Articulation joints for terrain following solar tracker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11525604-B1
Application number	US-202117525157-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 12, 2021
Priority date	Oct 21, 2021
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

A coupling system for use with a solar tracker includes a support flange, a swivel flange rotatably supported on the support flange, an articulation joint interposed between each of the support flange and the swivel flange and rotatably supported by each of the support flange and the swivel flange, wherein opposed first and second end portions of the articulation joint are configured to be operably coupled to a respective first and second torque tube, and at least one locking fastener selectively coupled to a portion of the support flange and a portion of the swivel flange, the at least one locking fastener configured to selectively inhibit rotation of the swivel flange relative to the support flange.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling system for use with a solar tracker, comprising:
a support flange;
a swivel flange rotatably supported on the support flange at a location that is offset from a center portion of the support flange;
an articulation joint, the articulation joint interposed between each of the support flange and the swivel flange and rotatably supported by each of the support flange and the swivel flange, wherein opposed first and second end portions of the articulation joint are configured to be operably coupled to a respective first and second torque tube; and
at least one locking fastener, the at least one locking fastener selectively coupled to a portion of the support flange and a portion of the swivel flange, the at least one locking fastener configured to selectively inhibit rotation of the swivel flange relative to the support flange.

2. The coupling system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking fastener is configured to permit rotation of the swivel flange relative to the support flange when placed in a first, unlocked position and inhibit rotation of the swivel flange relative to the support flange when placed in a second, locked position.

3. The coupling system according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one locking fastener is operably coupled to a slot having an arcuate profile.

4. The coupling system according to claim 1 , wherein the articulation joint is a constant velocity joint.

5. The coupling system according to claim 1 , wherein the articulation joint is a universal joint.

6. The coupling system according to claim 1 , wherein the swivel flange is rotatably supported on the support flange about a first axis and the articulation joint is rotatably supported by the swivel flange and the support flange about a second axis that is generally transverse to the first axis.

7. The coupling system according to claim 6 , wherein the articulation joint is rotatably supported by at least one bearing operably coupled to a portion of each of the support flange and the swivel flange.

8. The coupling system according to claim 1 , further comprising a pair of cradles operably coupled to a respective end portion of the articulation joint, the pair of cradles configured to receive a respective torque tube therein.

9. A coupling system for use with a solar tracker, comprising:
an articulation joint, the articulation joint including a constant velocity joint and a stub axle operably coupled to a portion of the constant velocity joint; and
a pair of cradles, each cradle of the pair of cradles operably coupled to a portion of a respective one of the constant velocity joint and the stub axle of the articulation joint, a first cradle of the pair of cradles is rotatable relative to a second cradle of the pair of cradles about a transverse axis, the transverse axis offset from a center portion defined between the pair of cradles in a longitudinal direction,
wherein each of the pair of cradles is configured to receive a portion of a respective torque tube therein.

10. The coupling system according to claim 9 , further comprising a support flange rotatably supporting the constant velocity joint and a swivel flange rotatably supporting the stub axle.

11. The coupling system according to claim 10 , wherein the swivel flange is rotatably supported on the support flange such that the swivel flange is selectively permitted to rotate relative to the support flange about a first axis.

12. The coupling system according to claim 11 , wherein the articulation joint is rotatably supported by the support flange and the swivel flange about a second axis that is generally transverse to the first axis.

13. The coupling system according to claim 9 , further comprising at least one locking fastener, the at least one locking fastener selectively coupled to a portion of each of the support flange and the swivel flange, the at least one locking fastener configured to selectively inhibit rotation of the swivel flange relative to the support flange.

14. A solar tracker, comprising:
at least one pier;
a pair of torque tubes, wherein the at least one pier is interposed between the pair of torque tubes; and
a coupling system, the coupling system including:
a support flange;
a swivel flange rotatably supported on the support flange at a location that is offset from a center portion of the support flange;
an articulation joint, the articulation joint interposed between each of the support flange and the swivel flange and rotatably supported by each of the support flange and the swivel flange, wherein opposed first and second end portions of the articulation joint are configured to be operably coupled to a respective first and second torque tube; and
at least one locking fastener, the at least one locking fastener selectively coupled to a portion of the support flange and a portion of the swivel flange, the at least one locking fastener configured to selectively inhibit rotation of the swivel flange relative to the support flange.

15. The solar tracker according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one locking fastener is configured to permit rotation of the swivel flange relative to the support flange when placed in a first, unlocked position and inhibit rotation of the swivel flange relative to the support flange when placed in a second, locked position.

16. The solar tracker according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one locking fastener is operably coupled to a slot having an arcuate profile.

17. The solar tracker according to claim 14 , wherein the articulation joint is a constant velocity joint.

18. The solar tracker according to claim 14 , wherein the articulation joint is a universal joint.

19. The solar tracker according to claim 14 , wherein the coupling system further includes a pair of cradles operably coupled to a respective end portion of the articulation joint, the pair of cradles configured to receive a respective torque tube of the pair of torque tubes therein.

Assignees

• Nextracker Inc
• Nextracker Llc

Inventors

• Delgado-Nanez Ricardo
• Tsim Kin

Classifications

• Y02E10/47

  Mountings or tracking · CPC title

• F24S30/455 Primary

  Horizontal primary axis · CPC title

• F24S2030/19

  Movement dampening means; Braking means · CPC title

• F24S30/458

  with inclined primary axis · CPC title

• F24S2030/16

  Hinged elements; Pin connections · CPC title