Bearing unit, in particular pedestal bearing, for a solar tracking shaft and solar tracking device equipped therewith

Abstract

The invention relates to a bearing unit, in particular a multi-part pedestal bearing (1), for pivotably mounting, in particular, a solar tracking shaft for solar modules. The bearing cup (3) is slide-mounted in the bearing housing (2) without requiring maintenance and forms a spherical bearing in order to compensate for alignment errors of the shaft axis. According to the invention, the bearing unit (1) has at least one pivot angle limiter (8, 9), which is formed by the bearing housing (2) and the bearing cup (3), for limiting the pivot angle of the bearing cup about the bearing axis (A) in the bearing housing (2) to a predetermined angle (α).

Description

[0001] Bearing unit, in particular pillow block bearing, for a solar tracking shaft and solar tracking device equipped therewith

[0002] The invention generally relates to a bearing unit, in particular a pedestal bearing, for pivotably supporting a shaft, in particular a solar tracking shaft for solar modules. Accordingly, the invention also relates to a solar tracking device (Engi, solar tracker installation) comprising at least one such bearing unit.

[0003] A generic bearing unit has as bearing components a preferably multi-part bearing housing and a bearing spherical cap arranged in the bearing housing with a holder for a shaft, e.g. for a solar tracking shaft. The bearing housing is thus a first of the bearing components, the bearing spherical cap a second of the bearing components, and the bearing components interact to provide the functional properties of the bearing unit as explained here. The bearing spherical cap has a substantially spherical outer surface and the bearing housing has a bearing surface complementary to the outer surface of the bearing spherical cap for the spherically pivotable mounting of the bearing spherical cap. The spherical bearing shape enables angular compensation. In this way, bearing units of the generic type can automatically compensate for misalignments, misalignments and / or deflections of the shaft (hereinafter generally referred to as: compensation of misalignments).This is particularly but not only advantageous for solar tracking systems, e.g. when installed on uneven ground.

[0004] Solar energy is used worldwide and is enjoying increasing popularity in the generation of renewable energy. Solar systems are defined above as both photovoltaic (PV) systems for electricity generation and concentrated solar power (CSP) systems for solar thermal energy generation. The term "solar modules" therefore encompasses PV panels as well as CSP reflector modules, for example.

[0005] A widespread approach, particularly for optimizing the efficiency of PV solar systems, is solar tracking (Engi, solar tracking). This involves aligning solar modules, such as PV panels, to follow the sun's path. The solar modules are tilted via a pivoting solar tracking shaft according to the changing angle of incidence with the sun's path in order to optimize efficiency. Especially for such systems, it is desirable to have access to robust and low-maintenance mounting mechanisms for the solar module tracking system.

[0006] A known solar tracking system with low-maintenance pillow block bearings is described in patent EP 2 735 817 B1. The pillow block bearings described therein are plain bearings (Engl), meaning the bearing cap is supported by plain bearings in the bearing housing rather than by roller bearings (Engi).

[0007] EP 2 735 817 B1 describes a pivoting mount using plain bearings in the form of pedestal bearings for solar tracking shafts, comprising a clamp that surrounds a solar tracking shaft with spherical cap-shaped bearing parts. The spherical bearing parts are designed to complement the inner shape of the clamp, so that the shaft of the solar tracking device is held axially by the clamp and can be aligned in any desired spatial position. EP 2 735 817 B1 proposes a pedestal bearing in which the bearing cap is mounted on a maintenance-free slide bearing in the bearing housing, so that no maintenance, in particular no regular lubrication with lubricant, is required.

[0008] Such solar tracking systems are set up outdoors and are exposed to the elements. This means that strong wind forces can act on the solar modules, generating high forces that may lead to undesirable excessive tilt of the solar modules and possibly even damage. To counteract this problem, it is known to equip the tracking system with additional supporting, spring-loaded, and / or rotation angle-limiting devices, such as pneumatic dampers or similar, in order to prevent damage to the solar tracking system. A similar problem can also arise in systems with radiation concentration for solar thermal power plants.

[0009] Such additional devices are expensive and usually require maintenance.

[0010] A first object of the present invention is to further develop a generic bearing unit so that the number of components required to limit the angle of rotation and the associated additional manufacturing and maintenance costs can be at least reduced and / or completely avoided.

[0011] The present invention already achieves this object by a bearing unit, in particular a pedestal bearing, with the features specified in claim 1 or 19, or by a solar tracking device with the features according to claim 17. The proposed design reduces, in particular, the need for additional movement-limiting components, which are typically provided to prevent undesirable excessive inclination of the solar modules.

[0012] The subject of the present invention is a generic bearing unit, in particular a multi-part pillow block bearing, for pivotably supporting a shaft, in particular a solar tracking shaft for solar modules. The bearing unit comprises a preferably multi-part bearing housing and a preferably multi-part bearing cap arranged in the bearing housing with a slide bearing and having a receptacle for a shaft to be supported. The bearing cap and its receptacle define a nominal bearing axis which, when the shaft is in a non-tilted nominal position, is coaxial with the shaft axis.

[0013] The bearing cap has a substantially spherical outer surface, and the bearing housing has an inner bearing surface that is substantially complementary to the outer surface, for spherically pivoting support of the bearing cap. Furthermore, a solar tracking device with one or more such bearing units is proposed.

[0014] The bearing unit is preferably a pillow block bearing. The term pillow block bearing refers here to a ready-to-install or ready-to-assemble housing bearing unit that can be mounted directly on a mounting surface, e.g., by screwing. However, mounting is not usually carried out in an upright position (hence "pillow block bearing"). Pillow blocks simplify installation and maintenance. A pillow block bearing is an assembly that has a bearing, either a rolling bearing or, preferably, a plain bearing, already integrated into the housing.

[0015] A generic bearing unit has an essentially spherical shape of the bearing surfaces for tilt angle compensation in the event of misalignment of the shaft to be supported, e.g. due to installation of the solar tracking shaft on uneven ground. The spherical bearing allows the compensation of undesired tilt angles about two orthogonal axes, namely both axes which span a plane perpendicular to the bearing axis. In other words: in an orthogonal XYZ coordinate system fixed to the body frame of the shaft and when viewed in terms of Cardan angles or Tait-Bryan rotations, the desired rotation corresponds to the rotation about the X-axis (roll angle, Engi, roll angle), where the two undesired tilt angles are referred to as the yaw angle about the Z-axis and the pitch angle about the Y-axis.

[0016] The bearing unit or pillow block bearing according to the present invention is characterized in that the pillow block bearing has at least one integrated pivot angle limiter, which is formed by the bearing housing and the bearing cap, particularly in the assembled state, and serves to limit the pivot angle of the bearing cap about the bearing axis. The limitation is implemented with respect to rotation about the nominal bearing axis, i.e., contrary to the typical intended use of pillow block bearings, which are normally or typically designed for full revolutions of the mounted shaft about this nominal bearing axis.

[0017] The nominal bearing axis here means the axis which defines the bearing cap with its mount and which, in the nominal position of the solar tracking shaft - i.e. if there are no misalignments - is coaxial with the shaft axis of the shaft to be supported or the solar tracking shaft (or the X-axis coaxial with the nominal shaft axis in an XYZ coordinate system fixed to the body of the bearing cap, see above).

