Technical Field of the Invention

The invention is related to a mechanical system which increases energy production of the photovoltaic panels producing electricity from solar energy by means of tracking the sun on two axes, using a single actuator.

State of the Art (Prior Art)

This invention is related to a new, two-axis solar tracking system mechanism developed to be used in photovoltaic panels. The mechanism provides for increasing the energy produced from the panels by following the position of the Sun during the day on two axes.

A lot of mechanisms have been developed for solar tracking systems. By tracking the sun on one or two axes, these systems increase the amount of radiation falling on the photovoltaic panels and therefore, the produced electrical energy compared to fixed-axis structural systems. The mechanisms providing solar tracking on two axes generally control each axis with one motor. In these systems, using two motors increase the investment costs and maintenance & repair requirements. Therefore, two-axis solar tracking systems could not become widespread in the market.

With the purpose developing mechanisms that use a single motor instead of two-motor systems, in the prior art, the patent documents number RO126150A2 and CN109167562A are present. When both patent documents are reviewed, it can be seen that two electromagnetic clutch systems are used in the mechanisms with one motor. When the patent documents are inspected, it is seen that these inventions provide the movement which is provided by two actuators (two motors) in the traditional methods with three actuators instead (with one motor and two electromagnetic clutch mechanisms). On the other hand, it is known that electromagnetic clutch mechanisms are affected by humidity and dust in external environmental conditions and require periodical maintenance. Therefore, it is seen that there is still a need for a technology which makes solar tracking systems more appealing than the fixed-axis systems.

Brief Description and Purposes of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mechanical system which enables to increase the electrical energy produced by photovoltaic panels from solar energy by using a single actuator, by tracking the changing position of the sun during the day due to the rotation of Earth around its own axis. The present invention can be used with photovoltaic systems that generate electricity from solar energy, as well as for the control of similar biaxial systems by organizing the dimensions and number of the parts (for example: solar tracking with concentrated solar thermal systems).

Among the barriers against the widespread use of two-axis solar tracking systems in photovoltaic power plants, high initial investment costs and the increasing maintenance costs of moving mechanical parts over the years can be mentioned. With the present invention, since two-axis movement can be provided with a single motor, the cost and maintenance requirement of two-axis solar tracking systems is reduced as much as one motor.

The invention, which is developed in order to decrease the mentioned costs and maintenance requirements, and therefore to increase the use of solar tracking systems in solar power plants operates as follows: the arrangement comprises two main bodies; a cage and a pivot member. Within the lattice, there is a fixed gear and a rotary gear shaft moving on the fixed gear, and ratchet gear system parts embedded within the rotary gear shaft. When the ratchet gear shaft within the cage is rotated clockwise with an electric motor, the tilt and azimuth angles of the photovoltaic panel are controlled. With this rotation, after the azimuth angle of the panel is brought to the desired level, the motor is rotated counterclockwise and the tilt angle is adjusted to the desired level. This process is repeated with the forward and backward movements of the motor until the sunset.

The operating principle and the advantages of the invention against the prior art will be more fully understood from the following descriptions of the various embodiments of the invention taken together with the accompanying technical drawings and the detailed operating principles of the system given in the following sections. Description of the Figures Illustrating the Invention

The figures prepared for the better understanding of the mechanical system developed with this invention are described below.

Figure 1: Figure Showing the Movement Directions of the Rotary Gear

Figure 2: Front View of the Mechanical System

Figure 3: Perspective View of the Rotary Gear Figure 4: Front View of the Fixed Gear Figure 5: Perspective View of the Fixed Gear Figure 6: Perspective View of the Pawl Figure 7: Perspective View of the Ratchet Gear Shaft

Figure 8: Top and Bottom Perspective View of the Cage

Figure 9: Top and Bottom Perspective View of the Cage Cover Figure 10: Perspective View of the Rotary Gear Cover

Figure 11: Perspective View of the Pivot Member

Figure 12: An illustration of the tilt and azimuth angles

Description of the Elements and Parts of the Invention

The elements and parts present in the mechanical system developed by this invention have been individually numbered and given below. 1 Rotary Gear

2 Fixed Gear

3 Pawl

4 Ratchet Gear Shaft

5 Cage

5.1. Slot

5.2. Ratchet Gear Shaft Housing

5.3. Pivot Member Housing

6 Cage Cover

6.1. Cover extensions

7 Rotary Gear Cover

8 Pivot Member

9 Panel Supporting Arm

10 Gear Shaft Ball-bearing

11 Pivot Member Ball-bearing S : Sun

SP : Solar Panel b : Tilt angle g : Azimuth angle

E : East

W : West

N : North

S : South

CW : Clockwise

CCW : Counterclockwise

Detailed Description of the Invention

Solar tracking systems are mechanisms which provide for increasing the energy produced from the sun by tracking the position of the Sun during the day due to its turn around its own axis. The ability of the solar tracking systems to track the sun is realized by means of the actuators integrated to the system. An actuator is the component which provides the movement and control of a mechanism or system. In this invention, dc motor with encoder is used as the actuator. The reason for the motor used to have an encoder is that control of the parameters of the solar tracking system such as speed, position and direction can be easily provided by means of the encoder.

During energy production from photovoltaic panels, the azimuth (g) and tilt (b) angles of the Sun should be known, in order to take advantage of the solar energy efficiently. In Figure 12, a visual which shows the tilt and azimuth angles is present. The tilt angle (b) is the angle the panel makes with the ground plane. The azimuth angle (g) is the angle between the north (N) south (S) direction and the projection of the sun ray coming to Earth’s surface.

