US 11,874,030 B2
Articulation joints for terrain following solar tracker
Ricardo Delgado-Nanez, San Jose, CA (US); and Kin Tsim, San Mateo, CA (US)
Assigned to NEXTRACKER LLC, Fremont, CA (US)
Filed by Nextracker LLC, Fremont, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/080,314.
Application 18/080,314 is a continuation of application No. 17/525,157, filed on Nov. 12, 2021, granted, now 11,525,604, issued on Dec. 13, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/270,296, filed on Oct. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0129712 A1, Apr. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. F24S 30/45 (2018.01); F24S 30/455 (2018.01); F24S 30/458 (2018.01); F24S 30/00 (2018.01)
CPC F24S 30/455 (2018.05) [F24S 30/458 (2018.05); F24S 2030/16 (2018.05); F24S 2030/19 (2018.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A coupling system for use with a solar tracker, comprising:
a pair of cradles, each cradle of the pair of cradles operably coupled to a respective portion of an articulation joint interposed between the pair of cradles, wherein a first cradle of the pair of cradles is rotatable relative to a second cradle of the pair of cradles about a transverse axis, the transverse axis offset from a center portion defined between the pair of cradles in a longitudinal direction,
wherein each of the pair of cradles is configured to receive a portion of a respective torque tube therein.