[0018] The limitation of the swivel angle integrated into the bearing unit can be formed or act on a permissible predetermined angular dimension around the bearing axis.

[0019] The surprisingly simple measure of a predetermined angular limiter of the shaft rotation integrated into the bearing unit can achieve significant savings in the installation and maintenance costs of solar tracking systems. In particular, separate devices that limit the rotation angle of the tracking shaft can be dispensed with, or at least their number can be significantly reduced. The angular limiter can be achieved particularly preferably by appropriately shaping the bearing housing and / or bearing cap.

[0020] A solar tracker shaft in the present case refers in particular to a shaft of a solar tracking device to which solar modules, in particular PV panels or possibly also reflectors of a CSP system, can be attached, wherein the shaft is pivotally mounted to adjust the inclination of the solar modules in order to track the sun's path. A solar tracking shaft of this type can be realized by a suitable metal profile serving as a support, in particular by a square profile, a U-rail or the like. The pivoting of the solar tracking shaft can, for example, be carried out by a suitable drive system, e.g. with hydraulic cylinders and / or electric servo motors. The term assembled state (of the pillow block bearing) means that the bearing cap is inserted into the assembled bearing housing as intended, wherein the pivot angle limitation fulfills its intended function or function, particularly in this assembled state.Effectiveness is achieved because the bearing housing and bearing cap are operatively connected to one another to limit the movement.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bearing cap in the bearing housing is mounted on a maintenance-free slide bearing, i.e. it is not mounted on a roller bearing, but on a slide bearing. A complex and maintenance-intensive roller bearing is thus avoided or is not provided in the bearing unit. Generally speaking, at least the spherical outer surface of the bearing cap or the complementary inner bearing surface of the bearing housing is preferably formed by a component of the bearing unit made from a sliding material, in particular a tribological polymer or a suitable plastic pairing comprising at least one tribopolymer. In particular, both the spherical outer surface of the bearing cap and the complementary inner bearing surface of the bearing housing are each made from a sliding material, in particular a tribological polymer ora suitable plastic pairing comprising at least one tribopolymer, manufactured component of the bearing unit.

[0022] An embodiment of the present invention has proven particularly useful in which the bearing housing and / or the bearing cap is / are each made of at least two parts. It has been found that the pillow block bearing can be more easily assembled and, in particular, mounted on a solar tracking shaft when constructed in multiple parts. Furthermore, a multi-part design enables more cost-effective production, particularly with regard to the pivot angle limitation.

[0023] Generally speaking, bearing housings and / or bearing cups are preferably made from a plastic, preferably a thermoplastic, in particular an engineering polymer. This allows cost-effective production in the form of injection-molded parts. Suitable polymers are advantageously resistant to UV radiation, dust, dirt, weathering, and corrosion, even under demanding environmental conditions, particularly over the typical service life of solar systems. Unlike metal bearings, bearings made from engineering plastics are able to absorb high-frequency vibrations and have a vibration-damping effect, which, depending on wind conditions, is particularly advantageous for solar tracking systems.

[0024] Bearing housings and / or bearing caps are particularly preferably made from at least one tribological polymer or from a suitable plastic pairing comprising at least one tribopolymer. Such a tribological polymer is a polymer optimized with regard to wear and friction reduction. Such a tribological polymer usually has a base polymer, for example the thermoplastics polyethylene, polypropylene, polyacetal (or polyoxymethylene POM), polycarbonate, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene and, in the case of thermosets, phenolic resins. Finely divided solid lubricants, for example molybdenum disulfide or graphite, and / or fillers, for example plastic or textile fibers or particles, are added to this base polymer. In particular, the bearing cap is preferably made from a tribological polymer or tribopolymer. The bearing housing can also advantageously be made from a if necessary.different tribological polymer or tribopolymer.

[0025] The bearing housing or the bearing shell is particularly preferably made of a harder or stiffer material, in particular plastic, than the bearing cap. At least one component of the bearing housing, in particular the entire bearing housing, can be made, for example, of a fiber-reinforced polymer, in particular tribological polymer. Advantageously, the plastic of the bearing cap can have a higher elasticity than the plastic of the bearing housing. The bearing housing particularly preferably has as components at least an upper housing part and a lower housing part, wherein the upper housing part is made of metal and the lower housing part is made of plastic. The upper housing part is preferably designed in the manner of a clamp half or is essentially U-shaped.

[0026] Preferably, at least some components of the bearing housing and / or bearing spherical cap, in particular the bearing housing and / or bearing spherical cap as a whole, are manufactured using injection molding technology, in particular in multiple parts from one or more injection-molded plastic parts. This reduces the manufacturing costs of the bearing units. Production using injection molding technology also allows for cost-effective production of bearing parts, in particular bearing spherical cap parts with optionally different angular limitations, depending on the application requirements.

[0027] In one embodiment, the pivot angle limitation, by which the pivot angle of the bearing cap about the bearing axis relative to the bearing housing is limited to a predetermined amount, is formed at least partially, in particular completely, by the interaction of at least one projection formed by one of the bearing components with an elongated recess associated with the projection, wherein, when multiple projections are provided, each of the projections is assigned an elongated recess. The recess extends elongately around the bearing axis. The projection and corresponding recess are thus provided on at least one of the bearing components in such a way that when the two bearing components are rotated relative to one another, the projection can move in the recess due to the elongated design of the recess, but only over a pivot angle that is determined by the length of the recess.with which it extends longitudinally around the bearing axis. The recess is limited in its longitudinal extent by a respective recess end, wherein the recess ends each form a stop for the corresponding projection received in the recess, so that a limitation of the pivot angle is defined by the interaction of projection and recess, as explained. In one embodiment, the projection is provided on a first of the two bearing components and the recess on a second of the two bearing components. In one embodiment, the projection is provided on a first bearing subcomponent of one of the two bearing components and the recess is provided on a second bearing subcomponent of this bearing component, wherein the bearing subcomponents are mounted so as to be rotatable relative to one another about the bearing axis,However, their rotatability is limited by the interaction of the projection with the recess, which are provided in one of the bearing components. The swivel angle limitation can, for example, be formed solely by such a pair of projection and recess, which are provided in the bearing components of one of the two bearing components, whereas the other of the two bearing components is held in a fixed position relative to the one bearing component with respect to a rotation about the bearing axis, or the swivel limitation can have several pairs of components, each of which defines a limitation of the swivel angle, wherein one of these pairs is formed by the explained projection and recess of the bearing components of one of the two bearing components and two further components by, on the one hand, the other bearing component and, on the other hand, the one bearing component,for example, one of the bearing subcomponents of one bearing component is designed so that on the one hand the rotatability of the bearing subcomponents of one bearing component and on the other hand the rotatability of the bearing components relative to each other is limited by a pair of components of the swivel angle limitation, wherein generally preferably the components of each pair can be designed as a projection and an associated recess, in particular an elongated recess.

[0028] In a particularly simple embodiment of the pillow block bearing according to the invention, the pivot angle limitation is formed by at least one projection arranged on the substantially spherical outer surface of the bearing cap and at least one elongated recess arranged in the bearing housing corresponding to the projection.