The invention performs solar tracking from sunrise to noon as follows:

The actuator (motor) triggers the ratchet gear shaft (4) and rotates it clockwise (CW). When the ratchet gear shaft (4) rotates clockwise (CW), the rotary gear (1) and ratchet gear shaft (by means of the pawl (3) and spring) rotates as coupled and moves on the fixed gear (2). During this rotation, the solar panel (SP) performs its rotation on both axes; the azimuth angle (g) increases and the tilt angle (b) decreases. After the azimuth angle is on the desired level, the clockwise (CW) rotation is complete. Thereafter, in order to bring the tilt angle (b) to the desired level, the actuator (motor) is rotated counterclockwise (CWW). As the motor rotates counterclockwise (CWW), the ratchet gear shaft (4) starts to rotate independently of the rotary gear (1). During this rotation, the pawl (3) moves backwards and compresses the spring between the pawl (3) and the rotary gear (1), if the pawl skips one gear pitch on the rotary gear during rotation, the pawl returns to its original position by means of the spring. This rotation directly increases the tilt angle (b) of the solar panel (SP) since the panel supporting arm (9) is fixed to the ratchet gear shaft (4) (it does not affect the azimuth angle). The system operates by repeating this principle until noon.

The invention performs solar tracking from noon to sunset as follows:

The actuator (motor) triggers the ratchet gear shaft (4) and rotates it clockwise (CW). When the ratchet gear shaft (4) rotates clockwise (CW), the rotary gear (1) and ratchet gear shaft (by means of the pawl (3) and spring) rotate as coupled and moves on the fixed gear (2). Thereby, the azimuth angle (g) of the panel increases, and the tilt angle (b) decreases. After the azimuth angle is on the desired level, the clockwise (CW) rotation is complete. In order to bring the tilt angle (b) of the solar panel (SP) to the desired level, the motor is rotated counterclockwise (CWW). As the motor rotates counterclockwise (CWW), the ratchet gear shaft (4) starts to rotate independently of the rotary gear (1). During this rotation, the pawl (3) moves backwards and compresses the spring between the pawl (3) and the rotary gear (1), if the pawl skips one gear pitch on the rotary gear during rotation, the pawl returns to its original position by means of the spring. With this rotation, the ratchet gear shaft (4) rotates independently of the rotary gear (1) and the tilt angle of the panel increases. During the operation of the system after noon, the movement needed to arrange the tilt angle is significantly less than the movement of the system before noon. The system operates by repeating this principle from noon to sunset.

It should be indicated that the number of pawls (3), the radius of the rotary gear (1), and the radius of the fixed gear (2) varies depending on the geographical conditions and requirements in which the invention will be used. In addition, the position of the rotary gear (1) with respect to the photovoltaic panels may change the direction of the movement; in this case, the movement before noon may be performed after noon and the movement after noon may be performed before noon. Lastly, the use of the mechanical system of the invention with the worm gear in solar tracking systems will reduce the energy consumed by the system.

In order to be able to produce electricity from solar energy, the mechanical system developed for the photovoltaic panels used in solar tracking systems basically comprises;

• An actuator which is responsible for moving and controlling the system,

• Ratchet gear shaft (4), which is triggered by the movement of the actuator and carries the solar panel (SP); providing the clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CWW) rotation of the solar panel (SP),

• Rotary gear (1), which adjusts the position of the solar panel (SP) and through which the ratchet gear shaft (4) passes,

• Fixed gear (2), which the rotary gear (1) uses to complete its rotation around the vertical axis, • Pawl (3) and spring, which provide for the coupling of the ratchet gear shaft (4) with the rotary gear (1) when the panel rotates clockwise (CW), and for the idling of the ratchet gear shaft (4) when it rotates counterclockwise (CWW),

• Cage (5), which gives structural support to the ratchet gear shaft (4) and provides for its rotation on the pivot member,

• Cage cover (6), which completes the lattice (5) for the mounting of the system and prevents the entry of undesirable objects,

• Rotary gear cover (7), which is used for the secure holding of the springs within the mechanism and which is placed on the rotary gear,

• Pivot member (8), which bears the mechanical system and the solar tracking system,

• Supporting arms (9), which carry the solar panel and provide for its rotation,

• Gear shaft ball-bearing (10), which provides the free rotation of the ratchet gear shaft,

• Pivot member ball-bearing (11), which provides for the cage (5) to rotate around the pivot member (8) (pole), being located between the cage and the pivot member.

There are two housings (5.2) for the passage of the ratchet gear shaft (4) through the cage (5). Said housings (5.2) are placed opposite to each other. Gear shaft ball-bearing (10) is placed in these housings (5.2). The ratchet gear shaft (4) passes through these ball-bearings (10) and provides the free rotation of the ratchet gear shaft (4).

There are slots (5.1) which extend to the ceiling of the cage (5), on the ratchet gear shaft housings (5.2). During the mounting of the system, the ratchet gear shaft (4) is placed within the cage (5) by means of these slots. The extensions (6.1) on the lattice cover (6) are placed within these slots (5.1) and the complete overlap of the lattice (5) and lattice cover (6) is provided. Thereby, entry of foreign objects into the cage is prevented.

A pivot member housing (5.3) is present at the base of the cage (5).