Device for Supporting a Length of a Control Bar of a Solar Tracking System
A device for supporting a length of a control bar connecting two elements separated from one another, with the control bar having a degree of freedom. The device includes a carrier cable extending vertically parallel and opposite the control bar, with a series of hangers connecting the carrier cable to the control bar and arranged to maintain the degree of freedom of the control bar.
The invention relates to a device for supporting a length of a control bar connecting two elements separated from one another, in particular two solar modules of a solar tracking system.
In a solar tracking system comprising a series of solar modules arranged on the ground at a distance from one another, a solar module of the solar tracking system is connected to at least one of the adjacent solar modules by the intermediary of control bars which make it possible to transmit from one solar module to the other one or several movements allowing for the correct positioning over the course of time of the solar treatment element of the solar module. So that, during an operation, the solar module does not cast a shadow onto one of the adjacent solar modules, large distances separate said solar module from its neighbours. Consequently, the length of the control bar that makes it possible to connect said solar module to at least one of its neighbours is substantial. Consequently, under the effect of their own weight, these control bars become deformed by taking a bend, which can lead to a contact with the ground. This deformation and this contact with the ground are detrimental to the correct resistance, on the one hand and, on the other hand, to the precision of the movement transmitted as such from one solar module to the other.
For this purpose it is provided, according to the invention, a device for supporting a length of a control bar connecting two elements separated from one another, with the control bar comprising a degree of freedom, characterised in that it comprises a carrier cable extending vertically parallel and opposite the control bar, a series of hangers connecting the carrier cable to the control bar arranged as such to maintain the degree of freedom of the control bar.
As such, the use of a carrier cable associated with a series of hangers makes it possible to ensure that the control bar remains straight between the two solar modules separated from one another that it connects. In addition the hangers are arranged as such to maintain the degree of freedom of the control bar that they support. Consequently, maintaining the control bar straight while still allowing it its degree of freedom, makes it possible to transmit from one solar module to the other the control movement or movements and this is a sustainable and precise manner.
Advantageously, but optionally, the device for supporting according to the invention has at least one of the following additional technical characteristics:
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- each hanger of the series of hangers comprises a receiving and support housing of the control bar arranged such as to maintain the degree of freedom of the control bar;
- the control bar is received in the receiving and support housing, with an operating clearance that maintains the degree of freedom of the control bar;
- the receiving and support housing comprises a first lower portion that forms a bearing;
- the first lower portion that forms a bearing comprises a material that has a reduced coefficient of friction and an excellent resistance to the outside environment;
- the receiving and support housing comprises a second upper portion that forms means for retaining the control bar in the receiving and support housing;
- each hanger comprises a housing in the shape of a “U”, extending vertically from an upper face of the hanger, arranged such as to receive the carrier cable by making it possible to adjust a distance between the carrier cable and the control bar;
- each hanger comprises means for locking the carrier cable in position in the housing in the shape of a “U”;
- the device for supporting that supports a length of a second control bar extending in parallel and at a distance from the first control bar, it further comprises means that form a spacer between the two control bars;
- the device comprises a second carrier cable extending in parallel and at a distance from the first carrier cable; and
- the means forming a spacer also form the hangers connecting the control bars to the carrier cable(s).
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention shall appear during the description hereinafter of two embodiments. In the annexed drawings:
In reference to
The use of a spacer 2 comprising at each one of its ends a receiving and support housing of a control bar as described above makes it possible not only to ensure that the control bar remains straight between the two solar modules that it connects but also to maintain and ensure a parallelism between the two control bars 4 in the framework of a two-axis solar tracking system.
According to the length of the control bar to be supported, one or several devices for supporting a length of a control bar are installed between the two solar modules in a uniformly distributed manner.
In reference to
Means of adjusting a tension of the first and second carrier cables 10 (not shown) are provided in order to adjust the tension of said carrier cables 10. The means for adjusting a tension are known per se by those skilled in the art and shall not be described any further.
Over the entire length of the control bar 4, as shown in
The hanger 30 comprises a receiving and support housing 34 of the control bar 4. The control bar 4 is received in its housing with an operating clearance J that allows the receiving and support housing of the control bar 34 to receive and to support said control bar 4 while still allowing the control bar 4 to maintain at least one degree of freedom, which is here a movement of rotation about a longitudinal axis of the control bar 4. This operating clearance J allows the control bar 4 to rotate about its longitudinal axis without becoming locked within the receiving and support housing 34 of the hanger 30.
