Abstract: The solar tracking mechanism is utilized in connection with a solar energy collection system. The collection system includes a light reflective shell shaped to focus solar radiation on a radiation absorbing segment of a tube which carries a heat transfer fluid. The shell is pivotally mounted on a support frame. An actuator mounted between the support frame and the shell rotatably the shell. A solar sensor is mounted deep within a sighting tube which is fixed to the shell such that a line of sight through the sighting tube is at least parallel to the optical axis of the shell. The solar sensor generates a sensor signal which is used as a control input to an actuator control system. End limit switches generate a limit stop signals when the shell reaches maximum angular positions. The actuator control system generates fluid flows to the actuator based the solar sensor signal and the limit stop signals.

Abstract: A solar seeker that automatically or manually tracks the sun for a maximum daily intake of solar energy to supply a predetermined amount of direct current electricity for various applications. The solar seeker includes a solar panel carriage assembly, a mounting assembly, and a travel assembly.

Abstract: A solar powered fluid heating system for providing a user with a cost and energy saving advantage when heating fluids includes a solar dish which includes a mirrored concave surface. A power head assembly coupled to the solar dish by a support pole extending outwardly from the solar dish. A fluid line extending through the support pole. The fluid line is coiled at a focal point of the mirrored surface of the solar dish whereby solar rays are directed by the solar dish onto the coiled fluid line for heating fluid passing through the coiled fluid line.

Abstract: The present invention offers a low cost, modular structure with a continuous, horizontal, rotatable spine supported on posts fixed to the ground, providing one axis of rotation for pointing solar collectors in the North-South direction and vertical roll axis bars mounted orthogonally to the spine providing an additional axis of rotation in the East-West direction. Push rods provide linear motion for control of any number of solar collector modules, with the linear motion being translated to rotary motion by pulleys and cables attached to wheels or arc segments mounted to the spine and roll axis bars. Thus, a whole array of solar collector modules can be driven by a single solar tracking device and two drive devices. Additionally, when arrayed in multiple rows of the number of solar collector modules controlled can be multiplied so that a “solar farm” covering a large area could be controlled by the single solar tracking device and a minimal number of drive devices.

Abstract: A solar-tracking system that provides a polar rotation at a constant velocity of 366.25 revolutions clockwise per year, and orbital revolution that is one revolution per year in the counter-clockwise direction. The support for the orbital drive system is tilted from polar drive system at an angle of 23.45 degrees, and is constant, which angle is equal to the earth's axis tilt from orbital axis.

Abstract: A solar tracker operates on a single axis, but partially simulates a dual-axis tracker by adjusting tilt angle as the tracker rotates. The tracker is disclosed in particular embodiments which fit efficiently within a hemispherical transparent dome.

Abstract: A solar collector tracking system that has a solar collection device having multiple lens assemblies mounted on its front surface. An exoskeleton structure is secured to the rear surface of the solar collection device and it is pivotally secured about a horizontal axis to the front end of an azimuth platform assembly. A hydraulic elevation actuator is pivotally mounted in the azimuth platform assembly about a horizontal axis and the front end of its piston rod is pivotally connected to the rear surface of the solar collection device and this allows it to be pivoted approximately 90 degrees between a vertical operating position and a horizontal storage position. The azimuth platform assembly is journaled on the top end of a tower extending up from the ground. A tubular post is rigidly secured to the top end of the post. A drive head extends horizontally from the tubular post and it has a pivot pin that extends upwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A solar energy collector and tracker has at least one north-south oriented torsion tube supporting an array of flat rectangular solar panels. At least one pier, supported in the earth, has pivot member in which the torsion tube is journalled. A linear actuator has a body portion mounted on a footing separate from the pier footing and supported in the earth at a distance spaced from pier, and has a rod coupled to a torque arm on the torsion tube. The actuator can be horizontally or vertically oriented. The torsion tube is generally square cross section. The torsion tube may be formed of two or more sections joined end to end. In such case, one of the sections may have one end swaged to fit tightly into the end of a next successive section to form a tight, secure coupling between sections. The pivot member can have four plastic resin inserts within a cylindrical journal on respective sides of the square torsion tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sunlight collection apparatus with increased sunlight gathering and receiving capabilities, which is cheap to produce and allows reliable collection of sunlight without having to track the sun. This sunlight collection apparatus has a light collection portion, facing toward the sun, for collecting sunlight; a light conducting portion, having optical fiber cables, for conducting sunlight collected by said light collection portion indoors; and a light scattering portion, provided at a tip of said light conducting portion, for lighting a room with sunlight conducted by said light conducting portion. The light collection portion has a plurality of lens elements arranged facing in the direction of the sun, with the front surface of each lens element which faces toward the sun having a curved surface. The lens elements have a tapered shape in a rearward direction from the front surface.

Abstract: To provide a tracking-type solar module capable of high-performance sunlight-tracking with a simple configuration while simultaneously performing highly effective cooling of a solar cell, a solar cell is movably installed within a transparent cooling tube and is connected to a motor with a crank. A position detecting sensor is also installed inside the transparent cooling tube. Sunlight is refracted by a cooling medium filled inside the transparent cooling tube and is converged on the inner surface of the transparent cooling tube. The position detecting sensor detects the position at which sunlight is converged and the sunlight is tracked by the motor moving the solar cell to that position. Simultaneously, the cooling medium inside the transparent cooling tube directly cools the solar cell.

