公开(公告)号：US12218626B2

公开(公告)日：2025-02-04

申请号：US18196301

申请日：2023-05-11

Applicant: Nextracker LLC

Inventor： David E. Kresse ,  Samuel Heller

IPC: H02S20/32 ,  F16H37/04 ,  F16H48/08 ,  F16H57/038 ,  H02S20/10

Abstract: A solar tracking system is provided and includes a solar array, a support structure configured to support the solar array, a base configured to rotatably support the support structure, and an articulation system configured to articulate the support structure relative to the base. The articulation system includes a gearbox that is coupled to the support structure and an actuator that is configured to extend and retract. The actuator includes a first end portion and a second, opposite end portion, wherein the first end portion is rotatably coupled to the base and the second end portion is coupled to the gearbox. Extension of the actuator causes the support structure to rotate about the base in a first direction and retraction of the actuator causes the support structure to rotate about the based in a second, opposite direction.

公开(公告)号：US20240396497A1

公开(公告)日：2024-11-28

申请号：US18669686

申请日：2024-05-21

Applicant: Nextracker LLC

Inventor： Yang Liu ,  David E. Kresse ,  Chennan Li

IPC: H02S50/00 ,  G01S3/78 ,  G01S3/786 ,  H02S20/32

Abstract: A method and system of analyzing health of a solar tracker, including confirming solar tracker is in a starting position, driving solar tracker through a range of angles, collecting data regarding performance of solar tracker, analyzing the collected data, and presenting one or more aspects of the collected data on a user interface indicating the health of the solar tracker.

公开(公告)号：US20230283226A1

公开(公告)日：2023-09-07

申请号：US18196301

申请日：2023-05-11

Applicant: Nextracker LLC

Inventor： David E. Kresse ,  Samuel Heller

IPC: H02S20/32 ,  F16H57/038 ,  F16H37/04 ,  H02S20/10 ,  F16H48/08

CPC classification number: H02S20/32 ,  F16H57/038 ,  F16H37/04 ,  H02S20/10 ,  F16H48/08 ,  F16H2037/049 ,  F16H2048/082

Abstract: A solar tracking system is provided and includes a solar array, a support structure configured to support the solar array, a base configured to rotatably support the support structure, and an articulation system configured to articulate the support structure relative to the base. The articulation system includes a gearbox that is coupled to the support structure and an actuator that is configured to extend and retract. The actuator includes a first end portion and a second, opposite end portion, wherein the first end portion is rotatably coupled to the base and the second end portion is coupled to the gearbox. Extension of the actuator causes the support structure to rotate about the base in a first direction and retraction of the actuator causes the support structure to rotate about the based in a second, opposite direction.

公开(公告)号：US12237804B2

公开(公告)日：2025-02-25

申请号：US17698319

申请日：2022-03-18

Applicant: NEXTracker LLC

Inventor： David E. Kresse ,  Samuel Heller

IPC: H02S20/32 ,  F16H37/04 ,  F16H48/08 ,  F16H57/038 ,  H02S20/10

Abstract: A solar tracking system is provided and includes a solar array, a support structure configured to support the solar array, a base configured to rotatably support the support structure, and an articulation system configured to articulate the support structure relative to the base. The articulation system includes a gearbox that is coupled to the support structure and an actuator that is configured to extend and retract. The actuator includes a first end portion and a second, opposite end portion, wherein the first end portion is rotatably coupled to the base and the second end portion is coupled to the gearbox. Extension of the actuator causes the support structure to rotate about the base in a first direction and retraction of the actuator causes the support structure to rotate about the based in a second, opposite direction.

公开(公告)号：US11711051B2

公开(公告)日：2023-07-25

申请号：US17510047

申请日：2021-10-25

Applicant: NEXTracker LLC

Inventor： David E. Kresse ,  Samuel Heller

IPC: H02S20/32 ,  F16H57/038 ,  F16H37/04 ,  H02S20/10 ,  F16H48/08

CPC classification number: H02S20/32 ,  F16H37/04 ,  F16H48/08 ,  F16H57/038 ,  H02S20/10 ,  F16H2037/049 ,  F16H2048/082

Abstract: A solar tracking system is provided and includes a solar array, a support structure configured to support the solar array, a base configured to rotatably support the support structure, and an articulation system configured to articulate the support structure relative to the base. The articulation system includes a gearbox that is coupled to the support structure and an actuator that is configured to extend and retract. The actuator includes a first end portion and a second, opposite end portion, wherein the first end portion is rotatably coupled to the base and the second end portion is coupled to the gearbox. Extension of the actuator causes the support structure to rotate about the base in a first direction and retraction of the actuator causes the support structure to rotate about the based in a second, opposite direction.

公开(公告)号：US20250047236A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-06

申请号：US18789913

申请日：2024-07-31

Applicant: Nextracker LLC

Inventor： Venkata Nitin Mythreya Yadlapalli ,  Bhanu Rekha Bandhakavi ,  Ricardo Delgado-Nanez ,  David E. Kresse ,  Sri Rama Krishna Tammu

IPC: H02S20/32 ,  F16C17/02

Abstract: A solar tracker bearing housing includes a housing, a pin aperture at the housing, a rotatable ring rotatably seated at the pin aperture, and a pin received at the rotatable ring. The pin is configured to rotatably connect to at least one torque tube to cause the pin to rotate with the torque tube in a first plane, and the pin is configured to pivot with the rotatable ring in a second, different plane to change an angular orientation of the pin relative to the pin aperture.

公开(公告)号：US20250043810A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-06

申请号：US18789942

申请日：2024-07-31

Applicant: Nextracker LLC

Inventor： Venkata Nitin Mythreya Yadlapalli ,  Bhanu Rekha Bandhakavi ,  Ricardo Delgado-Nanez ,  David E. Kresse ,  Sri Rama Krishna Tammu

IPC: F16B7/18 ,  F16C17/02 ,  H02S20/32

Abstract: A flexible tube connector includes a central tube region, a first tube end portion, a second tube end portion, and one or more flexibility features. The first tube end portion extends out from one end of the central tube region, and the first tube end portion is configured to couple to a first torque tube of a solar tracker apparatus. The second tube end portion extends out from another, opposite end of the central tube region, and the second tube end portion is configured to couple to a second torque tube of the solar tracker apparatus. The one or more flexibility features are at the central tube region, and the one or more flexibility features are configured to cause the first tube end portion to connect to the first torque tube and the second tube end portion to connect to the second torque tube at a plurality of angular orientations.