Ganged single axis solar tracker and its drive system

Abstract

The present invention involves a ganged single axis solar tracker and its drive system having at least two rows of solar trackers and a drive mechanism. Each tracker row shares one common rotation axis and the at least two tracker rows are placed in parallel. At least one torque arm is rigidly and perpendicularly connected to the each tracker rotation axis. The drive mechanism has at least one rotary actuator, such as a slew drive, whose rotation axis is parallel to the tracker rotation axes. At least one drive torque arm is rigidly and perpendicularly connected to the drive rotation axis. The drive torque arm and the tracker torque arms are hinge connected with a series of rigid beams. The linkage beams are perpendicular to the tracker and drive rotation axes. The rotary drive rotates and creates a rotation movement. The drive torque arm follows the rotation movement of the drive, which consequently converts a linear push-pull movement in the linkage beams. The linkage beams push and pull the tracker torque arms, rocking the at least two rows of solar trackers to rotate about their axes and to follow the sun's movement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ganged single axis solar tracker system comprising at least two rows of solar trackers and a drive mechanism, said solar trackers have rotation axes and solar receivers; said solar receivers being mounted onto the tracker rotation axes, said solar trackers in one row being rotationally mounted on at least one foundation and share one common rotation axis, at least two tracker rows being placed in parallel with at least one torque arm being rigidly and perpendicularly connected to the each tracker rotation axis, a rotation center of the torque arm being coincident with the tracker rotation axis onto which the torque arm is affixed; said drive mechanism having at least one rotary actuator whose rotation axis is parallel to the tracker rotation axes, wherein said at least one drive torque arm is rigidly and perpendicularly connected to the drive rotation axis, the rotation center of the torque arm being coincident with the drive rotation axis, wherein the drive torque arm and the tracker torque arms are hinge connected with a series of rigid beams having linkage beams that are perpendicular to the tracker and drive rotation axes. 
     
     
         2 . A ganged single axis solar tracker system according to  claim 1  wherein said rotary actuator is a slew drive, a worm gear, a planetary gear, or a slew ring. 
     
     
         3 . A ganged single axis solar tracker system according to  claim 1  wherein said rotation axis of the rotary actuator is coincident with the rotation axis of one tracker row within the tracker array. 
     
     
         4 . A ganged single axis solar tracker system according to  claim 1  wherein said rotation axis of the rotary actuator is parallel to and away from the rotation axis of any tracker row of the tracker array. 
     
     
         5 . A ganged single axis solar tracker system according to  claim 4  wherein said rotation axis of the rotary actuator is located within or outside of the tracker array. 
     
     
         6 . A ganged single axis solar tracker system according to  claim 1  wherein said rotation axes of the rotary actuator and trackers are flat, tilted to the ground, or vertical. 
     
     
         7 . A ganged single axis solar tracker system according to  claim 1  wherein said tracker rotation beam is of round or square cross section, or truss. 
     
     
         8 . A ganged single axis solar tracker drive mechanism for linking and driving at least two rows of solar trackers, wherein the solar trackers have rotation axes and solar receivers that are mounted onto the tracker rotation axes, and wherein solar trackers in one row are rotatorily mounted onto at least one foundation and share one common rotation axis with at least two tracker rows being placed in parallel, the single axis solar tracker drive mechanism comprising: a plurality of torque arms which are perpendicularly and rigidly connected to each of the tracker rotation axes, a rotation center of each torque arm being coincident with the tracker rotation axis onto which each torque arm is affixed, said single axis solar tracker drive mechanism further comprising of at least one rotary actuator drive having one rotation axis which is parallel to the tracker rotation axes, and at least one drive torque arm which is rigidly and perpendicularly connected to the drive rotation axis, wherein a rotation center of the drive torque arm is coincident with the drive rotation axis, the at least one drive torque arm and the tracker torque arms being hinge connected with a series of rigid linkage beams, the linkage beams being perpendicular to the tracker and arranged to drive rotation axes.