Southerly tilted solar tracking system and method

Abstract

A solar tracking system and method are provided.

1 . A solar tracking assembly, comprising:
 a solar panel assembly;   a torque device coupled to the solar panel assembly;   a lever arm rotatably coupled to the torque device;   a drive mechanism coupled to the lever arm; and   wherein a linear movement of the drive mechanism is translated into a rotational motion of the torque device and the solar panel assembly by the lever arm about a north-south axis so that the solar panel assembly tracks a plurality of rays of sunlight.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a second solar panel assembly, a second torque device coupled to the solar panel assembly and a second lever arm rotatably coupled to the second torque device wherein the second lever arm is coupled to the drive mechanism so that linear movement of the drive mechanism is translated into a rotational motion of the first and second torque devices and the first and second solar panel assemblies by the lever arm about a north-south axis so that the solar panel assemblies track a plurality of rays of sunlight. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the drive mechanism is a rod. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the drive mechanism further comprises a sleeve bearing and a gimbal that couple the level arm to the rod. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the drive mechanism further comprises a rod and a pin that couple the level arm to the rod. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the drive mechanism further comprises a linear actuator. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 2  further comprising a frame anchored to a surface and wherein each torque device further comprises a torque tube that rotates relative to the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each torque device further comprises a torque tube bearing that rotatably supports the torque tube and the solar panel assembly relative to the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 2  further comprising a frame anchored to a surface having a first horizontal support and a second horizontal support spaced apart from each other and wherein each torque device further comprises a torque tube that rotates relative to the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9  wherein each torque tube further comprises a first torque tube bearing that rotatably supports the torque tube and the solar panel assembly relative to the first horizontal support and a second torque tube bearing that rotatably supports the torque tube and the solar panel assembly relative to the second horizontal support. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the solar panel assembly further comprises a plurality of solar panels and wherein the torque device further comprises a torque frame that is coupled to the solar panel assembly wherein the torque frame rotates the plurality of solar panels simultaneously. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first horizontal support and a second horizontal support spaced apart six to twelve feet. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first horizontal support and a second horizontal are at different heights so that each solar panel assembly is tilted. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein each solar panel assembly is tilted 15 to 30 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . A method for tracking for a solar panel assembly, comprising:
 providing a solar panel assembly and a torque device coupled to the solar panel assembly;   rotatably coupling a lever arm to the torque device;   linearly moving a drive mechanism coupled to the lever arm; and   translating the linear movement of the drive mechanism into a rotational motion of the torque device and the solar panel assembly by the lever arm about a north-south axis so that the solar panel assembly tracks a plurality of rays of sunlight.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising rotatably coupling the lever arm to the drive mechanism using a sleeve bearing and a gimbal that couple the level arm to the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising rotatably coupling the lever arm to the drive mechanism using a rod and a pin that couple the level arm to the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein linearly moving the drive mechanism further comprises actuating a linear actuator to linearly move the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein providing a solar panel assembly and a torque device coupled to the solar panel assembly further comprises providing a torque tube that is coupled to the solar panel assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein providing a solar panel assembly and a torque device coupled to the solar panel assembly further comprises providing a torque bearing that rotatably supports the torque tube and the solar panel assembly relative to a frame. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein providing a solar panel assembly and a torque device coupled to the solar panel assembly further comprises providing a torque tube that is coupled to the solar panel assembly. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein providing a solar panel assembly and a torque device coupled to the solar panel assembly further comprises providing a first torque tube bearing that rotatably supports the torque tube and the solar panel assembly relative to a first horizontal support and a second torque tube bearing that rotatably supports the torque tube and the solar panel assembly relative to a second horizontal support. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the solar panel assembly further comprises a plurality of solar panels and providing a solar panel assembly and a torque device coupled to the solar panel assembly further comprises providing a torque frame that is coupled to the solar panel assembly wherein the torque frame rotates the plurality of solar panels simultaneously. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein providing a solar panel assembly and a torque device coupled to the solar panel assembly further comprises tilting the solar panel assembly  15  to 30 degrees. 
     
     
         25 . A solar energy collection facility, comprising:
 a plurality of solar panel assemblies arranged in a first east-west row, each solar panel assembly in the east-west row having a torque device coupled to the solar panel assembly and a lever arm rotatably coupled to the torque device; a drive mechanism coupled to the lever arms of the plurality of solar panel assemblies arranged in the first east-west row wherein a linear movement of the drive mechanism is translated into a rotational motion of the torque device and the solar panel assemblies by the lever arm about a north-south axis so that the solar panel assembly tracks a plurality of rays of sunlight; and   a plurality of solar panel assemblies arranged in a second east-west row spaced apart from the first east-west row, each solar panel assembly in the second east-west row having a torque device coupled to the solar panel assembly and a lever arm rotatably coupled to the torque device; a second drive mechanism coupled to the lever arms of the plurality of solar panel assemblies arranged in the second east-west row wherein a linear movement of the second drive mechanism is translated into a rotational motion of the torque device and the solar panel assemblies by the lever arm about a north-south axis so that the solar panel assembly tracks a plurality of rays of sunlight.   
     
     
         26 . The facility of  claim 25 , wherein the first and second drive mechanisms are each a rod. 
     
     
         27 . The facility of  claim 26 , wherein the first and second drive mechanisms each further comprise a sleeve bearing and a gimbal that couple the level arm to the rod. 
     
     
         28 . The facility of  claim 26 , wherein the first and second drive mechanisms each further comprise a rod and a pin that couple the level arm to the rod. 
     
     
         29 . The facility of  claim 25 , wherein the first and second drive mechanisms each further comprise a linear actuator. 
     
     
         30 . The facility of  claim 25 , wherein each east-west row of solar panel assemblies further comprises a frame anchored to a surface and wherein each torque device further comprises a torque tube. 
     
     
         31 . The facility of  claim 30 , wherein each torque tube further comprises a torque tube bearing that rotatably supports the torque tube and the solar panel assembly relative to the frame. 
     
     
         32 . The facility of  claim 25 , wherein each east-west row of solar panel assemblies further comprises a frame anchored to a surface having a first horizontal support and a second horizontal support spaced apart from each other and wherein each torque device further comprises a torque tube. 
     
     
         33 . The facility of  claim 32 , wherein each torque tube further comprises a first torque tube bearing that rotatably supports the torque tube and the solar panel assembly relative to the first horizontal support and a second torque tube bearing that rotatably supports the torque tube and the solar panel assembly relative to the second horizontal support. 
     
     
         34 . The facility of  claim 32 , wherein the first horizontal support and a second horizontal support spaced apart six to twelve feet. 
     
     
         35 . The facility of  claim 32 , wherein the first horizontal support and a second horizontal are at different heights so that each solar panel assembly is tilted. 
     
     
         36 . The facility of  claim 35 , wherein each solar panel assembly is tilted 15 to 30 degrees. 
     
     
         37 . The facility of  claim 25 , wherein the first and second east-west rows of solar array assemblies are spaced apart so that the plurality of solar panel assemblies arranged in a second east-west row do not shade the plurality of solar panel assemblies arranged in a first east-west row. 
     
     
         38 . The facility of  claim 25 , wherein the solar panel assembly further comprises a plurality of solar panels and wherein each torque device further comprises a torque frame that is coupled to the solar panel assembly wherein the torque frame rotates the plurality of solar panels simultaneously.