Solar Tracker Worm Drive With Adjustable Backlash Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steering devices for solar tracking equipment face high fabrication costs and precision issues due to fixed worm and worm gear locations, and are prone to deterioration from environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A steering device with an adjustable backlash mechanism between the worm and worm gear, featuring a cylindrical worm unit and adjustment mechanism, allowing for assembly without precise mechanical treatment and protection from environmental debris, along with axial adjustment to prevent backlash and facilitate maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the worm and worm gear are fixed in location with precise mechanical fabrication, then the engagement between worm and worm gear is adequate, but the fabrication cost and processing cost are relatively high
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the worm gear position adjustable through an adjustment mechanism that allows the worm gear to be moved axially along the worm shaft. This dynamic positioning capability eliminates the need for precise fixed positioning during fabrication, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining adequate engagement between the worm and worm gear during operation.
2Device complexity
If the worm and worm gear are fixed in location, then the structure is simple, but the components may be deteriorated by environmental conditions such as wind, sunlight, and rain
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism enables dynamic positioning of the worm gear, allowing it to be moved into a protected position within the housing structure. This dynamic capability provides better protection against environmental deterioration while maintaining relatively simple overall device structure.
3Reliability
If the worm gear is disposed in the internal space of a tubular body, then the worm gear is protected from environmental debris, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The worm gear is nested within the internal space of the tubular body housing structure. This nesting arrangement protects the worm gear from environmental debris while the modular design of the nested components keeps the assembly process manageable through standardized interfaces and sequential assembly steps.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering device for use in solar tracking equipment includes: a fixed base (10); a rotary base (20) correspondingly connected to the fixed base (10) and provided with a worm gear (22); and a driving module (30) disposed in the fixed base (10) and including a worm unit (33) and an adjustment mechanism (34), the worm unit (33) includes a cylindrical body (331) and a worm (332) supported in the cylindrical body (331), and the cylindrical body (331) is pivoted in the fixed base (10), the adjustment mechanism (34) is disposed corresponding to the cylindrical body (331) for adjusting the swinging motion of the cylindrical body (331), thereby enabling the worm (332) and the worm gear (22) to be mutually engaged. Accordingly, the backlash between the worm and the worm gear is able to be adjusted thereby enhancing the rotation precision.