Solar Tracker Worm-and-Rack Drive With Plastic Teeth and Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar tracking systems experience screeching effects and vibrations due to metal-metal contact between driving means and arches, requiring frequent maintenance to reduce friction, which is challenging in harsh weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system using a plastic rack with a worm screw and damping means, eliminating metal-metal contact and reducing vibrations by utilizing a plastic rack and elastomer damping blocks to absorb residual vibrations, thus eliminating the need for greasing and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal driving means and metal arch are used, then structural strength is ensured, but screeching effects and vibrations occur due to metal-metal contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rack made of plastic material as an intermediary element between the metal worm screw (driving means) and the metal arch. This plastic rack acts as a mediator that reduces direct metal-metal contact, thereby minimizing friction, vibrations, and screeching effects while still transmitting the necessary mechanical force to rotate the solar tracker.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite material solution by using a plastic rack in conjunction with metal components (worm screw and arch). This combination of different materials (plastic and metal) allows the system to benefit from both the low-friction, vibration-damping properties of plastic and the structural strength of metal, resolving the contradiction between strength and vibration reduction.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If greasing is implemented to reduce friction, then screeching effects are reduced, but frequent maintenance is required due to grease degradation in harsh weather
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic rack is designed to be self-lubricating due to the inherent low-friction properties of plastic material. This eliminates the need for external lubrication (greasing) and the associated maintenance activities. The system essentially serves itself by maintaining low friction through the material properties of the rack without requiring human intervention for lubrication replenishment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implicitly adopts a strategy where the plastic rack, being made from durable yet replaceable material, can serve as a maintenance-free component for an extended period. While not explicitly disposable, the rack is designed to outlast traditional greased metal contacts, effectively functioning as a long-life component that eliminates the need for periodic greasing maintenance.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If damping means are added to eliminate vibrations, then screeching effects are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the plastic rack component itself. The rack simultaneously serves as the driving interface (transmitting force from the worm screw), the vibration-damping element (through its material properties and connection to the arch), and the structural link (connecting the driving means to the solar tracker). This merging of functions into a single component avoids the need for separate, additional damping devices, thereby maintaining system simplicity.
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 system effectively reduces screeching effects and vibrations, eliminating the need for maintenance by using a plastic rack with a low friction coefficient and elastomer damping blocks to absorb vibrations, ensuring reliable operation in solar tracking devices.
Implementation Method 1
the arch comprising damping means linking with the solar tracker
Implementation Method 2
the damping blocks are produced in an elastomer of EPDM (Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Monomer) type
Implementation Method 3
the rack comprising teeth made of plastic material... which exhibits a very low coefficient of friction
Data Source
AI summary
A system for effecting the rotational movement of a solar tracker about an axis of rotation includes a bow mounted on the solar tracker and comprising a rack and a worm engaging with the rack to effect the rotational movement, the rack having a plastic tooth set and the bow having a damper configured to dampen the connection with the solar tracker.