Pneumatic drive for solar concentrators
A method and apparatus for driving an array or large field of solar concentrators by means of pneumatic pulses of compressed air such that it tracks the movement of the sun across the sky is disclosed. The drive system includes a multiplicity of gearing means which is mounted to one or more solar concentrators for providing the movement of said solar concentrators to track the sun. The multiplicity of gearing means are driven by a multiplicity of drive means in response to pulses of compressed air which are selectively provided to achieve the necessary tracking. The pulses of compressed air are provided to the drive means from a compressed air source by means of pneumatic valving which is selectively opened and closed by means of electrical drive signals. The compressed air is connected to the pneumatic valving and then further connected to the drive means by means of fluid conduits such as for example, plastic tubing. Suitable control circuitry such as electrical relays and or other electronic switching circuitry provides the electrical drive signals to the pneumatic valving. The control circuitry itself operates in response to electrical control signals received from any suitable sensing means which can monitor the movement of the sun across the sky.
- Assignee:
- Sun Trac Ind., Inc.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4424802
- OSTI ID:
- 7064321
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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