[0029] Additionally or alternatively, the recess and projection can be attached to the other part so that the projection is arranged on the inside of the bearing housing and the recess on the outer surface of the bearing cap. Several pairs of angle-limiting recesses and projections can be provided, where, for example, either all of the recesses are arranged on the bearing housing and all of the projections on the bearing cap, or all of the recesses are arranged on the bearing cap and all of the projections on the bearing housing, or some of the recesses and some of the projections are arranged on the bearing housing and the remaining recesses and the remaining projections are arranged on the bearing cap. If necessary, a plurality of recesses and projections can serve to evenly distribute forces between the swivel angle limitation and its individual parts, whereby the material stress can be reduced.

[0030] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one projection extends in the circumferential direction around the bearing axis and radially to the bearing axis and is preferably designed together with the cooperating recess or cutout in such a way that it does not impair the desired tilt angle compensation.

[0031] It has proven particularly advantageous in terms of manufacturing costs for the pillow block bearing to provide just one recess and one projection at the pivot angle limit. The larger spatial extent of the recess, which deviates from the dimensions of the projection, can define the possible degrees of freedom of the bearing spherical cap within the bearing housing and simultaneously determines the pivot angle made possible by the pivot angle limit. By appropriately dimensioning the spatial extent of the recess in relation to the projection, tilt angle compensation of the bearing spherical cap can also be permitted, advantageously compensating for misalignment.

[0032] In one embodiment, the receptacle is a generally cylindrical receptacle with a generally cylindrical inner surface, in particular with a polygonal cross-section for rotationally securing the bearing cap to the shaft, e.g. a square receptacle for receiving a solar tracking shaft, in particular a solar tracking shaft with a square-shaped cross-section. In an installed state with the solar tracking shaft received, the solar tracking shaft is substantially circumferentially surrounded by the receptacle, wherein the receptacle is open in the axial direction of the solar tracking shaft, so that the solar tracking shaft extends axially through the receptacle.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment of the pillow block bearing according to the invention, the bearing housing and / or the bearing cap are made of plastic. The bearing housing and bearing cap can preferably be made of different plastics, in particular as injection-molded parts. The bearing cap can in particular be made of an engineering polymer. The production of the bearing housing and bearing cap from plastic is particularly cost-effective and enables low-maintenance, weather-resistant bearing units. Furthermore, the components of the pillow block bearing can be manufactured with a particularly low weight. The bearing cap can in particular be made of components without undercuts, in particular by means of an open-close tool, in particular in an injection molding process.

[0034] Bearing cap parts without undercuts have the advantage that they can be produced in a simple open-close tool without a slide.

[0035] The swivel angle limitation to a permissible predetermined angular dimension can be set during production using injection molding technology, for example, by means of exchangeable tool inserts in the master molds in the injection molding tool.

[0036] It is also possible to manufacture the bearing housing from a non-plastic material, e.g., from metal, and only the bearing cap from plastic. The bearing cap is preferably made from a technical polymer and manufactured as an injection-molded part.

[0037] Preferably, the components of the bearing housing are also made of plastic, in particular by injection molding.

[0038] In an advantageous embodiment, the swivel angle limitation to a permissible predetermined angular dimension around the bearing axis is selected in such a way as to permit a swivel angle of the bearing cap in the bearing housing over a permissible predetermined angular dimension in the range of less than or equal to 240 ° or + / - 120 °, in particular in a range of less than or equal to 180 ° or + / - 90 °, and furthermore in particular in a range of less than or equal to 140 ° or + / - 70 °, e.g. a swivel angle limitation to + / - 60 ° deviating from a nominal alignment. The specification of the swivel angle range, e.g. + / - 60 °, refers to the angle of rotation of the bearing cap or shaft around the bearing axis in the nominal or aligned position (without tilt angle).Such angular ranges have proven to be advantageous, since they represent a compromise between tracking the complete solar movement and restricting the pivoting movement to avoid excessive adjustment of the solar modules, for example out of the area of ​​incidence of the sun, or excessive pivoting movements, which cause a high momentum transfer to the pedestal bearing.

[0039] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the pillow block bearing according to the invention, the bearing housing is manufactured in several parts, preferably comprising an upper bearing housing part and a lower bearing housing part. In this case, one or both of the bearing housing parts can form or comprise a component of the pivot angle limitation. The upper bearing housing part and / or lower bearing housing part can, for example, have stop surfaces for the stop of the bearing cap, for the predefined limitation of the pivoting movement of exactly one degree of freedom of the bearing cap in the bearing housing, namely the rotation about the bearing axis.

[0040] The tilt angle compensation around the two axes orthogonal to the bearing axis is preferably not affected by the swivel angle limitation.

[0041] A suitable choice of material for the stop surfaces on the bearing housing and the bearing cap can also protect the bearing cap from damage, in particular by ensuring that the plastic used in the bearing housing has a certain degree of elasticity, and / or by cushioning the movement of the bearing cap within the bearing housing when it hits.

[0042] The appropriate spatial arrangement of stop surfaces enables a pre-definable angle limitation.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment, one or both of the bearing housing parts can have a fastening area for direct attachment to a support or bracket, in particular a support of a solar tracking device. Any suitable and known type of fastening for pedestal bearings can be considered, in particular fastening by screw connection. This type of bearing housing design is advantageous when simple assembly is desired.

[0044] Furthermore, the upper part of the bearing housing can also include additional parts made of metal or can itself be made of metal, while the lower part of the bearing housing is made of plastic, for example. Such a design can be desirable for certain requirements, e.g. high wind loads. The bearing housing can, for example, have a metal bracket as a separate bearing housing lock, which is attached above the upper part of the bearing housing and covers it, for additional security of the bearing housing, particularly if the upper and lower parts of the bearing housing are made of a cheaper, less robust plastic.

[0045] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the pillow block bearing according to the invention, the bearing cap is made of several parts, in particular two parts, in particular from two bearing cap halves, with at least one of the bearing cap parts having a part for limiting the pivot angle. The two bearing cap parts can optionally be manufactured as identical parts, in particular as injection-molded parts, or in an identical basic shape with inserts for the optional creation of projections. For connection to one another, the bearing cap parts can optionally have connecting elements such as locking elements or the like for the reversibly separable, mutual locking of the two bearing cap parts, which can provide simple assembly and additional stability. For example, the bearing cap can be formed by a bearing cap upper part and a bearing cap lower part.In one embodiment, two bearing cap parts together form a component of the pivot angle limitation or one of the bearing cap parts alone forms a component of the pivot angle limitation. The component of the pivot angle limitation can, for example, be an explained projection or an explained recess. In one embodiment, the component is a recess which is formed jointly by two bearing cap parts. In one embodiment, the component is a projection which is formed by one of the bearing cap parts. Generally preferably, the component is arranged on the substantially spherical outer surface of the bearing cap, in particular of one of the bearing cap parts.

