Self-contained solar tracking device

In combination with a passive body having a predetermined generally north-south oriented tracking plane associated therewith, said body being suspended for rotation about a primary pivotal axis lying in said tracking plane in close proximity to the center of mass of said body and inclined with respect to the local gravitational vector,

• self-contained, self-regulating solar energy-operated tracking means for rotating said body about said axis and maintaining said tracking plane in substantially continuous alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun during successive diurnal transits thereof, said tracking means comprising:
• at least one balance mass movably attached to said body and reciprocable between a first limit position and a second limit position spaced from said tracking plane;
• and lying in a control plane containing said primary pivotal axis and oriented substantially orthogonally to said tracking plane;
• heat-sensitive primary positioning means acting on said balance mass and moving said balance mass between said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiation impinging on said primary positioning means;
• and
• shielding means associated with said body, alternatingly shielding said primary positioning means from direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is substantially aligned with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun, and exposing said primary positioning means to direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is not so aligned, whereby said body is urged to rotate about said primary pivotal axis in the direction of the apparent diurnal motion of the sun.

In combination with a passive body having a predetermined tracking line of sight associated therewith, said body being suspended for rotation about a primary pivotal axis passing through said tracking line of sight, substantially orthogonal thereto, in close proximity to the center of mass of said body and inclined with respect to the local gravitational vector, and being further suspended for rotation about a secondary pivotal axis passing through said tracking line of sight, substantially orthogonal to said axis and to said primary pivotal axis, in close proximity to the center of mass of said body and inclined with respect to the local gravitational vector,

• self-contained, self-regulating solar energy-operated tracking means for rotating said body about said primary and secondary pivotal axes and maintaining said tracking line of sight in substantially continuous alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun during successive diurnal transits thereof throughout the solar ecliptic, said tracking means comprising:
• at least one balance mass movably attached to said body and reciprocable between a first limit position and a second limit position spaced from said primary pivotal axis;
• at least one other balance mass movably attached to said body and reciprocable between a first limit position and a second limit position spaced from said secondary pivotal axis;
• heat sensitive primary positioning means acting on said balance masses and moving said balance masses between their said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiation impinging on said primary positioning means;
• and
• shielding means associated with said body, alternatingly shielding said primary positioning means from direct solar radiation when said tracking line of sight is substantially aligned with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun, and exposing primary positioning means to direct solar radiation when said tracking line of sight is not so aligned, whereby said body is urged to rotate about said primary and secondary pivotal axes in the direction of the apparent diurnal motion of the sun throughout the solar ecliptic.

In an apparatus including a passive body having a predetermined generally north-south oriented tracking plane associated therewith, said body being suspended for rotation about a primary pivot axis lying in said tracking plane in close proximity to the center of mass of said body and inclined with respect to the local gravitational vector, self-contained, self-regulating solar energy-operated tracking means for rotating said body about said axis and maintaining said tracking plane in substantially continuous alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun during successive diurnal transits thereof, said tracking means comprising:

• at least one solid balance mass movably attached to said body and reciprocable between a first limit position and a second limit position spaced from said tracking plane;
• heat-sensitive primary positioning means acting on said balance mass and moving said balance mass between said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiating impinging on said primary positioning means;
• and
• shielding means associated with said body, alternatingly shielding said primary positioning means from direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is substantially aligned with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun, and exposing said primary positioning means to direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is not so aligned, whereby said body is urged to rotate about said primary pivotal axis in the direction of the apparent diurnal motion of the sun.

In combination with a passive body having a predetermined generally north-south oriented tracking plane associated therewith, said body being suspended for rotation about a primary pivotal axis lying in said tracking plane in close proximity to the center of mass of said body and inclined with respect to the local gravitational vector,

• self-contained, self-regulating solar energy-operated tracking means for rotating said body about said axis and maintaining said tracking plane in substantially continuous alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun during successive diurnal transits thereof, said tracking means comprising:
• at least one solid balance mass movably attached to said body and reciprocable between a first limit position and a second limit position spaced from said tracking plane;
• heat-sensitive primary positioning means acting on said balance mass and moving said balance mass between said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiation impinging on said primary positioning means;
• and
• shielding means associated with said body, alternatingly shielding said primary positioning means from direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is substantially aligned with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun, and exposing said primary positioning means to direct solar radiating when said tracking plane is not so aligned, whereby said body is urged to rotate about said primary pivotal axis in the direction of the apparent diurnal motion of the sun.