Self-contained solar tracking device

Claim 2

In an apparatus including a passive body having a predetermined generally north-south oriented tracking plane associated therewith, said body being suspended for rotation about a primary pivotal axis lying in said tracking plane in close proximity to the center of mass of said body and inclined with respect to the local gravitational vector, self-contained, self-regulating solar energy-operated tracking means for rotating said body about said axis and maintaining said tracking plane in substantially continuous alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun during successive diurnal transits thereof, said tracking means comprising: at least one balance mass movably attached to said body and reciprocable between a first limit position and a second limit position spaced from said tracking plane and lying in a control plane containing said primary pivotal axis and oriented substantially orthogonally to said tracking plane; heat-sensitive primary positioning means acting on said balance mass and moving said balance mass between said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiation impinging on said primary positioning means; and shielding means associated with said body, alternatingly shielding said primary positioning means from direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is substantially aligned with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun, and exposing said primary positioning means to direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is not so aligned, whereby said body is urged to rotate about said primary pivotal axis in the direction of the apparent diurnal motion of the sun.

Claim 3

The tracking means of claim 1, further comprising stop means associated with said body, limiting the rotation of said body and thereby preventing the alignment of said control plane with the local gravitational vector.

Claim 4

The tracking means of claim 2, further comprising damping means associated with said body controlling the rotational velocity of said body about said primary pivotal axis.

Claim 5

The tracking means of claim 3, further comprising bias mass attached to said body and spaced from said primary pivotal axis, said bias mass opposing said balance mass and predisposing the alignment of said tracking plane with the apparent instantaneous position of the rising sun.

Claim 6

The tracking means of claim 4, wherein said primary positioning means comprises: a buckling column having said balance mass affixed thereto; and rigid spaced support means affixed to said body and supporting said buckling column for buckling movement between said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiation impinging thereon.

Claim 7

The tracking means of claim 4, wherein said primary positioning means comprises: a heat-sensitive bimetallic beam having said balance mass affixed thereto, and rigid spaced support means affixed to said body and supporting said bimetallic beam for bending movement between said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiation impinging thereon.

Claim 8

The tracking means of claim 4, wherein said primary positioning means comprises at least one heat sensitive expansion beam affixed at one of its ends to said body, extending laterally of said body substantially orthogonally to said primary pivotal axis, and having said balance mass affixed thereto.

Claim 9

The tracking means of claim 4, wherein: said primary positioning means comprises an hydraulic cylinder affixed to said body substantially orthogonally of said primary pivotal axis, at least one sealed pressure vessel containing a fluid under pressure, and a fluid conduit connecting said cylinder with said pressure vessel and maintaining said fluid in continuous communication with said cylinder; said balance mass comprises a piston freely reciprocable in said cylinder between said first and second limit positions, said piston being urged toward one of said limit positions in response to an increase in the pressure acting on the fluid in said pressure vessel; bias means associated with said cylinder urge said piston toward the other of said limit positions; and said shielding means is positioned to expose said pressure vessel to solar radiation and thereby increase pressure within the pressure vessel acting on the fluid therein, when said tracking plane is out of alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun, and to shield said pressure vessel from solar radiation and thereby reduce the said pressure therein, when said tracking plane is in substantial alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun.

Claim 10

The tracking means of claim 8, wherein said fluid is a volatile liquid.

Claim 11

The tracking means of claim 8, wherein: said piston defines first and second fluid-tight chambers within said cylinder on opposite sides of said piston, respectively; said one pressure vessel is connected to one of said fluid-tight chambers; said bias means comprises a second sealed pressure vessel containing fluid under pressure and connected with the other of said fluid-tight chambers by means of a second fluid conduit whereby the fluid in said second pressure vessel is maintained in continuous communication with the said other of said fluid-tight chambers; and said shielding means is positioned to shield said second pressure vessel from solar radiation, when said tracking plane is in substantial alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun.

