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Title: Automatic biaxial sun tracking mechanism for sun ray utilization devices

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6030766

The instant invention is an automatic biaxial sun tracking mechanism for use with sun ray utilization devices. Said devices are mounted on said invention, said devices forming no specific part of said invention. The invention is comprised of four principal parts: (1) a mount structure for properly positioning and supporting said sun ray utilization devices, (2) a declination shaft, (3) a polar shaft and (4) a suitable shaft-connecting means. Operation of the invention is as follows: said shaft-connecting means is caused to rotate about the longitudinal axis of said polar shaft one revolution per day. Said shaft-connecting means is either fixed to a rotating polar shaft or rotatably connected to a fixed polar shaft. Said declination shaft is rotatably connected to said shaft-connecting means and is caused to rotate one revolution per year. The angle between two said shafts is principally determined by the maximum angular difference between the earth's equatorial plane and the sun's ecliptic plane. Said mount structure is connected by suitable means to said declination shaft. The combination of rotations about the longitudinal axes of the two said shafts results in fully biaxial (Daily and seasonal) sun tracking. Provisions, in the form of partial modifications, are made for corrective compensation to the otherwise uniform drive means and for the directing of concentrated sun rays toward a remote and stationary target.

Assignee:
IFI; EDB-81-129184
Patent Number(s):
US 4277132
OSTI ID:
6030766
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: Filed date 2 May 1979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English