Pneumatic actuation circuit system and method

US10944353B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SUNFOLDING, INC. · US

Inventors

• Louis Hong Basel · Berkeley, US
• Joshua Earle Erickson · Oakland, US
• Dan Goldwater · Berkeley, US
• Jeffrey Charles Lamb · San Francisco, US
• Leila Madrone · San Francisco, US
• Vincent Domenic Romanin · San Francisco, US
• Matthew N. Schneider · Sierra Madre, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 17, 2018
• Grant date: Mar 9, 2021
• Expiry date: Dec 11, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/50
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A system for controlling a rotation of one or more solar panels about an axis of rotation, comprising one or more solar panels defining a longitudinal axis, one or more bellows actuators coupled to the one or more solar panels and defining an axis of rotation parallel to the longitudinal axis of the panels, a fluid source, a first valve circuit coupled to the bellows actuators and the fluid source, a second valve circuit coupled to the bellows actuators and the fluid source, and a controller, wherein introduction or release of fluid from one or more of the bellows actuators is configured to cause rotation of the one or more actuators about the axis of rotation.