Ftc Solar, Inc.

Milo Zabala

Nagendra Srinivas Cherukupalli

Tamilarasan Mouniandy

Joseph D LoBue

Rechel Cruz

Larry Wong

A solar tracker system includes a support tube, a solar panel assembly connected to the support tube, and an active lock connected to the support tube. The active lock includes a housing defining a chamber and a seal. The seal prevents a flow of fluid through the chamber when the active lock is in a sealed state and allows the flow of fluid through the chamber when the active lock is in an unsealed state. The active lock further includes a locking system motor connected to the seal to transition the active lock between the sealed state and the unsealed state, a battery providing power to the locking system motor, and an antenna for receiving instructions controlling the locking system motor.

Systems for damping a solar photovoltaic array tracker

Tracking systems for adjusting a photovoltaic array are disclosed. In some embodiments, the tracking system includes an actuator that moves one or more links to cause the array to rotate. The tracking system may be disposed below a torque rail of the tracking system. The actuator may be a slew drive that retracts or extends the one or more links to cause the array to rotate.

Tracking systems for adjusting a photovoltaic array

Solar tracker systems include a torque tube, a column supporting the torque tube, a solar panel connected to the torque tube, and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes a first end pivotably connected to the torque tube and a second end pivotably connected to the column. The damper assembly further includes an outer shell, a piston within and moveable relative to the outer shell, a first chamber wall and a second chamber wall within the outer shell at least partially defining a chamber, and a valve within the chamber. The valve includes a first axial end defining a slot and is biased to a first position within the chamber in which the first axial end is spaced from the first chamber wall. The valve is moveable within the chamber from the first position to a second position to passively change a flow resistance of the damper assembly.

A solar tracker system includes a torque tube, a solar panel assembly attached to the torque tube, a housing defining a chamber and a fluid passageway extending from the chamber, and an active lock connected to a seal configured to prevent a flow path of fluid while in a sealed state and allow the flow path of fluid in an unsealed state. The system further includes a controller in communication with the torque tube and the active lock. The controller is programmed to receive a command to place the solar panel assembly in a stowed position, instruct the torque tube to rotate the panel assembly to a stowed angle corresponding to the stowed position, monitor a current angle of the panel assembly, compare the current angle to the stowed angle, and instruct the seal to transition to the sealed state when the current angle is equal to the stowed angle.

Solar tracker systems include a torque tube, a column supporting the torque tube, a solar panel attached to the torque tube, and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes an outer shell surrounding an inner shell. A piston is at least partially positioned within the inner shell and moveable relative thereto. An active lock of the damper assembly includes a housing positioned within the outer shell. The housing defines a cavity and a housing channel extending from the cavity to an outer fluid channel. A shaft extends into the cavity and a valve assembly is attached to the shaft. The shaft is rotatable within the cavity between an unsealed position in which the housing channel is in fluid communication with the cavity, and a sealed position in which the valve assembly is rotationally aligned with the housing channel and obstructs fluid communication between the cavity and the housing channel.

Solar tracker systems include a torque tube, a solar panel attached to the torque tube, and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes an outer shell, a first chamber wall and a second chamber wall within the outer shell at least partially defining a chamber, and a piston to direct fluid through the chamber. A valve is within the chamber that includes a first axial end, a second axial end, and a seal positioned on the first axial end. The damper assembly further includes a biasing assembly that biases the valve into a first position within the chamber in which the seal is spaced from the first chamber wall. The valve is moveable within the chamber from the first position to a second position in which the seal contacts and seals against the first chamber wall to prevent the flow of fluid through the chamber.

Solar tracker systems include a torque tube, a solar panel attached to the torque tube, and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes a housing defining first and second chambers, a first fluid passageway extending between the first and second chambers, and a second fluid passageway extending from the second chamber. A piston is moveable relative to the housing and a valve is positioned within the first chamber and moveable to passively control fluid flow. An active lock includes a shaft extending into the second chamber with a seal attached to the shaft. The shaft is selectively moveable between an unsealed position in which the seal is spaced from a chamber wall and a flow path is defined between the first fluid passageway and the second fluid passageway, and a sealed position in which the seal contacts and seals against the chamber wall to obstruct the flow path.

Solar tracker systems include a torque tube, a column supporting the torque tube, a solar panel attached to the torque tube, and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes an outer shell surrounding an inner shell and defining an outer fluid channel. A piston is positioned within the inner shell and moveable relative thereto. A locking valve of the damper assembly includes a shaft extending into a chamber and a seal attached to the shaft. The shaft is selectively moveable axially within the chamber along an extension axis between an unsealed position in which the seal is spaced from a chamber wall and a flow path is defined that extends from within the inner shell, through the chamber, and to the outer fluid channel, and a sealed position in which the seal contacts the chamber wall and the locking valve obstructs the flow path.

Pivoting members for pivoting a solar array mounted to a torque rail and tracking systems that include such pivoting members are disclosed. The pivoting member may include a liner between a rotating inner member and the outer housing of the pivoting member to reduce friction during pivoting of the solar array.

Pivoting members for a solar array

Mounting systems for securing a solar array to a mounting frame and clamping systems thereof are disclosed. The clamping systems may include one or more hooks for connecting a solar panel module to mounting frame. The hooks may be disposed on one or more wings of a clamp plate that extend from a rail structure of the clamp plate. The rail structure may form a rail chamber which receives a mounting rail.

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Concord, CA, United States of America

Milo Zabala