[0046] It has been found to be generally advantageous that one of the bearing components has two bearing sub-components, wherein an inner one of the two bearing sub-components is mounted in the outer one of the two bearing sub-components so as to be rotatable about the bearing axis relative to an outer one of the two bearing sub-components. The other of the bearing components is mounted so as to be spherically pivotable relative to one of the two bearing sub-components of the one bearing component. In embodiments, both bearing components, i.e. bearing housing and bearing cap, can each have two bearing sub-components which are mounted so as to be rotatable relative to one another, as explained. In another embodiment, only one of the two bearing components, i.e. bearing housing or bearing cap, has two bearing sub-components as explained, which are mounted so as to be rotatable relative to one another. In a multi-part design of the respective bearing component, i.e.In the case of a multi-part design of the bearing housing and / or the bearing cap, at least one of the bearing subcomponents can also be designed in several parts. Generally speaking, at least one of the bearing subcomponents, in particular each of the bearing subcomponents, can therefore preferably have a plurality of bearing components. In one embodiment, the bearing housing is designed as one bearing component and the bearing cap is designed as the other bearing component, the bearing housing having, as bearing subcomponents, an inner housing part and a housing outer part, the inner housing part having the inner bearing surface which is shaped essentially complementarily to the outer surface of the bearing cap and is mounted in the outer housing part so as to be rotatable about the bearing axis relative to the outer housing part.In this embodiment, at least one of the bearing part components of the bearing housing, in particular each of the bearing part components of the bearing housing, can each have at least two bearing housing parts of the bearing housing. In one embodiment, the bearing cap is designed as one bearing component and the bearing housing as the other bearing component, the bearing cap having as bearing part components an inner cap part and an outer cap part, the outer cap part having the spherical outer surface of the bearing cap that is shaped complementarily to the inner bearing surface, and the inner cap part having the receptacle for the solar tracking shaft, the inner cap part being mounted so as to be rotatable about the bearing axis relative to the outer cap part.In this embodiment, at least one of the bearing part components of the bearing cap, in particular each of the bearing part components of the bearing cap, can each have at least two bearing cap parts.

[0047] By designing one of the bearing components in such a way that it has at least two bearing sub-components which are mounted so as to be rotatable relative to one another about the bearing axis, the swivel angle limitation or at least part of the swivel angle limitation can be provided by the interaction of these bearing sub-components, decoupled from the interaction between the two bearing components, and in particular the amount of the swivel angle can be defined. This can be particularly advantageous for the functionality of the bearing unit, in particular for the combined provision of a swivel angle limitation on the one hand and, on the other hand, a pivotability of the bearing components relative to one another about an axis of rotation which runs perpendicular to the bearing axis, this ability being made possible by the interaction of the spherical outer surface of the bearing cap and the complementarily shaped inner bearing surface of the bearing housing.

[0048] A two-part design of the bearing cap has the particular advantage that the bearing unit can be easily and, if necessary, retrofitted onto an already installed solar tracking shaft that is to be supported, in particular without the bearing cap having to be pushed axially onto the solar tracking shaft. For this reason, the bearing housing is preferably designed in several parts. The two-part design of the bearing cap and / or the bearing housing enables simpler, more flexible assembly.

[0049] In one embodiment, the pivot angle limiter has a plurality of pairs of components, the components of each pair interacting with each other. For example, each pair of components can have exactly two components, one of these components being designed as a projection and the other of these components as an elongated recess corresponding to the projection. In one embodiment, a first pair of components of the pivot angle limiter is formed by a first and a second component of the pivot angle limiter, which are formed by the bearing part components of one of the bearing components and by means of which rotation of the two bearing part components about the bearing axis relative to one another is limited to a first pivot angle.Preferably, a second pair of components of the swivel angle limiter is further formed by a third and a fourth component of the swivel angle limiter, wherein the third and the fourth component of the swivel angle limiter are formed by a respective different one of the bearing components and wherein the second pair, i.e. by the third and fourth component of the swivel angle limiter, limits or prevents rotation of mutually facing sections of the two bearing components about the bearing axis to a second swivel angle. The mutually facing sections of the bearing components are precisely the sections of the bearing components by which the third and the fourth component of the swivel angle limiter are formed.In particular, one of the bearing housing parts forms the third component of the pivot angle limitation and one of the bearing cap parts forms the fourth component of the pivot angle limitation, wherein the interaction of the components of the pivot angle limitation limits the rotatability of the bearing components relative to one another. Generally speaking, the second pivot angle is smaller than the first pivot angle; the second pivot angle is preferably less than 1 / 10, in particular less than 1 / 50, in particular less than 1 / 100 of the first pivot angle. By providing the two pairs of components of the pivot angle limitation, effective decoupling of, on the one hand, a limitation of the pivot angle about the bearing axis and, on the other hand, a tiltability of the bearing cap relative to the bearing housing about an axis which runs perpendicular to the bearing axis can be made possible in a particularly advantageous manner.Since the first pair of components of the swivel angle limiter essentially enables the bearing cap and bearing housing to rotate relative to one another about the bearing axis, while limiting this rotation as explained, this can be achieved independently of the tiltability ensured by the spherical design of the outer surface of the bearing cap and the inner bearing surface of the bearing housing. This allows for a particularly slim and cost-effective design of the bearing unit.Because the pivotability of the bearing subcomponents of one position component relative to one another by at least a significant portion of the pivot angle defined by the pivot angle limitation is enabled, the first and second components of the pivot angle limitation can be designed without taking into account the spherical design of the outer surface of the bearing cap and the inner bearing surface of the bearing housing, whereas at the same time the spherical outer surface of the bearing cap and the inner bearing surface of the bearing housing can be designed to ensure tiltability without tilting significantly hindering the rotatability of the bearing cap relative to the bearing housing about the bearing axis.

[0050] In one embodiment, the bearing subcomponents of one bearing component are mounted so as to be rotatable relative to one another only about the bearing axis, whereas due to the complementary design of the spherical outer surface of the bearing cap and the inner bearing surface of the bearing housing, the bearing components are mounted so as to be rotatable relative to one another about at least one, in particular about two mutually perpendicular pivot axes running perpendicular to the bearing axis. For example, the bearing subcomponents can have mutually facing contact surfaces via which they bear against one another and along which they slide against one another when rotated about the bearing axis, the contact surfaces being cylindrical. The cylinder axis of the respective cylindrical contact surface runs along the bearing axis.The cylindrical design of the contact surfaces simultaneously enables particularly advantageous guidance of the bearing part components relative to one another and rotatability about the bearing axis. In one embodiment, the inner housing part is mounted in the outer housing part so that it can rotate relative to the outer housing part only about the bearing axis, whereas the bearing cap is mounted in the inner housing part so that it can rotate about at least one, in particular two, pivot axes that are perpendicular to one another and run perpendicular to the bearing axis due to the complementary design of the spherical outer surface of the bearing cap and the inner bearing surface of the bearing housing.In one embodiment, the inner part of the spherical cap is mounted in the outer part of the spherical cap so that it can rotate only about the bearing axis relative to the outer part of the spherical cap, whereas the outer part of the spherical cap is mounted in the bearing housing so that it can rotate about at least one pivot axe, in particular about two pivot axes that are perpendicular to one another and run perpendicular to the bearing axis, due to the complementary configuration of the spherical outer surface of the bearing spherical cap and the inner bearing surface of the bearing housing. In the preferred embodiments explained, the outer part of the spherical cap preferably forms the spherical outer surface of the bearing spherical cap, and the inner part of the housing forms the complementary inner bearing surface of the bearing housing.

