Patent ID: 7884308
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: F24S,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A solar powered sun tracker for maintaining a power solar panel in an optimum position relative to the sun during daylight as the sun traverses a solar track elevated above the horizon and extending from a sunrise location to a sunset location during each day of consecutive days, the sun tracker comprising: a frame rotatable about a vertical direction; a platform for carrying the power solar panel in an upwardly-facing orientation, the platform being mounted on the frame for tilting about a first horizontal direction to aim the power solar panel along a first aiming direction; a first motor coupled with the platform for tilting the platform about the horizontal direction in either one of opposite tilt directions to aim the first aiming direction; a first pair of solar modules extending along the horizontal direction and arrayed in an A-shaped cross-sectional configuration substantially symmetrical about the first aiming direction, the first pair of solar modules being mounted for movement with the platform to tilt with the platform about the horizontal direction and connected to the first motor for powering the first motor to tilt the platform so as to move the first aiming direction into an optimum alignment with the sun in response to exposure of the first pair of solar modules to the sun; a second pair of solar modules arrayed in an A-shaped cross-sectional configuration substantially symmetrical about a second aiming direction, the second pair of solar modules extending along a corresponding longitudinal direction making a corresponding aiming angle with the vertical direction and mounted on the frame for tilting about a corresponding lateral direction to change the corresponding aiming angle; a third pair of solar modules arrayed in an A-shaped cross-sectional configuration substantially symmetrical about a third aiming direction, the third pair of solar modules extending along a corresponding longitudinal direction making a corresponding aiming angle with the vertical direction and mounted on the frame, opposite the second pair of solar modules with respect to the horizontal direction, for tilting about a corresponding lateral direction to change the corresponding aiming angle; a second motor coupled with the second and third pairs of solar modules for tilting each second and third pair of solar modules about a respective corresponding lateral direction to change each respective corresponding aiming angle; a fourth pair of solar modules arrayed in an A-shaped cross-sectional configuration substantially symmetrical about the first aiming direction, the fourth pair of solar modules extending along the horizontal direction and being mounted for movement with the platform for tilting with the platform about the horizontal direction, the fourth pair of solar modules being connected to the second motor for powering the second motor to tilt each of the second and third pairs of solar modules about a corresponding lateral direction to change a corresponding aiming angle and direct the second and third aiming directions to establish an optimum alignment of each second and third pair of solar modules relative to the sun; a third motor coupled with the frame for rotating the frame about the vertical direction; and a controller for connecting the second pair of solar modules to the third motor to power the third motor for rotating the frame as the sun traverses the solar track during a day, and for connecting the third pair of solar modules to the third motor during a next-consecutive day such that the third motor is powered alternately by the second and third pairs of solar modules to rotate the frame during consecutive days, while the second motor is powered by the fourth pair of solar modules to tilt the second an third pairs of solar modules into an optimum orientation relative to the sun, and the first motor is powered by the first pair of solar modules to tilt the platform and aim the power solar panel into an optimum orientation relative to the sun during each day.