HIGH EFFICIENCY CONTERBALANCED DUAL AXIS SOLAR TRACKING ARRAY FRAME SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A dual axis solar tracking system comprising:
- a. a first array, comprising;
i. a first plurality of photovoltaic solar collecting panels (PV panels) configured to receive solar radiation;
ii. a first upper rail and a first lower rail extending substantially parallel to one another and between which the first plurality of PV panels are each rotatably mounted about X axes that are substantially parallel to one another, and substantially perpendicular to the first upper rail and the first lower rail, and configured to be substantially perpendicular to the solar radiation;
wherein the first upper rail and the first lower rail each comprise substantially free and oppositely disposed ends and are not coupled to each other at their respective ends;
b. a second array, comprising;
i. a second plurality of PV panels configured to receive solar radiation;
ii. a second upper rail and a second lower rail extending substantially parallel to one another and between which the second plurality of PV panels are each rotatably mounted about X axes that are substantially parallel to one another, and substantially perpendicular to the second upper rail and the second lower rail, and configured to be substantially perpendicular to the solar radiation;
wherein the second upper rail and the second lower rail each comprise substantially free and oppositely disposed ends and are not coupled to each other at their respective ends; and
c. at least one array connector coupling together adjacent ends of the first and second rails, to produce a ganged array comprising at least two connected arrays.
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Abstract
A high efficiency, environmentally friendly system comprising a plurality of photovoltaic solar collecting panels (PV panels) is disclosed. The system comprises an outer frame to which a plurality of inner frames are mounted to which the plurality of PV panels are attached. To minimize shadowing by the outer frame upon one or more PV panels, at least one PV panel may extend beyond an endpoint of the main frame. The system also comprises an outer frame rotation actuator that rotates the outer frame and an inner frame rotation actuator that rotates the inner frames and the plurality of PV panels. The solar tracking array frames disclosed herein help to improve the quality of the environment by conserving a variety of energy resources (e.g., fossil fuels, hydroelectric energy, etc.) The solar tracking array frames disclosed herein also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as solar tracking array frames do not produce carbon dioxide byproducts.
54 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A dual axis solar tracking system comprising:
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a. a first array, comprising; i. a first plurality of photovoltaic solar collecting panels (PV panels) configured to receive solar radiation; ii. a first upper rail and a first lower rail extending substantially parallel to one another and between which the first plurality of PV panels are each rotatably mounted about X axes that are substantially parallel to one another, and substantially perpendicular to the first upper rail and the first lower rail, and configured to be substantially perpendicular to the solar radiation; wherein the first upper rail and the first lower rail each comprise substantially free and oppositely disposed ends and are not coupled to each other at their respective ends; b. a second array, comprising; i. a second plurality of PV panels configured to receive solar radiation; ii. a second upper rail and a second lower rail extending substantially parallel to one another and between which the second plurality of PV panels are each rotatably mounted about X axes that are substantially parallel to one another, and substantially perpendicular to the second upper rail and the second lower rail, and configured to be substantially perpendicular to the solar radiation; wherein the second upper rail and the second lower rail each comprise substantially free and oppositely disposed ends and are not coupled to each other at their respective ends; and c. at least one array connector coupling together adjacent ends of the first and second rails, to produce a ganged array comprising at least two connected arrays. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification