Patent ID: 8536504
Filing Date: 2013-09-17
Classification: F24S,H01L,H02S,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A terrestrial solar tracking photovoltaic array comprising: a longitudinal support constructed from a plurality of discrete sections placed in an end-to-end configuration; a drive chain operatively connected to the longitudinal support to rotate the longitudinal support about a first axis in first and second rotational directions; a plurality of mounts connected to the longitudinal support and spaced apart along a length of the longitudinal support for securing the array to a mounting surface; a plurality of solar cell array modules coupled to the longitudinal support, each of said solar cell modules comprising a rectangular case with a plurality of lenses positioned over corresponding receivers; a string of linkages spaced apart from the longitudinal support and connecting together each of the plurality of mounts, each of the linkages including a discrete length; the longitudinal support being rotatable about the first axis by the drive chain to simultaneously move each of the solar cell modules to track the sun within a first plane during the course of a day; and the string of linkages being movable axially along the longitudinal support to rotate each of the plurality of mounts and the connected solar cell modules within second planes that are each orthogonal to the first plane to track the sun during the course of the day.