Support for solar energy collectors
View Patent ↗A solar energy collection system can include support devices made with bearings formed from sheet material. These bearings can be optionally formed so as to provide tool-less connections to their associated bearing housings. The bearings can be formed with an open configuration allowing a shaft to be inserted into an open bite of the bearing. Optionally, the bearing can be made from an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene plastic material. Additionally, two open-type bearing assemblies can be mounted axially offset and opposed to one another.
1. A sun-tracking photovoltaic solar collector array, the array comprising:
a plurality of solar devices;
a support assembly supporting the solar devices so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis, the support assembly comprising:
a torque tube supporting the plurality of solar devices, the torque tube pivotable about the pivot axis;
a bearing housing comprising a bearing support surface; and
a bearing member connected to the bearing support surface, the bearing member comprising a reduced friction surface in sliding contact with an outer surface of the torque tube;
wherein the torque tube and the bearing member are rotationally decoupled such that, when the torque tube rotates, the bearing member is stationary.
2. The array according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing member comprises a plastic.
3. The array according to claim 2 , wherein the bearing member comprises ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.
4. The array according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing member comprises first and second protruding portions extending from the first and second ends, respectively.
5. The array according to claim 4 , wherein the first end comprises a shoulder extending at an angle transverse to a longitudinal axis of the first protruding portion.
6. The array according to claim 1 , further comprising a pier supporting the bearing housing at a position above a support surface.
7. The array according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing housing comprises at least a first connector portion configured to engage a first end of the bearing member so as to resist movement of the bearing member in at least a first direction.
8. The array according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing housing and the bearing member are connected by a tool-less connection.
9. The array according to claim 8 , wherein the tool-less connection comprises apertures in the bearing housing and ends of the bearing member which extend through the apertures.
10. The array according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing housing comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper and lower portions surrounding the torque tube.
11. The array according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing housing and the bearing member comprise respective curved surfaces shaped to receive and support the torque tube as the torque tube rotates.
12. A sun-tracking photovoltaic solar collector array, the array comprising:
a plurality of solar devices;
a support assembly supporting the solar devices so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis, the support assembly comprising:
a torque tube supporting the plurality of solar devices, the torque tube pivotable about the pivot axis;
a bearing housing comprising a bearing support surface;
a bearing member connected to the bearing support surface, the bearing member comprising a reduced friction surface in sliding contact with an outer surface of the torque tube; and
a tool-less connection which connects the bearing member and the bearing housing.
13. The array according to claim 12 , wherein the torque tube and the bearing member are rotationally decoupled such that, when the torque tube rotates, the bearing member is stationary.
14. The array according to claim 12 , wherein the bearing member comprises a plastic.
15. The array according to claim 12 , wherein the tool-less connection comprises apertures in the bearing housing and ends of the bearing member which extend through the apertures.
16. The array according to claim 12 , further comprising a pier supporting the bearing housing at a position above a support surface.
17. A sun-tracking photovoltaic solar collector array, the array comprising:
a plurality of photovoltaic devices;
a support assembly supporting the photovoltaic devices so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis, the support assembly comprising:
at least a first pivot supporting the plurality of photovoltaic modules;
at least a first bearing supporting the first pivot so as to be pivotable about the pivot axis; and
at least one pier supporting the bearing at a position above a support surface, the bearing comprising at least a first reduced friction member extending around at least a portion of the first pivot,
wherein the first pivot and the first reduced friction member are rotationally decoupled.
18. The array according to claim 17 , wherein the first bearing and the first reduced friction member are connected with a tool-less connection.
19. The array according to claim 17 , wherein the first reduced friction member comprises a plastic.
20. The array according to claim 17 , further comprising a pier supporting the bearing housing at a position above a support surface.