Abstract: There is provided a converging solar module of a simple structure which can accurately track the sun and efficiently generate electricity. A converging solar module comprises an electricity generating converging lens (10) made of resin having a flat shape, and a solar battery cell (12) placed in the vicinity of a focal area of the converging lens (10). The converging lens (10) and the solar cell (12) are rotatable as a unit. The electricity generating converging lens (10) is attached to a shaft (20) of a rotation driving motor (18). Using sunlight converged by a cylindrical position detecting converging lens (40), a position detecting sensor (42) locates the sun, and outputs information regarding the position of the sun as angle information to a controller (48).

Abstract: A solar collection antenna has a large aperture reflective dish which is mounted on a dish support fame. When the dish is pointed at the sun, it reflects received solar radiation into a zone of concentration, at which either a solar energy receiver or a secondary reflector (supported by an ancillary support) is located. To track the sun, the dish is rotated about a first axis which is transverse the dish aperture and a second, orthogonal axis (which intersects the first axis). The center of mass of the combination of the dish, its support frame, the solar energy receiver or secondary reflector and the ancillary support is relatively close to the lower edge of the dish, and lies substantially on the transverse axis of rotation, at the point where the first and second axes intersect (or almost intersect). The dish aperture is chosen so that the dish experiences balanced wind loading about its transverse axis of rotation.

Abstract: A steam boiler (14) is situated on a tower (16) at the center of concentric tracks (17), (18), and (19). Poles (21) and (23) have wheels (25) running on the tracks. The poles are kept upright on the tracks with guylines (35) and struts (31) and (33). The poles carry frameworks (24) with mirrors (12) attached to them. As the earth turns, the poles move along the tracks, keeping the mirrors on the opposite side of the boiler from the sun and keeping sunlight focused approximately on the boiler. As the poles move, the frameworks pivot to fine tune the focusing. Each framework pivots about a horizontal axle (26) of the framework and about the vertical axis of one of the poles (21). Hydraulic cylinders (66) and (70) in series circuits (82) and (78) respectively pivot the frameworks collectively. The frameworks are arranged so the power needed to pivot the frameworks is the same on windy days and calm days.

Abstract: The solar tracking system maintains a solar collector with its responsive surface normal to the sun rays. It includes a shaft supported for rotation about an axis parallel to the north-south axis of the earth, a stepper motor for intermittent rotation of the shaft at a mean rate equal to the earth's rate of rotation. A solar collector securing assembly is located on one side of the shaft and includes a bracket, collars securing the bracket to the shaft, a support for fixing a solar collector pivoted to the bracket about a pivotal axis transverse to the shaft to vary the inclination of the support relative to the shaft and stays between the support and the bracket to maintain the support at an adjusted inclination. A counter-balancing system includes an arm secured to the shaft and extending normal thereto and away from the assembly and a weight adjustably mounted on the shaft.

Abstract: A point focus distributed receiver system for generating high-pressure steam by means of solar energy collection is disclosed. The cradle within which a gimbal mounted concentrator dish rotates is designed to withstand high wind forces by delivering all forces along the polar axis to the equatorial end of the cradle, requires only one structural member to withstand flexural forces and provides an unobstructed volume behind the axis of rotation for the concentrator dish to rotate in. The concentrator dish comprises a plurality of segments whose bracing forms a tee-pee-like structure behind the dish. The receiver of the present invention further discloses a receiver cavity which achieves maximum blackness in a minimum depth and volume, a combined heat shield/secondary reflector and a plumbing system which permits the receiver system to operate successfully when the concentrator dish is nearly perpendicular to the ground.

Abstract: A solar radiation collector system includes a curved rim, a collector assembly including a plurality of solar radiation transducer elements passing through the plane of and connected to the curved rim, and a plurality of relatively small diameter tension members connected in distributed manner between the curved rim and the collector assembly and forming a stiff, lightweight, bicycle wheel-type tension-compression support structure. The support structure is rotatably supported from the ground in a manner to allow for three dimensionally stable support and rotation of at least ninety degrees with respect to the ground. Rotation of the bicycle wheel-type tension-compression support structure provides for a desired primary tracking motion to adjust for the apparent motion of the sun, and movement of the transducer elements provides for a second dimension adjustment for the apparent motion of the sun.

Abstract: A polar column solar collector for use in association with a building, the system having a concave mirror located on the exterior of the building and defining a focal point and a central axis, a mounting column secured to the mirror coaxial therewith, a polar axis column, a hinge swingably connecting the mounting column to the polar axis column for moving the concave mirror to aim it directly at the sun at least over a predetermined period of the daylight hours, a secondary reflector located at the focal point of the concave mirror to receive the sun's rays reflected from the concave mirror, an opening in the concave mirror to receive a concentrated beam of the sun's rays reflected from the secondary reflector and to direct the beam along the mounting column, a third reflector movably located at the junction of the mounting column and the polar axis column to receive the concentrated beam of the sun's rays from the secondary reflector reflected through the opening, and to redirect it along the polar axis colu

Abstract: The solar concentrator includes a carriage movable along an inclined, ground anchored ramp. A first weight at the end of a pulley carried first cable, biases the carriage upwardly of the ramp slope. A number of mirrors are pivotally carried by the carraige, and reflect sunrays toward a heat sink absorber. A second weight biases the mirrors to pivot in one direction, while a third weight biases the mirrors in an opposite direction. The operator can put into operation the second or third weight as he chooses. Gravity induced up or down carriage displacement allows sun tracking adjustments on an incremental, day to day basis. Gravity induced mirrors pivotal motion allow sun tracking adjustments on a continuous basis during each daylight period. Hence, all year long, solar rays reflected by the mirrors remain convergent toward the absorber.