Adjustable bearing supports for single-axis trackers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11480643-B2
Application number	US-202017084355-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2020
Priority date	Oct 29, 2019
Publication date	Oct 25, 2022
Grant date	Oct 25, 2022

Abstract

Adjustable bearing supports for single-axis trackers supported by truss foundations. A two-piece assembly joins a pair of adjacent truss legs to form a rigid foundation while providing a movable support for a tracker bearing housing assembly or other structure. The movable support may slide in-plane, or alternatively, enable the bearing housing assembly to slide and rotate with respect to the truss cap structure joining the adjacent truss legs.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An adjustable bearing support assembly for a truss foundation supporting a single-axis tracker comprising:
a lower portion having a pair of opposing connecting portions adapted to join a pair of adjacent angled truss legs to form the truss foundation and a substantially planar mounting surface with at least one adjustment slot formed therein; and
an elongated upper portion comprising a walled channel running substantially its entire length and adapted to support a single-axis tracker bearing housing assembly and having at least one alignment opening for adjusting the bearing housing assembly's position in a direction of a torque tube of the single-axis tracker with respect to the lower portion via the alignment slot when the upper portion is seated on the mounting surface of the lower portion to compensate for misalignment of the truss foundation in the direction of the torque tube.

2. The adjustable bearing support assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one fastener extending through the at least one alignment opening of the upper portion into the at least one adjustment slot of the lower portion, enabling the position of the tracker bearing housing assembly and elongated upper portion relative to the mounting surface to be fixed.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a pair of opposing holes in a base of the walled channel that receive respective fasteners extending from a bearing housing assembly of a single-axis tracker through the pair of opposing holes to secure the bearing housing assembly to the elongated upper portion.

4. The assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one adjustment opening on the upper portion is positioned between the pair of opposing holes.

5. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the width of the substantially planar mounting surface of the lower portion is approximately ⅔ the length of the elongated upper portion to prevent mechanical interference with rotating components of the single-axis tracker when the tracker is installed on the truss foundation.

6. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the opposing connecting portions are adapted to join the pair of adjacent angled truss legs so that they straddle an intended North-South oriented tracker row of the single-axis tracker and the at least one of slot in the substantially planar mounting surface extends along the direction of the intended tracker row.

7. An adjustable bearing support for a mechanically balanced single-axis tracker comprising:
a lower portion having a main body, a pair of opposing connecting portions extending away from the main body, and a substantially planar mounting surface on top of the main body, the planar mounting surface having at least one slot extending therethrough; and
an elongated upper portion adjustably seated on the substantially planar mounting surface of the lower portion and adapted to support a bearing housing assembly of a mechanically balanced single-axis tracker and having at least one alignment opening for adjusting the bearing housing assembly's position in a direction of a torque tube of the single-axis tracker with respect to the lower portion via the alignment slot when the upper portion is seated on the mounting surface of the lower portion to compensate for misalignment of the truss foundation in the direction of the torque tube wherein the elongated upper portion comprises a walled channel running substantially its entire length.

8. The adjustable bearing support according to claim 7 , further comprising at least one fastener extending through the elongated upper portion and the at least one slot of the planar mounting surface.

9. The adjustable bearing support according to claim 7 , wherein the width of the planar mounting surface is approximately ⅔ the length of the elongated upper portion to prevent mechanical interference with rotating components of the mechanically balanced single-axis tracker when a bearing housing assembly of the tracker is attached to the adjustable bearing support.

10. A system comprising:
a lower truss cap portion including a pair of opposing connecting portions for joining a pair of adjacent angled truss legs and a first pair of flanges extending away from the connecting portions; and
an upper bearing housing assembly support for supporting a bearing housing assembly of a single-axis tracker including a second pair of opposing flanges extending towards the first pair of flanges, wherein the first and second pairs of flanges overlap to enable the position of the upper bearing housing assembly support to be adjusted relative to the lower truss cap portion.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the first and second pairs of flanges have overlapping openings that receive respective fasteners to enable the position of the upper bearing housing assembly support to be adjusted with respect to the lower truss cap portion while remaining fastened together.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the upper bearing housing assembly support is able to rotate with respect to the lower truss cap portion while the first and second pairs of flanges remain in contact.

13. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the upper bearing housing assembly support is able to slide in-plane with respect to the lower truss cap portion while the first and second pairs of flanges remain in contact.

14. A two-piece truss cap for supporting a single-axis tracker bearing housing assembly with a truss foundation comprising:
a first main body portion having a first pair of connecting portions extending below the first main body portion at opposing angles to one another;
a first pair of parallel flanges attached to and extending above the first main body portion; and
a second bearing housing assembly support portion providing a mounting surface for a single-axis tracker bearing housing assembly and having a second pair of parallel flanges extending below the mounting surface, wherein the first pair of flanges and second pair of flanges are similarly spaced apart so that one pair fits within the other and have respective overlapping openings formed therein to receive respective fasteners and to enable the second bearing housing assembly support portion to be moved with respect to the first main body portion while the two components remain coupled together.

Assignees

• Ojjo Inc

Inventors

• Pesce Katie
• Almy Charles
• Mcpheeters Greg
• Hudson Tyrus
• West Jack

Classifications

• F24S25/70

  with means for adjusting the final position or orientation of supporting elements in relation to each other or to a mounting surface; with means for compensating mounting tolerances · CPC title

• H02S20/32 Primary

  specially adapted for solar tracking · CPC title

• F16M11/12

  in more than one direction · CPC title

• G01S3/7861 Primary

  Solar tracking systems · CPC title

• F24S30/425

  Horizontal axis · CPC title