公开(公告)号：US12009776B2

公开(公告)日：2024-06-11

申请号：US17404577

申请日：2021-08-17

Applicant: Nextracker Inc.

Inventor： Alexander W. Au ,  Ricardo Delgado-Nanez

IPC: H02S20/32 ,  F16M11/10

CPC classification number: H02S20/32 ,  F16M11/10

Abstract: A solar tracker bearing and a solar tracker incorporating the bearing, the bearing including at least one rotatable part, the rotatable part including a notch for receiving a torque tube, a slot, formed in the rotatable part and extending below the notch, the slot defining an arc having multiple radii, at least one engagement member configured to be received in the slot, and at least one base configured to secure the engagement member in the slot and to secure the bearing to a pier.

公开(公告)号：US11616467B2

公开(公告)日：2023-03-28

申请号：US17306954

申请日：2021-05-04

Applicant: NEXTRACKER INC.

Inventor： Alexander W. Au

IPC: H02S20/32 ,  H02S20/00 ,  F16L3/02 ,  F16M13/02 ,  F24S25/70 ,  F24S30/425 ,  F24S25/10 ,  F24S30/00

Abstract: In an example, the solar tracker has a clamp assembly configured to pivot a torque tube. In an example, the assembly has a support structure configured as a frame having configured by a first and second anchoring region. In an example, the support structure is configured from a thickness of metal material. In an example, the support structure is configured in an upright manner, and has a major plane region. In an example, the assembly has a pivot device configured on the support structure, a torque tube suspending on the pivot device and aligned within an opening of the support, and configured to be normal to the plane region. In an example, the torque tube is configured on the pivot device to move about an arc in a first direction or in a second direction such that the first direction is in a direction opposite to the second direction.

公开(公告)号：US11558007B2

公开(公告)日：2023-01-17

申请号：US17234766

申请日：2021-04-19

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Alexander W. Au

IPC: A47F5/00 ,  H02S20/32 ,  H02S20/00 ,  F16L3/02 ,  F16M13/02 ,  F24S25/70 ,  F24S30/425 ,  F24S25/10 ,  F24S30/00

Abstract: In an example, the solar tracker has a clamp assembly that is configured to pivot a torque tube. In an example, the assembly has a support structure configured as a frame having configured by a first anchoring region and a second anchoring region. In an example, the support structure is configured from a thickness of metal material. In an example, the support structure is configured in an upright manner, and has a major plane region. In an example, the assembly has a pivot device configured on the support structure and a torque tube suspending on the pivot device and aligned within an opening of the support and configured to be normal to the plane region. In an example, the torque tube is configured on the pivot device to move about an arc in a first direction or in a second direction such that the first direction is in a direction opposite to the second direction.

公开(公告)号：US11043607B2

公开(公告)日：2021-06-22

申请号：US15640322

申请日：2017-06-30

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Alexander W. Au

IPC: H01L31/052 ,  H02S20/32 ,  F24S25/10 ,  F24S25/70 ,  F24S30/425 ,  F24S30/00

Abstract: In an example, the present invention provides a solar tracker apparatus. In an example, the apparatus comprises a center of mass with an adjustable hanger assembly configured with a clam shell clamp assembly on the adjustable hanger assembly and a cylindrical torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end such that the center of mass is aligned with a center of rotation of the cylindrical torque tubes to reduce a load of a drive motor operably coupled to the cylindrical torque tube. Further details of the present example, among others, can be found throughout the present specification and more particularly below.

公开(公告)号：USD862379S1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-08

申请号：US29624181

申请日：2017-10-30

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Designer： Alexander W. Au

公开(公告)号：US11689150B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-27

申请号：US16546181

申请日：2019-08-20

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Alexander W. Au

IPC: H02S20/32 ,  H02S20/30 ,  F16B5/06 ,  F24S25/634 ,  F24S25/636 ,  H02S30/10

CPC classification number: H02S20/32 ,  F16B5/06 ,  F16B5/0607 ,  F16B5/0621 ,  F16B5/0635 ,  F16B5/0664 ,  H02S20/30 ,  F24S25/634 ,  F24S25/636 ,  H02S30/10 ,  Y02E10/50

Abstract: In an example, a clamp assembly for a glass on glass solar module for a tracker is included. The assembly has a lower clamp structure characterized by a top-hat shaped rail structure having a length extending from a first end to a second end. In an example, the assembly has an upper clamp structure configured to sandwich a pair of edges of a pair of solar modules with a portion of the lower clamp structure. In an example, the assembly has a locking spacer configured to the pair of edges of the pair of solar modules. In an example, the pair of edges comprises substantially glass material. In an example, the assembly has a pair of key structures configured with the locking spacer. Each of the key structures is affixed to each of the solar modules to physically lock each of the solar modules to the upper clamp structure.

公开(公告)号：US11563401B2

公开(公告)日：2023-01-24

申请号：US16828699

申请日：2020-03-24

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Alexander W. Au

IPC: H02S20/32 ,  F16F1/36 ,  F16M11/04 ,  F24S40/80 ,  F24S25/65 ,  F24S30/425 ,  F16F15/08 ,  H02S30/10 ,  F24S25/60 ,  F24S30/00

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.

公开(公告)号：US11387771B2

公开(公告)日：2022-07-12

申请号：US16002273

申请日：2018-06-07

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Alexander W. Au ,  Andrew T. Smith ,  Poi K. Tran

IPC: H01L31/042 ,  H02S20/32 ,  F24S30/425 ,  F16H19/04 ,  F16H19/00 ,  F16H19/02 ,  F24S30/00

Abstract: A solar tracking system is provided and includes a solar array, a plurality of support beams configured to support the solar array, a torque tube coupled to the plurality of support beams, a base configured to rotatably support the torque tube, and an articulation system configured to rotate the torque tube relative to the base. The articulation system includes a first helical tube coupled to the torque tube, a first helical tube support disposed on the base and configured to slidably support the first helical tube, and a gearbox in mechanical communication with the first helical tube. Actuation of the gearbox causes the first helical tube to translate within the first helical tube support and the first helical tube support is configured to rotate the first helical tube as the first helical tube is translated therein to cause a corresponding rotation of the solar array.

公开(公告)号：US10601364B1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-24

申请号：US14922087

申请日：2015-10-23

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Alexander W. Au

IPC: H02S20/32 ,  H02S50/00 ,  H02S30/10 ,  H02S20/23

Abstract: A solar tracker array has solar modules that may be configured to operate as a wind fence according to a wind characteristic.

公开(公告)号：US10557646B1

公开(公告)日：2020-02-11

申请号：US15645989

申请日：2017-07-10

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Yu Dong Ma ,  Yang Liu ,  Francesco Borrelli ,  Allan Daly ,  Ricardo Delgado-Nanez ,  Alexander W. Au

IPC: F24S30/422 ,  F24S25/10 ,  F24S30/425 ,  H02S20/10 ,  F24S20/00 ,  F24S30/00

Abstract: A solar tracker system comprising a plurality of on sun trackers and a plurality of off sun tracker. Each tracker is selectively adjusted to achieve a desired power output of the solar power plant system in an example.