Solar Tracker Driveline Joint for Torque and Misalignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driveline joints for solar trackers face challenges in efficiently transmitting torque while accommodating angular misalignment and mitigating vibrations and axial movement, leading to increased maintenance and operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A driveline joint design featuring a shaft coupling with spherical bearings and fasteners, along with pressure plates to provide spring force, allowing for torque transmission and accommodating misalignment, while reducing vibrations and axial movement through a flared section and annulus ring configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a rigid shaft coupling is used to transmit torque, then torque transmission efficiency is improved, but angular misalignment accommodation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spherical bearings with curved raceways that allow the shaft coupling to accommodate angular misalignment while maintaining torque transmission. The spherical geometry enables rotational movement in multiple directions, resolving the contradiction between rigid torque transmission and flexible misalignment accommodation.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft coupling incorporates movable spherical bearings that can dynamically adjust their position and orientation to accommodate varying angular misalignments during operation. This dynamic capability allows the system to maintain effective torque transmission despite changes in alignment conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible coupling design is used to accommodate misalignment, then adaptability is improved, but torque transmission efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical bearings provide a curved contact surface that maintains continuous contact between the shaft coupling and driveline shaft, ensuring efficient torque transmission while accommodating misalignment. The curved geometry distributes loads effectively, preventing energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical bearings act as intermediary elements between the shaft coupling and the driveline shaft, mediating the torque transmission while allowing for angular misalignment. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing both flexibility and efficiency.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional driveline joints are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but vibration and axial movement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical bearings with curved raceways naturally dampen vibrations and reduce axial movement through their geometric configuration. The curved surfaces provide progressive contact that absorbs shock and reduces harmful vibrations while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical bearing design incorporates inherent cushioning capabilities that prevent excessive vibrations and axial movements before they can cause damage. The geometry of the spherical contacts provides built-in vibration damping and axial movement restriction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The driveline joint effectively transmits torque, reduces maintenance costs, and decreases operational expenses by allowing for angular misalignment and mitigating vibrations and axial movement, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of solar tracker systems.
Implementation Method 1
one or more spherical bearings that are each positioned between an interior lateral surface of the driveline shaft and an exterior lateral surface of the shaft coupling
Implementation Method 2
a first pressure plate being positioned to provide a first spring force against the shaft coupling
Data Source
AI summary
A driveline joint may include a driveline shaft that has a plurality of slots and a shaft coupling positioned in an interior of the driveline shaft in which the shaft coupling includes one or more openings with each of the openings corresponding to one or more respective slots of the plurality of slots included in the driveline shaft. The driveline joint may include one or more spherical bearings that are each positioned between an interior lateral surface of the driveline shaft and an exterior lateral surface of the shaft coupling and against one of the openings of the shaft coupling. The driveline joint may include one or more fasteners, wherein each of the fasteners extends through one of the slots and one of the openings of the shaft coupling.