SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM

• Main Authors: LAMB, Jeffrey, LABROSSE, Jean-Paul, SCHNEIDER, Matthew
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 04.10.2017
• Subjects: BEARINGS; BLASTING; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; FRAMES, CASINGS, OR BEDS OF ENGINES OR OTHER MACHINES ORAPPARATUS NOT SPECIFIC TO AN ENGINE, MACHINE, OR APPARATUSPROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; RANGES; REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGYGENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; SHAFTS; SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS; STANDS OR SUPPORTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; VENTILATING; WEAPONS

A solar tracking system comprising: at least one solar tracking bearing atop a support post, the solar tracking bearing comprising a pair of stationary outer bearing races attached on either side of a bearing support element, and a rotatable inner bearing race held by the pair of outer bearing races, the rotatable inner bearing race having an beam slot for seating a torque tube beam therein; a torque tube beam seated in the beam slot; a frame on which one or more photovoltaic modules can be mounted, the frame being secured to the torque tube beam; and an electromechanical actuator operable to control the inclination angle of the frame by causing the torque tube beam to rotate in the at least one solar tracking bearing. A solar tracker bearing comprises: a bearing support element; a stationary outer bearing race on a bearing securing element mounted to the bearing support element and providing a bearing surface for seating a torque tube beam therein.