US 12,228,662 B2
Off-set drive assembly for solar tracker
Alexander W. Au, Oakland, CA (US)
Assigned to NEXTRACKER LLC, Fremont, CA (US)
Filed by Nextracker LLC, Fremont, CA (US)
Filed on May 11, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/742,247.
Application 15/694,647 is a division of application No. 14/489,409, filed on Sep. 17, 2014, granted, now 9,766,319, issued on Sep. 19, 2017.
Application 17/742,247 is a continuation of application No. 15/694,647, filed on Sep. 1, 2017, granted, now 11,391,809.
Application 14/489,409 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/101,273, filed on Dec. 9, 2013, granted, now 9,905,717, issued on Feb. 27, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/735,537, filed on Dec. 10, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2022/0276331 A1, Sep. 1, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01S 3/786 (2006.01); F16C 11/04 (2006.01); F16C 23/10 (2006.01); F16C 25/02 (2006.01); F16H 19/08 (2006.01); F24S 25/10 (2018.01); F24S 30/00 (2018.01); F24S 30/425 (2018.01); H02S 20/10 (2014.01); H02S 20/32 (2014.01)
CPC G01S 3/7861 (2013.01) [F16C 11/045 (2013.01); F16C 23/10 (2013.01); F16C 25/02 (2013.01); F16H 19/08 (2013.01); F24S 25/10 (2018.05); F24S 30/425 (2018.05); H02S 20/10 (2014.12); H02S 20/32 (2014.12); F24S 2030/15 (2018.05); Y02E 10/47 (2013.01); Y10T 74/18792 (2015.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A solar tracker comprising:
a first pier configured for insertion into the earth;
a second pier configured for insertion into the earth;
a drive device supported by the first pier;
a first bearing supported by the second pier;
a first section of torque tube spanning between the first pier and the second pier and operably connected to the drive device on a first end and the bearing on a second end;
a plurality of frame members supported by the first section of torque tube;
a plurality of solar modules supported by the frame members; and
a plurality of solar module clamps configured to secure the plurality of solar modules to the frame members, wherein each solar module clamp includes, a bottom hat channel clamp member having a U-shape including an open end and a closed end, a pair of brim regions extending from the open end of the U-shape, openings formed in each brim region and fasteners received in the openings to secure each brim region to a frame member of a solar tracker;
a top hat channel clamp member having a U-shape including an open end and a closed end and a pair of brim regions extending from the open end of the U-shape and, the U shape of the top hat channel clamp member having a slightly larger width than the U-shape of the bottom hat channel clamp member, the open end of the U shape of the top hat channel clamp member configured to be placed over the closed end of the U-shape of the bottom hat channel clamp member to receive the closed end of the U-shape of the bottom hat channel clamp member in the open end of the U-shape of the top hat channel clamp member while leaving a spatial gap between an upper surface of the bottom hat channel clamp member and a bottom surface of the top hat channel clamp member, the pair of brim regions of the bottom hat channel clamp member and the pair of brim regions of the top hat channel clamp member configured to sandwich at least one of the plurality of solar modules therebetween; and
wherein the pair of brim regions of the top hat channel member is configured to generate a spring force acting on at least one of the plurality of solar modules when the U shape of the top hat channel member is forced in the direction of the bottom hat channel clamp member to reduce the spatial gap.