[0051] In an embodiment in which, as explained, one of the bearing components has two bearing sub-components which are mounted so as to be rotatable relative to one another, and the other of the bearing components is mounted so as to be spherically pivotable relative to one of the two bearing sub-components of the one bearing component, the other bearing component preferably has two bearing components which are rotatable relative to the one bearing sub-component of the one bearing component about an axis of rotation running perpendicular to the bearing axis and which are mounted so as to be movable along a plane which runs parallel to the bearing axis and parallel to the said axis of rotation. By enabling rotatability about the axis of rotation and enabling mobility along a plane running parallel to the axis of rotation, this mobility enables rotatability about a further axis of rotation running perpendicular to the axis of rotation and perpendicular to the bearing axis.The mobility along the plane combined with the rotatability about the axis of rotation can ensure a particularly advantageous determination of the possible movement of the bearing components of the other bearing component.

[0052] In one embodiment, the bearing unit has an articulated connection part which has a first connection section with which it is held in one of the bearing components of one bearing component so as to be rotatable about the axis of rotation, and which has a second connection section with which it is mounted between the bearing components of the other bearing component in such a way that sliding along these bearing components is possible on a side of the second connection section which is respectively assigned to the respective bearing component, along the said plane. For example, the articulated connection part can be encompassed by one bearing component. For example, one bearing component can be designed as the bearing housing.By providing two different connecting sections of the articulated connecting part, the two different types of movement, namely, on the one hand, the ability to rotate about the axis of rotation and, on the other hand, the mobility along the plane, can be specifically ensured by different connecting sections of the articulated connecting part. Preferably, the articulated connecting part is designed in the manner of a mushroom-shaped part having a mushroom head and a mushroom stem, wherein the mushroom head forms the first connecting section and the mushroom stem forms the second connecting section.The mushroom stem is preferably cuboid-shaped, with two opposite sides of the cuboid in a direction running perpendicular to the axis of rotation and perpendicular to the bearing axis forming the sides of the second connecting section along which the bearing components of the other bearing component can move, in particular slide, with these sides of the cuboid running parallel to the plane. The mushroom head can, for example, be designed on its outer side, at least in sections, in the manner of a cylinder, the cylinder axis of which coincides with the axis of rotation. The bearing components of the other bearing component are preferably spaced from one another by the second connecting section in a direction running perpendicular to the axis of rotation and perpendicular to the bearing axis.Preferably, one of the two bearing part components of the one bearing component has two bearing components which together form a recess in which the first connecting part section of the articulated connecting part is rotatably received. In general, it should be noted that bearing components of the respective bearing component can each be formed by one element or a group of elements. For example, the bearing components of the bearing cap can be formed by their bearing cap parts and the bearing components of the bearing housing can be formed by its bearing housing parts. For example, at least one of the bearing part components can have a plurality of bearing components.A further subject matter of the present application relates to a solar tracking device for pivotably supporting solar modules, comprising at least one support, a solar tracking shaft for fastening solar modules and at least one bearing unit according to the invention, in particular a pillow block bearing according to the invention.

[0053] In one embodiment of the solar tracking device according to the invention, the bearing housing of the at least one pillow block bearing is connected to the support, in particular via a screw connection, or fastened thereto. Fastening can be effected by means of screw bolts through the upper part of the bearing housing and the lower part of the bearing housing in such a way that when the bearing housing is attached to the support, the upper part of the bearing housing is fixed to the lower part of the bearing housing and, at the same time, the bearing cap attached to the shaft is secured to the support with the shaft. Such fastening of the multi-part bearing housing to the support requires particularly little time and fastening material.

[0054] A further subject matter according to the invention of the present application relates, regardless of the intended use, to a general bearing unit, in particular a multi-part pillow block bearing, comprising a multi-part bearing housing and a bearing cap arranged in the bearing housing, which bearing cap has a receiving space, wherein the receiving space is designed to receive a shaft to be supported. The bearing cap has a substantially spherical outer surface and the bearing housing has a bearing surface shaped complementarily to this spherical outer surface of the bearing cap for the spherically pivotable mounting of the bearing cap. The pillow block bearing is characterized in that the pillow block bearing has at least one pivot angle limitation formed by the bearing housing and the bearing cap for limiting the angle of rotation or pivot angle of the bearing cap in the bearing housing about the nominal bearing axis.In general, regardless of the preferred application in a solar tracking system, a bearing unit may have one or more features of the above embodiments.

[0055] Further advantages and features of the invention are explained in more detail below using a preferred embodiment of a pillow block bearing as an exemplary bearing unit and without limitation with reference to the accompanying figures. Herein:

[0056] Figure 1: in a perspective exploded view, the parts of a preferred embodiment of a pillow block bearing according to the invention;

[0057] Figure 2: in an exploded view a front view of the parts of Figure 1;

[0058] Figure 3: a frontal view of the pillow block bearing according to Figures 1 and 2 in a proper assembly state;

[0059] Figures 4A-4B: perspective views of a bearing housing upper part according to Figures 1-3;

[0060] Figure 5: In a perspective exploded view, parts of a further preferred embodiment of a pillow block bearing according to the invention;

[0061] Figure 6 : In an exploded view, a front view of the parts from Figure 5 ;

[0062] Figure 7: In a frontal view, the pillow block bearing according to Figures 5 and 6 in a proper assembled state; and Figure 8: an exemplary solar tracking device in the design according to the prior art (known from Figure 10 of EP 2 735 817 B1).

[0063] Figures 1-4 show a purely exemplary, preferred embodiment of a bearing unit according to the invention in the form of a multi-part pillow block bearing 1. The pillow block bearing 1 comprises a bearing housing upper part 4 and a bearing housing lower part 5, each of which is manufactured from an engineering plastic, in particular a fiber-reinforced plastic, as injection-molded parts. The bearing housing upper part 4 and the bearing housing lower part 5 form a bearing housing 2 in the assembled state (Figure 3).

[0064] The pillow block bearing 1 has a bearing spherical cap 3 made up of a first bearing spherical cap part 6 and a second bearing spherical cap part 7, which are also produced as injection-molded parts from an engineering plastic, in particular from an engineering polymer, in particular a tribopolymer. The first bearing spherical cap part 6 and the second bearing spherical cap part 7 together form a bearing spherical cap 3, which in the assembled state (Figure 3) is arranged in the bearing housing 2. The first bearing spherical cap part 6 can be an upper bearing spherical cap part, and the second bearing spherical cap part 7 a lower bearing spherical cap part. The bearing spherical cap 3 can be axially larger and protrude relative to the bearing housing 2.

[0065] The bearing cap 3 has a projection 8 arranged on the first bearing cap part 6. This projection 8 is made in one piece or integrally with the first bearing cap part 6, in particular from the same material as the first bearing cap part 6 and in the same manufacturing step as the first bearing cap part 6. In particular, the first bearing cap part 6 can be manufactured in one piece with the projection 8 in a single injection molding step, in particular using a simple open-close tool.

[0066] The bearing cap 3 has a substantially spherical outer surface, which is slidably supported by a complementarily shaped inner surface of the bearing housing 2. The bearing housing 2 and the bearing cap 3 thus form a plain bearing without a rolling bearing. Suitable plastic pairings allow lubricant-free operation, which is thus maintenance-free or at least low-maintenance.

[0067] The bearing housing lower part 5 of the bearing housing 2 has, on the side facing away from the inner surface, a mounting surface which serves for mounting the bearing housing 2 on an external, supporting device, e.g. a support (cf. Figure 5) or the like.