Claim 12

In combination with a passive body having a predetermined generally north-south oriented tracking plane associated therewith, said body being suspended for rotation about a primary pivotal axis lying in said tracking plane in close proximity to the center of mass of said body and inclined with respect to the local gravitational vector, self-contained, self-regulating solar energy-operated tracking means for rotating said body about said axis and maintaining said tracking plane in substantially continuous alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun during successive diurnal transits thereof, said tracking means comprising: at least one balance mass movably attached to said body and reciprocable between a first limit position and a second limit position spaced from said tracking plane; and lying in a control plane containing said primary pivotal axis and oriented substantially orthogonally to said tracking plane; heat-sensitive primary positioning means acting on said balance mass and moving said balance mass between said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiation impinging on said primary positioning means; and shielding means associated with said body, alternatingly shielding said primary positioning means from direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is substantially aligned with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun, and exposing said primary positioning means to direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is not so aligned, whereby said body is urged to rotate about said primary pivotal axis in the direction of the apparent diurnal motion of the sun.

Claim 13

In combination with a passive body having a predetermined generally north-south oriented tracking plane associated therewith, said body being suspended for rotation about a primary pivotal axis lying in said tracking plane in close proximity to the center of mass of said body and inclined with respect to the local gravitational vector, self-contained, self-regulating solar energy-operated tracking means for rotating said body about said axis and maintaining said tracking plane in substantially continuous alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun during successive diurnal transits thereof, said tracking means comprising: at least one balance mass movably attached to said body and reciprocable between a first limit position and a second limit position spaced from said tracking plane; and lying in a control plane containing said primary pivotal axis and oriented substantially orthogonally to said tracking plane; heat-sensitive primary positioning means acting on said balance mass and moving said balance mass between said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiation impinging on said primary positioning means; and shielding means associated with said body, alternatingly shielding said primary positioning means from direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is substantially aligned with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun, and exposing said primary positioning means to direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is not so aligned, whereby said body is urged to rotate about said primary pivotal axis in the direction of the apparent diurnal motion of the sun.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 11, further comprising stop means associated with said body, limiting the rotation of said body and thereby preventing the alignment of said control plane with the local gravitational vector.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 12, further comprising damping means associated with said body controlling the rotational velocity of said body about said primary pivotal axis.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 13, comprising a bias mass attached to said body and spaced from said primary pivotal axis, said bias mass opposing said balance mass and predisposing the alignment of said tracking plane with the apparent instantaneous position of the rising sun.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 14, wherein said primary positioning means comprises: a buckling column having said balance mass affixed thereto; and rigid spaced support means affixed to said body and supporting said buckling column for buckling movement between said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiation impinging thereon.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 14, wherein said primary positioning means comprises: a heat-sensitive bimetallic beam having said balance mass affixed thereto; and rigid spaced support means affixed to said body and supporting said bimetallic beam for bending moveement between said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiation impinging thereon.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 14, wherein said primary positioning means comprises at least one heat sensitive expansion beam affixed at one of its ends to said body, extending laterally of said body substantially orthogonally to said primary pivotal axis, and having said balance mass affixed thereto.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 14, wherein: said primary positioning means comprises an hydraulic cylinder affixed to said body substantially orthogonally of said primary pivotal axis, at least one sealed pressure vessel containing a fluid under pressure, and a fluid conduit connecting said cylinder with said pressure vessel and maintaining said fluid in continuous communication with said cylinder; said balance mass comprises a piston freely reciprocable in said cylinder between said first and second limit positions, said piston being urged toward one of said limit positions in response to an increase in the pressure acting on the fluid in said pressure vessel; bias means associated with said cylinder urge said piston toward the other of said limit positions; and said shielding means is positioned to expose said pressure vessel to solar radiation and thereby increase pressure within the pressure vessel acting on the fluid therein, when said tracking plane is out of alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun, and to shield said pressure vessel from solar radiation and thereby reduce the said pressure therein, when said tracking plane is in substantial alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun.

Claim 21

The combination of claim 18, wherein said fluid is a volatile liquid.

