Patent ID: 11967921
Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLC
Field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  F  Y | IPC F  H

Claim 14:
15. A solar tracker apparatus comprising:
a cylindrical torque tube;
a plurality of solar modules coupled to the cylindrical torque tube;
a drive device coupled to the cylindrical torque tube, the drive device configured to rotate the cylindrical torque tube;
a clamp assembly, the clamp assembly comprising:
a clamp housing member having an upper region and a lower region, the lower region defining a lower region opening sized to accept the cylindrical torque tube; and
a clam shell clamp rotatably coupled to the upper region about a second axis of rotation, the clam shell clamp configured to:
support a second end of the cylindrical torque tube in an off-set position from the second axis of rotation; and
enable the second end of the cylindrical torque tube to rotate about the second axis of rotation;

a self-powering energy source configured to power the drive device, the self-powering energy source mounted on the cylindrical torque tube in close proximity with one of the plurality of solar modules; and
an electronics module coupled to the cylindrical torque tube proximate the drive device and between at least two solar modules of the plurality of solar modules.