Hurricane proof solar tracker

摘要

A hurricane-proof solar tracker and related method of operation includes a solar panel array assembly having one end coupled to a ballast and a tilting assembly supporting a solar panel assembly. The tilting assembly tilts the solar panel array assembly to track with the sun in a first position, and retracts the solar panel array to a substantially flat second position.

主权项

1. A hurricane-proof solar tracker, comprising:
a solar panel array assembly comprising:
a spine having a longitudinal axis and an end coupled to a first ballast block, the spine being rotatable about the longitudinal axis, the first ballast block configured to be anchored to a terrain; anda plurality of solar panels; a tilting assembly supporting said solar panel array assembly, said tilting assembly comprising:
a wing flange coupled to said spine, said wing flange having a pair of mounting sockets;a pair of trunnion mounts; anda pair of actuatable telescoping cylinders, wherein each actuatable telescoping cylinder of the pair of actuatable telescoping cylinders is pivotally coupled with respect to a corresponding trunnion mount of the pair of trunnion mounts, and coupled to a corresponding mounting socket of the pair of mounting sockets of the wing flange; a controller coupled to the tilting assembly, the controller configured to:
actuate the pair of actuatable telescoping cylinders to rotate the spine in an operational mode;actuate the pair of actuatable telescoping cylinders to retract to a lay-down position in a lay-down mode; anda pair of second ballast blocks, each trunnion mount of the pair of trunnion mounts coupled to a corresponding second ballast block of the pair of second ballast blocks, each second ballast block forming a cavity, the cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a corresponding actuatable telescoping cylinder in the lay-down mode.