[0068] Figures 1 and 2 show essential parts of a preferred embodiment of a multi-part pillow block bearing 1 in an unassembled state by means of an exploded view. The pillow block bearing 1 comprises a bearing housing upper part 4 and a bearing housing lower part 5, which, when assembled (see Figure 3) of the pillow block bearing 1, form the bearing housing 2.

[0069] The first bearing cap part 6 and the second bearing cap part 7, which together form the bearing cap 3 in an assembled state of the pillow block bearing 1, are also best seen in Figures 1 and 2.

[0070] The projection 8 protruding from the outer surface of the first bearing spherical part 6 forms, in the assembled state of the pillow block bearing 1, together with a recess 9 provided on the inner surface of the bearing housing upper part 4, a pivot angle limitation. As can be seen from a comparison of Figure 1 with Figure 3, the projection 8 comprises two stop surfaces 8A, 8B which interact with corresponding stop surfaces 9A, 9B, also referred to here as the recess end, of the recess 9 and, when in stop position, limit the pivot angle of the bearing spherical about the bearing axis A in the bearing housing 2 to a predetermined angular dimension a (see Figure 3). The desired angular dimension a can be optionally predetermined by dimensioning the projection 8 and / or the recess 9.

[0071] Figure 3 shows the pillow block bearing 1 in the assembled state, but without a mounted shaft (cf. Figure 5). The projection 8 arranged on the outer surface of the first bearing cap part 6 and the elongated recess 9, which is essentially complementary to the projection 8 and arranged in the circumferential direction around the bearing axis A on the inner surface of the bearing housing upper part 4, form the integrated pivot angle limitation in the assembled state.

[0072] In the embodiment shown, the projection 8 is arranged on the surface of the bearing cap 3 and extends in the direction of the upper bearing part 4 radially to the axial bearing axis A through the bearing cap 3 over a predetermined angular dimension in the circumferential direction between the end stop surfaces 8A, 8B. If the projection 8 reaches a corresponding stop surface 9A, 9B of the recess 9 as a result of pivoting of the bearing cap 3 with a stop surface 8A, 8B, this stop has a limiting effect and blocks further pivoting movement about the bearing axis A. The recess 9 has an angular dimension in the circumferential direction around the bearing axis A between its stop surfaces 9A, 9B, such that the difference between this angular dimension and the corresponding angular dimension of the projection 8 determines the permissible angular dimension a of the pivoting movement of the bearing cap 3 about the bearing axis A. The recess 9 has a suitable extension axially to the bearing axis A, so that the bearing cap 3 can be tilted accordingly.can compensate for misalignment. In the assembled state of the pillow block bearing 1 shown in Figure 3, the bearing cap 3 forms, by means of the two bearing cap parts 6, 7, a receptacle 12 with a substantially rectangular cross-section for the rotationally fixed attachment of a solar tracking shaft. The receptacle 12 has, for example,

[0073] Dimensions in the range from 50x50 mm up to 200x200 mm, in particular dimensions in the range from 100x100 mm up to 150xmm, preferably for the positive-locking and rotationally fixed reception of square profiles of corresponding dimensions about the bearing axis A. At least one or both of the two bearing cap parts 6, 7 have an axially continuous through-passage recess 23 on the inner side facing the shaft. The through-passage recess 23 allows electrical cables to be passed along the shaft through the pillow block bearing 1 in order to simplify the cable routing on the solar tracking device (cf. Figure 5).

[0074] As Figure 3 shows, the bearing housing upper part 4 and the bearing housing lower part 5 have a flat, elongated design with two laterally outer fastening openings 11 in the form of through holes. The fastening openings 11 have hexagon sockets at the ends for screw nuts, so that, for example, a threaded bolt with a nut inserted therein can be screwed in to screw the two bearing housing parts 4, 5 together. To fasten the pillow block bearing 1, for example, to a support surface or the like, a corresponding threaded bolt can be passed through the fastening opening 11 of

[0075] The upper part of the bearing housing 4 and the lower part of the bearing housing 5 are screwed together.

[0076] Figure 1 further shows that the bearing housing upper part 4 and the bearing housing lower part 5 can have locking elements 10, which engage with each other when the pillow block bearing 1 is assembled, thus enabling easier assembly. The fastening openings 11 extend through the locking elements 10. To reduce weight, the bearing cap parts 6, 7 and the bearing housing parts 4, 5 have material recesses.

[0077] Figures 4a and 4b show a perspective view of the inner surface of the bearing housing upper part 4 for a view of the recess 9 and its stop surfaces 9A, 9B for the projection 8 for limiting the pivot angle. The recess 9 is dimensioned such that the projection 8, which is accommodated in the assembled state of the pillow block bearing 1, can basically be pivoted in any spatial direction until the projection 8 abuts the wall 13 of the recess 9. Wall surfaces 13A, 13B optionally limit the pivoting in tilting directions about the Y-axis and possibly also the Z-axis perpendicular to the bearing axis A or are dimensioned such that no such limitation of the desired tilt angle compensation occurs.

[0078] According to the invention, the recess 9 and its stop surfaces 9A, 9B together with the projection 8 and its 8A, 8B (Figure 3) limit the pivot angle about the bearing axis A to a permissible predetermined angular dimension a of, for example, + / - 60° or, as shown, approximately + / - 54°. It is also possible (not shown) for a plurality of recesses 9 to be arranged in the bearing housing parts 4, 5 and / or on the bearing cap parts 6, 7, and for a corresponding number of interacting projections 8 to be arranged on the bearing cap parts 6, 7. A kinematic reversal with recess(es) on the bearing cap parts 6, 7 and projection(s) on the bearing housing parts 4, 5 is also within the scope of the invention. Figures 5 to 7 show a purely exemplary, preferred further embodiment of a bearing unit according to the invention in the form of a multi-part pillow block bearing 1. Figures 5 to 7 are explained together below.As can be seen from Figure 7, the pillow block bearing 1 has a bearing housing 2 and a bearing cap 3. Both the bearing housing 2 and the bearing cap 3 are each made up of several parts and thus each have a number of bearing components. The bearing housing 2 has an upper bearing housing part 4 and a lower bearing housing part 5. The lower bearing housing part 5 is made from engineering plastic, in particular a fibre-reinforced plastic, as an injection-moulded part. The upper bearing housing part 4 is designed in the manner of a clamp or half-clamp or in the manner of a U-shaped component and is made from metal. The upper bearing housing part 4 and the lower bearing housing part 5 together form a bearing part component of the bearing housing 2.In addition to this bearing part component, the bearing housing 2 also has a further bearing part component which is formed by an upper bearing housing component 801 and a lower bearing housing component 802 as well as two articulated connecting parts 90. The bearing part component of the bearing housing 2 formed by the bearing housing upper part 4 and the bearing housing lower part 5 is designed as the outer of the two bearing part components or as the housing outer part, whereas the bearing part component of the bearing housing 2 formed by the upper and lower bearing housing components 801, 802 and the articulated connecting parts 90 is designed as the inner bearing part component or housing inner part. The housing inner part has on its outer side a cylindrical contact surface which is designed to be complementary to a cylindrical contact surface which is provided on the inside of the housing outer part, as can be seen in particular from Figure 5.This ensures that the bearing part components or the inner housing part and the outer housing part can rotate relative to one another about the bearing axis. However, their rotatability is limited in that the upper housing component 801 has a projection 8 which, in the intended assembled state, is arranged in a recess 9 of the upper housing part 4 which is elongated about the bearing axis and which, with its recess ends, forms a stop for the projection 8 so that when the housing part components are rotated relative to one another, the projection 8 can only be moved within the recess 9 over a pivot angle which is defined by abutment against one of the recess ends on the one hand and by abutment against the other recess end on the other.

