Apparatus for collecting solar energy

Apparatus for collecting solar energy, comprising:

• a pedestal support;
• a collector member having a solar-energy collector surface and a substantially centrally-located gap having a width substantially equal to the width of said pedestal support, said collector member being supported by said pedestal support for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis over an angle of about 180.degree., between an exposed position wherein said collector surface is oriented toward the sun and a substantially horizontally oriented sheltered position wherein said collector surface is oriented toward the earth, with said pedestal being engaged by said gap during pivoting into said sheltered position;
• and
• means for pivoting said collector member between said exposed and sheltered positions about said horizontal axis, said pivoting means being accommodated at least in part within said pedestal and comprising a first double-ended lever comprised of first and second lever arms rigidly connected together at an angle less than 180.degree., said first lever being pivotably mounted between its ends on said pedestal, a second double-ended lever having its first end pivotably connected to the second end of said first lever and its second end pivotably connected to said collector means, and means for actuating the first end of said first lever to pivot said collector member.