RO129312A0 - Orienting mechanism for a platform of solar collector arrays - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a bi-axially orienting mechanism used for a platform of solar collector arrays. According to the invention, the mechanism consists of two subsystems having two orientation axes (), the first subsystem meant for the transmission of a diurnal motion about the first axis () consists of a linear actuator () which acts upon a bevel gear, the articulation point of a piston of the actuator () on a driving wheel () being eccentrically placed in relation to the rotation center of the wheel (), and a driven wheel () fixedly mounted on the axle of the framework of a platform () whereon there are placed some modules (), the second subsystem meant to transmit an elevation motion about the second axis () being actuated by rotary motor () whose rotor is connected to a worm and wheel () whose spiral wheel is coupled to the axle of the first of the modules () in the array, the modules () being placed on some frames () articulated by means of some bearings () to the framework of the platform (), the simultaneous transmission of the elevation motion between the modules () being performed by a belt gearing ().

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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The invention relates to a pseudo-azimuthal bi-axial orientation mechanism used for a platform of rows of solar collectors, in order to maximize the energy efficiency of the system (by ensuring an optimal incidence angle, thus maximizing the capture of solar radiation. ). The system allows the orientation of two axes (day movement and elevation movement), under conditions of reduced complexity, favorable transmission angles and high accuracy. Relative to the classical solution of individual orientation of the modules, the proposed system minimizes the number of motor sources (a single motor source for each movement realizes the action of all the modules in the string). At the same time, by arranging the rows of modules on a common frame (platform type), the simultaneous day-to-day orientation of the modules is ensured, without the need for individual mechanisms / systems for transmitting the day-to-day movement between the modules (as happens in the case of the systems of orientation of the modules). of modules).

A mechanism for transmitting motion through bars articulated according to patent WO 2008/118518 Al is known, having as disadvantages: high complexity of the mechanical system, the dynamic demands that appear in the system (wind, inertial forces) are transmitted in the drive system.

Also known is a mechanism for transmitting cable / wire motion (WO patent 2009/039556 Al), with the disadvantage of the elasticity of the cables, which allows the modules to oscillate under the fluctuating wind pressure. Also, the tensile strength of the cables overloads the bearings and the construction of the system.

Also, a mechanism for transmitting the movement by rack is known, according to the US patent 2008/0308091 Al. The main disadvantages of this type of mechanism are: mechanical oscillations in joints are amplified; vibrations and shocks in the system are transmitted in the opposite direction; the mechanism does not ensure the irreversibility of the movement.

Regarding the orientation systems for platforms of solar collectors, it is known an orientation mechanism (US patent 20110073161 Al) in which the diurnal motion is realized with a linear actuator which acts directly on the platform and the transmission of the elevation movement (having as a motor source also a linear actuator) between modules is realized with a mechanism with parallelogram type bars. This mechanism has the disadvantage that it cannot perform large angular strokes for daytime movement, presenting a risk of auto-blocking with the increase of the stroke.

Also, there is known a mechanism of orientation for the platform of strings of modules in which the transmission of the movement is done by cables (patent WO 2010135191A2), the disadvantages of such a mechanism being mentioned previously.

The problem solved by the invention is to increase the energy efficiency of a pseudo-azimuthal platform of strings of solar collectors under conditions of reduced complexity and to maintain optimum transmission angles.

The proposed steering mechanism solves the technical problem (for daytime movement) by using a speed multiplier with conical gear, with subunit transmission ratio (stroke amplifier), interposed between the motor source (linear actuator) and the platform frame, the actuator piston being articulated eccentrically. on the driving wheel, and the wheel

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BPI Entry No. 169 / 21.05.13

drive is fixedly fixed to the axis of rotation of the frame. For the elevation movement, the solution of the technical problem is achieved by actuating by a rotary motor a screw gear having the screw wheel coupled to the axis of the first module of the string, the movement being transmitted to the other modules of the string by means of a belt transmission. The modules are arranged on their own frames and articulated through bearings within the platform. The proposed mechanism ensures the simultaneous orientation of the modules according to the same law of movement (as the case may be, daytime movement, respectively elevation).

