hole 210, limiting the displacement of the shaft structure 200 relative to the ball bearing 110 along the X-direction. In some embodiments, the boss 1125 is provided within the mounting groove 1122 of the second bearing portion 112, while the boss 1125 is also provided within the mounting groove of the first bearing portion 111. The limiting hole 210 is provided at a position on the shaft structure 200 corresponding to the first bearing portion 111. In other embodiments, the boss 1125 is provided within the mounting groove of either the second bearing portion 112 or the first bearing portion 111, and the limiting hole 210 is provided at a corresponding position on the shaft structure 200. The manner of providing the boss 1125 on the first bearing portion 111 is similar to the manner of providing the boss 1125 on the second bearing portion 112 shown in FIG. 7A , and only the second bearing portion 112 is used as an example for description herein.

[0102] In some embodiments, the boss 1125 can extend along the Z direction, and the limiting hole 210 also extends along the Z direction, so that the boss 1125 can be smoothly inserted into the limiting hole 210 when the shaft structure 200 and the ball bearing 110 are installed. In some embodiments, the boss 1125 can be a protruding shape of any shape, such as a cylinder, a prism, etc., and the limiting hole 210 is a deep hole adapted to the shape of the boss 1125. In some embodiments, a plurality of bosses 1125 are provided in the mounting groove 1122 of the second bearing portion 112, and the plurality of bosses 1125 are arranged along the X direction. The shaft structure 200 is correspondingly provided with a plurality of limiting holes 210, and the plurality of limiting holes 210 are arranged along the X direction. When the shaft structure 200 is installed in the mounting groove 1122, each boss 1125 is correspondingly inserted into each limiting hole 210, limiting the displacement of the shaft structure 200 relative to the ball bearing 110 along the X direction, thereby avoiding a single boss 1125 from being broken due to insufficient strength and failing to limit the displacement of the shaft structure 200 relative to the ball bearing 110 along the X direction.

[0103] Figure 8A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second bearing portion according to some embodiments of the present invention. Figure 8B is a schematic diagram of the structure of a bearing device and a shaft structure according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0104] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 8A and 8B, the anti-slip structure includes an anti-slip pad 1126. The anti-slip pad 1126 is laid in the mounting groove 1122 of the second bearing portion 112. When the shaft structure 200 is installed in the mounting groove 1122, the anti-slip pad 1126 increases the friction between the shaft structure 200 and the second bearing portion 112, preventing the shaft structure 200 from being displaced relative to the ball bearing 110 along the X direction. In some embodiments, while the anti-slip pad 1126 is provided in the mounting groove 1122 of the second bearing portion 112, the anti-slip pad 1126 is also provided in the mounting groove of the first bearing portion 111. In other embodiments, the anti-slip pad 1126 is provided in the mounting groove of the second bearing portion 112 or the first bearing portion 111. The method of providing the anti-slip pad 1126 on the first bearing portion 111 is similar to the method of providing the anti-slip pad 1126 on the second bearing portion 112 shown in Figure 8B. Here, only the second bearing portion 112 is used as an example for explanation.

[0105] In some embodiments, the anti-slip pad 1126 can be laid on each side surface within the mounting groove 1122 of the second bearing portion 112, or can be laid on at least one side surface within the mounting groove 1122 of the second bearing portion 112. In some embodiments, the anti-slip pad 1126 can be made of an anti-slip material such as rubber or silicone to ensure its own anti-slip properties. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG8A , the anti-slip pad 1126 includes a plurality of recesses 11261. When the shaft structure 200 is installed in the mounting groove 1122, the shaft structure 200 squeezes the recesses 11261 on the anti-slip pad 1126, causing the recesses 11261 to deform, which can significantly increase the friction between the shaft structure 200 and the second bearing portion 112. In some embodiments, the plurality of recesses 11261 on the anti-slip pad 1126 can be distributed in an array.

[0106] Figure 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a bearing housing according to some embodiments of the present specification. Figure 10A is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a bearing housing according to some embodiments of the present specification.

[0107] As shown in Figures 9 and 10A, the first bearing shell 121 is positioned above the second bearing shell 122 along the Z direction. The first bearing shell 121 is joined to the second bearing shell 122 via a positioning structure, achieving alignment between the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122, thereby enabling the bearing shell 120 to grip the ball bearing 110 from the outside. In some embodiments, the positioning structure includes an insert and a slot. One of the second bearing shell 122 and the first bearing shell 121 is provided with an insert, and the other is provided with a slot that mates with the insert. The insertion of the insert and the slot achieves positioning between the second bearing shell 122 and the first bearing shell 121. The structure of the insert and the slot can be seen in Figure 11 and related content.

[0108] FIG10B is a partial enlarged schematic diagram of point A in FIG10A .

[0109] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG10B , inserts 1211 are provided at both ends of the first bearing shell 121, facing the second bearing shell 122. Slots 1221 are provided at both ends of the second bearing shell 122, matching the structure and orientation of the inserts 1211. Inserts 1211 can be inserted into slots 1221. In some embodiments, inserts 1211 can be shaped like a bar, cylinder, triangle, or trapezoid, and slots 1221 can be shaped like a bar, cylinder, triangle, or trapezoid to match the shape of inserts 1211. It should be noted that the positions of slots 1221 and inserts 1211 can be interchanged, with slots 1221 being provided on the first bearing shell 121 and inserts 1211 being provided on the second bearing shell 122.

