Spring counter-balance assemblies and solar trackers incorporating springs to balance rotation

Abstract

A solar tracker assembly is provided which includes a support column, a torque tube or torsion beam connected to the support column, a mounting mechanism attached to the torque tube or torsion beam, a drive system connected to the torque tube or torsion beam, and a spring counter-balance assembly connected to the torque tube or torsion beam. An exemplary spring counter-balance assembly comprises a bearing housing and a bushing disposed within the bearing housing and configured to be slideably mounted onto the torque tube or torsion beam, and one or more compressible cords made of a flexible material. The compressible cords are located between the bushing and the bearing housing and provide damping during rotational movement of the solar tracker assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar tracker assembly comprising:
 a support column;   a torque tube or torsion beam connected to the support column;   a mounting mechanism for mounting a solar module, the mounting mechanism being attached to the torque tube or torsion beam;   a drive system connected to the torque tube or torsion beam; and   a spring counter-balance assembly connected to the torque tube or torsion beam, the spring counter-balance assembly including:
 a bearing housing, 
 a bushing disposed within the bearing housing, the bushing being configured to be mounted onto the torque tube or torsion beam, and 
 one or more compressible cords made of a flexible material, the compressible cords located between the bushing and the bearing housing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The solar tracker assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is an elastomer. 
     
     
         3 . The solar tracker assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible cords provide damping during rotational movement of the solar tracker assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The solar tracker assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bushing has a substantially circular outer cross-section with four lobes. 
     
     
         5 . The solar tracker assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the spring counter-balance assembly allows up to at least plus or minus 45 degrees of rotation of the torque tube or torsion beam. 
     
     
         6 . The solar tracker assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bushing has a substantially triangular outer cross-section with three lobes. 
     
     
         7 . The solar tracker assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the spring counter-balance assembly allows up to at least plus or minus 60 degrees of rotation of the torque tube or torsion beam. 
     
     
         8 . The solar tracker assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of the bearing housing is one of: substantially square shaped, substantially hexagonal shaped, or substantially circular shaped with at least three lobes. 
     
     
         9 . The solar tracker assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the bushing is made of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         10 . The solar tracker assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bushing defines at least a portion of one or more air spaces. 
     
     
         11 . The solar tracker assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the spring counter-balance assembly further comprises at least one rotational stop. 
     
     
         12 . The solar tracker assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the bearing housing is made of an elastomeric material and further comprising at least one rotational stop.