Advantages of the invention (the basic solution - figs. 1, 2, 3,4 and the derived solutions - figs. 5, 6, 7, 8):

- has the possibility to orient medium and large platforms of rows of photovoltaic modules;

- reducing the cost of the system by minimizing the number of motor sources (one for each movement) relative to the classical solution of individual orientation of each module;

- the conical gear used in the transmission of the daytime movement acts as a stroke multiplier, which allows the use of a small linear actuator (stroke);

- the screw gear used for the transmission of the elevation movement acts as a torque multiplier, which allows the use of a lower power motor;

- avoiding the strict conditions regarding the parallelism of the axes and the arrangement of the specific elements of the classical solution of the transmission of the movement between modules by means of parallelogram type mechanisms;

- the irreversibility of the necessary movement in the stationary positions and the occurrence of external disturbances (eg wind) is ensured by a screw-nut transmission integrated in the linear actuator (for the daytime movement), respectively by the screw gear (for the elevation movement), which also blocks the occurrence in reverse of the mechanical shocks in the system;

- allows the extension by serial linking of several mechanisms / strings of modules;

- the frames of the modules allow the installation of modules of different dimensions;

- further reducing the cost of the system by using a single motor source for both movements;

- the system can also be used in the case of solar thermal panels.

The following is an example of an embodiment of the invention, in connection with FIGS. 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8:

Figure 1: representation of an assembly of the platform of rows of solar collectors;

Figure 2: representation of the platform of rows of solar collectors in a vertical position, oriented towards the West;

Figure 3: detailed representation of the mechanism for daytime movement;

Figure 4: representation in detail of the mechanism for the elevation movement;

Figure 5: the representation as a whole (a), respectively of a detail (b) of the mechanism intended for the elevation movement, with the transmission of the movement between modules through a bolted transmission;

Figure 6: representation of an assembly of the bi-axial steering mechanism derived from the proposed invention, which uses as a travel amplifier for diurnal motion a cylindrical gear;

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Figure 7: representation of an assembly of the bi-axial orientation mechanism derived from the proposed invention, which uses as a quadratic mechanism for the daytime motion amplifier;

Figure 8: representation of an assembly of the bi-axial guidance mechanism derived from the proposed invention, which uses a single drive (the source of the daytime movement) to generate both movements.

The guidance system according to the invention, in connection with Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, is composed of two subsystems (mechanisms): the subsystem for daytime movement and the subsystem for elevation movement. The mechanism for daytime orientation ensures the movement from East to West and West to East (around axis A-A ') of the platform of solar collector strings with the help of a linear actuator Ml acting on a conical gear. The driving conical wheel 1 is actuated by the actuator piston, the point of articulation of the piston head on the wheel being disposed eccentrically with respect to the center of rotation of the wheel. The driven conical wheel 2 is fixedly fixed on the axis of rotation of the frame of the platform 3. The wheels of the conical gear and the linear actuator housing are articulated on a support structure 0. When directly acting with the linear actuator, usually - according to the studies - the angular stroke cannot exceed 120 ° under a transmission angle of 25 ° -30 °. The motivation of the introduction of the conical gear consists of the amplification of the angular stroke of the platform, which allows the use of a small actuator (small linear stroke). The linear actuator integrates a screw-nut transmission, which ensures the irreversibility of the movement in the stationary positions (between the drives), as well as in the event of external disturbances (eg the wind action). The law of daytime movement is of a step-by-step type, the system moving sequentially, and at sunset it returns to its initial position (rising) on the same route, with continuous movement. The mechanism for the elevation movement ensures the simultaneous orientation of the modules in the string from a single motor. At the rotor of the motor source M2 a screw gear 5 is connected, the screw wheel being coupled to the axis of the first module in row 4. The screw gear ensures the irreversibility of the movement, while performing the function of torque multiplier, which allows the use of a reduced power motor. The modules are arranged on their own frames 6, articulated by bearings 7 within the platform 3. The transmission of the elevation movement between the modules is realized by a transmission with the belt 8, ensuring the synchronization of the orientation of the modules according to the same law of movement (type step-by- step) around the B-B axes'.

Figure 5 shows another constructive variant to ensure the elevation orientation that uses screw gears for transmitting movement between modules. A conical gear is connected to the rotor of the M2 motor source, the driven wheel of which is coupled by a shaft 9 on which snail portions are engaged in gear with the bolted wheels 10 connected to the axes of the three modules, thus ensuring the simultaneous orientation of the modules. following the same law of motion.

