Tracking reflector assembly for a skylight

Patent · Tue Feb 07 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6700084

Dominquez, R L

A tracking reflector assembly for a skylight includes a ring-shaped base member rotatably supported above the skylight by a plurality of rollers which engage a channel formed within an annular wall of the ring. A reflector is pivotally coupled to the ring for reflecting light into the skylight to supplement light which strikes the skylight directly. A vertical drive motor operates in response to a pair of photosensors for raising and lowering the reflector to follow changes in the angular elevation of the sun. The ring-shaped base member includes a toothed lower surface engaged by a gear coupled to a horizontal drive motor for rotating the ring-shaped base member in response to a third photosensor for following east-to-west movement of the sun. Each of the aforementioned photosensors is normally shaded and actuates the associated drive motor only when being struck by direct sunlight. A vertical limit switch limits the amount by which the reflector may be pivotally raised to avoid reflecting midday summer sunlight into the skylight. Another switch is responsive to closure of the reflector over the base member for preventing the vertical drive motor from attempting to further pivot the reflector downwardly. A fourth photosensor senses darkness resulting from sunset or heavy overcast conditions for pivoting the reflector downwardly and returning the base member and reflector to an easterly direction. A limit switch senses the return of the base member to the full east position for terminating actuation of the horizontal drive motor. A user operated switch selectively enables the tracking reflector assembly to operate automatically or causes the reflector to be lowered and the base member to be returned to the full east position until the user again enables the automatic control circuitry.

• Assignee: EDB-84-128286
• Patent Number(s): US 4429952
• OSTI ID: 6700084
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 28 Dec 1981; Other Information: PAT-APPL-335173
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
SKYLIGHTS
MIRRORS
SOLAR REFLECTORS
SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEMS
PHOTODETECTORS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DESIGN
ELECTRIC MOTORS
GEARS
LOGIC CIRCUITS
PHOTOTRANSISTORS
POSITIONING
ROLLER BEARINGS
ROTATION
SWITCHES
TILT MECHANISMS
BEARINGS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
EQUIPMENT
HELIOSTATS
MACHINE PARTS
MOTION
MOTORS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR TRACKING
TRANSISTORS
141000* - Solar Collectors & Concentrators
320100 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Buildings