Abstract: A solar tracking mechanism is used to orient a solar collector to directly face the rays of the sun using a hydraulic actuator and gear motor to both adjust the orientation of the collector and to stabilize it against spurious movement. One or more hydraulic cylinders are connected to act through at least one crank pin to rotate the collector about an axis. Hydraulic fluid is transfered between chambers in the cylinders by means of a low power gear motor. The collector itself is constructed without perforations through an insulating shell, but instead mounting brackets are molded into the shell and are configured to faciliate mounting of the collector.

Abstract: A solar energy collector is provided with a conduit in which tubing carries a heat collecting fluid within an evacuated jacket that encompasses the tubing and within which the tubing is located in an insulation space. The jacket is transparent to solar radiation within a solar radiation collection portion of the device, and may be armored externally thereof about the tubing as it transports the heat collection fluid to a heat exchanger or a thermal sink.

Abstract: A tracking system is provided for positioning solar energy collection units to face the sun during daylight hours. The collectors are mounted generally in north-south alignment with rotatable connections to a supporting base. The connections are laterally offset from the center of gravity of the collector. Thus, the weight of the collector ends to rotate the collector about the connection points to bring the center of gravity to the lowest possible point, thereby orienting the collector generally to face the western horizon. A rotation restraint mechanism is provided to prevent the uncontrolled rotation of the collector to a degree coordinated with rotation of the earth relative to the sun, thereby positioning the collector to directly face the sun during daylight hours. A rank of collectors in parallel alignment can be connected for tandem rotation under the control of a single rotation restraining mechanism.