Figure 6 shows a solution derived from the proposed invention, which uses as a travel amplifier for daytime movement a cylindrical gear with subunit transmission ratio. The driving wheel 11 is actuated by the actuator piston (arranged in this case vertically), the point of articulation of the piston being disposed eccentrically with respect to the center of rotation of the wheel. The cylindrical driven wheel 12 is fixedly fixed to the axis of rotation of the platform frame. The gear wheels and the actuator housing are hinged on the supporting structure.

Figure 7 shows a solution derived from the proposed invention, which uses a quadratic mechanism as a travel amplifier for daytime movement. The actuator piston (arranged vertically) is hinged on the large balancer 13 of the quadrilateral mechanism, the movement being transmitted through the connecting rod 14 to the small balancer 15 which is fixedly fixed on the shaft

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rotation of the platform frame. The balance of the quadrilateral mechanism and the actuator housing are hinged on the supporting structure.

Figure 8 shows a solution derived from the proposed invention, which uses a single drive (the source of the diurnal motion) to generate both movement (diurnal and elevation), transmitting and transforming the movement at the elevation axis level by using a conical gear fitted with a pentalater mechanism. To ensure the simultaneous orientation of the modules according to the same law of motion, a belt transmission is used. The change of the direction of movement (from the axis of the diurnal movement to the axis of the elevation movement) is realized by a conical planetary mechanism, in which the central wheel 16 is fixedly fixed to the supporting structure / pole (at the rear of the structure). The conical satellite 17 is hinged on the satellite-bearing arm 18 (fixedly mounted on the platform), transmitting the movement to the input balance 19 of a pentalater mechanism (the balance is mounted on the same shaft as the satellite). The output balance 20 of the pentalater mechanism is rigidly connected on the frame of module 4. The pentalater mechanism has two degrees of mobility, one being controlled / imposed by the movement that comes from the axis of the daytime movement, and the other degree of mobility is geometrically controlled by a link. of roller type 21 - guide 22. The roller is articulated in the connecting node of the connecting rods 23, 24, and the guide is practiced in a plate 25 fixedly mounted on the frame of the platform. The geometric shape of the guide is defined in such a way as to ensure the desired law for the elevation movement, alternating parking areas (portions of a circle arch) with lifting / lowering areas. For the guide form of figure 8, the law of movement imposed on the system is of step-by-step type, the system moving sequentially in 2 steps. The motivation for introducing this mechanism is to reduce the number of motor sources used for bi-axial drive of the system, in order to increase the economic efficiency (by reducing the cost of the system).

Claims (5)

BPI Entry No. 169 / 21.05.13 Orientation mechanism for a platform of rows of solar collectors 1. The mechanism of bi-axial orientation for a platform of rows of solar collectors, characterized in that the diurnal motion is generated by a linear actuator (Ml), to which a conical gear with subunit transmission ratio (stroke amplifier is coupled) ), whose steering wheel 1 is actuated by the actuator piston - eccentrically hinged on the conical pinion, the driven wheel 2 being fixedly fixed on the axis of rotation of the frame of the platform 3, while the elevation movement is generated by a rotary motor (M2) , to which a screw gear 5 is coupled, the screw wheel being connected to the axis of the first module 4; the simultaneous transmission of the elevation movement between the modules is carried out by means of a belt transmission 8, the modules being mounted on their own frames 6, which are articulated on the platform 3. 2. The steering mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that it uses screw gears for transmitting the movement between modules (elevation movement), and to the rotor of the motor source M2 a conical gear is connected, the driven wheel of which is coupled by a shaft 9 on which portions of snail in gear with the snail wheels 10 connected to the axes of the three modules are materialized, thus ensuring the simultaneous orientation of the modules according to the same movement law. 3. Steering mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the conical gear is replaced by a cylindrical gear with a subunit ratio used as a travel amplifier for the diurnal movement, and the linear actuator Ml - arranged vertically - being eccentrically articulated on the pinion. cylindrical 11, and the driven cylindrical wheel 12 is fixedly fixed to the shaft of the platform. 4. Orientation mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that it uses as a travel amplifier for daytime movement a quadrilateral mechanism 13-14-15, the linear actuator - arranged in a vertical plane - being articulated on the large balancer 13 and the small balancer 15 is fixedly fixed to the shaft of the platform. 5. Orientation mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the system generates both movements (diurnal and elevation) from a single source of motors (that of diurnal movement), the transmission and transformation of the movement at the elevation axis level being achieved by using a conical planetary mechanism inserted with a pentalater mechanism and with a roller link 21 - guide 22, the shape of the guide being defined so as to ensure the desired elevation law.