Mass damper for solar tracker
First Claim
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1. A solar tracker system, the system comprising:
- a first pillar structure and a second pillar structure;
a torque tube configured between the first pillar structure and the second pillar structure;
a plurality of solar modules configured spatially along the torque tube from a first end to a second end;
a panel rail configured to support each of the plurality of solar modules;
a clamp device coupled to sandwich the torque tube between a lower portion of the clamp device and each panel rail;
a mass damper structure comprising a mechanical isolator comprising an elastic material configured to separate the panel rail from the torque tube and cause destructive interference with a natural resonant frequency of the system without the mechanical isolator to reduce a mechanical vibration of the system;
wherein the mechanical isolator comprises a rubber like material having a thickness;
wherein the mechanical isolator comprises a thickness of material having one or more openings to make the mechanical isolator more flexible in characteristics, each of the openings traversing through the thickness of the mechanical isolator, each of the openings being symmetrically and spatially disposed along a length of the mechanical isolator;
the mechanical isolator being characterized by a narrow region along a center of the length in relationship to each edge region of the mechanical isolator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an example, the system has a mechanical isolator comprising an elastic material configured to separate the panel rail from the torque tube cause destructive interference with a natural resonant frequency of the system without the mechanical isolator to reduce a mechanical vibration of the system.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A solar tracker system, the system comprising:
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a first pillar structure and a second pillar structure; a torque tube configured between the first pillar structure and the second pillar structure; a plurality of solar modules configured spatially along the torque tube from a first end to a second end; a panel rail configured to support each of the plurality of solar modules; a clamp device coupled to sandwich the torque tube between a lower portion of the clamp device and each panel rail; a mass damper structure comprising a mechanical isolator comprising an elastic material configured to separate the panel rail from the torque tube and cause destructive interference with a natural resonant frequency of the system without the mechanical isolator to reduce a mechanical vibration of the system;
wherein the mechanical isolator comprises a rubber like material having a thickness;
wherein the mechanical isolator comprises a thickness of material having one or more openings to make the mechanical isolator more flexible in characteristics, each of the openings traversing through the thickness of the mechanical isolator, each of the openings being symmetrically and spatially disposed along a length of the mechanical isolator;
the mechanical isolator being characterized by a narrow region along a center of the length in relationship to each edge region of the mechanical isolator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A solar tracker comprising:
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a mass damper structure comprising a mechanical isolator comprising an elastic material configured to separate a panel rail from a torque tube and cause destructive interference with a natural resonant frequency of the solar tracker system without the mechanical isolator to reduce a mechanical vibration of the solar tracker system; wherein the mechanical isolator comprises a rubber like material having a thickness;
wherein the mechanical isolator comprises a thickness of material having one or more openings to make the mechanical isolator more flexible in characteristics, each of the openings traversing through the thickness of the mechanical isolator, each of the openings being symmetrically and spatially disposed along a length of the mechanical isolator;
the mechanical isolator being characterized by a narrow region along a center of the length in relationship to each edge region of the mechanical isolator.wherein mechanical isolator has a thickness of three inches and less, and a width of two inches and less; wherein the natural resonant frequency ranges from 1 Hz to 10 Hz in a torsional mode, and 1 Hz to 5 Hz in a bending mode; wherein the mechanical vibration leads to failure of the solar tracker system without the mechanical isolator; wherein the mechanical vibration is derived from external wind subjected to the solar tracker system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification