Two-axis tracking solar collector mechanism

A tracking solar collector mechanism comprising:

• (1.1) a stationary base structure which supports the tracking components;
• (1.2) two parallel rows of uniformly spaced axial polar bearings attached to the base structure, each row comprising at least one bearing, wherein each member bearing of each row is coaligned with an associated bearing of the other row, the line joining each pair of coaligned polar bearings defining an associated polar tracking axis wherein the pairs' polar axes are mutually parallel and are adapted to be aligned with the Earth's axis;
• (1.3) at least one tracking module, each of which is supported by and turns on one of the pairs of coaligned polar bearings and which comprises
• (1.3.1) a truss structure comprising a rigid space-frame assembly attached to and spanning the space between the module's two polar bearings,
• (1.3.2) a large-radius polar wheel segment which is centered on the module's polar axis and rigidly attached to its truss structure, wherein the truss's position is constrained by its two supporting polar bearings and by a polar drive coupling on the circumference of the polar wheel segment,
• (1.3.3) two rows of evenly spaced axial declination bearings attached to the module's truss structure, wherein both rows are parallel to the polar axis and are disposed alongside the truss with the truss between them, and each member bearing of each row is coaligned with an associated bearing of the other row, the line joining each pair of co-aligned declination bearings defining an associated declination tracking axis wherein the pairs' declination axes are mutually parallel and are preferably aligned perpendicular to the module's polar axis,
• (1.3.4) a set of declination-tracking concentrator units, each of which is supported by and turns on one of the pairs of co-aligned declination bearings and which comprises
• (1.3.4.1) a space-frame structure comprising four structural elements rigidly linking each of the unit's two declination bearings to each of two mounting points, and a fifth structural element rigidly linking the two mounting points, wherein the two mounting points and the two declination bearings define the corners of a tetrahedron straddling the module's truss structure,
• (1.3.4.2) a large-radius declination wheel segment which is centered on the unit's declination axis and which extends across and is rigidly attached to the unit's two mounting points, wherein the unit's position in relation to the supporting truss structure is constrained by its two declination bearings and by a declination drive coupling on the circumference of the declination wheel segment, and
• (1.3.4.3) two lens-receiver assemblies, each comprising a focusing Fresnel lens and a small solar energy receiver, wherein each assembly is mounted on one of the two triangular structural frameworks defined by one of that declination-tracking unit's two declination bearings, its two mounting points, and the structural elements linking these three elements, and
• (1.3.5) a declination drive element which extends across all of the module's declination wheel segments and which simultaneously transmits the declination tracking motion through the declination drive couplings to all of the module's concentrator units;
• (1.4) polar drive means whereby each module's polar tracking position is controlled by a polar tracking actuator, wherein the actuator's motion is transmitted to at least one module through the polar drive coupling on the module's polar wheel segment;
• and
• (1.5) declination drive means whereby the declination tracking positions of each tracking module's concentrator units are all controlled by a single declination tracking actuator, wherein the actuator's motion is transmitted through the module's declination drive element.