Tracking Device

Abstract

A tracking device is disclosed for a unit, in particular a solar collector, to be directed toward a moving object. The tracking device has a bracket, which carries the unit and which is accommodated on a shaft that can be rotated about an azimuth axis by means of a hydraulic azimuth drive. Furthermore, the tracking device has a hydraulically adjustable tilting device for tilting the bracket, wherein a support of the shaft and the azimuth drive are arranged on or in a housing. At least one section of the shaft having the support thereof, the azimuth drive, and a pressure medium tank having pressure medium for supplying the azimuth drive and the tilting device are arranged in a common cavity of the housing.

1 . A tracking device for a unit to be directed toward a moving object, comprising:
 a hydraulic azimuth drive;   a shaft having a bearing assembly, the shaft being configured to be rotated about an azimuth axis by the hydraulic azimuth drive;   a bracket which carries the unit and which is mounted on the shaft;   a hydraulically adjustable tilting device configured to tilt the bracket;   a housing defining a cavity; and   a pressure medium tank configured to contain pressure medium for supplying the azimuth drive,   wherein the bearing assembly of the shaft and the azimuth drive are arranged on or in the housing, and   wherein at least one section of the shaft and the bearing assembly thereof, and the pressure medium tank and the tilting device are arranged in the cavity of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The tracking device as claimed in patent  claim 1 , wherein the azimuth drive has a worm gear, which is arranged in the housing and the worm of of the worm gear meshes with a worm wheel arranged on the shaft, wherein the worm is driven by a hydraulic motor. 
     
     
         3 . The tracking device as claimed in patent  claim 2 , wherein the hydraulic motor is an axial piston motor, which is secured on an outer wall of the housing and the hydraulic ports of which are arranged on an end facing the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The tracking device as claimed in patent  claim 2 , wherein the worm is formed on a worm spindle which is accessible on both sides of the housing and on the first end section of which the hydraulic motor is arranged and on the second end section of which a rotational speed sensor is arranged. 
     
     
         5 . The tracking device as claimed in patent  claim 1 , wherein the tilting device has a hydraulic cylinder, which engages on the bracket and engages directly or indirectly on the shaft and which is configured to be supplied with pressure medium by a hydraulic pump arranged on the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The tracking device as claimed in patent  claim 5 , wherein the azimuth drive is supplied by the hydraulic pump and an electric motor, which drives the hydraulic pump. 
     
     
         7 . The tracking device as claimed in patent  claim 6 , wherein the electric motor is a synchronous motor, and the hydraulic pump is a gear pump, both of which are placed against the housing in a radial direction with respect to the shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The tracking device as claimed in patent  claim 7 , wherein a tank port and a pressure port are arranged on a side of the gear pump which faces the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The tracking device as claimed in patent  claim 8 , wherein a lateral wall section of the housing forms a wall of the gear pump, and wherein the tank port and the pressure port are through holes in the wall section. 
     
     
         10 . The tracking device as claimed in  claim 1  further having a control block with an electronic control unit and/or valves for controlling the supply to the azimuth drive and the tilting device. 
     
     
         11 . The tracking device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a section which projects from the housing toward the bracket. 
     
     
         12 . The tracking device as claimed in patent  claim 10 , wherein the control block is arranged adjacent to the projecting section of the shaft on an upper side of the housing, said upper side facing the bracket, or is arranged laterally on the housing or in the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The tracking device as claimed in patent  claim 1 , further comprising a dirt seal, which rests against the shaft, and is fitted on the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The tracking device as claimed in patent  claim 1 , wherein at least the section of the shaft which is accommodated in the housing is hollow. 
     
     
         15 . The tracking device as claimed in patent  claim 1 , wherein the bearing assembly of the shaft has an axial bearing and a radial bearing, wherein the axial bearing is arranged between the radial bearing and the bracket, and wherein both bearings are immersed in the pressure medium. 
     
     
         16 . The tracking device as claimed in patent  claim 15 , wherein the housing is a casting, through the upper side of which the shaft can be inserted and on the underside of which, which faces away from the bracket, there is arranged an opening, through which the axial bearing and the radial bearing can be inserted and which can be closed by a housing cover. 
     
     
         17 . The tracking device as claimed in patent  claim 1 , wherein the shaft carries a pivot bearing of the bracket, and wherein the pivot of the pivot bearing lies in a radial plane of the shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The tracking device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the rotational speed sensor is a potentiometer. 
     
     
         19 . The tracking device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the unit is a solar collector.