Off-set drive assembly for solar tracker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018024222-A1
Application number	US-201715694647-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 1, 2017
Priority date	Dec 10, 2012
Publication date	Jan 25, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

In an example, the present invention provides a solar tracker apparatus configured with an off-set drive assembly. In an example, the apparatus has an inner race structure, which has a cylindrical region coupled to a main body region, the main body comprising an off-set open region. The cylindrical region is an annular sleeve structure coupled to the main body region, which occupies the spatial region within the cylindrical region. In an example, the apparatus has an outer race structure coupled to enclose the inner race structure, configured to couple the inner race structure to allow the inner race structure to move in a rotational manner about a spatial arc region; and configured to allow the inner race structure to pivot about a region normal to a direction of the spatial arc region. In an example, the solar tracker has a clamp assembly that is configured to pivot a torque tube.

First claim

1 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . A solar module clamp apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a bottom hat channel clamp member disposed on a frame member; a top hat channel clamp member configured to sandwich at least a pair of edges of a pair of solar panels such that the pair of edges are placed on a brim region of the bottom hat channel member such that the top hat channel clamp member, which has a slightly larger inner width than a width of the bottom hat channel member, is configured to intimately couple a protruding channel with the bottom hat channel member with a slot the top hat channel member while leaving a spatial gap between an upper surface of the bottom hat channel member and a bottom surface of the top hat channel member; whereupon the spatial gap is configured to form a spring action to cause force to increase as a nut member is secured form an outer region to an inner region.

19 . Apparatus of claim 18 wherein the bottom hat channel member is mechanically fixed to the frame member using a pair of nuts and bolts configured on each side of a channel region of the bottom hat channel clamp; and further comprising a center bolt inserted from a bottom portion of the frame member, extends through both hat channel members, and protrudes through an upper surface of the top hat channel member and configured with a nut is to firmly engage the bottom hat structure with the top hat structure with the pair of edges of the pair of solar panels in between.

20 . Apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a first thickness of compressible material disposed overlying a portion of an edge of a channel region, and overlying an upper surface of each brim region, and underlying the pair of edges of the solar panels; and a second thickness of compressive material disposed between an underlying region of the brim on the top hat channel member and an upper edge portion of the solar module such that each of the thicknesses of compressive materials provides friction in a sandwich structure to prevent movement or sliding of any of the solar modules among each other.

Assignees

• Nextracker Inc

Inventors

• Au Alexander W

Classifications

• F16C11/045

  with at least a pair of arms pivoting relatively to at least one other arm, all arms being mounted on one pin (crank-pins F16C11/02) · CPC title

• H02S20/10

  Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground (H02S20/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y10T74/18792

  including worm · CPC title

• F16H19/08

  for interconverting rotary motion and oscillating motion · CPC title

• F24S2030/15

  Bearings · CPC title