[0110] The positioning structure shown in the accompanying drawings is only one possible embodiment. In other embodiments, the positioning structure may include a wedge-shaped structure and a wedge-shaped groove. One of the second bearing shell 122 and the first bearing shell 121 is provided with a wedge-shaped structure, and the other is provided with a wedge-shaped groove that cooperates with the wedge-shaped structure. The cooperation between the wedge-shaped structure and the wedge-shaped groove achieves positioning between the second bearing shell 122 and the first bearing shell 121. In still other embodiments, the positioning structure may include a continuous inclined surface structure (e.g., a curved surface) or a continuous curved surface structure (e.g., a wavy surface). One of the second bearing shell 122 and the first bearing shell 121 is provided with a continuous inclined surface structure or a continuous curved surface structure, and the other is provided with a continuous inclined surface structure or a continuous curved surface structure that cooperates with the wedge-shaped structure to achieve positioning between the second bearing shell 122 and the first bearing shell 121.

[0111] In some embodiments, the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 can be tightly connected to achieve position limiting in a direction perpendicular to the Z direction, thereby improving transmission stability. In some embodiments, the fastening between the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 can be achieved by cooperating with the insert block 1211 and the slot 1221 as shown in FIG10B . The insert block 1211 has a structure that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom (along the Z direction), such as a trapezoidal structure or a triangular structure. The slot 1221 has a structure that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom (along the Z direction) that is compatible with the insert block 1211. The structural dimensions of the slot 1221 are slightly smaller than those of the insert block 1211 to ensure that the insert block 1211 can be fixed in the slot 1221 and is not easily removed, thereby achieving a tight connection between the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122.

[0112] In some embodiments, the positioning structure may include a sensing mechanism. When the first bearing housing 121 and the second bearing housing 122 are properly connected, the sensing mechanism may emit a sensing signal to indicate that the second bearing housing 121 and the second bearing housing 122 are properly connected. For example, the sensing mechanism may be connected to a sensing light or a speaker, so that the sensing light or speaker can emit a corresponding prompt based on the sensing signal.

[0113] In some embodiments, to prevent the connection strength between the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 from being insufficient, resulting in the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 falling off and increasing the difficulty of installing the bearing seat 131, the bearing shell 120 further includes a locking structure. The locking structure locks the spliced ​​first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 to ensure the connection strength between the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 11, the locking structure may include a screw structure or a bolt structure. For example, the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 are provided with connecting threaded holes, and the screw 123 is threadedly connected to the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122 through the connecting threaded holes to achieve a tight connection between the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122. In some embodiments, the locking structure may include a buckle and a snap ring. One of the second bearing shell 122 and the first bearing shell 121 is provided with a buckle, and the other is provided with a snap ring. The buckle and the snap ring are fastened to achieve a tight connection between the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122.

[0114] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second bearing shell according to some embodiments of the present specification. Figure 13 is a schematic top view of a second bearing shell according to some embodiments of the present specification.

[0115] As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the inner surface of the second bearing shell 122 is adapted to the outer surface of the second bearing portion 112, facilitating the second bearing shell 122 to press against the second bearing portion 112. The inner surface of the second bearing shell 122, adjacent to the second bearing portion 112, includes a second concave spherical surface 1222, which spherically mates with the second convex spherical surface on the outer surface of the second bearing portion 112.

[0116] In some embodiments, a mounting hole 1223 is provided through the second concave spherical surface 1222. Mounting hole 1223 is used to connect and install the bearing housing 120 to the bearing seat 131 via a fastener. In some embodiments, mounting hole 1223 is configured as a countersunk hole, and the countersunk depth of mounting hole 1223 can be set as needed. After the fastener is installed in mounting hole 1223, it will not affect the installation of ball bearing 110 in bearing housing 120 or interfere with the rotation of ball bearing 110. Exemplarily, the fastener is configured as a bolt, and the width of the countersunk hole is slightly larger than the size of the bolt end, thereby confining the bolt end in the countersunk hole and locking the position with a nut at the end of the bolt. In some embodiments, to facilitate installation of the fastener, mounting hole 1223 extends along the Z direction. In some embodiments, a first step 1224 extends on both sides of the outer surface of the second bearing housing 122 along the X direction. First step 1224 is used to achieve a position-limiting fit with the second bearing seat 1312. Regarding the connection and cooperation between the mounting hole 1223, the first step 1224 and the second bearing seat 1312, please refer to Figure 18 and related instructions.

[0117] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first bearing shell according to some embodiments of the present specification. Figure 15 is a schematic bottom view of a first bearing shell according to some embodiments of the present specification.

[0118] As shown in Figures 14 and 15, the inner surface of the first bearing shell 121 is adapted to the outer surface of the first bearing portion 111, facilitating the first bearing shell 121 to press against the first bearing portion 111. Furthermore, the first bearing shell 121 is adapted to the second bearing shell 122, facilitating the splicing of the first bearing shell 121 and the second bearing shell 122. The inner surface of the first bearing shell 121, adjacent to the first bearing portion 111, includes a first concave spherical surface 1212, which spherically mates with the first convex spherical surface on the outer surface of the first bearing portion 111. Specifically, when the first bearing shell 121 is inserted into the slot 1221 of the second bearing shell 122 via the insert 1211, the first concave spherical surface 1212 and the second concave spherical surface 1222 constitute the entire inner concave spherical surface of the bearing shell 120, thereby achieving a spherical connection with the ball bearing 110.

[0119] In some embodiments, second steps 1213 extend from both sides of the outer surface of the first bearing housing 121 along the X-direction (see FIG14 ). The second steps 1213 are configured to achieve position-limited engagement with the first bearing seat 1311. For details on the engagement between the second steps 1213 and the first bearing seat 1311, see FIG17 and the related description.

[0120] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 13 and 15, the second concave spherical surface 1222 and the first concave spherical surface 1212 are gradually closed inward on both sides along the X-direction, presenting a shrinking state. In this way, when the bearing shell 120 is spherically connected to the ball bearing 110, the bearing shell 120 can limit the ball bearing 110 within the entire concave spherical surface, preventing the ball bearing 110 from falling off during rotation.