[0079] The bearing cap 3 has a first bearing cap part 6 or upper bearing cap part and a second bearing cap part 7 or lower bearing cap part as bearing components. Together, these bearing components of the bearing cap 3 form the receptacle 12 and the essentially spherical outer surface of the bearing cap 3. The inner bearing surface of the bearing housing 2, which is shaped complementarily to this spherical outer surface of the bearing cap 3, is formed by that bearing part component of the bearing housing 2 which is formed by the upper and lower bearing housing components 801, 802 and the articulated connection parts 90. This ensures that the bearing cap 3 can be pivoted relative to the aforementioned bearing part component of the bearing housing 2 about two mutually perpendicular axes, both of which run perpendicular to the bearing axis.The pivotability about one of these two axes running perpendicular to the bearing axis A, referred to here as the axis of rotation, is ensured in that the articulated connecting parts each have a first connecting part section 98 which is designed on its outer side in sections in the manner of a cylinder, the cylinder axis of which runs parallel to the said axis of rotation and which is received in a recess in the said bearing part component which is formed by the upper and lower bearing housing components 801, 802.For this purpose, the upper and lower bearing housing components 801, 802 each have a half-recess 80 which is complementary to the first connecting section 98 of the respective articulated connection part, wherein two half-recesses 80 which are formed by the upper and lower bearing housing components 801, 802 together form a recess in the bearing part component in which the first connecting section 98 of the respective articulated connection part 90 is rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation. The articulated connection parts 90 further have a second connecting section 97 which is designed in the manner of a cuboid and which is arranged between the bearing cap parts 6, 7 of the bearing cap 3 with respect to a direction which runs perpendicular to the axis of rotation and perpendicular to the bearing axis.This ensures that the bearing cap parts 6, 7 can slide on the second connecting part section 97 of the respective articulated connection part 90. Because of the enabled sliding on the articulated connection part 90 and thus along a plane which runs parallel to the bearing axis and parallel to the axis of rotation, in combination with the provision of the axis of rotation, it is particularly advantageous to ensure that the bearing cap 3 can be pivoted relative to the bearing housing 2 about two different axes of rotation, which each run perpendicular to the bearing axis and are perpendicular to one another. On the other hand, the bearing cap 3 is held in the aforementioned bearing part component of the bearing housing in such a way that rotation of the bearing cap 3 relative to this bearing part component about the bearing axis is prevented, since the bearing cap parts 6, 7 each bear with a contact surface on an associated side of each of the two articulated connection parts 90.A limitation of the pivotability of the bearing cap 3 relative to the bearing housing 2 about the bearing axis is thus ensured on the one hand by the fact that the pivot angle limiter has the projection 8 and the recess 9 as the first pair of components, which define the pivot angle over which the bearing cap 3 can be rotated or pivoted about the bearing axis relative to the bearing housing 2, whereas the pivot angle limiter has the bearing cap parts 6, 7 and the articulated connection parts 90 as the second pair of components, which bear against one another in such a way that a rotation or pivoting of the bearing cap 3 relative to the bearing part component of the bearing housing 2, which has the articulated connection parts 90, is prevented.

[0080] Figure 8, corresponding to Figure 10 from EP 2 735 817 B1, shows a solar tracking device according to an exemplary structure. Figure 8 shows a solar tracking device comprising a plurality of supports 15 which are mounted on uneven terrain and thus at different heights. At the upper end of each support there is fastened a pedestal bearing 1 according to Figures 1-4 or according to Figures 5-7 for supporting a solar tracking shaft 16. A plurality of solar modules 14 are attached to this solar tracking shaft 16 and can be pivoted via the solar tracking shaft 16 to follow the course of the sun. As can be seen from Figure 8 as an example, the spherical pedestal bearings 1 compensate for alignment errors of the solar tracking shaft 16 caused by uneven ground or differences in height. Thanks to spherical pedestal bearings 1, differences in height and inclination of the supports 15 can be compensated.

[0081] A key advantage of the invention lies in the swivel angle limitation integrated into the pedestal bearings 1, so that the solar tracking device (see Figure 8) requires no additional devices to limit the swivel angle of the solar tracking shaft 16. Furthermore, plain bearings, especially those with bearing components made of suitable plastic, are particularly low-maintenance. The invention thus enables significant savings in acquisition and maintenance costs.

[0082] List of reference symbols

[0083] Pillow block bearings

[0084] bearing housing

[0085] Bearing cap

[0086] Bearing housing upper part

[0087] Bearing housing lower part first bearing cap part second bearing cap part

[0088] Projection A, 8B Stop surfaces (projection)

[0089] Recess A, 9B Stop surfaces (recess)0 Locking element 1 Fastening opening 2 Receptacle 3 Wall of the recess 3A, 13B Wall surfaces of the recess4 Solar module 5 Support 6 S then guide shaft 3 Through recess 0 Shark recess 90 Articulated connection part

[0090] 97 first connecting section

[0091] 98 second connecting section

[0092] 801 upper bearing housing component 802 lower bearing housing component

[0093] A bearing axis

[0094] B Shaft axis a permissible predetermined angle dimension

Claims

Patent claims 1. Bearing unit, in particular a multi-part pillow block bearing (1), for the pivotable mounting of a solar tracking shaft for solar modules, comprising as bearing components a preferably multi-part bearing housing (2) and a bearing cap (3) arranged in the bearing housing with a receptacle (12) for a solar tracking shaft (16), wherein the bearing cap (3) with its receptacle (12) defines a bearing axis (A) which, in the nominal position of the solar tracking shaft, is coaxial with a shaft axis (B) of the solar tracking shaft, wherein the bearing cap (3) has a substantially spherical outer surface and the bearing housing (2) has an inner bearing surface shaped substantially complementarily to the outer surface of the bearing cap (3) for the spherically pivotable mounting of the bearing cap (3) for the purpose of compensating for misalignments of the shaft axis, and wherein the bearing cap (3) is slide-mounted in the bearing housing (2) in a maintenance-free manner, characterized in that the bearing unit (1) has at least one pivot angle limiter (8, 9) formed by the bearing housing (2) and the bearing cap (3) for limiting the pivot angle of the bearing cap about the bearing axis (A) in the bearing housing (2) to a predetermined angular dimension (a).

2. Bearing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot angle limitation to a permissible predetermined angular dimension (a) about the bearing axis (A) is formed at least partially by the interaction of at least one projection formed by one of the bearing components with an elongated recess (9) associated with the projection (8).

3. Bearing unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the receptacle (12) has a cylindrical inner surface, in particular for a square profile, and / or wherein the receptacle preferably has on the inner surface at least one through-hole (23) for axially passing one or more lines through the bearing unit.

