Frame with compression and tension members to rotate equipment about an axis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9746127-B2
Application number	US-201415030692-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2014
Priority date	Oct 22, 2013
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for rotating equipment, like solar panels, about an axis. Tension and compression members, in a rigid structure, are employed in the apparatus to minimize weight and to maximize stiffness. The rotating equipment is attached to the upper end of a rotatable elongated compression member, rotatably supported at its lower end by a tri-pod base comprising three additional compression members. Six tension members extending up from the tripod base hold a flange through which passes the rotatable elongated compression member. Lateral forces on the rotatable equipment are transmitted to the tripod base through the six tension members. The apparatus is configured such that wind forces and torques on the rotated equipment are transmitted by the apparatus to ground supports. Solar panels supported by the apparatus may be held at a fixed tilt angle, or an additional mechanism may be provided for rotational about a second orthogonal axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for rotatively supporting equipment, comprising:
a first elongated compression member having a first end coupled to a node comprising a rotatable bearing, said first elongated compression member having a second end;
a second elongated compression member having a first end coupled to said node, said second elongated compression member having a second end;
a third elongated compression member having a first end coupled to said node, said third elongated compression member having a second end;
a rotatable fourth elongated compression member having a first end coupled to said rotatable bearing, said rotatable fourth elongated compression member having a second end, said rotatable fourth elongated compression member being supported near its second end by passing through an annular member comprising a second rotatable bearing;
a first tension member coupled between the second end of said first elongated compression member and the second end of said second elongated compression member;
a second tension member coupled between the second end of said second elongated compression member and the second end of said third elongated compression member;
a third tension member coupled between the second end of said third elongated compression member and the second end of said first elongated compression member;
a fourth tension member coupled between the second end of said first elongated compression member and a first projection on said annular member;
a fifth tension member coupled between the second end of said first elongated compression member and a second projection on said annular member;
a sixth tension member coupled between the second end of said second elongated compression member and the first projection on said annular member;
a seventh tension member coupled between the second end of said second elongated compression member and a third projection on said annular member;
an eighth tension member coupled between the second end of said third elongated compression member and the third projection on said annular member;
a ninth tension member coupled between the second end of said third elongated compression member and the second projection on said annular member;
the first tension member, the second tension member, and the third tension member forming a triangular shaped base said triangular shaped base forming a base of a hexapod;
the fourth tension member, the fifth tension member, the sixth tension member, the seventh tension member, the eighth tension member, and the ninth tension member forming the hexapod, with the three projections of the annular member forming an upper triangle of the hexapod; and,
wherein said tension members and said compression members cooperating to react against each other internally in order to form a substantially rigid tension-compression structure, said structure being supported at said triangular shaped base of the hexapod.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive wheel attached to said rotatable fourth elongated compression member; and,
a drive mechanism coupled to said drive wheel operable to turn said rotatable fourth elongated compression member.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
said drive mechanism comprises a geared drive motor that turns said drive wheel by means of a barrel worm gear acting on teeth provided on said drive wheel.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
said drive mechanism comprises a drive motor coupled to said drive wheel.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
said drive mechanism comprises a drive motor having a sprocket connected to said drive motor, the sprocket being coupled to a chain, said drive wheel having teeth corresponding to said chain, and said drive motor turns said drive wheel using said chain.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a linear actuator comprising a moveable rod, the linear actuator being coupled to said rotatable fourth elongated compression member, the moveable rod being coupled to equipment supported on a moveable elevation axis, whereby the equipment may be turned about the elevation axis using said linear actuator and said moveable rod.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a plurality of ground supports attached to said base triangle of the hexapod.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein:
said ground supports comprise a plurality of screw anchors.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of ground supports attached to said base triangle of the hexapod.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein:
said ground supports comprise a plurality of screw anchors.

Assignees

• Univ Arizona

Inventors

• Angel Roger P
• Cuerden Brian
• Whiteside Andrew R

Classifications

• F24S30/42

  with only one rotation axis · CPC title

• F16M11/18 Primary

  with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand · CPC title

• Y02E10/47

  Mountings or tracking · CPC title

• F16M11/22

  with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs (F16M11/42 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F24S2030/133

  in the form of flexible elements, e.g. belts, chains, ropes · CPC title