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US 4,122,827 AGranted
Kinematic synchronous solar heliostat
OwnerWilliam A. Rhodesinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A kinematic solar heliostat for reflecting solar energy onto a fixed target which uses a single drive to position reflected solar energy onto such target during daytime hours at any latitude and having a capability of automatically returning eastwardly each day to reflect such energy on the target the following day.
Claims17
An escapement movement comprising:
- a frame,
- a shaft rotatably mounted on said frame,
- a wheel rotatably supported on said shaft,
- an escapement means coupled to said shaft juxtapositioned to said wheel,
- a frame mounted stationary unlocking pallet,
- at least a pair of spacedly positioned pallets mounted on said wheel,
- a first means for rotating said wheel in a first direction,
- a second means for rotating said escapement means in a second direction opposite to said first direction,
- one of said wheel mounted pallets and said escapement means engaging each other during at least a part of the movement of said wheel in said first direction,
- said movement of said first wheel when in engagement with said escapement means causing a storage of potential energy in said second means until said unlocking pallet engages said escapement means causing a decoupling of said escapement means from said wheel,
- whereby the kinetic energy stored in said second means causes counter rotation of said shaft and said wheel until the other of said wheel mounted pallets engages said escapement means.
8 more elements
A heliostat movement comprising:
- an oscillating shaft,
- a synchronously driven wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft for completing one revolution each 48 hours in a first direction,
- said wheel being provided with a plurality of rotational limiting means extending laterally therefrom,
- escapement means coupled to said shaft and disposed to intercept sequentially each of said rotational limiting means,
- a stationary means mounted on said movement,
- said escapement means being released from each of said rotational limiting means upon engagement with said stationary means,
- means for causing a second direction of rotation of said shaft upon release each time of said escapement means from said rotational limiting means,
- said second direction of rotation of said shaft being provided by a force means reacting against said shaft when moved in said first direction to repeat according to the sequential arrangement of said rotational limiting means the rotational rate of said wheel in said first direction.
5 more elements
A solar heliostat comprising:
- a frame;
- a declination axially mounted mirror means;
- a celestial polar shaft means attaching to said mirror means;
- a driven wheel rotatably axially and concentrically attached to said polar shaft means;
- a driving means coupled to said driven wheel to provide a 48 hour rotational period;
- an escapement holding arm coupled to said polar shaft means;
- said polar shaft means containing torque biasing force means to cause counter rotation of said axis upon its release;
- an escapement means attached to said escapement holding arm;
- a plurality of locking pallets each attached to said driven wheel in a manner to intercept said escapement means;
- a stationary impulse pallet located to intercept said escapement means whereof said escapement means is moved to release one of said locking pallets causing said escapement means, escapement arm, polar shaft means and mounted mirror to move eastward due to biasing force means reacting to rotate said polar shaft means until said escapement means engages the next sequential locking pallet whereupon celestial tracking rate resumes uninterrupted;
- each retrograde relocation providing continuous daytime placement of solar reflection upon a fixed receiver position, without the use of manual resetting for same each day.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.