Abstract: A solar concentrating system for concentrating sunlight by tracking the sun, including concentrator support structure, an annular track mounted on an upper surface of a base, the center of mass of the concentrator support structure being off-axis relative to curvature center of annular track, enclosures provided at comers and comprising a wheel positioned on the track, the enclosure connected to a piston connected to a guiding element placed on the track; a fastening element that when moved towards the track, the guiding element is fastened to the track, and when the fastening element is moved away from the track, the guiding element is released, when the first piston elongates or contracts, the first guiding element is fastened to the track, the second guiding element is released, the wheels of the enclosures rotate from a first location on the track to a second location, thereby rotating the concentrator support structure.

Abstract: A plural axis sun tracking system, including a base, a spatial structure assembly, and a rotating system mounted on the base for rotating the spatial structure assembly, where the spatial structure assembly includes a frame having a lower portion at a first peripheral end of the spatial structure assembly and an upper portion at a second peripheral end of the spatial structure assembly, the lower portion being more proximal to the rotating system than the upper portion, and an anchoring location for anchoring the spatial structure assembly to the rotating system, the anchoring location located at the lower portion, where the mass of the frame increasingly recedes as the distance from the anchoring location towards the upper portion increases.

Abstract: A plural axis sun tracking system, including a base, a spatial structure assembly, and a rotating system mounted on the base for rotating the spatial structure assembly, where the spatial structure assembly includes a frame having a lower portion at a first peripheral end of the spatial structure assembly and an upper portion at a second peripheral end of the spatial structure assembly, the lower portion being more proximal to the rotating system than the upper portion, and an anchoring location for anchoring the spatial structure assembly to the rotating system, the anchoring location located at the lower portion, where the mass of the frame increasingly recedes as the distance from the anchoring location towards the upper portion increases.

Abstract: A sun tracking system for tracking the sun in at least two axes, including a base, a rotating system mounted on the base, a spatial structure assembly having a lower portion at a first peripheral end thereof, and an upper portion at a second peripheral end thereof, the lower portion being more proximal to the base than the upper portion, and an anchoring location at the lower portion, and a torque box assembly at the anchoring location for resisting a torque applied to the spatial structure assembly.

Abstract: A solar concentrating system for concentrating sunlight by tracking the sun, including concentrator support structure, an annular track mounted on an upper surface of a base, the center of mass of the concentrator support structure being off-axis relative to curvature center of annular track, enclosures provided at comers and comprising a wheel positioned on the track, the enclosure connected to a piston connected to a guiding element placed on the track; a fastening element that when moved towards the track, the guiding element is fastened to the track, and when the fastening element is moved away from the track, the guiding element is released, when the first piston elongates or contracts, the first guiding element is fastened to the track, the second guiding element is released, the wheels of the enclosures rotate from a first location on the track to a second location, thereby rotating the concentrator support structure.

Abstract: A sun tracking system for tracking the sun in at least two axes, including a base, a rotating system mounted on the base, a spatial structure assembly having a lower portion at a first peripheral end thereof, and an upper portion at a second peripheral end thereof, the lower portion being more proximal to the base than the upper portion, and an anchoring location at the lower portion, and a torque box assembly at the anchoring location for resisting a torque applied to the spatial structure assembly.

Abstract: A parabolic trough collector includes a parabolic mirror support structure with a parabolic mirror surface applied thereto, and an absorber support structure supporting an absorber tube. The parabolic mirror support structure and the absorber support structure are mechanically fastened in a fixed position relative to one another on a torsion tube that is arranged below the parabolic mirror surface, and mounted together with the parabolic mirror surface in a fashion capable of rotation about a parabolic trough collector longitudinal rotation axis. The torsion tube is arranged such that the parabolic trough collector longitudinal rotation axis coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the torsion tube.

Abstract: A parabolic trough collector includes a parabolic mirror support structure with a parabolic mirror surface applied thereto, and an absorber support structure supporting an absorber tube. The parabolic mirror support structure and the absorber support structure are mechanically fastened in a fixed position relative to one another on a torsion tube that is arranged below the parabolic mirror surface, and mounted together with the parabolic mirror surface in a fashion capable of rotation about a parabolic trough collector longitudinal rotation axis. The torsion tube is arranged such that the parabolic trough collector longitudinal rotation axis coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the torsion tube.

Abstract: A floating caliper-type disk brake for automotive vehicles, for supporting the circumferential forces and for guiding the brake pads including a brake carrier integrated into the steering knuckle of the vehicle. To insure a simple final assembly on the vehicle and to facilitate an automatic assembly, the floating caliper with brake pads attached thereto is supplied as a pre-assembled unit. The brake pads by means of leaf springs secured to their back plates are detachably fixed to the floating caliper. In the practice of the invention, the leaf spring of the outer brake pad, additionally serves to radially prestress the floating caliper vis-a-vis the carrier arms of the brake carrier, thereby eliminating another spring provided for this purpose. The assembly of the floating caliper on the vehicle is simplified because there is no need to assemble the said additional spring.

Abstract: A set of brake pads for a floating-caliper disc brake including a first brake pad with a first retaining spring for clamping engagement on a brake piston and a second brake pad with a second retaining spring for clamping engagement on an axially external leg of the floating caliper. The first retaining spring has two resilient tongues which are locked in a bore of the hollow brake piston, and the second retaining spring has identical resilient tongues which are locked in a recess of the external housing leg. According to the present invention, the distances between the respectively opposed resilient tongues are different in conformity with the different widths of the bore and the recess, respectively. The provision according to the present invention renders it impossible to attach the first brake pad to the external housing leg and the second brake pad to the brake piston.

Abstract: This invention relates to a spot-type disc brake, in particular for automotive vehicles, with a housing straddles a brake disc in a U-shaped manner and has a housing bridge, a first housing leg having a piston-and-cylinder unit, and a second, external housing leg, with a first brake shoe which has a carrier plate and is arranged on the first, piston-side leg, with a second brake shoe which has a carrier plate and is arranged on the second, external housing leg and supports the housing radially relative to the brake disc's axis and with projections on the carrier plate which supports the brake shoe in the radial direction and in the circumferential direction. According to this invention, the projections on the carrier plate of the brake shoe are arranged outside the circumference of the brake disc.

Abstract: A spot-type disc brake, in particular for motor vehicles, comprises a brake housing enclosing the rim of a brake disc and further comprising brake pads arranged on both sides of the brake disc and still further comprising at least one piston-cylinder-type actuating device. In order to reduce the influence of the heat generated during braking, the brake housing is formed with at least one ventilation channel arranged close to the brake disc beside a brake pad shaft which accommodates the brake pads.