Heliostat assembly

A heliostat comprising:

• a focusing reflector comprising the concave face of a section of a toroidal surface and defined by two unequal radii of curvature in mutually perpendicular planes;
• means defining a first axis parallel to the earth's polar axis;
• means defining a declination axis perpendicular to and intersecting said first axis;
• said means defining said declination axis being mounted for rotation about said first axis;
• said reflector being mounted for rotation about said declination axis and for joint rotation about said first axis with said means defining said declination axis;
• first variable speed drive means for rotating said declination axis and said reflector about said first axis;
• and
• second variable speed drive means for rotating said reflector about said declination axis.

A method for directing solar energy to a fixed position comprising:

• positioning a focusing reflector to receive solar energy and to reflect such energy to said position, said reflector formed as a section of a toroid defined by two unequal radii of curvature in mutually perpendicular planes;
• rotating said reflector about a first axis parallel to the earth's polar axis at a first rate;
• rotating said reflector about a second axis intersecting and perpendicular to said first axis at a second rate, rotation of said reflector about said second axis being independent of rotation of said reflector about said first axis;
• and
• simultaneously rotating said second axis about said first axis at said first rate.

Deflection means for a heliostat comprising:

• a reflector;
• means supporting said reflector for rotation about at least two axes;
• and
• means for rapidly altering the spatial relationship between said reflector and at least one of said axes.

A method comprising:

• positioning a plurality of focusing reflectors to receive solar energy, each of said reflectors formed as a section of a toroid defined by two unequal radii of curvature in mutually perpendicular planes;
• directing the solar energy reflected from each of said reflectors to respectively different positions;
• and
• rapidly altering the position of each of said reflectors to direct solar energy reflected from all of said reflectors to a common point.