Claim 22

The combination of claim 18, wherein: said piston defines first and second fluid-tight chambers within said cylinder on opposite sides of said piston, respectively; said one pressure vessel is connected to one of said fluid-tight chambers; said bias means comprises a second sealed pressure vessel containing fluid under pressure and connected with the other of said fluid-tight chambers by means of a second fluid conduit whereby the fluid in said second pressure vessel is maintained in continuous communication with the said other of said fluid-tight chambers; and said shielding means is positioned to shield said second pressure vessel from solar radiation, when said tracking plane is in substantial alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun.

Claim 23

In combination with a passive body having a predetermined tracking line of sight associated therewith, said body being suspended for rotation about a primary pivotal axis passing through said tracking line of sight, substantially orthogonal thereto, in close proximity to the center of mass of said body and inclined with respect to the local gravitational vector, and being further suspended for rotation about a secondary pivotal axis passing through said tracking line of sight, substantially orthogonal to said axis and to said primary pivotal axis, in close proximity to the center of mass of said body and inclined with respect to the local gravitational vector, self-contained, self-regulating solar energy-operated tracking means for rotating said body about said primary and secondary pivotal axes and maintaining said tracking line of sight in substantially continuous alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun during successive diurnal transits thereof throughout the solar ecliptic, said tracking means comprising: at least one balance mass movably attached to said body and reciprocable between a first limit position and a second limit position spaced from said primary pivotal axis; at least one other balance mass movably attached to said body and reciprocable between a first limit position and a second limit position spaced from said secondary pivotal axis; heat sensitive primary positioning means acting on said balance masses and moving said balance masses between their said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiation impinging on said primary positioning means; and shielding means associated with said body, alternatingly shielding said primary positioning means from direct solar radiation when said tracking line of sight is substantially aligned with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun, and exposing primary positioning means to direct solar radiation when said tracking line of sight is not so aligned, whereby said body is urged to rotate about said primary and secondary pivotal axes in the direction of the apparent diurnal motion of the sun throughout the solar ecliptic.

Claim 24

In combination with a passive body having a predetermined tracking line of sight associated therewith, said body being suspended for rotation about a primary pivotal axis passing through said tracking line of sight, substantially orthogonal thereto, in close proximity to the center of mass of said body and inclined with respect to the local gravitational vector, and being further suspended for rotation about a secondary pivotal axis passing through said tracking line of sight, substantially orthogonal to said axis and to said primary pivotal axis, in close proximity to the center of mass of said body and inclined with respect to the local gravitational vector, self-contained, self-regulating solar energy-operated tracking means for rotating said body about said primary and secondary pivotal axes and maintaining said tracking line of sight in substantially continuous alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun during successive diurnal transits thereof throughout the solar ecliptic, said tracking means comprising: at least one balance mass movably attached to said body and reciprocable between a first limit position and a second limit position spaced from said primary pivotal axis; at least one other balance mass movably attached to said body and reciprocable between a first limit position and a second limit position spaced from said secondary pivotal axis; heat sensitive primary positioning means acting on said balance masses and moving said balance masses between their said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiation impinging on said primary positioning means; and shielding means associated with said body, alternatingly shielding said primary positioning means from direct solar radiation when said tracking line of sight is substantially aligned with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun, and exposing primary positioning means to direct solar radiation when said tracking line of sight is not so aligned, whereby said body is urged to rotate about said primary and secondary pivotal axes in the direction of the apparent diurnal motion of the sun throughout the solar ecliptic.

Claim 25

The combination of claim 21, comprising a bias mass attached to said body and spaced from said primary pivotal axis, said bias mass opposing said balance masses and predisposing the alignment of said tracking line of sight with the apparent instantaneous position of the rising sun.

Claim 26

The combination of claim 22, wherein said primary positioning means comprise a pair of buckling columns having said balance masses affixed thereto, respectively; and rigid spaced support means affixed to said body and supporting said buckling columns for buckling movement between their said respective first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiation impinging thereon.

