Solar Trough Actuation System
I built this quarter scale solar actuator prototype. I worked in a team of three students to design and prototype a novel new solar trough actuation system for the class 2.753 Development of Mechanical Products. The actuator is composed of two extending links actuated by a lead screw and motor. Each link can push but not pull, and thus one link pushes while the other extends and the lead screw is turned. This allows, in this case, 150 degrees of motion with only one actuator. The lead screw cannot be back-driven, and thus wind loads on the solar trough are not felt by the motor.
The two extending linkages are rigidly connected and driven by a lead screw.
Solid model of the ful scale system. An I-beam and trolley are used as the linear guide.
Quarter scale prototype I built in action. The motor is turning the lead screw. Initially the right link is bearing the weight as the trouch is lowered and the left link is contracting. Then the right link starts pushing the trough up as the left link extends.
Video of the quarter-scale prototype in action.
Full-scale version of the actuation system, with motor coupling, tapered roller bearings, I-beam and trolleys, and two extending links rigidly connected.
Video of the full-scale actuation system in action.
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