4. Bearing unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the bearing cap (3) is made of plastic, in particular is made of a technical polymer and / or is manufactured as an injection-molded part.

5. Storage unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the swivel angle limitation specifies a permissible swivel angle (a) of the bearing cap (3) in the bearing housing (2) in a range of less than or equal to + / - 120°, in particular in a range of less than or equal to + / - 90°aa, furthermore in particular in a range of less than or equal to + / - 70°.

6. Bearing unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing housing (2) is designed in several parts from at least two bearing housing parts (4, 5, 90, 801, 802), and / or that the bearing cap (3) is designed in several parts from at least two bearing cap parts (6, 7).

7. Bearing unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the bearing housing (2) has at least one bearing housing upper part (4) and bearing housing lower part (5), wherein at least one of the bearing housing parts (4; 5) has or forms a component of the pivot angle limitation, and / or that two bearing cap parts (6, 7) together form a component of the pivot angle limitation or one of the bearing cap parts (6, 7) alone forms a component of the pivot angle limitation, in particular a projection (8) or a recess (9), for limiting the pivot angle of the bearing cap (3) about the bearing axis (A), wherein in particular this component is arranged on the substantially spherical outer surface of the bearing cap (3), in particular one of the bearing cap parts (6, 7).

8. Storage unit according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that one of the bearing components has two bearing subcomponents, wherein an inner one of the two bearing subcomponents is mounted in the outer one of the two bearing subcomponents so as to be rotatable about the bearing axis (A) relative to an outer one of the two bearing subcomponents, and wherein the other of the bearing components is mounted so as to be spherically pivotable relative to one of the two bearing subcomponents of the one bearing component, wherein in particular each of the bearing subcomponents is designed in several parts. 9 . Bearing unit according to claim 8, characterized in that the bearing housing (2) is designed as one bearing component and the bearing cap (3) is designed as the other bearing component, wherein the bearing housing (2) has a housing inner part and a housing outer part as bearing part components, wherein the housing inner part has the inner bearing surface which is shaped substantially complementarily to the outer surface of the bearing cap (3) and is mounted in the housing outer part so as to be rotatable about the bearing axis (A) relative to the housing outer part, or that the bearing cap (3) is designed as one bearing component and the bearing housing (2) is designed as the other bearing component, wherein the bearing cap (3) has a cap inner part and a cap outer part as bearing part components, wherein the cap outer part has the spherical outer surface of the bearing cap which is shaped complementarily to the inner bearing surface and the cap inner part has the receptacle (12),wherein the inner part of the spherical cap is rotatably mounted relative to the outer part of the spherical cap about the bearing axis (A).

10. Bearing unit according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the pivot angle limiter has several pairs of components, the components of each pair interacting, a first pair being formed by a first and a second component (8, 9) of the pivot angle limiter, which are formed by the bearing part components of the one bearing component and by which a rotation of the two bearing part components about the bearing axis (A) relative to each other is limited to a first pivot angle, and a second pair being formed by a third and a fourth component (90, 801, 802) of the pivot angle limiter, which are formed by a respective other of the bearing components and by which a rotation of mutually facing sections of the two bearing components about the bearing axis (A) relative to each other is limited or prevented to a second pivot angle,wherein the second pivot angle is smaller than the first pivot angle, in particular less than 1 / 10, in particular less than 1 / 50 of the first pivot angle., 11. Bearing unit according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the bearing subcomponents of one bearing component are mounted so as to be rotatable relative to one another only about the bearing axis (A), whereas the bearing components due to the complementary design of the spherical outer surface of the bearing cap ( 3 ) and inner bearing surface of the bearing housing ( 2 ) are mounted rotatably relative to one another about at least one pivot axis running perpendicular to the bearing axis (A).

12. Bearing unit according to claims 9 and 11, characterized in that the housing inner part is mounted in the housing outer part so as to be rotatable only about the bearing axis (A) relative to the housing outer part, whereas the bearing cap (3) due to the complementary design of the spherical outer surface of the bearing cap (3) and inner bearing surface of the bearing housing (2) is mounted in the housing inner part so as to be rotatable about at least one pivot axis running perpendicular to the bearing axis (A), or that the inner spherical part is mounted in the outer spherical part so as to be rotatable about the bearing axis (A) relative to the outer spherical part, whereas the outer spherical part, due to the complementary design of the spherical outer surface of the bearing spherical (3) and inner bearing surface of the bearing housing (2) is rotatably mounted in the bearing housing about at least one pivot axis running perpendicular to the bearing axis (A).

13. Bearing unit according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the other bearing component has two bearing components (6, 7) which are rotatable relative to the one bearing part component of the one bearing component about an axis of rotation running perpendicular to the bearing axis (A) and which are movably mounted along a plane running parallel to the bearing axis (A) and parallel to the axis of rotation.

14. Bearing unit according to claim 13, characterized in that the bearing unit has a joint connection part (90), wherein the articulated connection part (90) has a first connecting section (98) with which it is mounted in one of the bearing components of the one bearing component so as to be rotatable about the axis of rotation, and a second connecting section (97) with which it is mounted between the bearing components (6, 7) of the other bearing component in such a way that sliding along these bearing components (6, 7) is possible on a respective side of the second connecting section assigned to them along the plane.

15. Bearing unit according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 6, characterized in that the bearing housing (2) is at least partially made of plastic, in particular made of a technical polymer, preferably from one or more injection-molded parts (4; 5), wherein in particular the upper housing part (4) of the bearing housing is made of metal and the lower housing part (5) of the bearing housing is made of plastic and / or the bearing cap is made entirely of plastic.

16. Bearing unit according to one of the preceding claims comprising the features of claim 2, wherein the projection (8) extends circumferentially around the bearing axis (A) and radially to the bearing axis (A).

17. Solar tracking device for pivotally supporting solar modules, comprising at least one support, a solar tracking shaft for fastening solar modules and at least one bearing unit, in particular a pedestal bearing, according to one of claims 1 to 16 for pivotally supporting the solar tracking shaft, wherein the bearing housing (2) is Support is attached, in particular screwed.

18. Solar tracking device according to claim 17, wherein the bearing housing of the at least one bearing unit, in particular of the at least one pillow block bearing, is connected to the support, in particular via a screw connection.

19. Bearing unit, in particular a multi-part pillow block bearing, comprising a multi-part bearing housing and a bearing spherical cap arranged in the bearing housing, with a receptacle for receiving a shaft to be supported, wherein the bearing spherical cap with its receptacle defines a bearing axis which, in the nominal position of the shaft, is coaxial with a shaft axis of the shaft, wherein the bearing spherical cap has a substantially spherical outer surface and the bearing housing has an inner bearing surface shaped substantially complementarily to this spherical outer surface of the bearing spherical cap for the spherically pivotable mounting of the bearing spherical cap for the purpose of compensating for misalignment of the shaft axis, wherein the bearing spherical cap is slide-mounted in the bearing housing in a maintenance-free manner, characterized in thatthat the bearing unit has at least one pivot angle limiter formed by the bearing housing and the bearing cap for limiting the pivot angle of the bearing cap about the bearing axis in the bearing housing to a predetermined angular dimension., 20. Bearing unit, in particular multi-part pillow block bearing according to claim 19, characterized by the characterizing features of at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 16.

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