Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus for tracking the sun which reorients itself immediately in the absence of sunlight. Large and small cannisters are provided at the respective ends of a pivotable frame. When the sun is not normal to the plane containing the cannister, the near cannister is shaded from direct sunlight and the far cannister is exposed. A conduit is provided between the cannisters, and a quantity of volatile fluid is located in the cannisters and conduit. The liquid volume of the volatile fluid is greater than that of the small cannister plus the conduit, but less than the volume of the large cannister. A gas spring fluid is located in the large cannister, which has a vapor pressure sufficient to force the volatile fluid into the small cannister in the absence of sunlight on the east cannister.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for rotating a collector of solar energy in such a way as to keep it constantly oriented during the day in the best direction for interception of radiation and for returning it to a position from which it will begin collecting radiation again in the morning. Whereas a previously disclosed device for automatic return to morning position relies upon changing the rate of heat loss from the surfaces of the interconnected canisters which power it, the present invention removes the heat-collecting surfaces whose differential heating by the west-moving sun controls the tilting of the collector from the canisters themselves to plates located below and on sides opposite the canisters served so as to give these surfaces a larger view of the sky and enable them to find the sun from almost any position.

Abstract: A heat engine that rotates on a shaft set at an angle to the lines of force of a gravitational or centrifugal field. Elongated chambers (divers) are arranged radially and about the shaft with their long axes parallel to the shaft. There are an equal number of hot and cold divers. Each cold diver connects through its base, so a liquid may flow between, with other cold divers located about the shaft. Each hot diver connects through its base, so liquid may flow between, with other hot divers located about the shaft. Each cold diver is connected from its top, so that gas may pass between, through a suitable regenerator to the top of one warm diver. The so-connected pairs of divers are arranged so that the warm diver is always ahead of the cold diver some phase angle 19 radially about the shaft. The divers are filled approximately 1/2 full of liquid and 1/2 full of a gas. As the shaft turns the phase angle causes the gas to flow from warm to cold to warm diver.