[0121] In some embodiments, since the shaft structure 200 inevitably collides with the bearing housing 120 when rotating relative to the bearing housing 120, a barrier structure may be provided on the surface of the bearing housing 120 to increase the wear resistance of the bearing housing 120. In some embodiments, referring to FIG2 , a barrier structure is provided on the outer surface of the bearing housing 120 perpendicular to the X-direction. In some embodiments, the barrier structure includes a wear-resistant coating, a metal sheet, or a rubber member. For example, the metal sheet or rubber member is attached to the outer surface of the bearing housing 120 perpendicular to the X-direction to prevent direct collision between the shaft structure 200 and the bearing housing 120.

[0122] In some embodiments, the ball bearing 110 and the bearing housing 120 are both made of plastic material, so as to facilitate injection molding into a spherical surface through a plastic mold, thereby improving the dimensional accuracy of the molding and ensuring the rotational stability and reliability of the shaft structure 200.

[0123] In some embodiments, the bearing shell 120 is made of a plastic material, which facilitates the formation of a concave spherical surface on the inner surface of the bearing shell 120 by injection molding of a plastic mold, so as to improve the dimensional accuracy of the molding, thereby ensuring the rotational stability and reliability of the shaft structure 200. In some embodiments, on the bearing shell 120, the first bearing shell 121 and / or the second bearing portion 122 are provided with a reinforcement structure, and the reinforcement mechanism includes a groove and / or a reinforcing rib. Taking the second bearing portion 122 as an example, as shown in Figure 16, the second bearing portion 122 is provided with a groove and / or a reinforcing rib at the bottom along the Z direction, and the groove and / or the reinforcing rib can ensure the strength of the bearing shell 120. In some embodiments, the first bearing shell 121 and / or the second bearing portion 122 are provided with a hollow groove, which is conducive to reducing the weight of the bearing shell 120, realizing a lightweight design of the bearing shell 120, and thus reducing the cost of the bearing shell 120.

[0124] In some embodiments, after the bearing housing 120 fixes the ball bearing 110, the bearing seat 131 is sleeved on the outside of the bearing housing 120 to achieve fixed installation of the bearing housing 120 and the ball bearing 110. In some embodiments, the bearing seat 131 includes a first bearing seat 1311, a second bearing seat 1312 and a connecting structure, and the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 are connected by the connecting structure. In some embodiments, the connecting structure includes a bolt connection structure, and the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 are connected by bolts. In some embodiments, the connecting structure includes a snap connection structure, and the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 are connected by snaps. In some embodiments, the connecting structure includes a hook-shaped portion and a fixing portion.

[0125] Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first bearing seat according to some embodiments of this specification. Figure 18 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second bearing seat according to some embodiments of this specification. Figure 19 is a schematic top view of a second bearing seat according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0126] As shown in FIG17 , the first bearing seat 1311 is provided with a hook portion 13112. The second bearing seat 1312 is provided with a fixing portion, and the hook portion 13112 is hooked on the fixing portion to connect the first bearing seat 1311 with the second bearing seat 1312, thereby achieving splicing of the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312.

[0127] In some embodiments, the first bearing seat 1311 includes a second plate 13111. The second plate 13111 comprises an arc-shaped structure. The inner surface 131111 of the arc-shaped structure, which is located near the first bearing shell 121, is cylindrical and conforms to the outer surface of the first bearing shell 121 near the first bearing seat 1311. This facilitates the first bearing seat 1311 to press against the first bearing shell 121, ensuring the stable installation of the bearing shell 120 within the bearing seat 131. In some embodiments, hook-shaped portions 13112 extend from both ends of the second plate 13111 and are bent away from each other. An opening is formed between the top end of the hook 13112 in the Z direction and the second plate 13111.

[0128] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 18 and 19 , the second bearing seat 1312 includes a first plate 13121 and side plates (a first side plate 13122 and a second side plate 13123 ). The first plate 13121 is used to support the bearing housing 120 . The side plates extend from the sides of the first plate 13121 along the Z direction.

[0129] In some embodiments, the fixing portion is provided on the side panel. In some embodiments, the fixing portion includes a hook-shaped structure similar to the structure of the hook-shaped portion 13112. For example, the end portion of the side panel extends and bends backward to form a hook-shaped structure. The hook-shaped portion 13112 on the first bearing seat 1311 and the hook-shaped structure on the side panel interlock with each other to achieve a detachable connection between the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312. In some embodiments, the fixing portion includes a rod, which is fixed to the side panel, and the rod on the side panel passes through the opening of the hook-shaped portion 13112 on the first bearing seat 1311, so that the hook-shaped portion 13112 is hooked on the rod of the fixing portion, thereby achieving a detachable connection between the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312.

[0130] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 18 and 19, the side plate includes a first side plate 13122 and a second side plate 13123, and the first side plate 13122 and the second side plate 13123 are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the first plate body 13121 in the X direction (axial direction). The first side plate 13122 and the second side plate 13123 are correspondingly provided with fixing holes 13124, and the fixing holes 13124 are used to install the fixing part. Exemplarily, the fixing part, for example, includes a bolt. When installing the first bearing seat 1311, its hook-shaped portion 13112 is placed between the first side plate 13122 and the second side plate 13123, so that the opening of the hook-shaped portion 13112 is connected to the fixing holes 13124 on the first side plate 13122 and the second side plate 13123. After the bolt passes through the fixing hole 13124 on one side, the opening of the hook portion 13112 and the fixing hole 13124 on the other side in sequence, it is locked by a nut, so that the first bearing seat 1311 can be limited and fixed in the second bearing seat 1312.

