Solar tracker drive mount

Abstract

A sun-tracking solar drive of a solar energy system can include mounting hardware supporting the solar drive with support components of the same type of that used for supporting other components of system. The support components can be in the form of pile driven members, which optionally can be connected together for sharing the loads associated with the solar drive. The solar drive can be mounted to the support components with an adjustable mount member, configured to allow an orientation of the solar drive to be adjusted.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar energy collection system comprising:
 a first array of solar energy collection devices mounted so as to be movable between first and second positions, the first array of solar energy collection devices mounted to a first rotational member assembly supported above the ground by a first plurality of support members which are fixed to the ground;   a second array of solar energy collection devices spaced from the first array, the second array of solar energy collection devices mounted to a second rotational member assembly supported above the ground by a second plurality of support members;   a drive system comprising an actuator, a drive link assembly connecting the actuator with the first and second arrays;   an actuator support supporting the actuator above the ground, the actuator support comprising a third plurality of support members fixed to the ground and connected together.   
     
     
         2 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the third support members are the same type of member as the first and second plurality of support members. 
     
     
         3 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the third plurality of support members are substantially the same as the first and second plurality of support members. 
     
     
         4 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third plurality of support members are piles. 
     
     
         5 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 4 , wherein the first, second, and third plurality of support members are structural c-channel members pile-driven into the ground. 
     
     
         6 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator support comprises an actuator mounting fixture having an actuator mounting surface connected to the actuator and first and second mounting surfaces, the first mounting surface connected to at least one of the third plurality of support members and the second mounting surface connected to at least a second of the third plurality of support members. 
     
     
         7 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 6 , wherein the actuator mounting surface comprises an arrangement of fastening features configured for fixation to the actuator in a plurality of different orientations. 
     
     
         8 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator support comprises an actuator mounting fixture having an actuator mounting surface configured for fixation to the actuator in a plurality of different orientations, the actuator support being connected to at least first and second support members of the third plurality of support members. 
     
     
         9 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the third plurality of support members comprises at least four piles, pile driven into the ground. 
     
     
         10 . A solar energy collection system comprising:
 a first array of solar energy collection devices mounted so as to be movable between first and second positions, the first array of solar energy collection devices mounted to a first rotational member assembly;   a second array of solar energy collection devices spaced from the first array, the second array of solar energy collection devices mounted to a second rotational member assembly;   a drive system comprising an actuator, a drive link assembly connecting the actuator with the first and second arrays;   an actuator support supporting the actuator above the ground, the actuator support configured to allow an orientation of the actuator to be adjusted between a plurality of different orientations relative to the first and second arrays of solar energy collection devices.   
     
     
         11 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 10 , the actuator support comprises a mounting member fixed to the ground and a mounting plate fixed to the actuator and adjustably mounted to the mounting member. 
     
     
         12 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first and second rotational members pivot about first and second pivot axes, respectively, and wherein the actuator support is configured to allow the actuator to be angularly adjusted about an axis that is transverse to the first and second pivot axes. 
     
     
         13 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 10 , wherein the actuator support comprises a first member fixed relative to the ground and a second member adjustably connected to the first member, the second member being fixable to the first member and a plurality of different orientations over an angular range of at least about 5° about an adjustment axis which is perpendicular to a rotational axis of the first and second rotational member assemblies. 
     
     
         14 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first and second rotational assemblies are supported above the ground with a first type of support member, the actuator support comprising the first type of support member. 
     
     
         15 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first and second rotational assemblies are supported above the ground with piles driven into the ground, the actuator support comprising piles driven into the ground. 
     
     
         16 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first rotational member assembly is supported above the ground of a first plurality of support members, the actuator support comprising a second plurality of support members, the first and second pluralities of support members being connected together with at least a first structural member. 
     
     
         17 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 16 , wherein the actuator support comprises an actuator mount directly connected to the actuator, the mount connected to and supported by the first structural member. 
     
     
         18 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 17 , wherein the actuator mount comprises a first member fixed to the first structural member, a second member fixed to the actuator, the first and second members being adjustably connected to each other. 
     
     
         19 . The solar energy collection system according to  claim 10 , wherein the actuator support comprises a truss having a central portion and extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end of the truss and a second end of the truss, the longitudinal direction being generally parallel to a rotational axis of the first rotational member assembly, the first and second ends of the truss being fixed relative to the ground, the central portion of the trust being fixed to the actuator. 
     
     
         20 . A solar energy collection system comprising:
 a first array of solar energy collection devices mounted so as to be movable between first and second positions, the first array of solar energy collection devices mounted to a first rotational member assembly supported above the ground with a first plurality of support members;   a second array of solar energy collection devices spaced from the first array, the second array of solar energy collection devices mounted to a second rotational member assembly supported above the ground with a second plurality of support members;   a drive system comprising an actuator, a drive link assembly connecting the actuator with the first and second arrays;   means for adjustably supporting the actuator above the ground with the same type of support members of the first plurality of support members.