Extending over this receiving and support housing 4, the hanger 30 comprises, extending from an upper end of the hanger 30, a U-shaped housing 33 intended to receive the carrier cable 10. This U-shaped housing extends over a predetermined length from an upper end of the hanger 30, without however opening into the receiving and support housing 34. The presence of this housing in the shape of a U 33 will make it possible to adjust a distance between the carrier cable 10 and the control bar 34 in order to ensure the fact that the control bar 34 be straight between the solar module 140 and the adjacent second solar module that it connects. The clamping in position of the hanger 30 on the carrier cable 10 is carried out using a clamping device 32 arranged transversally at the upper end of the hanger 30 through two branches that form the U-shaped housing. The use of this clamping system 32 shall make it possible to bring closer together the ends of the branches of the U forming the U-shaped housing 33. During this coming together, the branches of the U of the U-shaped housing 33 will pinch the carrier cable 10 and as such maintain the distance chosen between the carrier cable 10 and the control bar 4. As an alternative embodiment, the faces opposite the branches of the “U” forming the housing 33 have a series of recesses or cavities that make it possible to define a series of discrete positions of the carrier cable 10 within the housing in the shape of a “U” 33, the carrier cable 10 then being received in a pair of opposite cavities or recesses.
In order to facilitate the assembly in place of the hanger 30, the latter is carried out in two identical portions 31 and positioned symmetrically in relation to one another. A second clamping system 32 is provided at the lower end of the hanger 30 in order to ensure the assembly of the two portions 31 that form the hanger 30. Other alternative realisations are possible of the hanger 30 in order to carry out its assembly in place. The hanger 30 is made from a material that has as main characteristic a reduced coefficient of friction in order to allow for good movement according to the degree of freedom of the control bar within the receiving and support housing 34 and which has an excellent resistance to the outside environment, in particular rain, ultraviolet rays and dust. As such, the receiving and support housing 34 comprises a lower portion in contact with an outside surface of the control bar 34. This lower portion forms a bearing. The receiving and support housing 34 comprises an upper portion opposite the lower portion that forms means for retaining the control bar in the receiving and support housing 34 of the hanger 30.
In reference to
At the second end, the spacer 40 of the alternative embodiment of the device for supporting a length of a control bar according to the invention comprises a hanger 30 similar to the hanger 30 described hereinabove in relation to
The second carrier cable 10 is fastened in a housing 42 arranged before the elbowed end 44 of the spacer 40. The housing 2 is carried out in the shape of a U from an upper or lower outside edge of the spacer 40. Here, in the example shown in
As an alternative embodiment, the relative positioning of the carrier cables 10 in relation to the control bars 4 is regardless. In another alternative embodiment, the two carrier cables 10 are replaced with a single carrier cable 10. Of course, the number of carrier cables as well as the number of control bars can vary according to the needs and technical constraints.
In reference to
Of course, it is possible to make to the invention many modifications without however leaving the scope of the latter.
Claims
1-11. (canceled)
12. A device for supporting a length of a control bar connecting two elements separated from one another, with the control bar comprising a degree of freedom, the device comprising
- a carrier cable extending vertically parallel and opposite the control bar; and
- a series of hangers connecting the carrier cable to the control bar and arranged to maintain the degree of freedom of the control bar.
13. The device according to claim 12, wherein each hanger of the series of hangers comprises a receiving and support housing of the control bar and arranged to maintain the degree of freedom of the control bar.
14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the control bar is received in the receiving and support housing with an operating clearance that maintains the degree of freedom of the control bar.
15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the receiving and support housing comprises a first lower portion that forms a bearing.
16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the first lower portion comprises a material that has a reduced coefficient of friction.
17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the receiving and support housing comprises a second upper portion that forms a retainer to retain the control bar in the receiving and support housing.
18. The device according to claim 12, wherein each hanger comprises a housing having a “U” shape, extending vertically from an upper face of the hanger, and arranged to receive the carrier cable and to adjust a distance between the carrier cable and the control bar.
19. The device according to claim 18, wherein each hanger comprises means for locking the carrier cable in position in the housing in the shape of a “U”.
20. The device according to claim 12, wherein the device for supporting that supports a length of a second control bar extending in parallel and at a distance from the first control bar further comprises a spacer between the two control bars.
21. The device according to claim 20, further comprising a second carrier cable extending in parallel and at a distance from the first carrier cable.
22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the spacer also forms the hangers connecting the control bars to the carrier cables.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 29, 2014
Publication Date: Apr 14, 2016
Inventor: François Paponneau (Cestas)
Application Number: 14/888,470