Claim 27

In an apparatus including a passive body having a predetermined generally north-south oriented tracking plane associated therewith, said body being suspended for rotation about a primary pivot axis lying in said tracking plane in close proximity to the center of mass of said body and inclined with respect to the local gravitational vector, self-contained, self-regulating solar energy-operated tracking means for rotating said body about said axis and maintaining said tracking plane in substantially continuous alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun during successive diurnal transits thereof, said tracking means comprising: at least one solid balance mass movably attached to said body and reciprocable between a first limit position and a second limit position spaced from said tracking plane; heat-sensitive primary positioning means acting on said balance mass and moving said balance mass between said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiating impinging on said primary positioning means; and shielding means associated with said body, alternatingly shielding said primary positioning means from direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is substantially aligned with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun, and exposing said primary positioning means to direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is not so aligned, whereby said body is urged to rotate about said primary pivotal axis in the direction of the apparent diurnal motion of the sun.

Claim 28

In an apparatus including a passive body having a predetermined generally north-south oriented tracking plane associated therewith, said body being suspended for rotation about a primary pivot axis lying in said tracking plane in close proximity to the center of mass of said body and inclined with respect to the local gravitational vector, self-contained, self-regulating solar energy-operated tracking means for rotating said body about said axis and maintaining said tracking plane in substantially continuous alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun during successive diurnal transits thereof, said tracking means comprising: at least one solid balance mass movably attached to said body and reciprocable between a first limit position and a second limit position spaced from said tracking plane; heat-sensitive primary positioning means acting on said balance mass and moving said balance mass between said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiating impinging on said primary positioning means; and shielding means associated with said body, alternatingly shielding said primary positioning means from direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is substantially aligned with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun, and exposing said primary positioning means to direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is not so aligned, whereby said body is urged to rotate about said primary pivotal axis in the direction of the apparent diurnal motion of the sun.

Claim 29

The tracking means of claim 24, wherein said first and second limit positions lie in a control plane oriented substantially orthogonally to said tracking plane.

Claim 30

The tracking means of claim 25, wherein said control plane is proximate to and parallel with said primary pivotal axis.

Claim 31

In combination with a passive body having a predetermined generally north-south oriented tracking plane associated therewith, said body being suspended for rotation about a primary pivotal axis lying in said tracking plane in close proximity to the center of mass of said body and inclined with respect to the local gravitational vector, self-contained, self-regulating solar energy-operated tracking means for rotating said body about said axis and maintaining said tracking plane in substantially continuous alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun during successive diurnal transits thereof, said tracking means comprising: at least one solid balance mass movably attached to said body and reciprocable between a first limit position and a second limit position spaced from said tracking plane; heat-sensitive primary positioning means acting on said balance mass and moving said balance mass between said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiation impinging on said primary positioning means; and shielding means associated with said body, alternatingly shielding said primary positioning means from direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is substantially aligned with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun, and exposing said primary positioning means to direct solar radiating when said tracking plane is not so aligned, whereby said body is urged to rotate about said primary pivotal axis in the direction of the apparent diurnal motion of the sun.

Claim 32

In combination with a passive body having a predetermined generally north-south oriented tracking plane associated therewith, said body being suspended for rotation about a primary pivotal axis lying in said tracking plane in close proximity to the center of mass of said body and inclined with respect to the local gravitational vector, self-contained, self-regulating solar energy-operated tracking means for rotating said body about said axis and maintaining said tracking plane in substantially continuous alignment with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun during successive diurnal transits thereof, said tracking means comprising: at least one solid balance mass movably attached to said body and reciprocable between a first limit position and a second limit position spaced from said tracking plane; heat-sensitive primary positioning means acting on said balance mass and moving said balance mass between said first and second limit positions in response to direct solar radiation impinging on said primary positioning means; and shielding means associated with said body, alternatingly shielding said primary positioning means from direct solar radiation when said tracking plane is substantially aligned with the apparent instantaneous position of the sun, and exposing said primary positioning means to direct solar radiating when said tracking plane is not so aligned, whereby said body is urged to rotate about said primary pivotal axis in the direction of the apparent diurnal motion of the sun.

Claim 33

The combination of claim 27, wherein said first and second limit positions lie in a control plane oriented substantially orthogonally to said tracking plane.

Claim 34

The combination of claim 28 wherein said control plane is proximate to and parallel with said primary pivotal axis.