Dampening systems and methods for solar trackers

Abstract

A solar tracker system comprising a solar tracker. The solar tracker includes one or more solar panels and a first dampening assembly comprising a dampener that provides dampening of rotation of the one or more solar panels to provide for dampening of the solar tracker and the one or more solar panels, the dampener reducing undesirable oscillations of the one or more solar panels of the solar tracker.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar tracker system comprising:
 one or more solar tracker that includes:
 a plurality of posts disposed in and extending from the ground, including at least four separate evenly spaced posts disposed in and extending from the ground with the at least four separate evenly spaced posts being disposed in a line along a common post axis, with a first post, second post, third post and fourth post disposed in series along the common post axis; 
 a pair of rails that extend along a length of the solar tracker in parallel to each other and parallel to the common post axis; 
 a plurality of solar panels coupled to the pair of rails and disposed in a common solar panel plane that is parallel to the common post axis; 
 a first and second fluidic actuator disposed at a respective top of the first and third posts in a common axis of rotation; and 
 a first and second dampening assembly disposed at a respective top of the second and fourth posts, with each of the first and second dampening assemblies comprising:
 a bar that extends between and is coupled to the pair of rails, the bar disposed perpendicular to the pair of rails and rotatably coupled to a central unit via an axle, with the central unit being coupled with the top of a respective post, the axles of the first and second dampening assemblies disposed along the common axis of rotation, and 
 a cylinder coupled to the bar at a first end and coupled to the respective post at a second end, with the cylinder comprising a shaft that translates within a body, the cylinder comprising a fluidic cylinder that provides dampening of rotation of the bar about the central unit to provide for dampening of the solar tracker and the plurality of solar panels, the fluidic cylinder providing resistance to changes in wind and reducing undesirable oscillations of the plurality of solar panels the solar tracker. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The solar tracker system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second fluidic actuators each comprise:
 a V-shaped bottom plate;   a planar top plate rotatably coupled to the V-shaped bottom plate, with the rotatable coupling configured for rotation about the common axis of rotation; and   a first inflatable actuator and a second inflatable actuator disposed between the V-shaped bottom plate and the planar top plate on opposing sides of the rotatable coupling, the first and second inflatable actuator configured to be inflated and deflated to cause the plurality of solar panels to rotate about the common axis of rotation.   
     
     
         3 . The solar tracker system of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of solar trackers that are fluidically connected in series such that the solar panels of the respective solar trackers can be actuated in unison. 
     
     
         4 . The solar tracker system of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of solar trackers that are fluidically connected in parallel such that the solar panels of the respective solar trackers can be actuated in unison. 
     
     
         5 . A solar tracker system comprising:
 one or more solar trackers that include:
 a plurality of posts disposed in and extending from the ground, with the plurality of posts disposed in a line along a common post axis, with a first post and second post disposed in series along the common post axis; 
 a pair of rails that extend along a length of the solar tracker in parallel to each other and parallel to the common post axis; 
 one or more solar panels coupled to the pair of rails and disposed in a common solar panel plane that is parallel to the common post axis; 
 a first fluidic actuator disposed on the first post; and 
 a first dampening assembly disposed on the second post, with the first dampening assembly comprising:
 a dampener that includes a cylinder that provides dampening of rotation of the one or more solar panels to provide for dampening of the solar tracker and the one or more solar panels, the dampener providing resistance to changes in wind and reducing undesirable oscillations of the one or more solar panels of the solar tracker. 
 
   
     
     
         6 . The solar tracker system of  claim 5 , wherein the first dampening assembly further comprises a bar that extends between and is coupled to the pair of rails, the bar disposed perpendicular to the pair of rails and rotatably coupled to a central unit, with the central unit being coupled with the first post, wherein the cylinder is coupled to the bar at a first end and coupled to the first post at a second end. 
     
     
         7 . The solar tracker system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a second fluidic actuator disposed on the second post; and   a second dampening assembly disposed on the first post.   
     
     
         8 . The solar tracker system of  claim 5 , wherein the dampener comprises one or more of: a viscous damper, friction damper, linear damper, rotary damper, eddy current damper, pneumatic cylinder, or hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . The solar tracker system of  claim 5 , wherein the first fluidic actuator comprises:
 a bottom plate;   a planar top plate rotatably coupled to the bottom plate, with the rotatable coupling configured for rotation about an axis of rotation; and   a first inflatable actuator and a second inflatable actuator disposed between the bottom plate and the planar top plate on opposing sides of the rotatable coupling, the first and second inflatable actuators configured to be inflated and deflated to cause the one or more solar panels to rotate about the axis of rotation.   
     
     
         10 . A solar tracker system comprising:
 a solar tracker that includes:
 one or more solar panels; and 
 a first dampening assembly comprising:
 a dampener that provides dampening of rotation of the one or more solar panels to provide for dampening of the solar tracker and the one or more solar panels, the dampener reducing undesirable oscillations of the one or more solar panels of the solar tracker. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The solar tracker system of  claim 10 , wherein the dampener is disposed on a post that is disposed in the ground and that extends from the ground. 
     
     
         12 . The solar tracker system of  claim 10 , wherein the solar tracker comprises a pair of rails that extend along a length of the solar tracker in parallel to each other and wherein the one or more solar panels are coupled to the pair of rails and disposed in a common solar panel plane that is parallel to the pair of rails. 
     
     
         13 . The solar tracker system of  claim 12 , wherein the first dampening assembly further comprises a bar that extends between and is coupled to the pair of rails. 
     
     
         14 . The solar tracker system of  claim 13 , wherein the dampener is coupled to the bar at one end of dampener. 
     
     
         15 . The solar tracker system of  claim 13 , wherein the bar disposed perpendicular to the pair of rails and rotatably coupled to a central unit, with the central unit being coupled with a first post. 
     
     
         16 . The solar tracker system of  claim 15 , wherein the dampener is coupled to the first post at one end of dampener. 
     
     
         17 . The solar tracker system of  claim 10 , wherein the dampener is disposed on a first post and wherein the solar tracker further comprises a fluidic actuator disposed on the first post. 
     
     
         18 . The solar tracker system of  claim 10 , wherein the dampener comprises one or more of: a viscous damper, friction damper, linear damper, rotary damper, eddy current damper, pneumatic cylinder, or hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         19 . The solar tracker system of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of posts, with the plurality of posts disposed in a line along a common post axis, with a first post and second post disposed in series along the common post axis,
 wherein the first dampening assembly is disposed at the first post,   wherein a first fluidic actuator is disposed at the second post,   wherein a dampening assembly is absent from the second post, and   wherein a fluidic actuator is absent from the first post.   
     
     
         20 . The solar tracker system of  claim 19 , wherein the solar tracker further comprises:
 a second dampening assembly, and   a second fluidic actuator.