[0131] In some embodiments of the present specification, a hook-shaped portion 13112 is provided on the first bearing seat 1311, and the fixing portion on the second bearing seat 1312 limits and fixes the first bearing seat 1311 in the second bearing seat 1312 through the hook-shaped portion 13112, thereby realizing a detachable connection between the two, and the provision of the hook-shaped portion 13112 facilitates the quick installation of the fixing portion.

[0132] In some embodiments, to enhance the structural strength of the hook-shaped portion 13112, a reinforcing rib is connected between the hook-shaped portion 13112 and the second plate 13111. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG20 , one end of the reinforcing rib 13113 is connected to the second plate 13111, and the opposite end of the reinforcing rib 13113 is connected to the hook-shaped portion 13112. Specifically, the opposite end of the reinforcing rib 13113 is connected to the hook tip 131121 of the hook-shaped portion 13112. The hook tip 131121 refers to the end of the hook-shaped portion 13112 away from the second plate 13111 along its bent extension direction.

[0133] In some embodiments, when the hook portion 13112 is hooked on the fixed portion, the first bearing seat 1311 may be displaced upward along the Z direction by external force, and the hook portion 13112 may be folded outward and downward by the force, resulting in failure of the connection between the hook portion 13112 and the fixed portion. In order to avoid this situation, the connection structure between the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 includes a baffle, which is arranged on the outside of the hook portion 13112, that is, close to the hook tip 131121 of the hook portion 13112. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG21 , a baffle 13126 is disposed on the first side plate 13122 and the second side plate 13123 and is located on the outer sides of the first side plate 13122 and the second side plate 13123 along the Y direction. When the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 are connected, the baffle 13126 is positioned close to the hook tip 131121 of the hook portion 13112, thereby limiting the hook tip 131121 from the outer side, thereby preventing the hook portion 13112 from folding outward and downward under force. In some embodiments, when the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 are connected, the baffle 13126 is disposed approximately parallel to the hook tip 131121 of the hook portion 13112. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG21 , baffles 13126 may be disposed on both sides of the first side plate 13122 and the second side plate 13123 along the Y direction. In some embodiments, the baffle 13126 on the same side of the first side plate 13122 and the second side plate 13123 along the Y direction can be an integrated structure, that is, the two sides of the baffle 13126 are respectively connected to the first side plate 13122 and the second side plate 13123. The baffle 13126 set in this way can enhance the structural strength of the second bearing seat 1312 itself.

[0134] In some embodiments, a pressure sensing mechanism 13127 is provided on the side of the baffle 13126 facing the hook tip 131121 of the hook portion 13112. The pressure sensing mechanism 13127 can be used to sense the pressure exerted by the hook portion 1311 on the baffle 13126. When the pressure sensed by the pressure sensing mechanism 13127 exceeds a set threshold, a prompt can be issued, such as by lighting a light or emitting a buzzer, to facilitate timely adjustment or strengthening of the connection between the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312, thereby preventing failure of the connection between the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312.

[0135] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG18 , the structural shape of the first plate 13121 adapts to the bottom structural shape of the second bearing shell 122 along the Z direction (see FIG12 ). When the second bearing shell 122 is installed on the second bearing seat 1312, the second bearing shell 122 is placed between the first side plate 13122 and the second side plate 13123 of the second bearing seat 1312. The first steps 1224 on either side of the second bearing shell 122 respectively abut against the first side plate 13122 and the second side plate 13123 (see FIG1A ). The a-surfaces of the first steps 1224 (as shown in FIG12 ) abut against the side plates, thereby confining the main portion of the second bearing shell 122 located between the first steps 1224 on either side between the first side plate 13122 and the second side plate 13123, thereby limiting the axial position (i.e., the X direction) of the second bearing shell 122 on the second bearing seat 1312.

[0136] In some embodiments, a connecting hole 13125 is provided on the first plate body 13121, and the second bearing shell 122 is installed on the first plate body 13121 of the second bearing seat 1312, and is clamped between the first side plate 13122 and the second side plate 13123. At this time, the mounting hole 1223 on the second bearing shell 122 passes through the connecting hole 13125, and the fasteners pass through the mounting hole 1223 and the connecting hole 13125 in sequence to install the second bearing shell 122 on the first plate body 13121.

[0137] 17 , the first bearing seat 1311 includes a first limiting rib 13113 and a second limiting rib 13114. The first limiting rib 13113 and the second limiting rib 13114 are respectively provided on opposite sides in the X-direction (axial direction) and are used to limit the first bearing housing 121 and prevent it from being separated from the bearing seat 131. In some embodiments, the first limiting rib 13113 and the second limiting rib 13114 are respectively bent outwardly and extend from opposite sides of the second plate 13111 along the axial direction. As shown in Figure 1A, when the first bearing seat 1311 is sleeved on the outside of the first bearing shell 121, the second step 1213 on the first bearing shell 121 is limited between the first limiting rib 13113 and the second limiting rib 13114, and the b surface of the second step 1213 (see Figure 14) abuts against the first limiting rib 13113 and the second limiting rib 13114, thereby realizing axial limitation of the first bearing shell 121 and the first bearing seat 1311.

[0138] In some embodiments, the second bearing seat 1312 and the first bearing seat 1311 are both made of metal materials (such as sheet metal) to ensure the structural strength of the second bearing seat 1312 and the first bearing seat 1311, thereby ensuring the stable installation of the bearing seat 131 on the ball bearing 110 and the bearing shell 120.

[0139] In some embodiments of the present specification, the axial movement of the bearing shell 120 is limited by the first limiting rib 13113, the second limiting rib 13114, the first side plate 13122 and the second side plate 13123, and the radial (i.e., Y and Z directions) movement of the first bearing seat 1311 and the second bearing seat 1312 can be limited by the setting of the fixing portion in the hook-shaped portion 13112, thereby ensuring the overall installation stability of the bearing device 100, and further ensuring the transmission stability of the ball bearing 110, and the smoothness and stability of the shaft structure 200 during angle adjustment.

