US 11,683,005 B2
Dual parallel axis solar tracker system
Miguel M. L. Praca, Cascais (PT)
Appl. No. 17/610,429
Filed by Miguel M. L. Praca, Cascais (PT)
PCT Filed Aug. 5, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/044968
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 10, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/030109, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/885,574, filed on Aug. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0376649 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. H02S 20/32 (2014.01); H02S 20/10 (2014.01); F16C 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC H02S 20/32 (2014.12) [F16C 1/02 (2013.01); H02S 20/10 (2014.12)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dual parallel axis drive shaft solar tracker system, comprising:
a photovoltaic (PV) structure comprising at least one solar panel;
a support structure comprising a pivot mechanism to pivotally support the PV structure across a range of motion;
dual parallel axis drive shafts comprising a first drive shaft configured in a parallel and symmetric disposition with respect to a second drive shaft;
a first belt mechanism, comprising a first belt, coupled to the first drive shaft, wherein the first drive shaft and the first drive mechanism are configured to tilt a top side of the PV structure;
a second belt mechanism, comprising a second belt, coupled to the second drive shaft, wherein the second drive shaft and the second drive mechanism are configured to tilt a bottom side of the PV structure;
wherein a non-linear wrapping rate exists between an angular position of both the first and second drive shafts and a position of the pivot mechanism; and
wherein, movement of the PV structure occurs by turning both the first and second drive shafts in parallel so as to wrap the first belt of the first belt mechanism onto the first drive shaft at a first required rate to accommodate the non-linearity of the wrapping rate and to wrap the second belt of the second belt mechanism onto the second drive shaft at a second required rate to accommodate the non-linearity of the wrapping rate.