Steering and cleaning mechanism for reflector arrays

A method of steering and cleaning reflector arrays, comprising the steps of providing at least one fixed rail disposed adjacent a plurality of reflectors arranged in an array, each of the reflectors having a reflective surface;

• providing at least one sweeping rail disposed on the at least one fixed rail and slidably movable thereon;
• providing at least one positioning/cleaning carriage mounted to the sweeping rail, the positioning/cleaning carriage having a positioning module and a cleaning module;
• positioning the at least one positioning/cleaning carriage over a target reflector by moving the at least one sweeping rail and moving the positioning/cleaning carriage along the at least one sweeping rail;
• orienting the target reflector to a desired position by selective activation of the positioning module;
• and
• cleaning the reflective surface of the target reflector by selectively activating the cleaning module.

A cleaning mechanism for parabolic reflector arrays, comprising:

• at least one fixed transfer rail disposed adjacent a plurality of parabolic reflectors arranged in a spaced array;
• each of the parabolic reflectors having a curved reflective surface;
• at least one sweeping rail slidably movable along the at least one transfer rail;
• at least one wiper transfer carriage disposed on the sweeping rail, the at least one wiper transfer carriage being slidably movable thereon orthogonal to the fixed transfer rail;
• a wiper operatively attached to the at least one wiper transfer carriage, the wiper having a curved shape conforming to the curved reflective surface of the parabolic reflector, the wiper transfer carriage selectively transferring the wiper from one reflector to another and moving the wiper across the reflective surface of a target parabolic reflector, the wiper having a cleaning module to clean the reflective surface as the wiper moves across the target parabolic reflector;
• and
• a pair of rails disposed on opposite ends of each parabolic reflector, the pair of rails supporting the wiper for sliding movement thereon.