[0140] In some embodiments, one or more of the first limiting rib 13113, the second limiting rib 13114, the first side panel 13122, and the second side panel 13123 are retractable. For example, if the first limiting rib 13113 and the second limiting rib 13114 are retractable, the height of the first limiting rib 13113 and / or the second limiting rib 13114 relative to the second panel is adjustable. For example, the first limiting rib 13113 and / or the second limiting rib 13114 may themselves be retractable panels; or, in another example, the first limiting rib 13113 and / or the second limiting rib 13114 may be retractable relative to the second panel 13111, and their heights may be locked after retraction. The retractable configuration of the first side panel 13122 and the second side panel 13123 is similar to that of the first limiting rib 13113 and the second limiting rib 13114, and will not be further described here. By setting one or more of the first limiting edge 13113, the second limiting edge 13114, the first side panel 13122 and the second side panel 13123 to be retractable, the retractable components can be retracted during the installation process and then extended after the installation is completed, thereby avoiding interference between the components during the installation process and making the installation more convenient.

[0141] Figure 22 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the support seat according to some embodiments of this specification. Figure 23 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the support seat, second bearing seat, and second bearing shell installed according to some embodiments of this specification. Figure 24 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the support seat, second bearing seat, and second bearing shell installed on the column according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0142] As shown in Figures 22-24, the support base 132 includes a support plate 1321 and a connecting plate 1322. The support plate 1321 is connected to the second bearing base 1312, and the connecting plate 1322 is connected to the column 300. In some embodiments, the two connecting plates 1322 are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the support plate 1321 along the Y direction, and the two connecting plates 1322 are perpendicular to the support plate 1321. In some embodiments, the support plate 1321 and the connecting plate 1322 can be provided as an integral structure.

[0143] In some embodiments, the support seat 132 and the second bearing seat 1312 are connected via a fastening structure. The fastening structure includes a waist-shaped hole provided on the support seat 132 and a fastener that engages with the waist-shaped hole. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG22 , a waist-shaped hole 1323 is provided on the support plate 1321, and the support plate 1321 is connected to the second bearing seat 1312 via the waist-shaped hole 1323. In some embodiments, the support plate 1321 is provided with waist-shaped holes 1323 along the Y direction, and the waist-shaped holes 1323 extend along the Y direction to have a certain length. In some embodiments, the second bearing housing 122 and the second bearing seat 1312 are fixed to the support seat 132 via fasteners. Specifically, as shown in FIG23 , the fasteners are sequentially passed through the mounting hole 1223, the connection hole 13125, and the waist-shaped hole 1323, and then fastened with a nut below the support seat 132. This allows the second bearing seat 1312 and the second bearing housing 122 to be mounted together on the support seat 132, facilitating assembly and disassembly operations. Since the waist-shaped hole 1323 extends in the Y direction and has a certain length, the fastener can drive the second bearing seat 1312 and the second bearing shell 122 to move along the length direction of the waist-shaped hole 1323, that is, the Y direction, in the waist-shaped hole 1323. For example, when the shaft structure 200 is placed along the X direction, the waist-shaped hole 1323 extends along the Y direction. Through the waist-shaped hole 1323, the bearing seat 131, the bearing shell 120, the ball bearing 110 and the shaft structure 200 can be adjusted along the Y direction to adapt to the construction position error of the column 300. In some embodiments, the number of waist-shaped holes 1323 can be multiple, and the multiple waist-shaped holes 1323 are arranged along the Y direction. This facilitates the adjustment of the second bearing seat 1312 along the Y direction when it is installed on the support plate 1321, thereby achieving fine-tuning of the displacement of the shaft structure 200 in the Y direction to adapt to the construction position error of the column 300.

[0144] In some embodiments, the support plate 1321 is provided with a first flange 13211. Specifically, the support plate 1321 has first flanges 13211 extending from both sides along the X direction away from the connecting plate 1322 to improve structural rigidity.

[0145] In some embodiments, the connecting plate 1322 is connected to the column 300 through a position adjustment assembly. In some embodiments, the position adjustment assembly includes a bolt and a locking hole 1324. For example, the connecting plate 1322 is provided with a locking hole 1324, and the bolt is passed through the locking hole 1324 to install the connecting plate 1322 on the column 300. In some embodiments, a plurality of locking holes 1324 are provided at intervals on the connecting plate 1322, with every two locking holes 1324 being provided as a group, and multiple groups of locking holes 1324 are provided at intervals along the connecting plate 1322. As shown in FIG24 , there are eight groups of locking holes 1324. After the bolts pass through the locking holes 1324, the support base 132 can be fixed to the column 300, and the connection height of the support base 132 can be adjusted as needed, thereby achieving adjustment of the shaft structure 200 relative to different heights of the ground to accommodate the position error of the pile foundation so that it is suitable for installation on slopes.

[0146] In some embodiments, the connecting plate 1322 is provided with a second flange 13221. Specifically, the connecting plate 1322 has a second flange 13221 extending from both sides along the X direction away from the column 300 to improve structural rigidity.

[0147] In some embodiments, the support seat 132 is made of metal material to ensure the structural strength of the support seat 132 , thereby ensuring that the support seat 132 stably supports the bearing seat 131 .

[0148] FIG25 is a schematic structural diagram of a photovoltaic tracking bracket according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0149] As shown in FIG. 25 , the photovoltaic tracking bracket includes the bearing device 100 described in the various embodiments above, and also includes an axis structure 200 and a column 300 .

[0150] In some embodiments, the bearing device 100 is mounted on the column 300 and is arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the column 300. The shaft structure 200 is passed through several bearing devices 100 to achieve multi-point support to ensure stability in use. In some embodiments, multiple columns 300 are placed on the ground in sequence at intervals (for example, at different heights on a slope). When the ground is a slope, the shaft structure 200 adapts to the slope of the slope under the rotation effect of the bearing device 100 to ensure stable support of the photovoltaic panel. Exemplarily, multiple columns 300 are arranged along the X direction so that the shaft structure 200 is also placed along the X direction after installation to ensure that the photovoltaic panel is placed facing the sun and can rotate in the Y direction.

[0151] In some embodiments, the support seat 132 is adjustably connected to the column 300, and the bearing seat 131 is installed on the support seat 132 through the waist-shaped hole 1323 and fasteners. The bearing seat 131 is sleeved on the outside of the bearing shell 120, and the bearing shell 120 is sleeved on the outside of the ball bearing 110. The ball bearing 110 is sleeved on the outside of the axis structure 200 of the photovoltaic tracking bracket, and the bearing shell 120 and the ball bearing 110 are connected through a spherical surface, so as to realize multi-angle rotation and deflection of the axis structure 200 on the photovoltaic tracking bracket, which is better adapted to the installation of photovoltaic panels on slopes. When the column 300 is set along the Z direction and the shaft structure 200 is placed along the X direction, the support seat 132 can be adjusted in position along the vertical Z direction, and the waist-shaped hole 1323 of the support seat 132 can be used to fine-tune the position of the bearing seat 131, the bearing shell 120, the ball bearing 110 and the shaft structure 200 on the support seat 132 along the Y direction, thereby increasing the position change range of the shaft structure 200 and improving the installation adaptability and structural stability of the shaft structure 200.

[0152] In some embodiments, to enable the bearing assemblies 100 mounted on the columns 300 to be arranged in a straight line along the X-direction for erecting the shaft structure 200, the photovoltaic tracking bracket includes an auxiliary mounting device 10 to assist in the linear installation of the bearing assemblies 100. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG26 , the auxiliary mounting device 10 includes a positioning assembly 11, which is used to determine the position information of each bearing assembly 100. The position information reflects the location of the reference point of each bearing assembly 100 within the plurality of bearing assemblies 100, thereby determining whether the reference points of each bearing assembly 100 are located in a straight line. In some embodiments, the position information may be the coordinates of the reference point of each bearing assembly 100. In other embodiments, the position information may be the distance between the reference point of each bearing assembly 100 and the reference point in different directions. The reference point herein may be a fixed point on each bearing assembly 100. The reference point may be the target location of the reference point of each bearing assembly 100 when the bearing assemblies 100 are arranged in a straight line. In some embodiments, the reference point of each bearing assembly 100 may be determined based on the center point of its ball bearing, or may be selected as needed. The reference point on each bearing assembly 100 is determined based on design-related parameters. For example, the design-related parameters may include the ground slope, the target position (e.g., height) of the shaft structure 200, and the target horizontal and vertical positions of each bearing assembly. As an example only, a straight line may be fitted based on the position information of the reference points of each bearing assembly 100, and the reference point is determined based on this fitted line.

[0153] In some embodiments, the positioning assembly may include a laser tracker, which may include a processing mechanism and a target. The processing device may determine the three-dimensional coordinates of the target's location. A target may be placed at the reference point of each bearing assembly 100, and the target's position may be tracked by the laser tracker to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of the reference point of each bearing assembly 100. In other embodiments, the positioning assembly may further include a photographic mechanism that may photograph multiple columns and multiple bearing assemblies to determine the coordinates of the reference point of each bearing assembly.

[0154] In some embodiments, the position information is electronic information and can be transmitted to an electronic device with a display screen, such as a tablet or mobile phone. For example, when the position information includes the coordinates of the reference point of each bearing assembly 100, the display screen can display the position and coordinates of the reference point of each bearing assembly 100. For another example, when the position information includes the distance in different directions between the reference point of each bearing assembly 100 and the reference point, the display screen can display the direction and distance that each bearing assembly 100 needs to move.

[0155] In some embodiments, the auxiliary installation device 10 also includes a drive component 12 and a controller 13. The drive component 12 and the positioning component 11 are both connected to the controller 13. The controller 13 controls the drive component 12 to drive the preset components of the bearing device 100 (such as the bearing seat 131, the support seat 132, etc.) to move in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, that is, to move in the Z direction and / or the Y direction based on the position information transmitted by the positioning component 11. In some embodiments, the drive component 12 includes a plurality of drive mechanisms, and the plurality of drive mechanisms are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of bearing devices. Based on the position information transmitted by the positioning component 11, the controller 13 controls at least one drive mechanism corresponding to the positioning component 11 to drive the preset components of the bearing device 100 to move in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. In some embodiments, the controller 13 can control the drive mechanism to drive the support seat 132 of the bearing device 100 to move relative to the column 300 along the Z direction. Among them, the drive mechanism can be a motor, a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, etc. At this point, there is no secure connection between the support seat 132 and the column 300. This secure connection can be achieved after the drive mechanism is adjusted. In some embodiments, the controller 13 can control the drive mechanism to drive the bearing seat 131 of the bearing device 100 to move relative to the support seat 132 along the Y direction. At this point, there is no secure connection between the bearing seat 131 and the support seat 132. This secure connection can be achieved after the drive mechanism is adjusted.

[0156] FIG27 is a flow chart of a method for installing a photovoltaic tracking bracket according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0157] The photovoltaic tracking bracket installation method 20 is used to install the shaft structure on the column through multiple bearing devices. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 27, the photovoltaic tracking bracket installation method 20 includes the following steps.

[0158] 21. Set the columns at intervals along the preset direction.

