Heat-responsive alignment system and solar collection device

Claim 1

An apparatus which is adapted to be aligned with the position of the solar elevation over a wide azimuth angle and to adjust itself to remain aligned with the solar elevation changes in either direction, comprising a support structure adapted to support the apparatus on a fixed surface, a movable carriage pivotally attached to said support structure for rotational movement only along a vertical path which corresponds to the path of the solar elevation, said carriage supporting a solar radiation reflector in a position such that the alignment axis of said reflector corresponds to the path of the solar elevation as the degree of such elevation changes over an angle of up to about 48° during the year, a heat-responsive adjustment means supported by said support structure beneath said reflector and having a movable member which is movable in response to a temperature increase within said adjustment means and which is connected to said carriage to cause pivotal movement of said carriage in a given direction over an angle of up to about 48°, a wide angle lens supported by said carriage and adapted to admit direct solar radiation through said reflector to said heat-responsive adjustment means when aligned with the position of the solar elevation over a wide azimuth angle to cause a temperature increase within said adjustment means and to cause pivotal movement of said carriage, said lens having a focus axis which is a few degrees in advance of the alignment axis of said reflector in the direction in which the solar elevation is changing, and a sun shield supported by said carriage in a position between said lens and said heat-responsive adjustment means and adapted to shade the latter when the focus axis of the lens is not aligned with the solar elevation over a wide azimuth angle, whereby when the solar elevation moves out of alignment with said reflector, it moves into alignment with the focus axis of said lens causing solar radiation to be admitted through the reflector to said heat-responsive adjustment means to cause pivotal movement of said carriage until the focus angle of the lens is in advance of and out of alignment with the solar elevation and said heat-responsive adjustment means is shaded by said sun shield.

Claim 2

An apparatus which is adapted to be aligned with the position of the solar elevation over a wide azimuth angle and to adjust itself to remain aligned with the solar elevation changes in either direction, comprising a support structure adapted to support the apparatus on a fixed surface, a movable carriage pivotally attached to said support structure for rotational movement only along a vertical path which corresponds to the path of the solar elevation, said carriage supporting a solar radiation reflector in a position such that the alignment axis of said reflector corresponds to the path of the solar elevation as the degree of such elevation changes over an angle of up to about 48° during the year, a heat-responsive adjustment means supported by said support structure beneath said reflector and having a movable member which is movable in response to a temperature increase within said adjustment means and which is connected to said carriage to cause pivotal movement of said carriage in a given direction over an angle of up to about 48°, a wide angle lens supported by said carriage and adapted to admit direct solar radiation through said reflector to said heat-responsive adjustment means when aligned with the position of the solar elevation over a wide azimuth angle to cause a temperature increase within said adjustment means and to cause pivotal movement of said carriage, said lens having a focus axis which is a few degrees in advance of the alignment axis of said reflector in the direction in which the solar elevation is changing, and a sun shield supported by said carriage in a position between said lens and said heat-responsive adjustment means and adapted to shade the latter when the focus axis of the lens is not aligned with the solar elevation over a wide azimuth angle, whereby when the solar elevation moves out of alignment with said reflector, it moves into alignment with the focus axis of said lens causing solar radiation to be admitted through the reflector to said heat-responsive adjustment means to cause pivotal movement of said carriage until the focus angle of the lens is in advance of and out of alignment with the solar elevation and said heat-responsive adjustment means is shaded by said sun shield.

Claim 9

A method for maintaining a solar radiation-reflector in general self-adjusting alignment with the solar elevation over a wide azimuth angle as said elevation changes during the year with respect to the location of said working element, which comprises supporting said reflector on a rotatable support which is adapted to be rotated only along a vertical path corresponding to the various positions in which said reflector is aligned with the solar elevation at any given time of the year, attaching to said rotatable support the arm of a heat-sensitive element which is capable of absorbing infrared radiation and of movement of said arm in response to the heat generated while said infrared radiation is being absorbed, whereby said arm is adapted to move said rotatable support so long as said heat-sensitive element is exposed to sunlight, attaching to said rotatable support a wide angle lens having a focus axis slightly in advance of the alignment axis of said reflector in the direction in which the solar elevation is changing, said lens being adapted to admit direct sunlight through said reflector and cause heating of said heat-sensitive element only when in alignment with the solar elevation over a wide azimuth angle, and positioning said support so that either said lens of said reflector is aligned with the solar elevation to provide a self-adjusting assembly.

Claim 10

A method for maintaining a solar radiation-reflector in general self-adjusting alignment with the solar elevation over a wide azimuth angle as said elevation changes during the year with respect to the location of said working element, which comprises supporting said reflector on a rotatable support which is adapted to be rotated only along a vertical path corresponding to the various positions in which said reflector is aligned with the solar elevation at any given time of the year, attaching to said rotatable support the arm of a heat-sensitive element which is capable of absorbing infrared radiation and of movement of said arm in response to the heat generated while said infrared radiation is being absorbed, whereby said arm is adapted to move said rotatable support so long as said heat-sensitive element is exposed to sunlight, attaching to said rotatable support a wide angle lens having a focus axis slightly in advance of the alignment axis of said reflector in the direction in which the solar elevation is changing, said lens being adapted to admit direct sunlight through said reflector and cause heating of said heat-sensitive element only when in alignment with the solar elevation over a wide azimuth angle, and positioning said support so that either said lens of said reflector is aligned with the solar elevation to provide a self-adjusting assembly.