Spring counter-balance assemblies and solar trackers incorporating springs to balance rotation

    公开(公告)号:US11799416B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-10-24

    申请号:US18069145

    申请日:2022-12-20

    发明人: Ronald P. Corio

    摘要: A solar tracker assembly is provided which includes a support column, a torque tube or torsion beam connected to the support column, a mounting mechanism attached to the torque tube or torsion beam, a drive system connected to the torque tube or torsion beam, and a spring counter-balance assembly connected to the torque tube or torsion beam. An exemplary spring counter-balance assembly comprises a bearing housing and a bushing disposed within the bearing housing and configured to be slideably mounted onto the torque tube or torsion beam, and one or more compressible cords made of a flexible material. The compressible cords are located between the bushing and the bearing housing and provide damping during rotational movement of the solar tracker assembly. An exemplary spring counter-balance assembly is provided including at least one top bracket and at least one bottom bracket, at least one spring, a damper, and a bracket. An exemplary spring counter-balance assembly comprises a bearing housing and a bushing disposed within the bearing housing and configured to be slideably mounted onto the torque tube or torsion beam. The spring counter-balance assembly may include at least one coil spring and a rotational stop. The bushing may be made of an elastomeric material and define one or more air spaces.

    Solar concentrator, solar receiver and thermal storage

    公开(公告)号:US11473851B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-10-18

    申请号:US17186201

    申请日:2021-02-26

    发明人: Marko Vuksanovic

    摘要: A solar concentrator comprising: a base; a framework, the framework being hingedly joined to the base such that the framework can be rotated relative to the base; and a plurality of mirrors arranged relative to a first axis of the framework, such that all of the mirrors are located on one side of a plane which contains the first axis, each mirror being fixed to the framework and each mirror being arranged to reflect light travelling parallel to the first axis towards a common focus which lies on the first axis.

    Solar oven positioning
    5.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US11365902B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-06-21

    申请号:US17243388

    申请日:2021-04-28

    摘要: To position a solar oven radiation collection device, a structural extension assembly extends in a radial direction with respect to a structure. A moveable transport provides linear movement of the solar oven radiation collection device along an axis of the structural extension assembly. A linear deploy electric motor is used to control linear movement of the solar oven radiation collection device along the axis of the structural extension assembly. A solar altitude electric motor is used to adjust orientation of the solar oven radiation collection device to take into account changes in solar altitude with respect to time. A solar azimuth electric motor is used to adjust orientation of the solar oven radiation collection device to take into account changes in azimuth with respect to time.

    A PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR A BOAT
    6.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20210163112A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-06-03

    申请号:US17268024

    申请日:2019-08-12

    摘要: A propulsion system for a boat comprises a plurality of aerofoils connected to a main mast. At least one of the aerofoils is a displaceable aerofoil adapted to be displaced along the main mast between an open position and a closed position. When the displaceable aerofoil is in its open position the aerofoils together form a sail of open sail area. When the displaceable aerofoil is in its closed position at least some of the aerofoils overlap to form a sail of closed sail area, the closed sail area being less than the open sail area. The propulsion system can include a displacement mechanism to displace the displaceable aerofoil between its open and closed positions; at least one of the aerofoils having a solar panel thereon; and/or a stub mast extending along and free to rotate about a stub axis and; connected to the main mast by a stub pivot.

    DIRECTIONAL SOLAR PANEL ASSEMBLY
    8.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20190353405A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-11-21

    申请号:US16342113

    申请日:2018-02-09

    发明人: Osman SAEED

    摘要: A solar panel assembly (10) having a stand (30), a solar panel platform (20, 120) and one or more directional mechanisms (40; 404, 414) connecting the stand (30) with the solar panel platform. One or more optical elements (50; 161, 162) are provided at all or portions of the edges (24) of the platform around the solar panel directing the light under the platform (20, 120) or towards its underside (22), and then to the ground (31) under or near the solar panel assembly. One or more of the optical elements (161, 162) are mounted on an inner side of a profile (160). The profile (160) is connected via a web (164) to the solar panel platform (120) and the web is connected with a drive within the platform. The connection of the web extends the profile from the platform creating a passage (124) between the profile and the platform.