[0159] In some embodiments, there are multiple columns, and the columns are spaced apart along a preset direction. The preset direction can be any direction, for example, the X direction as shown in Figure 25 . In some embodiments, the columns are arranged to extend along another preset direction. The other preset direction can be any direction different from the preset direction, such as the Z direction as shown in Figure 25 . It should be noted that the X direction shown in Figure 25 also represents the north-south direction, the Z direction also represents the vertical direction, and the Y direction also represents the east-west direction.

[0160] 22. Install at least part of the bearing assembly onto the top of the column.

[0161] In some embodiments, there are multiple bearing devices, and the bearing devices are installed in a one-to-one correspondence with the columns. In some embodiments, at least part of the bearing device includes at least part of the support structure, at least part of the bearing shell, and at least part of the bearing device of the ball bearing. In some embodiments, the bearing device includes a support structure, a bearing shell, and a ball bearing, and the support structure includes a support seat and a bearing seat. The ball bearing, the bearing shell, and the bearing seat are all arranged as split structures, the ball bearing includes a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion; the bearing seat includes a first bearing seat and a second bearing seat; and the bearing shell includes a first bearing shell and a second bearing shell. In some embodiments, the second bearing seat, the second bearing shell, and the second bearing portion are placed in sequence on the top of the column, and pre-installed to the top of the column through fasteners and the support seat.

[0162] 23. Adjust the axial position of the support structure with respect to the column and / or the relative positions of different components in the support structure.

[0163] In some embodiments, the support seat includes a support plate and a connecting plate, and the second bearing seat, the second bearing shell and the second bearing portion are installed on the support plate through fasteners and waist-shaped holes, and the connecting plate is connected to the column through a position adjustment component. In some embodiments, the position of the support seat relative to the column in the axial direction of the column (i.e., the Z direction) can be adjusted by the position adjustment component. In some embodiments, the position of the bearing seat relative to the support seat can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the fastener in the waist-shaped hole. In some embodiments, the waist-shaped hole extends along the Y direction, and the bearing seat, bearing shell, ball bearing and the shaft structure as a whole can be adjusted along the Y direction through the waist-shaped hole. In some embodiments, the position of the support seat on the column and the relative angle between the bearing shell and the ball bearing are adjusted so that the shaft structure can be adaptively adjusted to follow the slope angle, and then the fasteners are locked.

[0164] 24. Install the shaft structure into the ball bearing.

[0165] In some embodiments, the shaft structure is mounted on the second bearing portion, and the first bearing portion is mounted on the shaft structure so that the ball bearing is sleeved outside the shaft structure. In some embodiments, the shaft structure is placed on the second bearing portion along the X direction.

[0166] 25. Install other components of the support structure and other components of the bearing housing onto at least part of the bearing assembly.

[0167] In some embodiments, the first bearing shell is mounted outside the first bearing portion and then mounted on the second bearing shell, so that the bearing shell is sleeved outside the ball bearing and a spherical connection is achieved between the bearing shell and the ball bearing. In some embodiments, the first bearing shell is mounted on the second bearing shell using an insert and a slot in the bearing shell.

[0168] In some embodiments, the first bearing seat is mounted outside the first bearing housing and connected to the second bearing seat via a connecting structure, so that the bearing seat is sleeved outside the bearing housing. In some embodiments, the hook portion of the first bearing seat is hooked with the fixing portion of the second bearing seat to retain the first bearing seat on the second bearing seat.

[0169] In some embodiments of this specification, the installation convenience and efficiency of the shaft structure can be greatly improved through the split design of the bearing device from the inside out, and the spherical fit between the ball bearing and the bearing shell can improve the angle adjustment function of the entire device to meet the use requirements of photovoltaic panels on slopes. In addition, the ball bearing and the bearing shell are both made of plastic materials, which can ensure the accuracy of their spherical dimensions and ensure the stability and reliability of the shaft structure during rotation. In some other embodiments of this specification, the bearing shell is connected by plug-in blocks and slots to connect and guide the second bearing shell and the first bearing shell, and ensure the spherical overlap of the first concave spherical surface and the second concave spherical surface, thereby reducing the jamming problem caused by the non-concentricity of the spherical surfaces, and under the multiple supports of the bearing seat and the bearing shell, it can ensure the stable support of the bearing shell, thereby ensuring the stability of the angle adjustment of the shaft structure.

[0170] While the basic concepts have been described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the detailed disclosure is merely illustrative and does not limit this specification. Although not explicitly stated herein, various modifications, improvements, and revisions to this specification may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modifications, improvements, and revisions are suggested in this specification and remain within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of this specification.

Claims

1. A bearing device, characterized in that: It includes a supporting structure, a bearing shell and a ball bearing; the supporting structure supports the bearing shell; the bearing shell is sleeved outside the ball bearing, the ball bearing is sleeved outside the shaft structure, and the outer surface of the ball bearing and the inner surface of the bearing shell are spherically matched.

2. The bearing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bearing shell includes a first bearing shell, a second bearing shell and a positioning structure, and the first bearing shell and the second bearing shell are spliced ​​by the positioning structure.

3. The bearing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bearing shell further comprises a locking structure, which locks the spliced ​​first bearing shell and the second bearing shell.

4. The bearing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ball bearing includes a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion. The first bearing portion and / or the second bearing portion are provided with a mounting groove. The first bearing portion and the second bearing portion can be spliced ​​so that the mounting groove forms an installation space for installing the shaft structure.

5. The bearing device according to claim 4, characterized in that: An elastic member is arranged in the installation groove, and the elastic structure abuts between the ball bearing and the shaft structure.

6. The bearing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bearing shell is provided with a reinforcement structure, and the reinforcement mechanism includes a groove and / or a reinforcement rib.

7. The bearing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The support structure also includes a bearing seat, which is sleeved outside the bearing shell. The bearing seat includes a first bearing seat, a second bearing seat and a connecting structure, and the first bearing seat and the second bearing seat are connected by the connecting structure.

8. The bearing device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The connection structure includes a hook-shaped portion and a fixing portion, the hook-shaped portion is arranged on the first bearing seat, and the fixing portion is arranged on the second bearing seat; the hook-shaped portion is hooked on the fixing portion.

9. The bearing device according to claim 8, characterized in that The connection structure also includes a baffle, which is arranged on the second bearing seat and located on a side close to the hook tip of the hook-shaped portion.

10. The bearing device according to claim 9, characterized in that A pressure sensing mechanism is provided on one side of the baffle plate facing the hook tip of the hook-shaped portion.

11. The bearing device according to claim 10, characterized in that The second bearing seat includes a first plate body and a side plate. The first plate body supports the bearing shell, and the fixing portion is connected to the side plate.

12. The bearing device according to claim 11, characterized in that The side plate includes a first side plate and a second side plate, and the first side plate and the second side plate are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the first plate body in the axial direction of the bearing device; a first step is arranged on the outer surface of the bearing shell, and the first step is limited between the first side plate and the second side plate.

13. The bearing device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first bearing seat includes a second plate body, a first limit rib and a second limit rib, and the first limit rib and the second limit rib are respectively arranged on the second plate body on opposite sides of the axial direction of the bearing device; the outer surface of the bearing shell is provided with a second step, and the second step is limited between the first limit rib and the second limit rib.

14. The bearing device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The support structure also includes a support seat, which supports the bearing seat, and the support seat is connected to the column through a position adjustment component.

15. The bearing device according to claim 14, characterized in that The support seat and the bearing seat are connected via a fastening structure; The fastening structure comprises a waist-shaped hole provided on the support seat and the fastener matched with the waist-shaped hole; The fastener can move along the length direction of the waist-shaped hole to adjust the fixed position of the bearing seat relative to the support seat.

16. The bearing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A barrier structure is provided on the outer surface of the bearing shell, and the barrier structure is separated between the shaft structure and the bearing shell.

17. The bearing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ball bearing and the bearing shell are made of plastic, and the support structure is made of metal.

18. The bearing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A limiting structure is provided between the ball bearing and the shaft structure.

19. The bearing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: An anti-slip structure is provided between the ball bearing and the shaft structure.

20. A method for installing a photovoltaic tracking bracket, characterized in that: The installation method installs the shaft structure on the column through multiple bearing devices; there are multiple columns, and the bearing devices are arranged one by one corresponding to the columns; the bearing device includes a support structure, a bearing shell and a ball bearing; the bearing shell is sleeved outside the ball bearing, and the ball bearing is sleeved outside the shaft structure, and the outer surface of the ball bearing and the inner surface of the bearing shell are spherically matched; The installation method comprises the following steps: The columns are arranged at intervals along a preset direction; Mounting at least part of the bearing device to the top of the column; at least part of the bearing device includes at least part of the support structure, at least part of the bearing shell and at least part of the ball bearing; Adjusting the axial position of the support structure with respect to the column, and / or the relative positions of different components in the support structure; installing the shaft structure into the ball bearing; The other parts of the support structure and the other parts of the bearing shell are mounted on at least part of the parts of the bearing device.

21. The installation method according to claim 20, characterized in that: The bearing shell includes a first bearing shell and a second bearing shell, and the ball bearing includes a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion; the support structure also includes a bearing seat and a support seat, the support seat supports the bearing seat, the bearing seat is sleeved outside the bearing shell, and the bearing seat includes a first bearing seat, a second bearing seat and a connecting structure; the support seat is connected to the top end of the column through a position adjustment component; Mounting at least part of the bearing device to the top of the column includes: Installing the second bearing seat, the second bearing shell and the second bearing portion to the top end of the column; Adjusting the position of the support structure in the axial direction of the column and / or the relative positions of different components in the support structure includes: Adjusting the position of the support seat relative to the column in the axial direction of the column by means of a position adjustment component, and / or adjusting the position of the bearing seat relative to the support seat; Installing the shaft structure into the ball bearing comprises: The shaft structure is mounted on the second bearing portion, and the first bearing portion is mounted on the shaft structure, so that the ball bearing is sleeved outside the shaft structure: Mounting other components of the support structure and other components of the bearing shell to at least part of the bearing device comprises: The first bearing shell is mounted on the second bearing shell, and the first bearing seat is connected to the second bearing seat via a connecting structure.

22. A photovoltaic tracking bracket, characterized in that: A bearing device comprising any one of claims 1-19.

23. The photovoltaic tracking bracket according to claim 22, characterized in that: The photovoltaic tracking bracket comprises a plurality of bearing devices, a plurality of columns, an axis structure and an auxiliary installation device; the plurality of columns are arranged at intervals along a preset direction; the plurality of bearing devices and the plurality of columns are arranged in one-to-one correspondence; The auxiliary installation device includes a positioning assembly; the positioning mechanism is used to determine the position information of each of the bearing devices; the position information is used to reflect the position of the reference point of each of the multiple bearing devices.

24. The photovoltaic tracking bracket according to claim 23, characterized in that: The auxiliary installation device comprises a driving assembly and a controller; the driving assembly comprises a plurality of driving mechanisms, and the plurality of driving mechanisms are arranged one by one corresponding to the plurality of bearing devices; the driving assembly and the positioning mechanism are both connected to the controller; The positioning mechanism is used to determine the position information of each bearing device; The controller controls at least one of the drive mechanisms of the drive assembly to drive the bearing device based on the position information. The component is assumed to move in a direction perpendicular to the shaft structure.

Images